MLB Player News

The Astros placed Corona on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Corona spent the vast majority of his time at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2025, finishing the season with a .220/.308/.326 slash line through 433 plate appearances. If he clears waivers, he will most likely return to Sugar Land and begin the 2026 season as organizational outfield depth.

The Astros placed McCormick on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

McCormick was one of five players waived by Houston on Tuesday in an effort to free up roster space heading into the offseason. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, the 30-year-old outfielder will have the option to reject his assignment and become a free agent. After posting a .786 OPS through his first three seasons in the majors, McCormick has regressed considerably at the plate, slashing just .211/273/.301 across 383 plate appearances since 2024.

The Red Sox and Duran avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.7 million contract Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The team had an $8 million option on Duran, but it will give him a $100,000 buyout instead and bring him back at a slightly lower salary than what the option would have paid him. Duran will remain under club control through the end of the 2028 season. The 29-year-old outfielder slashed .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 157 regular-season contests for Boston in 2025.

The White Sox exercised Robert's $20 million option for 2026 on Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Robert has slashed only .223/.288/.372 over 210 games covering the past two seasons and has a lengthy history of injuries. However, he hit .298/.352/.456 after the All-Star break in 2025, and the White Sox are betting on his ability to bounce back. Having a $20 million club option for 2027 surely factored into their decision, as well. Robert ended this season on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring, but he'll be 100 percent for spring training.

O'Neill will remain with the Orioles after declining to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

O'Neill is owed $33 million over the next two years, and he's wisely decided to opt into that deal after slashing just .199/.292/.392 over 54 games in his first year in Baltimore. The 30-year-old should bounce back to some degree in 2026, but he will remain an injury risk.

The Rays activated Fairchild (oblique) from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment Monday.

Fairchild missed most of the second half with an oblique strain. While he will be recovered well ahead of spring training, the Rays have elected not to put him back on their 40-man roster. Fairchild is a career .223/.305/.384 hitter across parts of five major-league seasons.

The Rays acquired Vilade from the Reds on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

Vilade had been a waiver claim of the Reds in June but didn't receive a plate appearance during his brief time with Cincinnati. The 26-year-old is 9-for-64 over parts of three seasons during his time at the big-league level. Vilade will attempt to win a reserve role with the Rays.

Butler (knee) said Monday that he will be fully ready for the beginning of spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Butler underwent surgery in early October to repair a tear in his right patellar tendon and also had a debridement of chronic scar tissue in the knee. Additionally, he was given a platelet-rich plasma injection to combat chronic tendinitis in his left patellar tendon. Butler played through knee problems for a portion of the 2025 campaign, which could have contributed to his disappointing .234/.306/.404 batting line. While Butler is optimistic his recovery will not impact his readiness for the start of camp, it would not be a surprise if the Athletics slow-played the outfielder early on in spring training.

Montgomery (foot) has gone 4-for-11 with one double, seven walks, three stolen bases, three runs and two RBI in four games since making his Arizona Cactus League debut last Tuesday.

After fracturing his right foot when he was hit by a pitch in a Sept. 6 game, Montgomery finished the season on Double-A Birmingham's 7-day injured list, but he made enough progress in his recovery over the final weeks of the campaign for the White Sox to feel comfortable making him part of their AFL contingent. He was held out for the first two weeks of AFL action while continuing his rehab program before getting the green light to play last week. He doubled in his first at-bat and has shown a keen eye at the plate thus far in Arizona, striking out just three times while drawing seven free passes. Though Montgomery is a long shot to win a spot on the White Sox's Opening Day roster, he'll likely get an invitation to big-league spring training and should have a chance to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026.

Robles will start in right field and bat ninth in Monday's ALCS Game 7 in Toronto.

It's the first start since ALCS Game 3 for Robles, who is 1-for-12 with a 1:4 K:BB during the series. Dominic Canzone will retreat to the bench for the Mariners in Monday's winner-take-all contest.