Springer (side) will bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter in Friday's World Series Game 6 against the Dodgers.

Springer did not play in Games 4 or 5 after exiting Game 3 with discomfort in his right side, but he's improved enough to give it a go as the Fall Classic moves back to Toronto. The 36-year-old Springer has an .884 OPS with four home runs over 14 contest this postseason.

The Reds outrighted Espinal to Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Espinal has the ability to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency, but it's uncertain whether he plans to exercise that right. The veteran infielder slashed only .243/.292/.282 with zero home runs over 114 regular-season games for the Reds this season.

Torres underwent surgery Friday to repair a sports hernia on his left side, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Torres played through the injury for the final month of the regular season and playoffs, and the operation was anticipated. The expectation is that Torres will be cleared for baseball activities in four weeks, which would give him plenty of time to gear up for spring training. Torres is an impending free agent after slashing .256/.358/.387 with 16 home runs and an 85:101 BB:K over 145 regular-season contests for the Tigers.

Alfaro elected to become a free agent Friday.

The Nationals removed Alfaro from their 40-man roster, and the veteran catcher declared free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Alfaro slashed .256/.256/.308 in 14 games with the Nats this season and will likely have to settle for a minor-league contract this winter.

Vazquez signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Thursday.

Vazquez appeared in 36 games for Baltimore in 2025, slashing .160/.208/.240 over 53 plate appearances. He put up far better numbers at Triple-A, logging a .756 OPS over 43 contests. The 26-year-old infielder will now officially return for a second year in the Orioles organization, though he figures to remain a depth piece.

Manager John Schneider said Thursday that there's a strong chance Springer (side) returns to the starting lineup in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Toronto's skipper added that Springer has "checked every box physically so far" and nearly returned to the lineup in Game 5, but the Jays instead opted to give the outfielder another day to recover. His return to the lineup after a two-game absence would provide Toronto's offense with a significant power boost, as the 36-year-old has posted a .561 slugging percentage across 65 plate appearances in the postseason.

Miller will have a follow-up appointment soon with Dr. Keith Meister to determine the next steps for treatment of a small bone spur in his right elbow, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports.

Miller received a platelet-rich plasma injection in early June after being diagnosed with a bone spur in his pitching elbow. He returned in August and was healthy for the rest of the regular season and playoffs, saying "the best I felt all year" was at the end of the season. Miller is not expected to require surgery, but he could be given a cortisone injection during his follow-up appointment and perhaps an additional one at the start of spring training. The 27-year-old had a disappointing regular season for the Mariners, posting a 5.68 ERA and 74:34 K:BB over 90.1 innings covering 18 starts.

The Tigers re-signed Nido to a minor-league contract Thursday with an invitation to spring training.

Nido finished the 2025 season with the Tigers after stops with the Mets and Cubs. A career .215/.249/.310 hitter over parts of nine big-league seasons, the 31-year-old Nido is slated to begin the 2026 season as experienced catching depth at Triple-A Toledo.

The Orioles re-signed Garcia to a one-year contract Thursday.

Garcia pitched for three different teams during the 2025 season but finished out the year strongly with the Orioles, collecting a 2.84 ERA and 20:6 K:BB over 19 innings. The right-hander will turn 32 in January and should fill a middle-relief role in Baltimore next season.

Snell took the loss in Game 5 of the World Series against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, giving up five earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out seven batters across 6.2 innings.

It seemed like the 32-year-old lefty was going to be in for a rough start early after two of his first three pitches were hit over the left field wall by Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero. Snell managed to settle in afterward and kept Toronto's offense at bay for the next several innings, but the Dodgers' bats also failed to come alive against Toronto starter Trey Yesavage. After allowing two men to reach base and throwing a pair of wild pitches in the seventh, Snell was pulled for Edgardo Henriquez, who allowed both inherited runners to score and didn't record an out. After cruising through his first three postseason outings, Snell has now given up 10 earned runs in 11.2 innings during the World Series. He's expected to be available out of the bullpen if the Dodgers force a Game 7.