MLB Player News

Gonzalez (elbow) could be activated if he's needed during the Dodgers' postseason run, per MLB.com.

Gonzalez is currently on the 60-day injured list as a result of the elbow surgery he underwent in May. The lefty reliever experienced fatigue during his rehab but was able to log four minor-league appearances in late September, pitching four scoreless innings and striking out four batters. Gonzalez didn't take the mound for the Dodgers during the regular season, but he has playoff experience and will work to be ready in case injuries create the need for a lefty reliever during the team's postseason run.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Treinen (shoulder) to make the NLDS roster, though the right-hander's role and availability are yet to be determined, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Treinen hasn't pitched in a game for over a month, so it may be too much to expect him to immediately pitch in high-leverage situations or on back-to-back days. The veteran reliever has thrown only five innings all season, giving up one run and posting a 6:1 K:BB. Treinen is a critical piece of Los Angeles' bullpen when healthy, so it would be a major boost to the team's title chances if he's able to work his way back into shape over a potential deep playoff run. He faced three batters in a simulated game Wednesday and will toss another sim game in the next few days, per Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com.

Mayers elected free agency Thursday, per the Sam Blum of The Athletic.

Mayers spent the majority of the season in the majors with the Angels, and he worked as both a starter and reliever. He didn't experience much success in either role, maintaining a 5.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 45:18 K:BB across 50.2 frames. Mayers has been effective as a reliever in past campaigns, so it's possible that he finds a big-league deal with a new club over the winter.

Valdez elected free agency Thursday, per the MILB transaction report.

Valdez was designated for assignment May 18 by the Angels and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Salt Lake. Prior to losing his spot on the 40-man roster, Valdez appeared in only one game with the Angels and covered one inning.

Lakins elected free agency Wednesday, per Triple-A Norfolk's official site.

Lakins was outrighted to Norfolk on Aug. 31. He appeared in six games with the Orioles in 2022 and had a 9.58 ERA and 1.94 WHIP across 10.1 innings. Lakins will likely be seeking a minor-league deal this offseason.

Helsley (finger) didn't feel any pain during a side session Thursday and will be included on the Cardinals' wild-card roster, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Helsley exited Tuesday's game against the Pirates due to a jammed right middle finger, but the issue won't impact his availability to begin the postseason. Over the last month, the right-hander has converted all seven of his save chances while posting a 2.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 11.1 innings over 11 appearances.

Naughton will be on the Cardinals' wild-card roster, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Naughton was sent to the minors Sept. 21, but he'll rejoin the Cardinals ahead of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies, which begins Friday. The southpaw held left-handed hitters to a .163 batting average in the majors this year, which factored into the decision to include Naughton on the roster over Genesis Cabrera.

Helsley (finger) is throwing a bullpen session Thursday to help determine his availability for the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander exited Tuesday's game against the Pirates with a jammed middle finger, and his availability for the wild-card round remains up in the air. The issue doesn't appear to be a serious concern since Helsley never underwent medical imaging, and the closer could be available for Game 1 on Friday if all goes well during Thursday's session.

Perez allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out three in one inning during Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays in the second game of a doubleheader.

Perez put together a 15-inning scoreless streak between Aug. 19 and Sept. 27, but he allowed two runs (one earned) over his last two appearances of the season. It was still a breakout year for the 26-year-old lefty, who took on a high-leverage role for the first time in his major-league career. He finished with a 1.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 55:21 K:BB while adding a 7-1 record, one save and 24 holds in 57.2 innings. He wasn't charged with a blown save, though his 2.80 FIP suggests he benefited from a little luck to keep his ERA at such an impressive level throughout the year.

Cano (1-1) allowed a run on one hit and struck out three over two innings, taking the loss in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Blue Jays.

Cano made three appearances with the Orioles after he was flipped from the Twins at the trade deadline. In those outings, he yielded nine runs on nine hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. Cano served as a low-leverage reliever in his time with both teams, so the 28-year-old may have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason after posting an 11.50 ERA in 18 major-league innings.