MLB Player News

Alvarez (knee) is going through full baseball activities and could be ready for a rehab assignment as soon as next week, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Alvarez is just over two weeks removed from surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. He was given an eight-week timetable to return immediately following the operation, but the catcher is poised to beat that timeline by several weeks.

The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.

Perez was forced out of Wednesday's start against the Blue Jays due to what was initially diagnosed as a right hamstring spasm. Additional tests have revealed a serious enough injury to warrant a stint on the IL for the 23-year-old right-hander, who is looking at about an eight-week recovery timeline, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. That means Perez is unlikely to be activated from the IL until after All-Star break. In a corresponding move, the Marlins recalled right-hander Josh Ekness from Triple-A Jacksonville.

The Marlins optioned Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Pauley has not got on track offensively this season, slashing just .165/.211/.271 across 91 plate appearances. He will look to get his swing in order at Jacksonville, and the Marlins will go with a combination of Javier Sanoja, Leo Jimenez and Connor Norby at third base.

The Phillies recalled Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Hoffman made a couple relief appearances for the Phillies earlier this season, allowing one run with a 2:1 K:BB over 3.1 innings. He will likely be on the roster only for a few days while Aaron Nola is on paternity leave.

The Phillies placed Nola on the paternity leave list Friday.

Nola will be away from the club for its weekend series on the road against the Dodgers as he welcomes a new baby to the family. The veteran righty's next start is tentatively scheduled to come Tuesday at home against the Padres, and Nola should be good to go to take the ball that day.

The Phillies recalled Berroa from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Berroa was acquired via trade in early April and now gets an opportunity in the majors after hitting .250/.361/.400 with four home runs and nine stolen bases in 38 games with Lehigh Valley. The switch-hitting Berroa will likely operate mostly as a reserve outfielder, though he could see some starts versus lefties.

The Phillies optioned Kemp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Kemp has gone just 2-for-25 with a 1:10 BB:K over 13 games during his time with the big club this season and will head back to Lehigh Valley to try to get back on track. Steward Berroa will grab Kemp's spot on the roster.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Pages will see a downturn in playing time following the promotion of Jimmy Crooks, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Pages leads the team with 34 starts at catcher this season, but he appears in line to serve as the third catcher moving forward behind Crooks and Ivan Herrera. The 27-year-old Pages is a quality defensive catcher but sports a career .230/.273/.366 slash line over parts of three big-league seasons.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Friday that Crooks is set to receive the lion's share of playing time at catcher, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Ivan Herrera will continue to serve as the personal catcher for Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, but it will be Crooks unseating Pedro Pages as the team's primary catcher for the rest of the rotation. Crooks earned a promotion Friday after slashing .262/.412/.567 with 13 home runs this season with Memphis. The left-handed-hitting Crooks is not in Friday's lineup against the Cubs -- southpaw Shota Imanaga is starting for Chicago and Herrera is doing the catching for Pallante -- but he should be in the lineup Saturday.

Uribe was suspended one game by Major League Baseball for his inappropriate celebration during an appearance Wednesday versus the Cardinals, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Uribe did a crotch-chopping celebration directed toward the Cardinals' dugout following an inning-ending strikeout. He is appealing the suspension and will be available to pitch out of the Brewers' bullpen until the appeal is heard or a settlement is reached. Uribe has logged a 4.19 ERA and 21:8 K:BB over 19.1 innings for Milwaukee this season and ranks second on the team with five saves.