MLB Player News

Levine spent eight years as Twins GM, working under president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. He interviewed to become the head of Boston’s baseball operations last year, only to remove himself from the process before a choice was made. Long well thought of around the game, it’s unlikely that he’ll be a free agent for long, unless maybe he wants a break.

It was a surprise that Berti was bumped to make room for Nestor Cortes on the roster, and now we know why. The Yankees could have replaced him with Duke Ellis and given themselves a real speed option off the bench late in games, but they decided to stick with Jasson Domínguez and Trent Grisham as reserves, even though they’ve made it clear they don’t want either getting any at-bats.

The Yankees are using the same lineup they did in Game 5 of the ALCS: 2B Gleyber Torres, RF Juan Soto, CF Aaron Judge, DH Giancarlo Stanton, 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr., 1B Rizzo, SS Anthony Volpe, C Austin Wells and LF Alex Verdugo. With no lefties in the Dodgers’ rotation, this might just be the lineup throughout the Series.

Freeman didn’t start Game 65 of the NLCS because of his sprained ankle, but there was little doubt about his availability tonight. The lineup against Gerrit Cole is essentially as expected: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, 1B Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernández, 3B Max Muncy, CF Enrique Hernández, C Will Smith, 2B Gavin Lux and SS Tommy Edman.

Cortes missed the first two postseason series for the Yankees while dealing with a flexor tendon strain, but the 29-year-old will be able to help the New York pitching staff in the Fall Classic against the Dodgers. Jon Berti is off the roster to make room.

Rojas missed the NLCS with a hernia injury; an injury that will require surgery in the offseason. The shortstop is in, and Kevin Kiermaier will not be a part of the 26-man roster for the Fall Classic against the Yankees.

Phillips was unable to keep going in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets, and the 30-year-old will not be a part of the World Series as a result. The Dodgers are essentially replacing the right-hander with Brusdar Graterol with Graterol coming back after missing the first two series of the postseason.

Graterol has not pitched in the postseason due to shoulder inflammation, but the 26-year-old right-hander will get a chance to pitch against the Yankees in the Fall Classic. Alex Vesla also is a part of the roster after missing the NLCS due to injury as well. Evan Phillips, on the other hand, will not pitch in the World Series due to a right arm issue.

De Vries drew a walk and was also plunked by a pitch. The steal was the second of the season, and he’s doubled four times while registering a .280 average and .819 OPS. Solid numbers for sure, but even more impressive when you consider he’s playing in the AFL and just turned 18 on October 11. De Vries is one of the best prospects in baseball, and he has the upside to someday be an elite fantasy shortstop.

Kemp, who went undrafted out of Point Loma Nazarene in 2022, hit .285/.392/.489 at four minor league levels this year, though he stumbled after a late promotion to Triple-A. In Arizona, he’s thus far 7-for-24 with four homers and 12 RBI in eight games. Both homers Thursday were plenty legit, too, with the first leaving his bat at 110 mph and traveling 448 feet. He’s probably not a future major league regular, but he could be another Weston Wilson for the Phillies.

Phillips, who made his major league debut for the Reds at age 22 in 2023, had a nightmare 2024 season, finishing with an 8.01 ERA and a 77/60 K/BB in 78 2/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville. Fortunately, it seems like he’s bouncing back some now. He does have a 6.10 ERA in three appearances for Glendale, but it comes with a 15/3 K/BB in 10 1/3 innings. His velocity has been up some as well; he averaged 98 mph with his fastball on Thursday.