MLB Player News

Ball was acquired from the Braves in the Joc Pederson trade back in 2021 and has yet to reach the majors. The 25-year-old slugger batted .214/.323/.305 with on homer and one steal across 220 plate appearances this season between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee.

Perfect way to end it. Blackmon singled in the fourth, got a big hug, and left in his final MLB game. Blackmon ends his 2024 season with a slash of .256/.329/.412, and while he won’t be heading to Cooperstown, he will deservedly be called one of the great Rockies; helping the team reach a World Series and making four All-Star games.

Goldschmidt will be a free agent for the first time in his career, and unfortunately the 37-year-old hits the market with career worsts of a .245 average and .713 OPS. There likely will still be interest in the former MVP, but at his age and considering his lack of production in 2024, it may not be as fruitful as he hopes. The Astros make some sense here as a team that needs a first baseman, and Goldschmidt is from Texas.

It’s not injury-related at this point, but rather just a way to keep the 32-year-old slugger from picking up an unnecessary injury in a meaningless game that has already been delayed due to rainy conditions. He ends the year with 58 homers, 144 RBI and a 1.159 OPS. Pretty good. Trent Grisham takes his place in the lineup.

The opponent isn’t known yet — it’ll be the Tigers or Royals — but Valdez will get the start regardless. That’s not a surprise at all, as he’s easily been Houston’s best starter in 2024. The question is who will pitch after Valdez, but it seems likely that Hunter Brown will get the nod in Game 2 against Detroit or Kansas City.

Blackmon will get a start in center in his final game. The 38-year-old will likely come off the field at some point, and will get a massive ovation as one of the longest tenured — and best — Rockies to play in their short history. Brenton Doyle is not in the lineup with Blackmon getting the nod.

Effross gets the boot as the Yankees need the roster room for Ben Rice, and Rice was recalled in a corresponding transaction. Effross could still pitch in the postseason, but it seems doubtful he’ll be a big part of that pitching staff.

Anthony Banda will get the start for the Dodgers, but then give way early to Knack. It seems likely that will be Knack’s postseason role as well, but that’s still to be determined. Knack still gets a shot at a win, but keep in mind he’s pitching in Coors Field and not likely to pile up the strikeouts.

That session will take place in either Baltimore or Houston; depending on where the Royals are heading. The 26-year-old has not played since the end of August with his fractured thumb, but he’s making progress; enough so that he just might be an option for the Wild Card series or the ALDS if the Royals are able to advance.

“He’ll be a factor out there,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. We know what he brings to the table with his ability to get righties out, his ability to compete at a really high level. … We would expect his velo to go up.” Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha — in that order — will be the starters for KC in the series against the Tigers or Astros.

Sounds bad, but Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters that the issues are minor and that Ramos could be the DH if necessary. His season ends with a .269 average, .792 OPS, 22 homers and 72 RBI. He should be in for a similar amount of work — and potentially more production — in 2025.