MLB Player News

Ohtani has been throwing for approximately a month and has reached 120 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani remains somewhat limited but has been able to throw at 75 to 80 percent effort. The Angels expect him to enter spring training as a two-way player. Of course, he was expected to be a two-way player this year as well, but he wound up allowing seven runs while recording just five outs over a pair of starts before the Angels shut him down from throwing. The team will hope that putting his Tommy John surgery another year in the rearview mirror and going through a normal offseason and spring buildup process will bring different results this time around.

Martinez will not opt out of the remaining two years on his contract with the Red Sox, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

This seemed like a forgone conclusion, especially with Martinez coming off a down year. He is due $38.75 million over the next two years. The designated hitter, who turned 33 in August, slashed .213/.291/.389 with seven home runs in 54 games this season.

Choi is out of the lineup Sunday for Game 5 of the World Series versus the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

For the second straight day, the lefty-hitting Choi heads to the bench with the Dodgers bringing another southpaw starter (Clayton Kershaw) to the hill. Yandy Diaz will serve as the Rays' first baseman.

Choi will sit for Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The Rays will load up on righties with southpaw Julio Urias on the mound, just as they did in Game 1 against Clayton Kershaw. Yandy Diaz gets the start at first base in Choi's absence.

Choi will sit for Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The Rays' smart usage of platoons has gotten them this far, and they won't change plans now. Yandy Diaz starts over Choi at first base with the left-handed Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the Dodgers.

Choi is not in the lineup for Game 6 of the ALCS against the Astros on Friday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Choi went 2-for-2 with a solo homer and two walks during Thursday's Game 5 defeat, and he'll take a seat with lefty Framber Valdez starting for Houston in Game 6. Yandy Diaz receives the start at first bay Friday for the Rays.

Choi went 2-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in the Rays' Game 5 loss to the Astros on Thursday.

The 29-year-old's second homer of the postseason was a big one as it knotted the game at 1-1 in the eighth inning, though Tampa Bay would ultimately fall short. Choi figures to find himself on the bench against lefty Framber Valdez for Game 6, just like he was for Game 1.

Brantley underwent an X-ray after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday but is in the lineup Thursday for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Rays, batting second as the designated hitter, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brantley left Wednesday's game due to the incident, though his removal was evidently precautionary. The veteran is hitting .341/.413/.610 with three homers in 10 games this postseason, so the Astros will certainly be happy to have him available.

Alvarez (knees) posted a video Wednesday on his personal Instagram account featuring him running on an anti-gravity treadmill, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Neither the Astros nor Alvarez have issued a formal update on where he stands in his recovery from Aug. 28 arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees, but his ability to do some running -- albeit with mechanical aid -- is seemingly encouraging. Alvarez is expected to make a full recovery from the procedures and should be ready to go for spring training, though the Astros may abandon the idea of the 23-year-old handling even part-time duty at first base or in the corner outfield in 2021 as a means of preserving his health. He's thus slated to enter the upcoming season as a utility-only player in fantasy leagues, and those investing in Alvarez in early drafts may have to have some blind faith that his offseason rehab program remains setback-free.

General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that the Yankees are viewing Stanton primarily as a DH-only player heading into 2021, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

During his first three years in New York, Stanton has already spent most of his time at DH, logging only 85 starts in the outfield over that stretch. Heading into 2020, the Yankees eyed Stanton for full-time DH duty after he was slowed by a calf injury in spring training, but even that wasn't enough to keep the slugger healthy throughout the campaign. Due to a hamstring injury, Stanton only played in 23 of the team's 60 games, slashing .250/.387/.500 in 93 plate appearances. He at least finished the team's postseason run at full strength, but the Yankees apparently don't envision a healthy Stanton being a factor in the outfield in 2021 outside of an emergency basis. Since all 23 of his starts came at DH in 2020, Stanton will only be eligible as a utility player in most fantasy leagues next season, and he may not regain outfield eligibility at any point if Cashman's word holds true.