MLB Player News

Shaw elected to become a free agent Thursday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Shaw was outrighted to the Mariners' alternate training site in August, and he'll opt to search for a new organization ahead of the 2021 season. The right-hander has struggled over the past three seasons as he carries a 6.17 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 132.2 innings with the Rockies and Mariners.

Curtiss will be on the hill to start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros on Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Curtiss will likely be nothing more than an opener in this contest, as he's recorded no more than eight outs in any of his appearances this season. He's a good bet to pitch well during his brief outing, as he recorded a 1.80 ERA and a 25:3 K:BB in 25 innings this season.

Bowman (elbow) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-September, so it's not a major surprise the Reds won't keep him on the 40-man roster over the offseason. Bowman could ready to return late in the 2021 campaign, but there's a real chance he misses the entire season.

Biddle (shoulder) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

The left-hander spent the final month of the season on the injured list with the left shoulder injury, but he's now been removed from the 40-man roster. Biddle appeared in only one game before suffering the injury.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller said Wednesday that Lamet (elbow) isn't expected to require offseason surgery, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lamet and Mike Clevinger (elbow) both ended up finishing the Padres' playoff run in the training room, but the two starting pitchers are expected to treat their respective injuries with rest and rehab this winter rather than having to go under the knife. Before being left off the postseason roster for the wild-card and NLDS rounds, Lamet was at least able to throw off flat ground, so he's at least made progress on some level since exiting his final start Sept. 25 with the elbow injury. Expect Lamet to gradually ramp up his throwing program throughout the winter with the aim of being back to 100 percent for spring training.

Yarbrough allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings as he earned the win Tuesday during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros.

Yarbrough picked up the start in a critical game in the series and delivered with a solid outing. He allowed a solo home run in the first inning, but he was effective the rest of the way before a leadoff home run in the sixth inning resulted in his removal. His next appearance could come in the World Series if the Rays advance.

Melancon allowed an unearned run on one hit and no walks over one-third of an inning Tuesday as he earned the save in Game 2 of the NLCS.

Atlanta held a five-run lead heading into the ninth inning, but the Dodgers rallied early in the frame. As a result, Melancon was called on to pick up the save, his second of the postseason. The right-hander has made six appearances during the playoffs in 2020, allowing one run (zero earned) on one hit and no walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings.

Lamet began platelet-rich plasma therapy on his right elbow Monday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lamet missed the playoffs due to an issue which had been referred to as biceps tightness, though the injury is apparently located in his elbow. He reportedly has no ligament issues, however, and is expected to be ready to pitch by the start of spring training. Still, the fact that he's dealing with elbow problems again after previously undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018 undoubtedly adds some risk to his profile heading into next season.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Monday that Lambert (forearm) will begin a throwing program soon and should be ready to go for spring training, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Lambert was shut down in late July with a right forearm strain, an injury that can often be a precursor to Tommy John surgery. While Lambert is dealing with a more severe strain than the one that sidelined Garrett Crochet for the tail end of Chicago's wild-card round loss to the Athletics, both pitchers are expected to be able to treat their injuries through rest and rehab rather than having to go under the knife this offseason. Assuming Lambert hits no snags in his recovery and is cleared for the spring, he shouldn't be impeded in his efforts to win a bullpen job with the White Sox.

Crochet was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his left forearm but does not have any damage to his UCL, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Crochet's appearance in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Athletics was cut short due to the injury, but he's evidently avoided the worst-case outcome. No damage to the UCL means no Tommy John surgery will be needed, so the young lefty is expected to be ready to pitch without restrictions during spring training. Even though he made his MLB debut as a reliever in 2020, the White Sox still view Crochet as a candidate for the rotation in the long run. As such, Crochet could be given the opportunity to compete for a starting role with the big club this spring, but a more realistic outcome is that he begins the 2021 campaign at Triple-A Charlotte if the White Sox remain serious about developing him as a rotation option.