 Blue Jays Notes: Ryu, Barger, Lopez, Lukes
Left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu, now nine months out from last summer’s Tommy John surgery, is throwing from 90 to 120 feet and still aiming for a mid-July return to the Blue Jays’ pitching staff, writes Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. He’s throwing off flat ground for now but could progress to mound work by mid-April. The…
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MLBTR Live Chat
Click here to join Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
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Offseason In Review Chat: San Diego Padres
MLBTR will be hosting team-specific chats in conjunction with each entry of our Offseason In Review series. Yesterday, we released the Padres’ entry in the series. Click here to read the transcript of the Padres-centric chat.
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Big Hype Prospects: Walker, Volpe, Baty, Grissom, Brown
This week on Big Hype Prospects, we'll take a closer look at high-profile youngsters pushing for an Opening Day assignment. Five BHPs In The News Jordan Walker, 20, OF, STL (AA) 536 PA, 19 HR, 22 SB, .306/.388/.510 This column has nothing new to say about Walker. He is in the midst of a bid…
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Adrian Houser Expected To Begin Season In Brewers’ Bullpen
Despite some offseason speculation about the Brewers potentially trading from their rotation depth, Milwaukee added to the starting staff this winter. Veteran southpaw Wade Miley returned on a one-year free agent deal, joining Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer and Adrian Houser in the starting mix. Milwaukee subsequently lost Aaron Ashby and depth starter Jason Alexander to injuries to open the…
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Matt Foster Diagnosed With Forearm Strain
The White Sox informed reporters, including James Fegan of The Athletic, that right-hander Matt Foster has a forearm strain in his throwing arm. They didn’t provide an estimated timeline for him today but said they hope to have one by the end of camp. Foster, 28, was selected by the club in the 20th round…
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Competition Committee Evaluating Potential Alterations To 2023 Rule Changes
Major League Baseball has introduced a number of rule changes for the 2023 campaign. The pitch clock, limitations on infield shifting, and enlarged bases were all announced last September, with the changes going into effect this spring. With Opening Day now ten days out, Evan Drellich of the Athletic reports the Competition Committee met this…
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Latest On D-Backs’ Rotation
The Diamondbacks entered Spring Training with four rotation spots in place. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are the top two on the staff. Madison Bumgarner will get another crack in the middle, while Arizona brought back Zach Davies on a one-year free agent deal to take a back-end spot. Who would secure the fifth spot was one of the…
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Astros Notes: Brantley, Yordan, Gage, Bullpen
Astros left fielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley will likely begin the season on the injured list, manager Dusty Baker confirmed to reporters this morning (Twitter links via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Baker also announced that fellow left fielder/DH Yordan Alvarez will make his spring debut on Thursday after missing all of the team’s Grapefruit…
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The Opener: WBC, Profar, MLBTR Chats
With just nine days remaining until Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. WBC Update The World Baseball Classic final is today. After a 6-5 walk off win in the bottom of the ninth against Team Mexico, the undefeated Team Japan…
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Braves Option Vaughn Grissom, Braden Shewmake
The Braves will option infielders Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake to Triple-A, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Both had been in line for the Opening Day shortstop job in Atlanta, but it seems that will now go to Orlando Arcia. David O’Brien of The Athletic relays that Arcia will get the starting gig with Ehire…
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Rangers Plan To Use Robbie Grossman As Primary Left Fielder
When the Rangers signed veteran switch-hitter Robbie Grossman early in spring training, it looked like a sensible enough fit. Grossman has a lengthy track record of hitting left-handed pitching well, and the Rangers had multiple lefty-swinging options who could form a platoon with Grossman (e.g. Josh Smith, Brad Miller). However, manager Bruce Bochy said yesterday…
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Phillies Acquire Jordan Qsar From Rays
The Phillies have acquired outfielder Jordan Qsar from the Rays, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The Phillies are sending cash considerations the other way, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Qsar, 27, will jump to just the second organization of his career, as he’s spent it all with the Rays until now. That club…
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Phillies Release Mark Appel
The Phillies announced today that right-hander Mark Appel has been released. He had been in camp on a minor league deal. They also reassigned left-hander Ben Bowden, right-hander Louis Head and catcher Max McDowell to minor league camp. Appel, 31, had been having a rough showing this spring. In six appearances, he allowed six walks…
