MLB Player News

The Dodgers have switched up their starting nine for the first time since sitting Max Muncy against a lefty in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies. Call started that one over Muncy, but tonight he’s playing over Pages, who is 4-for-50 with one RBI and no walks in the postseason. The other change is moving up Smith and dropping Mookie Betts, though only to the third spot. The lineup: Shohei Ohtani (DH), Smith (C), Betts (SS), Freddie Freeman (1B), Teoscar Hernández (RF), Tommy Edman (2B), Muncy (3B), Kiké Hernandez (CF) and Call (LF).

Herrera, who is recovering from surgery last month to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, will have an opportunity to resume catching next season after knee issues limited him to DH for the final five months of last year. The 25-year-old slugging backstop is expected to be a full-go at the outset of spring training. He’s one of the better options at the catcher position heading into next year with the caveat that he won’t pick up eligibility for a couple weeks in most leagues.

Edridge’s name surfaced over the weekend in a report from the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser as a possible trade candidate, but it sounds like there are no immediate plans to send him packing. The 21-year-old slugging prospect struggled in his first taste of the big leagues this past season, but he’s one of the more promising power-hitting prospects in the game considering his combination of hard contact and solid contact skills for a player of his immense physical stature. He figures to split time at the cold corner with Devers heading into next season unless the Giants decide to make a splash by signing free agent Kyle Schwarber.

Brown said last month that Alvarez was expected to be ready for the start of spring training after suffering a serious-looking ankle injury during late September. The 28-year-old slugger was diagnosed with a significant high ankle sprain that didn’t end up requiring surgery. The latest update should extinguish any concerns for fantasy managers heading into drafts next spring.

Brown told reporters last month that Paredes wouldn’t be 100 percent at the outset of spring training as he continues to recover from a high-grade hamstring strain that he suffered back in mid-July. It certainly sounds like there’s optimism the 26-year-old corner infielder will be ready for Houston’s season opener in late March, which should help boost his appeal in fantasy drafts in the coming months.

Wade fortifies the second base and center field equation for the Rangers heading into next season. The versatile 31-year-old veteran got into 59 games this past season for the Padres, batting .206 (22-for-107) with one stolen base. He’ll compete for a bench role in spring training with depth options like Michael Helman and Sam Haggerty.

The same goes for David Morgan. Of moving the relievers to the rotation, Stammen said: “It’s a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise.” We’d say it still might be worth it in Miller’s case, especially given the Padres’ lack of rotation depth, but if they’re not going to do it, then Miller, who allowed just two runs and struck out 45 in 23 1/3 innings after being traded to San Diego at the deadline, has an argument for fantasy baseball’s No. 1 RP heading into the 2026.

There’s little doubt the Rangers will go with an outfield of Langford, Brandon Nimmo and Evan Carter against righties (with Carter perhaps sitting against lefties), but the alignment is in question, what with both Langford and Nimmo being best suited for left. The Rangers might feel that Langford in center and Carter in right would be their best alignment, even though Carter would seem to be the stronger center fielder of the two.

He’s slated to be guaranteed $1 million. Hummel, 31, got into 37 games with the Orioles and Astros last season, hitting .170/.301/.276. Even though he’s mostly excelled in Triple-A, racking up a .920 OPS in 374 games over five seasons, he’s a lifetime .163/.268/.275 hitter in 340 major league plate appearances. With any luck, Japan will work out better for him.

As with the Ty Adcock signing last week, the Padres are again taking advantage of their 40-man roster openings to secure a priority minor league free agent. The 27-year-old Acosta had a 2.42 ERA and a 72/27 K/BB in 52 innings of relief work between Double- and Triple-A in the Nationals system last season. He throws in the mid-90s and gets his strikeouts with a mid-80s splitter. Control has always been an issue, but the stuff is there for him to become a useful reliever. This will be his first time on a 40-man roster, so he has all three option years available.

Albernaz, who is managing a major league team for the first time, appears to believe that closers are closers and shouldn’t be used earlier in games when the situation might warrant. That’s good news for Helsley’s value, because while he was already clearly going to be the Orioles’ closer, it’s nice to know he won’t lose the occasional save chance pitching the eighth in tight games.