MLB Player News

Gasper is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 month after undergoing distal right biceps tendon surgery Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

The 4-to-6 month timeline is for Gasper's return to game action, so there's a good chance he'll be held out of spring training action initially, and his availability for Opening Day isn't a given. Gasper slashed .251/.357/.466 with 10 home runs and a 27:39 BB:K over 67 games in 2026.

Smith will serve as an opener Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Guardians, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Smith tossed three scoreless frames in Game 1 of the wild-card series versus the Astros, and the White Sox will turn back to the lefty Saturday on three days' rest. The lefty will be capable of covering multiple innings against Cleveland, if needed, but it will be a bullpen game for the White Sox.

The Royals outrighted Little to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Little was claimed off waivers by the Royals in August but never pitched for them at the major-league level. The lefty reliever has collected a 2.97 ERA over parts of four seasons in the majors, but he's also got a 1.40 WHIP and 17.6 percent walk rate. Little will remain in the organization as bullpen depth.

Cole will start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Rays on Saturday.

The Rays were much better against right-handers (fourth in OPS) than left-handers (25th in OPS) this season, but the Yankees will roll with Cole rather than lefty Carlos Rodon in Game 1. Cole made three starts against the Rays in the regular season, logging a 2.50 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 18 frames.

Jenkins underwent right elbow debridement surgery Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

The procedure involved a debridement of the joint, as well as the removal of a bone chip and bone spur. Jenkins is expected to be ready to go for the beginning of spring training. The 21-year-old outfielder went 4-for-45 in his first 16 games for the Twins this season but closed the year with a 1.015 OPS and three home runs over his final 10 contests. Jenkins should enter the 2027 campaign as one of the team's starting outfielders.

Holderman will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Holderman's wrist problems originally surfaced four years ago and flared up on him during the second half of this season. He will not pitch for the Guardians during the postseason but should be recovered in time for spring training. Holderman posted a 1.78 ERA and 39:11 K:BB over 35.1 innings in the first half of the season, but he stumbled to a 4.67 ERA and 11:9 K:BB over 17.1 frames after the All-Star break.

Buxton had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired right hip earlier this week and has begun the rehab process, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip Sept. 18. He will continue rehabbing through Christmas, at which point he will shift to ramping up for the 2027 season. The Twins expect Buxton to be ready to roll for the start of spring training. He finished this season with a .254/.319/.511 batting line, 25 home runs and seven stolen bases over 93 games.

Bellinger went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional RBI during Wednesday's win over the Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series.

The 31-year-old outfielder pushed the Yankees' lead to 2-0 with an RBI single during the fifth inning, and he then blew the game open in the following frame with a three-run shot off Garrett Whitlock. Bellinger finished the regular season in a 2-for-23 slump, but he's quickly got back on track in the playoffs to help New York advance to face the Rays in the ALDS.

Gray was charged with the loss in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Wednesday. He gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks over 4.2 innings.

Gray started off with three scoreless frames but surrendered a solo homer to Luis Garcia in the fourth and was pulled with two on and two out in the fifth at 70 pitches. One of the inherited runners came around to score, and New York erupted for six runs the following inning. It was the veteran right-hander's shortest outing since late May, as he had covered at least five frames in 20 consecutive starts. Though the early playoff exit leaves a sour taste, it was still one of the best regular seasons of Gray's career with a 2.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 149:46 K:BB over 169 innings.

Fried earned the win in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on Wednesday. He struck out six and allowed one run on three hits and one walk over six innings.

The veteran left-hander was working on a shutout until Willson Contreras launched a two-out, solo homer during the top of the sixth inning, which spelled an end to his day after the Yankees erupted for six runs in the bottom of the frame. It's the second straight season Fried shut down Boston in the wild-card round, as he fired 6.1 scoreless frames in Game 1 of that series last year. He missed time in 2026 due to elbow issues but still made 20 regular-season starts and had a 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 104:33 K:BB across 112.2 innings.