MLB Player News

Rooker was claimed off waivers by the Athletics on Thursday.

Rooker was designated for assignment by Kansas City on Tuesday but will land a spot on the Athletics' 40-man roster. He appeared in 16 major-league games between the Padres and Royals last year, and it's possible that he's forced to begin the 2023 season at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Madris was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday.

Madris was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay in mid-September but never saw game action with the team. He played in 39 contests for the Pirates before he was waived and had a .177/.244/.265 slash line in 123 plate appearances.

Horwitz (undisclosed) was added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report.

Horwitz split 2022 between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, and he posted an .843 OPS between the two levels. He finished the season on the injured list at Buffalo with an unspecified issue.

Rooker was designated for assignment by the Royals on Tuesday.

A 28-year-old with plus right-handed power and limited defensive utility, Rooker has played for three teams in the past two seasons. It's possible he could try to land with another organization this offseason, otherwise he will likely return to Triple-A Omaha.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Saturday night's 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series.

Alvarez hit a 450-foot blast off Jose Alvarado in the sixth inning to give the Astros a 3-1 lead. It was Alvarez's first homer since the ALDS but a monumental one nonetheless. The 25-year-old hit .192 across 52 at bats in the playoffs, but he managed to knock in 14 runs and help the Astros win their second World Series in the last five years. Alvarez will remain a vital piece to the heart of the Houston lineup for the foreseeable future.

Martinez is unlikely to get a qualifying offer from the Red Sox, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

As a 35-year-old designated hitter who was only worth 1.0 fWAR in 139 games last season, Martinez was unlikely to get the qualifying offer. He will likely sign this winter on a short-term deal to serve as another team's primary designated hitter.

GM Jerry Dipoto announced Wednesday that Winker underwent knee surgery last week and is also scheduled for neck surgery, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

The 29-year-old landed on the injured list with a neck injury in early October, and he's apparently also dealing with a knee issue. The injuries capped a season to forget for Winker, who posted a career-worst .219/.344/.344 slash line in 136 games after being acquired from the Reds in March. Assuming he's healthy, Winker is likely to open spring training as the favorite to start in left field to open 2023, but his disappointing first season in Seattle could leave him with a short leash.

Carpenter (foot) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

Manager Aaron Boone said he sees Carpenter as a "big bat off the bench," Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. The 36-year-old recorded a whopping 1.139 OPS in 2022, but he has been held out of action since Aug. 8. So, while Carpenter may not be used in an on-field role, it's reasonable to expect him to be used in a few pinch-hit scenarios throughout the Yankees' playoff run.

Stanton will take part in outfield drills over the next few days to determine whether he feels comfortable enough to play there during the ALDS against Cleveland, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Stanton played 34 games in right field and four games in left during the 2022 campaign, but his last outfield start dates back to July 21 against the Astros. If he does feel like he can play outfield in the postseason, it would help the Yankees become more flexible with how they use the designated hitter spot.

Carpenter (foot) feels ready for the upcoming ALDS against Cleveland and will get another workout in Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The timeline hasn't changed for Carpenter, who remains on track to return in time for the American League Divisional Series after suffering a fractured foot Aug. 8 against Seattle. Per Hoch, Carpenter has already been hitting and running the bases, and he's set for a few more at-bats and a workout at first base Sunday. The veteran slugger fully expects to be available for Game 1 on Tuesday.