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Angels’ José Marte Shut Down For Four Weeks With Stress Reaction In Elbow
The Angels informed reporters, including Sam Blum of The Athletic and Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, that right-hander Jose Marte has a stress reaction in his right elbow. He’ll be shut down for the next four weeks at least. The good news is that testing showed his ulnar collateral ligament is not damaged.…
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Guardians Sign Jhon Romero To Minor League Deal
The Guardians announced Monday that they’ve signed right-handed reliever Jhon Romero to a minor league contract. He’s headed straight to minor league camp and will appear in a minor league game for them today, per the team. Romero, 28, has seen brief big league time in each of the past two seasons. He tossed four…
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A’s Sign Carlos Perez To Minor League Deal
The Athletics signed veteran catcher Carlos Perez to a minor league contract yesterday, per his transactions log at MLB.com. It’ll be his second stint with the organization. The 32-year-old Perez — not to be confused with the White Sox catching prospect of the same name — has appeared in parts of four big league seasons…
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Reds Release Daniel Norris
The Reds announced Monday that they’ve released left-handed reliever Daniel Norris, who’d been in camp on a minor league deal. Cincinnati also optioned outfielder Stuart Fairchild to Triple-A Louisville and reassigned righty Silvino Bracho and infielder/outfielder Alejo Lopez to minor league camp. It’s been a tough spring for Norris, who’s appeared in seven games with…
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Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres
In conjunction with the Padres’ offseason review, we'll be hosting a Padres-focused chat on March 21. You can submit a question in advance, and check back to participate tomorrow. The Padres have been extremely aggressive in recent years, taking their payroll to levels it’s never reached before. It finally paid off in 2022, as the…
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Rockies Option Nolan Jones
The Rockies announced this evening that corner infielder/outfielder Nolan Jones has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Reliever Noah Davis was also optioned, while non-roster invitees Logan Allen, Jeff Criswell, Braxton Fulford and Karl Kauffmann were all reassigned to minor league camp. Jones’ demotion comes as a bit of a surprise. Colorado acquired the 24-year-old from the Guardians at the start of…
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The Opener: WBC, Soto, Astros
With just ten days until Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. WBC Update Last night, Team USA (5-1) trounced Team Cuba (3-3) by a score of 14-2 to move onto the World Baseball Classic Finals. Their opponent will be decided…
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NL Central Notes: Reds, Weaver, Cessa, Suzuki, Wesneski, Miller
Luke Weaver hasn’t pitched since Monday due to a sore forearm, and “I think we'd have to push pretty hard to get him ready for Opening Day,” Reds manager David Bell told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Bobby Nightengale and other reporters. Despite the ominous nature of forearm-related injuries, Weaver’s issue seems to be just soreness, and…
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Red Sox’ Joely Rodríguez Diagnosed With Grade 2 Oblique Strain
Red Sox left-hander Joely Rodríguez has a Grade 2 oblique strain, manager Alex Cora tells Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Cora declined to provide a timetable for the southpaw, saying only that he would return “whenever he’s ready.” However, even mild oblique strains usually lead to absences of a few weeks, so Rodríguez seems…
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Yoan Moncada, Nolan Arenado Leave WBC Game Due To Injuries
The United States advanced to the final of the World Baseball Classic after tonight’s 14-2 victory over Cuba, though the game saw prominent players from both teams make early exits. Nolan Arenado was hit in the right hand by an Elian Leyva pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning and was removed from the…
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Glenn Otto To Undergo MRI On Right Lat Muscle
The Rangers’s rotation depth has been dealt another blow, as right-hander Glenn Otto, who was scratched from his start yesterday with “right lat tightness”, tells reporters (including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News) that he is set to undergo an MRI on the muscle after feeling more soreness this morning. Otto, who celebrated his…
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Austin Nola Leaves Game After Being Hit By Pitch In The Face
Padres catcher Austin Nola suffered a scary injury during today’s Cactus League game, as he was hit in the face by an errant Michael Fulmer pitch. Nola was carted off the field, though he was able to get up under his own power. Padres manager Bob Melvin suggested to reporters (including Jeff Sanders of the…
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Mariners Sign Delino DeShields To Minors Contract
The Mariners have signed outfielder Delino DeShields to a minor league deal, according to the team’s official transactions page. DeShields last played in the big leagues in 2021, as a member of the Reds. Seattle becomes the eighth different MLB organization of DeShields’ career, though he has seen official game action with only three of…
