MLB Player News

Ohtani (elbow/knee) completed his throwing progression Thursday and is now finished with Tommy John rehab, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was recovering from Tommy John surgery and knee surgery, but his rehab now appears to be complete after three weeks of throwing off a mound. The right-hander will now be shut down from throwing for the remainder of the offseason prior to spring training. The team will determine his usage going forward during spring training, but he is expected to have an innings cap and not pitch more than once per week in 2020, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Cespedes (ankle) and the Mets agreed to a restructured contract Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Cespedes had been scheduled to make $29.5 million this season but will now make significantly less. The outfielder has appeared in just 119 games over the last three seasons combined. He's been hitting and running as he works his way back from multiple ankle fractures, injuries he suffered after taking a fall on his ranch back in May, though his availability for the start of the 2020 season remains in question. Due to the questionable nature of that injury, which occurred as Cespedes was recovering from heel surgery, the Mets were able to file a grievance and save reportedly over $10 million ahead of the 2020 season.

Cespedes (ankle) has been hitting for several weeks and has also started running, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Cespedes is making measurable progress early in the offseason, which is a positive sign, though there's no guarantee that he'll be ready to play at any point during the 2020 campaign. He underwent ankle surgery at the end of May to address multiple fractures in an off-field accident.

Dickerson agreed to a one-year, $925,000 deal with the Giants on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The two sides avoid arbitration with the deal. Dickerson rebounded from two seasons lost completely to injury, appearing in 68 games for the Padres and Giants last season. He hit quite well in his 56 games with San Francisco, posting a .290/.351/.529 slash line. If he can remain healthy this season, he'll factor into the mix in the outfield corners.

Ohtani (elbow/knee) was cleared to throw off a mound Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani is working his way back from both Tommy John surgery and knee surgery. He's expected to throw off a mound for three or four weeks, at which point his recovery from the elbow procedure will be considered complete.

Goins signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training.

Goins became a free agent at the end of October after being outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte, though it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. He hit .250 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 52 games with the White Sox in 2019 and has appeared in the big leagues at some point in each of the last seven seasons.

Cespedes (ankle) took batting practice Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets have previously expressed doubt that Cespedes would be recovered enough from ankle surgery to play at any point in 2020, so the fact that he's already taking batting practice in mid-November is undoubtedly a positive sign. The outfielder's health has been an unwanted adventure for the Mets in recent seasons, however, so it's far too early to be overly confident in his status for the 2020 campaign.

Ozuna will not accept the Cardinals' qualifying offer, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Ozuna isn't at the same elite level as some players who were tendered qualifying offers, but he's evidently generating enough interest around the league that he won't have to settle for the one-year deal. Per Heyman's report, seven teams, including the Cardinals, have talked to the outfielder about a multi-year deal.

Alvarez was unanimously named the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Upon being promoted in June, Alvarez took the league by storm, slashing .313/.412/.655 with 27 home runs and 78 RBI over 87 games. The 22-year-old slugger is expected to remain a fixture in Houston's lineup for years to come.

Ohtani (knee) remains on track to finish his rehab in mid-December, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was limited to hitting duties all season while his arm recovered from Tommy John surgery. His time as a designated hitter ended prematurely as well after he was shut down for surgery on his left kneecap in mid-September. He's been running on an anti-gravity treadmill and throwing from a distance of 120 feet, with the goal of getting back on a mound by the end of the month.