MLB Player News

Ward spent one year as the Cardinals’ assistant hitting coach before taking over the primary role in 2023. He’s also served as a hitting coach with the Dodgers, D-backs and Reds.

What a blow. The Padres have been one of if not the hottest team in baseball since the start of June, but losing Musgrove for essentially the entirety of their playoff run is certainly a bump in the road for San Diego. For Musgrove himself, the timing as well as the injury itself is brutal. While Preller didn’t provide a timeline, Musgrove won’t pitch at all in 2025.

Cummings was selected by the Mariners in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut this year and had a 4.17 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings over 25 starts with High-A Everett. Cummings isn’t considered a top 100 prospect and is more of a depth starter than top prospect.

Musgrove was removed from his Wild Card series start on Wednesday with right elbow tightness. He’s undergone testing on the elbow and has now been ruled out for the Division series. Padres manager Mike Shildt wouldn’t speculate about Musgrave’s potential availability if the Padres advance. Adrian Morejon or Martin Perez could pick up a playoff start in Musgrave’s absence.

David Peterson will likely also be involved. Senga has made just one major league start this season because of arm woes, that coming on July 26. He pitched one inning in a rehab start Sept 1, and it seems unlikely that he’ll work more than a couple of innings tomorrow. Still, it’s great to have him back.

Sánchez ahead of Aaron Nola is a surprise, but he’s proven to be a tough matchup against the Mets, going 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA in three starts against them this year. The Phillies will presumably use Nola in Game 3 and Ranger Suárez in Game 4.

Skubal will be on four days’ rest Sunday. The Tigers will be well rested for the Guardians after using Brant Hurter for just 29 pitches on Wednesday and not needing to turn to Reese Olson at any point.

That the A’s were so hesitant to use Rooker in the outfield this season probably had something to do with this. He’s expected to be ready for spring training.

Ozuna’s $16 million option had become an easy call, and expectations were always that d’Arnaud would be back, whether it was through the $8 million option year or not. Bummer was the tougher call at $7.25 million. He pitched 55 1/3 innings with a 3.58 ERA this year.

Long one of Japan’s best pitchers, Sagano was posted by Yomiuri after the 2020 season and had several suitors, but he wound up signing a four-year, $40 million deal to stay put. That contract had a clause that allowed him to explore international free agency after the 2021 season, but following something of a down year, he declined to exercise it. Even accounting for the low offense environment in Japan right now, Sagano has had a terrific 2024, going 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA and a 111/16 K/BB in 156 2/3 innings. He turns 35 later this month, and his fastball sits in the 90-93 mph range, so he probably won’t land a huge contract an MLB team this winter. There will be significant interest, though.

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.