MLB Player News

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.

Belt underwent surgery to have a bone spur removed from his right heel, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 32-year-old battled an injury in a similar spot during summer camp, but it's now been rectified heading into the 2021 campaign. The injury wasn't overly impactful on Belt's performance during the shortened season, as he had a career-best .309/.425/.591 slash line with nine homers in 51 games. The team didn't offer a recovery timeline, but the veteran first baseman will have nearly four months to get back to full strength before the start of spring training.

Choi will be on the bench for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros on Tuesday.

Choi sits even with a righty (Jose Urquidy) on the mound for the Astros. Yandy Diaz will play first base in his absence.

Pederson will sit for Game 1 of the NLCS against Atlanta on Monday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

With a lefty (Max Fried) on the mound for Atlanta, Pederson hits the bench as usual. Chris Taylor moves out to left field in his absence, with Enrique Hernandez entering the lineup at second base.

Choi is not in the lineup for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Astros on Sunday.

The 29-year-old will take a seat in the series opener with southpaw Framber Valdez starting for Houston. Choi is 4-for-18 with one homer, three RBI and three walks over 22 playoff plate appearances this year.

Brantley went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over the A's on Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS.

Brantley got the Astros on the board with his two-run home run in the fourth inning and added a solo shot in the fifth. He had just five long balls during the regular season. At 33 years old, Brantley can still hit for average with the best of them in Major League Baseball. He's hit .300-plus in three straight regular seasons and is now batting .346 during these playoffs.

Stanton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's Game 3 loss to Tampa Bay.

The veteran slugger took Shane McClanahan deep during the eighth inning and has now homered in all five postseason games this year. Stanton is 7-for-19 with six home runs, 13 RBI and three walks in the playoffs, and he may need to extend the streak further Thursday to continue the season with the Yankees facing elimination in Game 4.

Canha went 2-for-5 with a solo home run during Wednesday's win over the Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS.

Canha hit a solo homer in the second inning off Jose Urquidy. The 31-year-old broke out of his postseason slump, as he'd recorded only one hit in the playoffs prior to Wednesday. The veteran slashed .246/.387/.408 during the regular season.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres on Wednesday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

The 28-year-old has only two plate appearances through the Dodgers' first three playoff games, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a GIDP. Pederson had a .682 OPS in 43 games this season and is seeing limited playing time early in the playoffs, even against right-handed starters. A.J. Pollock starts in left field, while Will Smith takes a break behind the plate to serve as the designated hitter in Game 2.

Stanton went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and four RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the ALDS.

Stanton cranked a solo home run in the second inning and a three-run homer in the fourth inning off Tyler Glasnow. His second home run of the night was measured at a staggering 458 feet and put the Yankees within one. The slugger will look to continue his impressive postseason in Game 3 of the ALDS.