MLB Player News

Senzatela agreed to a five-year, $50.5 million extension with the Rockies on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal buys out Senzatela's final two years of team control as well as the first three years of his free agency and includes a club option for a sixth season at $14 million. It looks like a good one for the Rockies, as they'll lock up a pitcher whose 4.84 ERA through his first five major-league seasons is good for a park-adjusted ERA- of 99, indicating he's been almost exactly league-average. His 4.42 ERA this season was nothing special, but both his 3.61 FIP and 4.17 xFIP represented career lows, thanks in part to a career-best 4.8 percent walk rate. The deal is much worse news for those who have Senzatela on their dynasty teams, as his only route out of Coors Field in the next five years will be via trade.

Heaney was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Tuesday.

Heaney endured a terrible time after coming over from the Angels at the deadline, posting a 7.32 ERA in 35.2 innings for his new team. He lost his rotation spot in late August and his spot on the active roster in late September. He'll now be removed from the 40-man roster as the Yankees shuffle the deck and select the contracts of Greg Allen and Rob Brantly. Heaney is technically available for any team to claim, but there's little point in doing so, as he'll be a free agent at the end of the season.

Sale is not on Boston's wild-card roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Starters pitching out of relief in an elimination game is standard practice, and the Red Sox are prepared to do just that if necessary, as Eduardo Rodriguez, Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck are all on the squad. Sale just threw 62 pitches in the season finale Sunday against the Nationals, however, so it's understandable that the Red Sox considered him unavailable on one day's rest less than two months into his return from Tommy John surgery.

Kim wrapped up the regular season with three straight scoreless relief appearances spanning five innings.

The left-hander also picked up his seventh win of the season in the middle game of that sample, a Sept. 25 victory over the Cubs. Kim pitched exclusively out of the bullpen over his last five appearances, giving up four runs (two earned) over the 2.1 innings covering his first two relief outings in the sample before settling down in the final three. If the Cardinals are able to get past the Dodgers in Wednesday's NL Wild Card Game, Kim should have a strong chance of making it to the NLDS roster considering the considerable flexibility he offers manager Mike Shildt as a long reliever or spot starter.

Strider (1-0) earned the win in relief Sunday against the Mets after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one.

Strider, who spent most of the season at Double-A Mississippi and posted a 4.71 ERA and 3.32 FIP through 63 innings (14 starts), made his MLB debut earlier this week. He picks up the first big-league win of his career during the regular-season finale piggybacking Charlie Morton's 2.2-inning start. Strider looked quite good, recording four outs and earning the win while also tossing 14 of his 22 pitches for strikes. He is Atlanta's best pitching prospect, so it's possible he could make the postseason roster thanks to an electric arsenal that has played up in relief.

Syndergaard (0-1) took the loss in the season finale Sunday against Atlanta after allowing two runs on three hits across one inning.

Syndergaard allowed a solo shot to Jorge Soler and an RBI single to Austin Riley before departing the game in an outing where he didn't record a single strikeout. It's obviously not the outcome he would've liked, but Syndergaard's biggest goal was to pitch in a live game before the season ended with an eye toward being fully healthy for next year's spring training. Syndergaard made two appearances this season and posted a 9.00 ERA, tossing one inning in each one of those games.

Woodford (3-4) was tagged with the loss Sunday against the Cubs after allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while fanning four across five innings.

Woodford had given up two or fewer runs in each of his previous five outings, but he didn't have his best stuff for the season finale and was tagged for this fourth loss of the campaign. Starting as a reliever but ending as a starter, Woodford made eight starts across 26 appearances on the season. He ends his second year at the MLB level with a 3.99 ERA across 67.2 innings, a step in the right direction considering he posted a 5.57 ERA through 21 frames in 2020.

Wacha threw five shutout innings in a no-decision versus the Yankees on Sunday. He allowed a hit, a walk and a hit batter while striking out two.

The veteran right-hander was locked in for his final start of the season. Outside of allowing six runs in six innings to Toronto on Sept. 15, Wacha was very effective both as a starter and a reliever with 10 runs allowed in his final 30 innings of the regular season. That helped to lower his season ratios to a 5.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 121:31 K:BB across 124.2 innings overall. It's still unclear if he'll work as a starter or a reliever during the ALDS.

Taillon (ankle) allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3.1 innings in a no-decision versus Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Taillon has been bothered by this ankle injury for much of the last month, but he was able to deliver solid work across 45 pitches (27 strikes) Sunday. He ends the regular season with an 8-6 record, a 4.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 140:44 K:BB in 144.1 innings in his first season with the Yankees. It's unclear if the 29-year-old would be a candidate for a rotation spot in the postseason should the Yankees defeat Boston in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game.

Whitlock (pectoral) pitched a perfect inning and struck out two in Sunday's 7-5 win over Washington.

The right-hander missed nearly two weeks with a pectoral strain, but he was solid in his return in the regular-season finale. Whitlock has a 1.96 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB across 73.1 innings this year. He's added a pair of saves and 14 holds, so he could be a quality high-leverage option if Boston goes on an extended postseason run.