MLB Player News

Castro's contract was selected by the Pirates on Friday.

Castro is best known for posting some pretty elite exit velocity readings in the lower levels by middle infielder standards. He hit 14 home runs in 61 games at Low-A in 2019 as a 20-year-old, which is quite the feat, but he fell flat after a promotion to High-A. Castro will likely open the year at High-A or Double-A and could reach the majors in 2022.

Vosler signed a major-league deal with the Giants on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old spent the shortened season at the Padres' alternate training site and had a .291/.367/.523 slash line with 20 home runs and 63 RBI in 116 games at Triple-A in 2019. Vosler has yet to make his major-league debut, but he's now on the 40-man roster and would seem to stand a strong chance of cracking San Francisco's Opening Day roster next year.

Muncy went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo homer in Sunday's World Series Game 5 win over the Rays.

Muncy's fifth-inning solo shot off Tyler Glasnow provided an insurance run that ultimately proved unnecessary, as no more runs would be scored the rest of the way. He's now homered three times in the postseason to go along with a .268/.461/.500 slash line, a huge step up from his .192/.331/.389 line during the regular season. A jump in BABIP from .203 in the regular season to .364 in the playoffs accounts for much of that difference.

Muncy went 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored and a grand slam in Wednesday's NLCS Game 3 win over the Braves.

Muncy's grand slam off lefty Grant Dayton capped off the Dodgers' 11-run first inning. He later doubled and came around to score the team's 15th run just two innings later. It was a very encouraging performance for the slugger, who slumped to a .192/.331/.389 line during the regular season.

Riley went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday's NLCS Game 1 win against the Dodgers.

Riley's homer, a solo shot off Blake Treinen in the top of the ninth inning, broke a 1-1 deadlock and proved to be all the Braves would need in a game they'd eventually win 5-1. The game-winning blast makes up for the fact that the 23-year-old is hitting a modest .238 with a 41.7 percent strikeout rate through six playoff games this season.

Machado went 1-for-5 with a solo homer in Thursday's NL Wild Card Series Game 2 win over the Cardinals.

Machado went back-to-back with Fernando Tatis Jr. in the sixth inning as both San Diego stars homered off Giovanny Gallegos to bring their team from down by four to tied. Machado is still searching for success in the postseason, as he owns a career .212/.262/.394 slash line in 25 games, though he does have five homers in those contests.

The Cubs outrighted Wisdom to their alternate training site Monday.

Wisdom went unclaimed off waivers after being designated for assignment last weekend, so he'll stick around in the Cubs' organization for now. Assuming Wisdom joins the Cubs for spring training, he'll realistically be competing for a roster spot at Triple-A Iowa rather than with the big club.

The Cubs activated Vargas (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The utility man will be up with the Cubs for their wild-card series with the Marlins, which begins Wednesday. Before his regular season came to an end when he was placed on the IL on Sept. 21 with a right hamstring strain, Vargas slashed .196/.222/.314 in 54 plate appearances across stints with the Diamondbacks, Twins and Cubs.

Riley (quadriceps) will start at third base and bat ninth Wednesday in Game 1 against the Reds.

We already knew that he was going to be in the Game 1 lineup, despite the fact he is not fully healthy. Riley will have his work cut out for him facing righty Trevor Bauer, who has held same-handed hitters to a .146/.205/.220 line this season.

Senzel is starting in center field and leading off Wednesday in Game 1 against the Braves.

Senzel hit .074 in 30 plate appearances against lefties this season, but he only struck out four times over that tiny sample, so the Reds are showing confidence in their young outfielder by starting him against southpaw Max Fried. "We're going with our best lineup, everything that's happened in the past is behind us," Bell told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. "We knew Nick had a tough challenge this season, since then he's gotten more at-bats."