MLB Player News

The Mets placed Ortega on outright waivers Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Ortega became an everyday part of the Mets' outfield in the second half of the season, but he'll now be booted from the active roster after slashing .219/.341/.272 across 136 plate appearances. The 32-year-old Ortega will likely elect free agency if he goes unclaimed off waivers.

Perez was placed on outright assignment waivers Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

As part of a mass-clearing of the Mets' 40-man roster, Perez will join five other players on the waiver wire. Perez spent most of 2023 in Triple-A, slashing .204/.309/.352 across 270 plate appearances.

The Mets placed Nittoli on outright waivers Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Nittoli was able to hold his own during his brief major-league stint in 2023, but he put up a 4.64 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 42.2 innings in Triple-A. He will have the option to become a free agent if he clears waivers.

The Mets placed Kay on outright waivers Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Kay will join five other Mets players on the waiver wire in an effort from the team to clear space on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old southpaw put up a 6.14 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 14.2 innings between the Cubs and Mets.

Lauer cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Lauer struggled to get things going with the Brewers in 2023, accumulating a 6.56 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 46.2 innings in 10 appearances. He reserves the right to elect free agency, but other teams will likely have to see signs of improvement before giving Lauer another shot in a big-league rotation.

Thomas isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup for Game 4 of the NLCS against Philadelphia.

With left-hander Cristopher Sanchez set to start on the mound for the Phillies, the lefty-hitting Thomas will retreat to the bench for the beginning of Friday's contest. Lourdes Gurriel, Corbin Carroll and Tommy Pham will start across the outfield while Thomas sits.

The Rockies sent Rolison (undisclosed) outright to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.

Rolison missed nearly all of last season due to injury, pitching just five innings with Albuquerque across two starts and giving up seven runs in the process. The 26-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched a full season since 2021, and he'll likely need to improve upon his 6.57 ERA at Triple-A before reclaiming a spot on Colorado's 40-man roster.

McLain (oblique) has begun rehab work at the Reds' spring training complex in Arizona, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

McLain wound up missing the final month-plus of the season with an oblique injury, which he aggravated in late September. He's on the mend now, though, and should be healed up well ahead of spring training. McLain is in line to hold down a starting spot in the Reds' infield in 2024, with the position yet to be determined.

Ashcraft (toe) was scheduled to begin physical therapy this week, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Ashcraft underwent surgery in September to relieve a stress reaction in his big right toe. Physical therapy appears to be the first step in the recovery process, and he is expected to be 100 percent by the time spring training rolls around.

Sewald allowed one walk in a scoreless inning to earn the win in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLCS. He struck out one.

Sewald was called into the tied game in the top of the ninth to hold things even for his offense, and he succeeded, with only a walk to Geraldo Perdomo spoiling his final line. Ketel Marte's walk-off hit in the ninth inning left Sewald with the first postseason win of his career, although he does have four saves so far this October. During that stretch, Sewald has pitched to a 0.60 WHIP across five scoreless innings with six strikeouts.