MLB Player News

Barger (ankles) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run for Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday in what is expected to be his final rehab game before returning from the 10-day injured list, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old has gone yard twice in three rehab games for Dunedin. While Barger could be added back to the 26-man active roster Friday, he may not be plugged into the starting lineup right away, as the Blue Jays are set to face Angels southpaw Reid Detmers in the first game of the weekend series. Prior to being injured April 5, all five of Barger's starts to begin the season had come against right-handed pitching.

Duran started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, a double, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Yankees.

Duran had a run-producing double in the third inning and scored later in the same inning. He's started both of the Rangers' games since Josh Smith (glute) landed on the 10-day injured list and will likely be the primary replacement at the keystone while Smith is on the shelf. Given how productive he's been when given a chance to play, Duran could be making a case for sticking around in an everyday role even once Smith is healthy. Duran has slashed .303/.372/.461 with nine extra-base hits, 11 RBI, four steals and 12 runs over 28 games while receiving reps at second base, shortstop, third base, right field and left field.

The Cubs outrighted Rios to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Rios had been removed from the 40-man roster and went unclaimed on waivers. The 32-year-old reliever has the ability to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency, but it's unclear what he plans to do. Rios tossed 1.2 scoreless innings in his lone outing with the Cubs.

Fischer has gone 9-for-40 (.225) with six home runs, two doubles 10 RBI and a 4:21 BB:K over his last 10 games with High-A Wisconsin.

Fischer went yard just once over his first 15 games of the season, but the extra-base hits have been coming in bunches in recent weeks. While the power is not a concern for Fischer, his 39.1 percent strikeout percentage on the season is, and he may need to make some strides in that department before the Brewers move him up the ranks.

Johnson elected to become a free agent Wednesday.

After passing through waivers following his removal from the Astros' 40-man roster, Johnson has exercised his right to free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. He could wind up re-signing with Houston on a minor-league deal, but the outfielder will have the ability to negotiate with all clubs.

The White Sox activated Cannon (hip) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Cannon made a couple rehab appearances for Charlotte after overcoming a hip injury, getting rocked for 10 runs over five innings. He'll remain with Charlotte in a swingman role rather than joining the big club now that he's healthy again.

The White Sox activated Murphy (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Murphy is recovered from his left elbow impingement, but the White Sox have elected to keep him at Charlotte, where he had been on a rehab assignment. The southpaw allowed seven runs with a 6:5 K:BB over six innings before landing on the IL last month.

Halpin went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Kansas City.

Halpin moved up from first base when the runner ahead of him, Austin Hedges, stole third base. That put Halpin in position to score the go-ahead run on a two-run single by Chase DeLauter. The stolen base was his first since being called up last Friday and 10th overall in 2026, when including the nine he swiped for Triple-A Columbus. As another left-handed bat in a lefty-dominant outfield, Halpin doesn't appear to have a platoon advantage over the outfield regulars, but his speed could lead to pinch-running opportunities.

Hedges went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Royals. He was also caught stealing.

Hedges, a backup catcher, was an unlikely spark in the Guardians' win that snapped a three-game skid. At second base and down 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Hedges took off for third base and narrowly beat the throw for his first successful swipe of the season and 17th of his 12-year MLB career. On the play, Petey Halpin moved from first to second base, setting up a situation where Chase DeLauter's single delivered both runners. Hedges was later cut down trying to steal in the ninth. It was the second time in three starts that Hedges made an impact in a Cleveland win. There are no immediate plans to change the catching depth chart, but Hedges has .311/.360/.467 slash line over 16 games, which compares very favorably to starter Bo Naylor's .127/.188/.190 line through 27 contests.

Bleday went 2-for-5 with an RBI and was caught stealing in Wednesday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.

Bleday's two-hit night upped a hit streak to five games, during which he's 7-for-20 with a double, three home runs, five RBI and five runs scored. The attempted steal was his first in nine games for Cincinnati, but speed has not historically been a feature of Bleday's game -- he's stolen 12 bases (caught seven times) over 409 MLB games prior to this season. The lefty-hitting outfielder has become a lineup regular against right-handers since being called up from the minors last week and recently moved to second in the order.