MLB Player News

The Brewers exercised Contreras' $15.5 million club option for 2027 on Monday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The reigning World Series MVP returning on an affordable team option was a foregone conclusion. Contreras is currently set to reach free agency next offseason, and a long-term deal with the Brewers seems unlikely. However, the expectation is that the club will resist trade overtures for Contreras this winter and have him hit in the middle of the lineup again in 2027.

Knizner cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Knizner slashed .219/.288/.356 with two homers, four RBI and eight runs scored across 80 plate appearances in the majors this year while providing San Francisco with depth at catcher. He'll lose his place on the 40-man roster to begin the offseason but could have a chance to win it back during spring training.

The Marlins outrighted Driscoll to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Miami is doing some offseason 40-man roster housekeeping, and Driscoll has lost his spot. The 28-year-old catcher got a cup of coffee in the majors with the Rays in 2024, but he spent all of 2026 in the minors, collecting a .788 OPS.

The Marlins outrighted Navarreto to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Having been outrighted previously, Navarreto has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent. The 31-year-old catcher has a career .559 OPS in 42 games covering parts of three big-league seasons.

Contreras was named the World Series MVP after going 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored during Game 5 against the Rays on Wednesday.

Contreras smacked a double into left field in the sixth inning to drive in Christian Yelich before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Cooper Pratt. Several Brewers players made a strong case for series MVP, but Contreras ultimately earned the title after going 8-for-21 with two walks, four RBI, and two runs scored over the five-game set. The 28-year-old's Fall Classic performance capped an overall dominant postseason, in which he posted a .373/.448/.588 slash line across 51 plate appearances.

Rushing will undergo a hybrid internal brace procedure on his right elbow Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Rushing was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in early August, which kept him from catching and limited him to just 11 plate appearances in the final two months of the regular season. The surgery will prevent him from catching on a full-time basis for nine months, a timeline that stretches into the second half of next season. Rushing will be able to hit well before then, but it's unclear whether the Dodgers would consider carrying him on their active roster only as a hitter, especially with the designated hitter slot already filled by Shohei Ohtani. Rushing slashed .246/.328/.460 with 12 home runs in 80 contests for the Dodgers this season.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that he's informed Realmuto the catcher will receive more days off in 2027, Matt Gelb and Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic report.

He made 122 starts behind the plate in 2026 in his age-35 season. However, his downward trend offensively continued, as Realmuto slashed only .205/.283/.331 with 11 home runs across 467 plate appearances. Dombrowski didn't rule out acquiring an upgrade at backup catcher this offseason, which could allow manager Don Mattingly more confidence in giving Realmuto extra rest.

Smith will start at catcher and bat seventh Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

Smith has really been scuffling this postseason, going 1-for-23 with a 1:8 BB:K. As a result, he's been demoted to the bottom-third of the Dodgers lineup.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional RBI in Monday's win against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS.

The 28-year-old continues to wield a hot bat this postseason, as he's batting .391 (9-for-23) with four walks, three homers, five RBI and four runs through six games. Contreras has entrenched himself as the Brewers' No. 3 hitter and has been the engine of the offense thus far in October.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a walk, a solo homer and an additional run scored in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres on Tuesday.

The All-Star catcher did his part to try and eliminate the Friars with a three-hit showing, including a fourth-inning solo home run to start the scoring for Milwaukee. It's been a productive start to the playoffs for Contreras, who has gone 4-for-11 with two walks and two homers through three games. He should be back behind the plate again Wednesday as the Brewers look to punch their ticket to the NLCS.