MLB Player News
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Brandon Leibrandt RP | CIN
Brandon Leibrandt: Elects free agency
Leibrandt elected free agency Thursday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Leibrandt cleared waivers after the Reds designated him for assignment earlier this week, but because he's been outrighted previously, he had the option to elect free agency. The lefty allowed seven runs over 6.1 innings for Cincinnati in 2024 during his first stint in the majors since 2020.
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Josh Taylor RP | KC
Josh Taylor: Becomes free agent
Taylor elected free agency Wednesday.
Taylor didn't pitch for the Royals at all in 2024 while dealing with a left biceps injury, although he began a rehab assignment in September and will presumably enter the offseason healthy. The lefty reliever holds a career 4.35 ERA and 155:53 K:BB over 120 innings covering parts of four major-league seasons.
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Walker Buehler SP | LAD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Clinches World Series with save
Buehler struck out two in a perfect ninth inning against the Yankees on Wednesday to earn his first-ever save in Game 5 of the World Series.
Buehler, just two days removed from starting and pitching five scoreless innings in Game 3, told manager Dave Roberts that he was available in relief. The skipper turned to Buehler with the game on the line and the right-hander slammed the door to secure the championship for Los Angeles. A free agent this winter, Buehler mostly struggled during the regular season as he made his return from a second Tommy John surgery, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA over 16 starts.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Wins World Series MVP
Freeman was named the World Series MVP after Wednesday's win over the Yankees in Game 5.
Freeman homered in each of the first four games of the series and added a two-RBI single during the Dodgers' rally in the fifth inning Wednesday. He drove in 12 runs during the Fall Classic, which tied the World Series record for RBI that was set by Bobby Richardson in 1960, per Buster Olney of ESPN. The 35-year-old entered the playoffs as a question mark due to an ankle injury but is now a two-time World Series champion.
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Daniel Hudson RP | LAD
Daniel Hudson: Announces retirement
Hudson announced his retirement from professional baseball following the Dodgers' title-clinching 7-6 victory over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Now a two-time World Series champion, the 37-year-old Hudson will hang up his cleats after a 15-year career spent with seven different organizations. He finishes with a 3.74 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 855.1 innings, though he only got better with age. He put up a 2.69 ERA and 1.02 in 90.1 innings across his final three seasons with the Dodgers.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Just one World Series start so far
Rojas is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees.
Rojas was added to the Dodgers' World Series roster after missing the NLCS with an adductor injury. He started Game 2 with lefty Carlos Rodon on the mound for the Yankees but has been absent from the lineup for each of the other four contests, all versus righties. Tommy Edman will be at shortstop again for Game 5.
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Gavin Lux 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Gavin Lux: Moved down to No. 9 spot
Lux will start at second base and bat ninth Wednesday in Game 5 of the World Series versus the Yankees.
It's the lowest spot in the batting order so far this postseason for Lux, who is just 1-for-17 at the plate over his last seven playoff contests. It's possible he's still not feeling totally healthy after suffering a hip flexor injury in Game 1 of the NLCS. Lux is flip-flopping spots in the lineup with Tommy Edman, who will hit seventh Wednesday.
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Jazz Chisholm 3B | NYY
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm: In cleanup spot again Wednesday
Chisholm will start at third base and bat cleanup Wednesday in Game 5 of the World Series versus the Dodgers.
Chisholm was moved up from the No. 5 spot to the No. 4 spot in the Yankees' Game 4 victory and manager Aaron Boone will keep him there for Game 5 after Chisholm reached twice and stole a base Tuesday. Giancarlo Stanton will hit fifth for the second straight contest.
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Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Allows four runs in no-decision
Gil received a no-decision Tuesday, yielding four runs on five hits over four-plus innings as the Yankees took Game 4 of the World Series over the Dodgers. He walked two and struck out one batter.
Gil served up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the first inning before settling in to face one over the minimum from the second to fourth frames. The right-hander remained in to start the top of the fifth but was pulled after allowing a leadoff homer to Will Smith and a walk to Tommy Edman. The Yankees' bullpen locked things down after that with five scoreless frames. Gil has lasted four innings in both of his postseason outings, yielding a total of six runs. He does not project to start another game during the World Series but could be available in relief, if needed, should the Yankees extend the series back to Los Angeles.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Hits first homer of World Series
Smith hit his first homer of this World Series in Tuesday's Game 4 loss to the Yankees.
The playoffs and especially the World Series tend to magnify what would be the normal ebbs and flows of the regular season. Smith is playing through a sore hand after taking a foul ball of his left hand in the NLCS. He had a slightly disappointing regular season, hitting .248/.327/.433 with 20 homers, trading some on-base and batting average for a little more power.