MLB Player News

Almonte elected free agency Wednesday.

Almonte, 34, has a career .671 OPS over parts of 11 big-league seasons and saw eight games worth of action with the Mets this season. The outfielder will be on the lookout for another contract this winter.

Belt is starting at designated hitter and batting second Wednesday in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The Blue Jays are rolling out the same lineup that they featured in Game 1 as they try to stave off elimination. That includes Belt in the two spot, which is where he hit in his final three starts of the regular season. For what it's worth, Belt is 0-for-8 with a 3:1 K:BB in nine career plate appearances versus Twins starter Sonny Gray.

Garver is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Rays.

The Rangers are sticking with the exact same lineup that produced a Game 1 victory. That means Garver is again sitting out in favor of Robbie Grossman at designated hitter even as Grossman went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday (though he did draw a walk).

Pham revealed Tuesday that he's been limited to DH duties because of turf toe, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Pham served as the Diamondbacks' everyday designated hitter over the final week of the regular season and will remain in that role for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday against the Brewers. He said he might receive an injection before the game to help him get over the hump, but it's unclear whether he'll be able to play the outfield at all in Arizona's best-of-three series versus Milwaukee.

Winker (quad/back) is on the Brewers' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup versus the Diamondbacks.

Winker missed the final two months of the regular season due to back and quad injuries, but he has suddenly reemerged -- likely as a pinch-hitting option against righties -- for this best-of-three series against Arizona. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter owns a career .853 OPS versus right-handed pitching.

Buxton (knee) has been left off the Twins' AL Wild Card Series roster, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Things were trending in this direction, as Buxton was not present for the Twins' workout Monday. He hasn't played with the big club since early August while dealing with a hamstring injury and more recently an aggravation of his knee issue. Buxton could potentially be added to the Twins' roster should they advance to the ALDS, although the former wouldn't seem to be a given.

Garver is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's AL Wild Card Series opener against the Rays.

Garver was the Rangers' primary designated hitter down the stretch but will begin Game 1 versus the Rays on the bench. Manager Bruce Bochy has decided he likes the matchup of Robbie Grossman against Tyler Glasnow better.

Buxton (knee) did not participate during the Twins' on-field workout Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

It seems likely that Buxton probably did some stuff out of the public view Monday, but he was not part of the workout with his teammates. Buxton has been sidelined since early August with a hamstring injury and more recently a flare-up with his knee issue. His inclusion on the Twins' AL Wild Card Series roster has to be considered a major question mark at this point.

Rooker went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Angels.

Rooker capped off his 2023 campaign on a strong note by going perfect at the plate and hitting his 30th home run of the season. The 28-year-old began the year as one of the hottest hitters in baseball before having a brutal hitting stretch during May and June. He maintained more of a steady approach after the All-Star break, slashing .246/.313/.403 with 14 homers, 25 RBI, 29 runs and a 16:80 BB:K in 223 plate appearances. Rooker was one of the few bright spots for a struggling A's team and could be a trade piece for them in the offseason.

Belt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Rays.

Belt's eighth inning home run was his third long ball over his last four games. Since May 4, the 35-year-old leads the Blue Jays with a .934 OPS and closes out the regular season with a strong slash line of .254/.369/.490 with 19 homers, 43 RBI, 53 runs and a 61:141 BB:K in 404 plate appearances. He'll figure to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Blue Jays open up the playoffs against Pablo Lopez and the Twins.