MLB Player News

Ozuna was given a qualifying offer by the Cardinals on Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The draft-pick penalty which will now be attached to Ozuna could potentially compel him to accept the offer. He's a good hitter but not an elite one, having posted a wRC+ above 110 just once in the last five seasons, so teams could be hesitant to give up a pick to sign him to a long-term deal heading into his age-29 season.

Martinez will not exercise the opt-out in his contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Martinez evidently didn't feel as though he could make more than the $62.5 million he's due over the next three seasons on the open market. He remains an excellent hitter, but there's understandably some uncertainty about the market for a 32-year-old designated hitter. He has opt-outs remaining after each of the next two seasons, so there's still no guarantee he remains in Boston through the end of the 2022 season.

Colon cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

The 30-year-old saw his first major-league action since 2017 last year, recording three hits in six at-bats with one run and one RBI. Colon will now return to the Triple-A level, where he hit .300/.372/.443 with 10 home runs and 70 RBI in 2019.

Cespedes (ankle) continues to rehab from his injuries, but it's uncertain whether he will be able to play in 2020, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Cespedes suffered multiple right ankle fractures in an off-field incident in May which required surgery and could hinder his playing time in 2020. It's encouraging that he's been rehabbing, but it's still too early to tell whether the 34-year-old will be healthy enough to take the field next season. Over 38 games in 2019, Cespedes hit .262/.325/.496 with nine home runs and 29 RBI.

Goins was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday and will become a minor-league free agent following the conclusion of the World Series.

Goins got into 52 games for the White Sox in 2019, hitting .250/333/.347. His 86 wRC+ was the best mark of his seven-year big-league career, so he'll likely be stuck looking for a minor-league contract heading into his age-32 season.

Alvarez remains on the bench for Game 4 of the World Series in Washington on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez remains limited to pinch-hit duty under National League rules. It's still possible he gets a shot in left field for Game 5.

Ohtani (knee) has been cleared to throw from 100 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was cleared to begin a throwing program at the end of September after undergoing surgery on his left knee a few weeks earlier. He's on track to start throwing from a mound by the end of November, per Fletcher.

Alvarez will sit for Game 3 of the World Series in Washington on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The designated hitter hit well in the first two games of the series, going 3-for-6 with a pair of walks. Despite that performance, the Astros are seemingly unwilling to risk his shaky defense in the National League park.

Stanton had a Grade 2 quadriceps strain during the ALCS, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old missed several games during the ALCS with the strain in his right quad, while general manager Brian Cashman said that is was a Grade 2 variety that would have sent Stanton to the injured list in the regular season. The team wanted to keep Stanton available for the World Series if it was to advance, so the Yankees kept him on the active roster. The outfielder will likely need a few weeks before he's fully recovered, but he should have a normal offseason after he heals.

Alvarez will bat seventh as the designated hitter for Game 1 of the World Series against the Nationals on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The young slugger has been quite poor in the playoffs, hitting .171/.227/.244 over 44 plate appearances. The Astros will trust the rookie's much longer sample of 369 plate appearances in the regular season, however, in which he hit .313/.412/.655.