MLB Player News
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Red Sox's J.D. Martinez: Rest days upcoming
Martinez will receive one or two days off during Boston's upcoming three-game series at Atlanta, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Martinez has started 37 of 39 games since the All-Star break, so manager Alex Cora likely just wants to give him a game or two to rest up for the final month of the regular season. The veteran slugger is slashing .352/.433/.655 with 10 home runs in those games as the Red Sox return to Boston for a series against the Astros next weekend.
-
Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Royals' Jorge Soler: Unlikely to return this season
Soler (toe) returned from his minor-league rehab assignment Sunday and has been shut down from baseball activities, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.
Soler started the rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha last Monday but recently suffered a setback, jeopardizing his potential return this season. The Royals were already planning to utilize the 28-year-old exclusively as a designated hitter upon his return, and it would make little sense to rush him back if there is any concern whatsoever. Soler hasn't played a major-league game since mid-June, and he seems unlikely to return in September.
-
Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Rare day off Sunday
Stanton is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Tigers.
Stanton has been a mainstay in the Yankees lineup as the team has dealt with numerous injuries, starting 84 consecutive games going back to late May. New acquisition Andrew McCutchen grabs the start in right field while Gary Sanchez -- fresh off the disabled list -- will serve as designated hitter. The 28-year-old slugger and his 33 home runs should return to the lineup when the Yankees travel to Oakland on Monday.
-
Eloy Jimenez DH | TOR
White Sox's Eloy Jimenez: White Sox callups not final
The White Sox issued a statement shortly after Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the organization will not be calling up Jimenez. The statement, per Tom Musick of the Chicago Sun-Times, indicated general manager Rick Hahn will meet with the media before Monday's game to discuss the organization's final callup list.
The statement reads as follows: "No final decision has been made on the entire list of Chicago White Sox callups for September. General manager Rick Hahn plans to meet with the media before the game Monday to discuss the final list after all affected players have been informed of the club's plans." It's no secret that Chicago wants to delay Jimenez's service clock as long as possible -- on a performance basis alone, the outfielder would be in the majors by now -- and the White Sox are not the lone organization practicing this strategy. So, we wait until Monday to learn Jimenez's final fate. In the meantime, the player's agents have said they might file a grievance if he's not promoted. The potential exists that this may cause long-term discord in the relationship between the club and player.
-
Mark Canha LF | TEX
Athletics' Mark Canha: Smacks 15th homer
Canha went 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored Saturday against the Mariners.
Canha got only his second start in the past seven games but took advantage by hitting his first home run since July 30. His 15th home run of the season came against southpaw James Paxton, continuing Canha's season-long trend of hitting well with the platoon advantage. Twelve of his 15 home runs have now come with a lefty on the mound, and he is slugging over .600 against them across 132 at-bats as a result.
-
Byron Buxton CF | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Will not be called up
Buxton will not be called up from Triple-A Rochester this season, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The Twins announced Saturday that they will not activate the talented but embattled outfielder for the remainder of this lost season. This will work toward controlling his service time so that he won't become a free agent after the 2022 season. Those holding Buxton in redraft leagues on the hope that he might provide a late-season boost can cut bait, but keeper-league players looking toward the future who can still make trades could benefit by asking Buxton's shareholder whether he's available.
-
Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM
Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Continues to rake
Choi went 3-for-5 hitting out of the third spot in the lineup in a win over the Indians on Saturday.
Choi's line since being dealt to Tampa Bay for Brad Miller is now up to .284/.368/.480 over 117 plate appearances. If there is a righty starter on the mound, Choi is in the lineup and he continues to keep the offense moving along. Saturday was his fourth multi-hit contest in his last eight games.
-
Michael Brantley LF | HOU
Indians' Michael Brantley: Comes out of steals slumber
Brantley swiped two bases Saturday off Tampa's battery of Blake Snell and Jesus Sucre.
The two steals by Brantley were his first attempts in 21 contests and just his third and fourth attempts since the break. He now has 10 steals on the season, giving him six consecutive seasons of double-digit steals if we pretend 2016 never happened.
-
Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Angels' Shohei Ohtani: Not in lineup Saturday
Ohtani is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The Angels resume the strategy of giving Ohtani the day off prior to his starts, as he is set to make his return to the mound against the Astros on Sunday. The 24-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down at the plate with a .328/.423/.672 slash line and six home runs in August.
-
Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Yankees' Andrew McCutchen: Leading off Saturday
McCutchen is starting in right field and leading off Saturday against the Tigers.
McCutchen will immediately assume leadoff duties for his new team with southpaw Daniel Norris toeing the rubber for the Tigers, though he could find himself elsewhere in the lineup against righties. The 31-year-old hit .255/.357/.415 with 15 homers and 13 steals across 130 games with the Giants prior to being dealt.