MLB Player News

Hoskins exercised his $18 million player option for 2025 on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

It's possible Hoskins could have netted a multi-year deal on the open market, but it's unlikely he would have been able to top an average annual salary of $18 million. In his first year back from ACL surgery, Hoskins slashed .214/.303/.419with 26 home runs across 131 games for the Brewers. Slated to turn 32 in March, Hoskins should be Milwaukee's primary first baseman again in 2025, with some starts at designated hitter mixed in.

The Pirates re-signed Nunez to a minor-league contract Friday with an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Nunez, who turns 24 in March, slashed .250/.310/.365 with 11 home runs over 128 games this season for Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll be with the Pirates in spring training but is likely headed back to Indianapolis to begin 2025.

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.

Freeman went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI Tuesday as the Dodgers fell to the Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series.

Freeman got things off on the right foot for the Dodgers, taking Luis Gil deep with a two-run blast in the top of the first inning. He's homered in all four games of the series and has gone deep in six straight World Series games overall, which is a major-league record. Freeman also added an RBI groundout later in the contest, which cut the Yankees' lead to 5-4 at the time before the Yanks put the game away late.

The Reds activated Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

The move was required because Encarnacion-Strand is in the Arizona Fall League on a rehab assignment, which has expired. He will continue to play in the AFL and is now back on the Reds' 40-man roster after missing most of the season following wrist surgery.

Freeman (ankle) will start at first base and bat third Friday in Game 1 of the World Series versus the Yankees, Travis Sawchik of theScore.com reports.

Freeman didn't play in Game 4 or Game 6 of the NLCS as he battles lingering soreness in his right ankle, but nearly a week off between games has the first baseman feeling better. The 35-year-old Freeman is 7-for-32 with zero extra-base hits and one RBI so far this postseason.

Freeman (ankle) said Tuesday that he believes it is "100 percent" he will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the World Series versus the Yankees on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Freeman did not play in Game 6 of the NLCS on Sunday and has gone three days without running. The first baseman has been able to hit in that time and will go through his normal routine Tuesday, albeit without any running.

Freeman (ankle) is not in the starting lineup for Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets on Sunday, Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com reports.

Freeman has been hampered by a high-ankle sprain throughout the postseason. He was held out for Game 4 of the NLCS, but he returned to the lineup for Game 5, and manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism Saturday that the veteran first baseman would be in the lineup for Game 6. However, Freeman will begin Sunday's game in the dugout, though he could be available to pinch hit if called upon. Max Muncy will shift over to first base while Enrique Hernandez enters the lineup at third base against Mets southpaw Sean Manaea.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that he expects Freeman (ankle) to be in the starting lineup for Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Freeman has been playing through an ankle injury throughout the postseason. He has missed two games during the playoffs, most recently Game 4 of the NLCS as the Dodgers wanted to prevent Freeman from playing in back-to-back games. Barring any setbacks, Freeman will be in the lineup for Game 6 as the Dodgers look to advance to the World Series.

Freeman (ankle) will start at first base and bat fourth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Mets, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Freeman didn't play in Game 4, as the Dodgers didn't want him to play three days in a row on his injured right ankle. He will be back in there Friday however, as his team tries to finish off the Mets and advance to the World Series.