MLB Player News

The Phillies claimed Whitcomb off waivers from the Giants on Monday.

The Giants picked up Whitcomb off waivers in August, and the utility player is on the move again. Whitcomb has hit only .196/.232/.307 in parts of three big-league seasons, but he's collected an .810 OPS in the minors and offers plenty of defensive versatility.

Bichette exercised his $42 million player option for the 2027 season Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Bichette's first year with the Mets didn't quite play out the way many had expected before the season began, as he posted just a .702 OPS across 696 plate appearances while adding 18 homers, 78 RBI and 76 runs for a team that finished last in the NL East. It was unlikely that he'd attract a more lucrative deal in free agency coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, so he'll opt in for another season as an everyday starter in Queens.

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said recently that the team will consider using Arenado some at first base next season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Arenado is still expected to see the lion's share of his playing time in 2027 at third base, but putting him at first base on occasion will reduce some wear and tear and also provide additional avenues to playing time for others. Hazen said he's spoken to Arenado, who is not only on board with the possibility but brought up potentially getting some reps in at first base in winter ball. Arenado had a nice bounce-back season in his first year with the Diamondbacks, slashing .255/.331/.475 with 30 home runs and 86 RBI.

Hamilton went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a stolen base, two total RBI and two total runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Thursday.

The speedy infielder contributed in his typical fashion during the fifth inning with an RBI single, a steal and a run scored, and he followed up by doubling the Brewers' lead with a ninth-inning solo shot off Edwin Diaz to help Milwaukee complete the series sweep. Hamilton clubbed only four homers in 121 regular-season games, the last of which he hit Aug. 18 versus the Mariners. The 29-year-old appeared in two games apiece in both the division and championship series, going 5-for-11 with three stolen bases and five runs, in addition to the long ball.

Muncy is not in the lineup for Thursday's NLCS Game 4 versus the Brewers.

Left-hander Shane Drohan is drawing the start for the Brewers, though he's likely to go through the Dodgers' lineup just once, at most. That means the lefty-swinging Muncy should enter mid-game, just as he's done in the other three games he didn't start this postseason. Enrique Hernandez will begin Thursday's festivities at third base.

Muncy is absent from the lineup Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

With left-hander Robert Gasser on the bump for the Brewers, the lefty-swinging Muncy will yield to Miguel Rojas at third base. Muncy -- who has three home runs in six games this postseason -- is a good bet to enter the game at some point after Milwaukee turns to its bullpen.

Hernandez is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Brewers.

Hernandez was deployed at second base the last two times the Dodgers faced a right-hander, but he was hitless in those contests and will now begin Game 3 on the bench. Tommy Edman will slot in at second base Monday.

Hamilton will start at third base and will bat ninth in Monday's NLCS Game 2 against the Dodgers.

It will be the second start this postseason for Hamilton, who was also in the lineup for Game 2 versus the Padres in the NLDS. Joey Ortiz has manned third base for the Brewers' other four playoff contests but is just 1-for-13 with a 0:5 BB:K.

Muncy is absent from the lineup Tuesday for Game 3 of the NLDS against Atlanta.

With ace lefty Chris Sale taking the ball for Atlanta, the lefty-swinging Muncy will begin the festivities on the bench. Muncy has homered in each of the first two games of the series, and he's a candidate to appear off the bench in Game 3. Enrique Hernandez will cover third base for the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the NLDS against Atlanta on Sunday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Muncy opened the playoffs by going 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Saturday's series opener, but he'll hit the bench Sunday with lefty Ray Kerr starting for Atlanta. Miguel Rojas will step in at the hot corner for Los Angeles in Game 2., with Muncy expected to enter once righty Grant Holmes enters for Atlanta, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com.