MLB Player News

Contreras has two years and $36.5 million remaining on the five-year, $85 million contract he signed ahead of the 2023 season. That contract also has a club option for $17.5 million in 2028, so he is under contract for a reasonable amount of money for the next three years, which should be appealing to many teams. The 33-year-old hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, a career-high 70 runs, and a career-high 80 RBI in his first season as a first baseman. While the Cardinals are not eager to trade Contreras, as Woo noted, trading him “would open up first base full-time for Alec Burleson and could alleviate some payroll concerns.” This is a situation to monitor for the rebuilding Cardinals.

LeMahieu’s first Instagram post in six years wasn’t a retirement announcement, but one imagines that if the 37-year-old had any interest in returning, it would have happened this spring. The two-time batting champ and three-time All-Star is making $15 million this season in what was the final year of a six-year, $90 million contract with the Yankees.

Fried allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five while improving to 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA on the season. He’s 23-6 in his first year and a month as a Yankee. Boston’s Garrett Crochet, at 21-8, is the only other pitcher with at least 19 wins since the beginning of 2025. Fried will face the Orioles this weekend.

Bednar was very lucky it was Joc Pederson at the plate when Jazz Chisholm Jr. booted a grounder to second with one on and no outs. The slow-footed Pederson was originally called safe with Bednar covering on the late throw, but after a very long replay, the call was reversed. Chisholm later committed what could have been his second error of the inning if not for the reversal, allowing Josh Smith to reach. Alejandro Osuna singled in a run afterwards, but Ezequiel Duran then grounded out to end the game. The save was Bednar’s eighth in nine tries.

Leiter allowed five hits aside from the homers, so it’s fortunate that he surrendered just the four runs. It’s his fourth straight subpar outing after he opened up with a 2.45 ERA and 17 strikeouts in his first two starts. He has a 6.64 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings since. He’s due to face the Tigers on Sunday.

Judge has 47 career two-homer games, but this is just his 11th two-double game. It’s the 12th time he’s had three extra-base hits. His 11th homer of this season put him at 379 for his career. He overtook Matt Williams tonight and moved into a tie with Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez for 75th place on the all-time list. As far as doubles, with Nos. 207 and 208 tonight, he’s now just nine away from cracking the top 1000 of all-time, at least according to Baseball Reference.

Pederson had one homer previously, but the 108-mph shot tonight gave him his first barrel in 78 plate appearances this season. He’s hitting .306 in 49 at-bats since opening the season 0-for-14. Still, he’s going to have to show more power to have any chance of fantasy relevancy.

Stanton underwent an MRI earlier on Monday that revealed a low-grade calf strain. He’ll need some additional time off to put the issue to bed, but isn’t expected to require a lengthy absence. The 36-year-old veteran’s departure opens the door for Jasson Domínguez to continue getting opportunities at DH against right-handed pitching.