MLB Player News

Singleton cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

As expected, the former top prospect will remain an Astro farmhand after no teams were interested in picking up a bat that hasn't produced a major league batting average above .200. Singleton's power is intriguing, but he'll be nothing more than an organizational depth piece until he can make more contact.

Singleton was placed on outright waivers by the Astros on Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Kaplan predicts that Singleton will clear waivers and be sent to Triple-A Fresno, an understandable thought given that Singleton is still owed $4.5 million. In 420 career plate appearances, the former top prospect has hit an anemic .171/.290/.331 with 151 strikeouts, which simply does not belong in a major league lineup. Blocked at first base and designated hitter by a combination of Yulieski Gurriel, Brian McCann, A.J. Reed, and Tyler White, it's unlikely Singleton sees significant time in the majors any time in the near future.

McBride has re-signed with the A's on a minor league contract, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

There was no word of a spring training invite. It seems like a near certainty that McBride will serve as organizational depth in the minors for most of the year, as he did in 2016. McBride was summoned to the big club on four separate occasions this past season but totaled just 44 plate appearances, compiling a dismal .209/.227/.279 batting line.

Abreu opted out of his three-year deal with the White Sox on Monday and will go through the arbitration process year-by-year with them, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

This doesn't change Abreu's fantasy prospects very much in the present given that he's still under club control through the 2019 season, although he could command a higher salary through this method. The slugger posted a .293/.353/.468 slash line last season to go with 25 home runs in 2016, and he'll look to continue that over the next few seasons as the White Sox primary first baseman.

Joseph suffered a wrist injury in the Dominican winter league and has returned home to be examined, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Joseph, who won't return to the Dominican Republic after his exam, had played in just five games before suffering the injury. GM Matt Klentak said there are "no long-term implications" with the injury, so it sounds like Joseph will be ready for spring training.

The Indians will pick up the $12 million team option on Santana's contract for next season, Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reports.

Santana hit just .192 in the postseason for the Indians, but he also set career regular-season bests in 2016 with 34 home runs, 87 RBI and an .864 OPS, so the Indians did not have to think long about bringing him back for another year. Santana split his time between first base and the designated hitter spot in 2016 and figures to do the same next year.

The Phillies announced Thursday that they have declined the 2017 team option on Howard's contract, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports, and he is now a free agent.

Howard hit 25 home runs in 2016 for the seventh time in his career, but he also hit just .196 and would have been due $23 million had the Phillies picked up his option, so there was not much of a decision for them to make. Howard has not announced any intention to hang up the cleats, so he will likely look for a job elsewhere. At this stage of his career, however, he is likely looking at a reserve job wherever he lands.

Wilkins was outrighted to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday.

The 28-year-old was left off the Brewers' expanded September roster after going 3-for-24 with 10 strikeouts in 26 games between July and August. Wilkins is now off the 40-man roster and seems like a lock to open 2017 as depth in the minor leagues.

Santana is the starting left fielder for the Indians on Friday in Game 3 of the World Series, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports.

There was wide speculation that Santana would play in the outfield in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup, and the Indians did just that. He'll slot into the lineup as the leadoff hitter as usual against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks.

Santana will likely start in left field for Game 3 against the Cubs, Zack Meisel of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The designated hitter spot is eliminated with the series moving back to Chicago, so the team is attempting to find a creative way to keep him in the lineup. The official lineup will be released on gameday, but Santana should be in it somewhere around the diamond to keep their best offensive lineup.