MLB Player News

Lopez's contract was purchased by the Blue Jays on Friday.

While Lopez probably won't reach the majors until at least 2022, he has a very intriguing skill set as an infielder with defensive versatility and a good hit tool. He hit .324/.371/.425 with five home runs, 20 steals and a 12.8 percent strikeout rate at Low-A in 2019 and should open the 2021 season at High-A or Double-A.

The Indians have informed several other clubs that they intend to trade Lindor prior to Opening Day, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Lindor is set to earn approximately $21 million this winter in his final year of arbitration, and the Indians are apparently eager to move him with the aims of cutting payroll for the upcoming season and getting back future assets in return for the star shortstop before he hits free agency next offseason. Though Lindor took a step back offensively in the 60-game 2020 campaign with a career-worst .750 OPS, his long track record of success at the dish coupled with the premium defense he offers should keep the Indians' asking price for the 26-year-old high. Expect a number of playoff-hopeful clubs to touch base with the Indians in trade discussions over the next few months.

The Pirates declared Reyes (suspension) a free agent Sunday, Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America reports.

Shortly after Pittsburgh outrighted him off its 40-man roster in January, Reyes received an 80-game suspension following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. Assuming the Pirates' 60-game 2020 regular season counts toward his suspension, Reyes will have to sit out the first 20 games of the 2021 minor-league season before he's eligible to play again, likely with a new organization's Triple-A or Double-A affiliate.

Velazquez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Velazquez appeared in 40 games for the Orioles during the shortened 2020 season, but he failed to get into a rhythm as he slashed .159/.274/.206 with three RBI and four stolen bases prior to being sent down in September. He won't have a spot on the 40-man roster heading into the offseason, and it's unclear how much major-league playing time he could see in 2021.

The Mariners declined Strange-Gordon's contract option Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Strange-Gordon played a part-time role for Seattle during the abbreviated 2020 season, and he'll hit free agency after his contract option was declined. The Mariners haven't expressed interest in bringing him back on a revised deal, and he should have to settle for another part-time role after slashing .200/.268/.213 with three RBI and three stolen bases over 33 games in 2020.

Wendle is not in the lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Wendle will head to the bench with left-hander Julio Urias set to start for the Dodgers. Mike Brosseau will take over at third base in his absence.

Seager went 2-for-4 with a solo homer Wednesday in a loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the World Series.

Seager hit a solo homer in the eighth inning off Pete Fairbanks. The 26-year-old crushed his seventh homer of postseason, the most by a shortstop in a single postseason. The left-handed hitter slashed .307/.358/.585 and smacked 15 homers while recording 41 RBI during the regular season.

Seager went hitless across five at-bats in the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the Braves in Game 7 of the series. He was named the NLCS MVP as Los Angeles advanced to the World Series.

Though he finished the series with a relative whimper, Seager was the catalyst for the Los Angeles offense in the prior six games, during which he reached base at a .400 clip while mashing five home runs and two doubles and driving in 11 runs. The home run and RBI totals were the most by any player in a single postseason series in National League history.

Seager went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's NLCS Game 6 win over the Braves.

Seager opened the scoring with a solo shot off Max Fried in the first inning, kicking off a three-run rally that would provide the Dodgers with all the runs they would need in their 3-1 win. The shortstop had an excellent regular season, hitting .307/.358/.585 with 15 homers in 52 games, and he's been even more productive in the playoffs. Seager has homered six times in 11 postseason games, scoring 13 runs and driving in 15 more while posting a .333/.396/.857 slash line.

Seager went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves on Friday.

Seager started the Dodgers' scoring by smacking a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. He added a two-run shot three frames later to provide insurance to the team's lead and force Game 6 on Saturday. Overall, Seager has provided plenty of pop in the postseason, as he now has five home runs, 14 RBI and 12 runs scored to go along with a .342/.409/.842 line across 44 plate appearances.