MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Wells (forearm) "looked really good" in a throwing session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wells has been sidelined for the pat two weeks with right forearm tightness, but he has a good chance to be cleared to be on the Rays' ALDS roster. The righty reliever has been excellent this season in 57 appearances between the Orioles and Rays, logging a 2.38 ERA and 72:18 K:BB over 72 frames.

Smith didn't factor in the decision in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros on Tuesday. He allowed two hits with one strikeout and no walks over three innings.

The left-hander served as the opener for Tuesday's bullpen game and pitched more than two frames in an appearance for the second time this year. Smith's first campaign in the big leagues has been a major success, as he finished the regular season with a 1.29 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB across 28 innings. He'll surely be unavailable for Game 2 on Wednesday after tossing 38 pitches in the series opener.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Wednesday that the team has yet to decide whether Miles will be used as a starting pitcher or reliever next season, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Miles made eight starts and 41 relief appearances during his rookie season with the Blue Jays, logging a 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 93:25 K:BB over 95.2 innings. The righty didn't pitch at all in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he threw a total of just 16 innings from 2024-to-2025. It would be a significant workload increase in 2027 if the Blue Jays did decide to use Miles as a starter, and his ultimate role could depend on what Toronto does in terms of rotation additions over the offseason.

Okert (hamstring) is not included on the Astros' wild-card roster against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Okert has been out since early September while recovering from a strained right hamtring. He threw a bullpen session Monday, but it wasn't enough to convince the Astros he was ready. Okert could be in play for the ALDS, should his club advance.

The Royals transferred Cruz (personal) from the paternity list to the restricted list Sunday.

After going on paternity leave Thursday, Cruz spent the maximum three days on the list. Rather than having Cruz return for the season finale Sunday versus the Guardians, the Royals instead shifted him to the restricted list, which opened up a spot on the 40-man roster for James McArthur (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Cruz finished the 2026 season with a 4.30 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 65:20 K:BB in 58.2 innings and will likely be added back to the 40-man roster this offseason.

The Red Sox transferred Slaten (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The transaction makes space for the return of Garrett Crochet (lat) from the 60-day IL. Slaten had previously been ruled out for the remainder of the season after getting a PRP injection to address degenerative changes in his flexor mass.

The Red Sox activated Crochet (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Crochet has not appeared in a game since late April due to a strained left lat. However, the left-hander has checked off all the necessary boxes in order to convince the Red Sox he was ready for the American League Wild Card series against the Yankees. Crochet will be used in a relief role.

The Tigers optioned Hurter to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Sunday.

The transaction was merely procedural, as Hurter wasn't in line to pitch in Sunday's season finale versus the Pirates after tossing 1.2 innings in relief a day earlier. The Tigers reinstated Jack Flaherty (forearm) from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Hurter wrapped up the 2026 season with a 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB in 35.1 innings across 29 appearances.

Chivilli (elbow) was activated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 21.

Chivilli landed on the injured list in mid August with a posterior elbow injury. However, he's since been given a clean bill of health. Chivilli posted a 3.78 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 16.2 frames with the Yankees this season and is unlikely to see any action in the postseason after being optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 3.

Smith will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros on Tuesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Smith is no stranger to working multiple innings, so the length of his start will likely depend on how he fares. He opened a game for the White Sox on Sept. 10, firing two scoreless frames against the Pirates while striking out three. Hagen ended the regular season with a 1.29 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a 41:16 K:BB across 28.0 innings.