MLB Player News

The Mets placed Montes de Oca (elbow) on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Montes de Oca underwent Tommy John surgery shortly before Opening Day, causing him to miss the entire 2023 season. Though he no longer holds a spot on New York's 40-man roster, the 27-year-old righty could be brought back on once he fully recovers from his procedure.

The Mets placed Reyes on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Reyes is off the 40-man roster in New York and will probably soon become a free agent. The 27-year-old right-hander struggled to a 7.78 ERA over 19.2 major-league innings in 2023 and also held an underwhelming 5.79 ERA and 72:33 K:BB in 91.2 innings of work with Triple-A Syracuse.

The Mets placed Locastro on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Locastro can become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed. The 31-year-old outfielder showed pretty well in limited action this season with New York, but he's a career .228/.327/.337 hitter in 616 total major-league plate appearances.

The Mets placed Hernandez (pectoral) on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Shoulder and pectoral injuries prevented Hernandez from playing in the majors in 2023, and he'll now lose his spot on the Mets' 40-man roster. He'll have the option to elect free agency and could draw interest from other teams despite his injury history.

The Mets placed Curtiss (elbow) on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Curtiss has been on the 60-day IL since August, so the Mets don't gain a roster spot by waiving the 30-year-old reliever. However, the move gives Curtiss the option to elect free agency and decide where he plays in 2024. Curtiss put up a 4.58 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 19.2 innings before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.

Narvaez exercised his $7 million player option for 2024 on Thursday.

As expected, the 31-year-old will return next season as the backup to young Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. Narvaez slashed just .211/.283/.297 over 49 games (146 plate appearances) in 2023, but he is a good defender behind the plate and had the player option in hand.

The Mets placed Battenfield on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Battenfield represents one of six Mets waived Thursday in an effort to clear room on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old righty never made an appearance for New York, though he posted a 5.19 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 34.2 frames in the majors with Cleveland.

The Brewers claimed Capra off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday.

Capra, 27, has logged only 28 career plate appearances at the major-league level, but he put up an encouraging .329/.412/.439 batting line over 49 games with the Triple-A affiliate of the Pirates in 2023. He'll function as organizational infield depth for Milwaukee.

Cincinnati re-signed Santillan on Thursday to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Santillan has been bogged down by various injuries over the last two seasons, but he posted a shiny 2.91 ERA with 56 strikeouts over 43.1 innings as a rookie in 2021. With better luck on the health front, the 26-year-old right-hander could reestablish himself as a useful part of the Reds' bullpen mix in 2024.

Muncy signed a two-year, $24 million contract extension with the Dodgers on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Muncy already had a $14 million club option for the 2024 season, but the Dodgers will instead give him a new deal that keeps the 33-year-old slugger in Los Angeles through 2025 with a $10 million club option for 2026. Muncy slashed .212/.333/.475 across 482 plate appearances in 2023 while recording personal bests in home runs (36) and RBI (105).