MLB Player News

Cortes (elbow) is not on the Yankees' ALCS roster but is in play for the World Series, should they advance, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that he's "really excited" where Cortes is at in his recovery from a left flexor strain. The southpaw resumed throwing a little over a week ago and could face hitters by this weekend. Cortes has been shelved since late September.

Rizzo will start at first base and bat eighth Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS versus the Guardians.

Rizzo missed the ALDS after fracturing two fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season. It's fair to assume he's operating at less than 100 percent given the incident occurred just over two weeks ago, but he's feeling well enough to give it a shot as the Yankees' regular first baseman.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday during the team's end-of-season media session that he expects Baez (hip) to participate in spring training and have a "fighting chance" to be ready for Opening Day, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Baez underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in early September after dealing with a hip/back issue for much of the campaign. He slashed .184/.221/.294 in 2024 and has hit only .221/.262/.347 in his three seasons with the Tigers, but Harris expects the 31-year-old to have a role with the club in 2025. With three years and $73 million remaining on his contract, there wasn't much of a chance that the team was going to cut him loose at this point. Baez shouldn't be guaranteed anything in regards to playing time in 2025, although the hope is that, with better health, he could at least offer a solid glove at shortstop. Trey Sweeney was the Tigers' primary shortstop down the stretch of the regular season and playoffs and could have a leg up over Baez for the starting job there heading into spring training.

Ellis is not on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS against the Guardians.

Ellis made one pinch-running appearance in the ALDS, but the Yankees have found a better use for his roster spot during the ALCS. Marcus Stroman has been added as a long reliever.

Rice is not on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS versus the Guardians.

Rice didn't see any action during the ALDS. With Anthony Rizzo (fingers) being cleared to return, the rookie first baseman became an obvious option to lose his roster spot.

Stroman is on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS versus the Guardians.

Stroman was left off the ALDS roster but will be carried on the ALCS roster as a long reliever. The veteran right-hander posted a 4.31 ERA and 113:60 K:BB over 154.2 innings during the regular season, covering 29 starts and one relief appearance.

Rizzo (fingers) is on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS against the Guardians.

Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the second-to-last game of the regular season, but he has been cleared for game action barely more than two weeks after the incident. The 35-year-old will regain his starting job at first base, shifting Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti to bench roles.

Avila is on the Guardians' roster for the ALCS versus the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Avila was not on Cleveland's ALDS roster, but after it used its bullpen heavily against the Tigers it makes sense to add some more relief protection. The 27-year-old Avila is capable of pitching multiple innings, having tallied 74.2 frames over 50 appearances while posting a 3.25 ERA during the regular season for the Guardians.

Martinez is not on the Guardians' roster for the ALCS against the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Martinez was on the ALDS roster as an injury replacement for Tyler Freeman (oblique) but saw just one plate appearance during the series. The Guardians have elected to carry another reliever, Pedro Avila, instead.

Carpenter (hamstring) entered Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Guardians in Game 5 of the ALDS in the top of the fifth inning and went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Carpenter exited the Tigers' Game 4 loss with a left hamstring injury and was viewed as a game-time decision leading up to the series finale, but he was ultimately excluded from the lineup. However, manager A.J. Hinch's choice not to start the left-handed-hitting Carpenter might have made more to do with the matchup against Guardians southpaw Matthew Boyd than the hamstring injury. Carpenter stepped in as a pinch hitter for designated hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy in the fifth inning, with Boyd having already departed the game by that point. Though Carpenter's hamstring issue may have prevented him from playing the outfield had the Tigers advanced to the ALCS, he'll now have the entire winter to move past the injury. He should be back to 100 percent well before spring training.