MLB Player News

The Guardians claimed Tena off waivers from the Nationals on Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Tena was dealt from Cleveland to Washington at the 2024 trade deadline, and he's now returned to his original organization. The 25-year-old infielder slashed only .222/.302/.370 with seven home runs over 114 contests with the Nationals in 2026. Tena does not have minor-league options remaining, so the Guardians are unable to send him to the minors without passing him through waivers first.

The Rays have formalized the completion of Diaz's $13 million vesting option for 2027, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Diaz's contract became eligible to vest when Diaz reached 500 plate appearances in August, but he also needed to finish the campaign healthy for the option to kick in. That indeed happened, and the veteran slugger will now be under contract for $13 million next season. Diaz had another strong campaign in 2026, posting a .293/.359/.446 slash line with 22 home runs, 93 runs, 85 RBI and three stolen bases over 154 regular-season games. He batted .333 with two homers in the ALCS to help lead Tampa Bay to the World Series, though he went just 3-for-20 with only one RBI in five games against Milwaukee as the Rays fell short of the title.

Yoshida is unlikely to return to the Red Sox next season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Yoshida had a solid showing offensively in 2026 when healthy, slashing .274/.347/.399 with five home runs and a 28:33 BB:K over 87 contests. However, Yoshida is basically unplayable in the outfield, and the Red Sox are already well-stocked with outfielders, anyway. The 33-year-old is owed $18 million in 2027 in his final year under contract, and the Red Sox might be willing to just eat that contract if they're unable to find a trade partner.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday.

Diaz now has an extra-base hit in four straight contests, going 7-for-18 with three doubles, two homers, four RBI and five runs during that span. The 35-year-old's homer Monday provided some key insurance runs late, pushing Tampa Bay's lead to 7-3 in the eighth inning to help secure a World Series berth. Diaz has a .906 OPS in 41 plate appearances during the postseason.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday.

Diaz scored Tampa Bay's first run after doubling during the third inning and provided some late insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to stretch the lead to 7-3. It's been a productive series thus far for the 35-year-old slugger, who is batting .278 (5-for-18) with three doubles, a homer, two RBI and four runs through four games.

Benintendi is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the ALDS against the Guardians.

The Guardians are starting a right-handed opener in Daniel Espino, but with either lefties Foster Griffin or Joey Cantillo likely to pitch in bulk relief, the lefty-swinging Benintendi will begin the contest on the bench. Benintendi is 1-for-5 with one RBI and a 2:3 BB:K so far during the postseason. Sam Antonacci is occupying the designated hitter spot, and Randal Grichuk will play left field as the White Sox try to close out the Guardians.

Rice went 2-for-3 with a walk and two solo home runs during Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays on Monday.

The 27-year-old slugger launched solo shots during the fourth and eighth innings, but the rest of the Yankees offense stayed dormant in Tampa Bay. It's already Rice's second two-homer game of the playoffs, which matches the number of times he achieved that feat across 154 contests during the regular season. After scoring nine runs in both wild-card games last week, Rice's two solo shots are the only offense New York has managed in the first two games of the ALDS.

Gasper is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 month after undergoing distal right biceps tendon surgery Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

The 4-to-6 month timeline is for Gasper's return to game action, so there's a good chance he'll be held out of spring training action initially, and his availability for Opening Day isn't a given. Gasper slashed .251/.357/.466 with 10 home runs and a 27:39 BB:K over 67 games in 2026.

Rice went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and six RBI in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old posted a 1.055 OPS over 22 games in September and carried his hot bat into the postseason with a fifth-inning solo homer and an eighth-inning grand slam in Tuesday's blowout victory. Rice clubbed 41 homers with 97 RBI, 105 runs and a .264/.363/.534 slash line in 154 regular-season games this year, with his breakout helping to cover the absence of Aaron Judge (calf).

Gasper will undergo surgery Friday to repair a torn right biceps, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Gasper's biceps tendon tore completely off the bone on a swinging strikeout during a Sept. 25 contest against the Cubs. He will be unavailable for the entirety of the postseason, and it's unclear how long the rehab process will take. Assuming health, Gasper should be in the mix for a utility role with the Red Sox again next season after slashing .251/.357/.466 with 10 home runs and a 27:39 BB:K over 67 games in 2026.