MLB Player News

Adams signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Adams spent the entire 2026 campaign in the minors, slashing .270/.385/.500 with 16 homers, 50 RBI and 58 runs scored across 327 plate appearances. He'll likely get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot during spring training, though he's more likely to fill in as depth at Triple-A Worcester.

Rushing will undergo a hybrid internal brace procedure on his right elbow Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Rushing was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in early August, which kept him from catching and limited him to just 11 plate appearances in the final two months of the regular season. The surgery will prevent him from catching on a full-time basis for nine months, a timeline that stretches into the second half of next season. Rushing will be able to hit well before then, but it's unclear whether the Dodgers would consider carrying him on their active roster only as a hitter, especially with the designated hitter slot already filled by Shohei Ohtani. Rushing slashed .246/.328/.460 with 12 home runs in 80 contests for the Dodgers this season.

Wells said earlier this month that he believes "the culmination of multiple blows to the head" affected his production in the first half, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Wells took a foul tip to the mask April 23 and another one two weeks after that. While he was able to pass concussion testing, the catcher had symptoms and eventually landed on the 10-day injured list in early June with cervical headaches. Wells felt healthy after returning and had a .787 OPS with eight home runs after the All-Star break (as compared to a .504 OPS and six home runs in the first half). The 27-year-old is currently slated to open the 2027 campaign as the Yankees' top catcher, though it's possible the team seeks help from outside the organization.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that he's informed Realmuto the catcher will receive more days off in 2027, Matt Gelb and Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic report.

He made 122 starts behind the plate in 2026 in his age-35 season. However, his downward trend offensively continued, as Realmuto slashed only .205/.283/.331 with 11 home runs across 467 plate appearances. Dombrowski didn't rule out acquiring an upgrade at backup catcher this offseason, which could allow manager Don Mattingly more confidence in giving Realmuto extra rest.

Smith will start at catcher and bat seventh Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

Smith has really been scuffling this postseason, going 1-for-23 with a 1:8 BB:K. As a result, he's been demoted to the bottom-third of the Dodgers lineup.

Bailey is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 2 of the ALCS against the Rays.

Bailey cranked a solo home run as part of a two-hit effort in the Guardians' Game 1 victory, but he will retreat to the bench in Game 2. Austin Hedges has been Parker Messick's personal catcher this season, and that will continue with Hedges getting the start Tuesday.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional RBI in Monday's win against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS.

The 28-year-old continues to wield a hot bat this postseason, as he's batting .391 (9-for-23) with four walks, three homers, five RBI and four runs through six games. Contreras has entrenched himself as the Brewers' No. 3 hitter and has been the engine of the offense thus far in October.

Hicks is absent from the lineup Monday for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians.

Hicks went just 1-for-10 at the plate in the ALDS sweep of the Yankees. With the Guardians turning to southpaw Foster Griffin in Game 1, the left-handed-hitting Hicks will yield to Nick Fortes at catcher for the Rays.

Jansen underwent surgery Wednesday to remove a bone growth from his right hand, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

It's a minor operation that's not expected to affect Jansen's offseason workouts. Jansen slashed .203/.296/.381 with eight home runs over 67 games for the Rangers this season. As things stand currently, the 31-year-old Jansen seems likely to open the 2027 campaign as the Rangers' top catcher.

Bailey is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the ALDS against the White Sox.

Austin Hedges has caught Parker Messick regularly this season and will do so again in Game 4. Bailey is 3-for-9 with a 1:2 BB:K at the plate so far this postseason, while Hedges is hitless in two plate appearances.