MLB Player News

Holderman underwent surgery Wednesday to relieve recurring tendinitis in his right wrist, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

The operation was successful, and Holderman is expected to be 100 percent in time for spring training. Holderman posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB over 52.2 frames for the Guardians this season. The 31-year-old is eligible for salary arbitration this winter.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Wednesday that Estrada (shoulder) had resumed throwing off the mound and could have been added to the roster if his team advanced to the NLCS, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Estrada missed the final month-plus of the regular season and the playoffs with a right shoulder impingement. However, it sounds like the reliever should enter the offseason without any limitations. Injuries limited Estrada to 33 appearances in 2026, and he finished with a 3.48 ERA and 38:16 K:BB over 31 innings. Slated to turn 28 in November, Estrada will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Wednesday that he believes Smith will be a starting pitcher in the majors "at some point," but a decision on the lefty's role for 2027 hasn't been made, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Smith began the 2026 season in the rotation at Triple-A Charlotte, but he was moved to the bullpen in July and it was in a relief role where he impacted the major-league club, posting a 1.29 ERA and 47:24 K:BB across 35 regular-season innings. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Smith has shown flashes of dominance but overall has been erratic boasting a 33.4 percent strikeout rate but also a 16.2 percent walk rate in the minors.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday that the team has yet to make a decision on whether to deploy Taylor as a starting pitcher or reliever next season, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Getz noted that he believes Taylor will be a starting pitcher in the majors "at some point," but whether that will happen in 2027 is undetermined. Taylor logged a 2.25 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 106:30 K:BB over 84 regular-season innings for the White Sox in 2026 as a reliever and occasional opener. The 24-year-old notched 10 saves during the regular season and another two in the playoffs, and he will likely open 2027 as the team's closer if the White Sox elect to keep him in the bullpen. However, Taylor has loads of upside as a starting pitcher, and if the White Sox intend to make the role shift eventually, next season might be the time to do it.

Baker struck out one while retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to earn the save in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Tuesday.

The right-hander entered with a 3-1 lead and closed things out with little fanfare, as he needed just eight pitches to even the series at one game apiece. It's the fourth save of the playoffs for Baker, who has yet to allow a hit and has a 5:1 K:BB across four innings. He's now converted his past 34 save opportunities, with his last blown save coming May 13 in Toronto.

Ashby struck out two without allowing a baserunning in 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Monday.

The left-hander continued his dominant run this postseason, as he's given up just two hits and three walks while striking out eight across 9.1 frames through five appearances. Manager Pat Murphy continues to utilize Ashby as a Swiss-army knife, as he's already recorded a win, a hold and a save while working in every frame from the fifth through ninth innings. Milwaukee's bullpen has been dominant as a unit in October, with Ashby leading the charge.

Hopkins has been included on the Rays' roster for the ALCS, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

He will take the roster spot of Garrett Cleavinger, as the Rays will swap out a righty for a lefty in their bullpen. Hopkins made six appearances out of the bullpen down the stretch for the Rays, allowing three runs with a 7:6 K:BB in 5.1 frames. The 24-year-old has electric stuff, but manager Kevin Cash might not feel comfortable using Hopkins in high leverage due to his control problems.

Cleavinger will not be on the Rays' ALCS roster, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Cleavinger returned from a forearm injury in time to be part of the ALDS roster, but the southpaw did not make an appearance against the Yankees. He's roster spot will be absorbed by Brody Hopkins.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday that Fuentes will enter spring training as a starting pitcher and could be transitioned to a relief role, if needed, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.

Atlanta had a similar plan for the right-hander in 2026, and he ended up working out of the bullpen to stellar results. Fuentes made 58 appearances during the regular season, recording thee saves and 17 holds with a 2.45 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 92:21 K:BB across 73.1 innings during his first full MLB campaign. He was also a key contributor in the playoffs, allowing three runs on five hits with a 5:2 K:BB over seven innings.

Whitlock was diagnosed with a fractured right tibia after the Red Sox were eliminated from the postseason in the wild-card round, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Whitlock pitched through leg pain during the final month of the regular season, and only after undergoing imaging following the wild-card series did he discover he'd suffered a fracture. He'll spend roughly six weeks in a walking boot but should avoid surgery, and he's expected to be fully healthy by the time spring training begins.