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Rockies Notes: Grichuk, Cron, Blackmon, Gilbreath
Outfielder Randal Grichuk has been ruled out for Opening Day, reports Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette. The 31-year-old underwent sports hernia surgery in early February and was given a six-week estimated recovery timeline. That would have meant that he could have been back in action prior to the March 30 opener, but Allentuck relays…
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Phillies Interested In Right-Handed Hitting Outfielders
With just over a week until Opening Day, the bench group in Philadelphia is beginning to come into focus. As discussed by The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, the Phillies view each of backup catcher Garrett Stubbs, and utilitymen Edmundo Sosa and Josh Harrison as locks to make the roster. With Bryce Harper slated to begin the…
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Juan Soto Day-To-Day With Mild Oblique Strain
Juan Soto suffered what the Padres described as a mild left oblique strain during a minor league game today. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune hears from a team source that the the Padres are being “careful” with the injury and that the removal was precautionary, which is naturally understandable given the risk involved…
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Jose Altuve To Undergo Surgery On Fractured Thumb
Astros general manager Dana Brown informed reporters, including Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, that second baseman Jose Altuve has a fractured right thumb and will undergo surgery in the “coming days.” There is no timetable for his return. Altuve left last night’s game in the World Baseball Classic after being hit on the hand…
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Rockies To Sign Jurickson Profar
The Rockies are in agreement with free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Profar will be guaranteed $7.75MM but can get the total up to $8.75MM with 400 plate appearances. The deal is pending a physical. Profar, 30, has had an up-and-down career but is coming off arguably the…
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Braves Outright Jackson Stephens
The Braves announced that right-hander Jackson Stephens was outrighted to Triple-A. The move was necessary to remove Stephens from the 40-man roster since he is out of minor league options, but the righty will remain in Atlanta’s organization. Stephens first joined the Braves on a minor league deal last winter, and he ended up seeing…
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Red Sox Acquire Angel Pierre From Royals
The Red Sox announced that infielder Angel Pierre has been acquired from the Royals. Pierre is the player to be named later included along with Adalberto Mondesi in the January swap that sent Josh Taylor to Kansas City. Pierre was an international signing for the Royals in January 2022, and the 19-year-old’s first year as…
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Jorge Polanco May Begin Season On Twins’ Injured List
The Twins have “been having some internal discussions” about Jorge Polanco’s status for Opening Day, chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said, since Polanco has yet to play in any Spring Training games. Left knee soreness brought a premature end to Polanco’s 2022 season, so the Twins opted to bring the second baseman along slowly this…
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NL East Notes: Braves, Nimmo, Painter
The Braves have a handful of areas on the roster that have yet to be settled, even with Opening Day only a little over a week away. The fifth starter competition has been upended since the beginning of spring, as Michael Soroka has once again struggled with injuries while early favorites Ian Anderson and Bryce…
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Reds Release Austin Romine
The Reds announced that catcher Austin Romine has been released from his minor league deal. Romine inked his contract in December, re-signing with Cincinnati after initially being acquired from the Cardinals at last August’s trade deadline. The release gives Romine a bit of extra time to try and land a new contract with another team,…
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AL East Notes: Manoah, Bautista, Yankees’ Injuries
The Blue Jays made a “contract suggestion” to star right-hander Alek Manoah this winter, but apparently the sides were not close, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Manoah is part of a young core, alongside Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr., that have been speculated as possible targets for long-term extensions. Manoah,…
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MLBTR Chat Transcript
Click here to read a transcript of this morning’s live MLBTR chat with Simon Hampton.
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Mets, Nine Other Teams Attended Zack Britton’s Showcase
The Mets were among the ten teams that attended free agent left-hander Zack Britton’s showcase on Friday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. While the Mets have just lost their closer to a long-term injury, Heyman notes that the Mets’ level of interest in Britton is still unknown. Britton, 35, was once…
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Jose Altuve Leaves WBC Game After Hit By Pitch
Jose Altuve was removed during the fifth inning of tonight’s United States/Venezuela World Baseball Classic game after being hit on the right hand with a pitch. The 95.9 mph sinker from Daniel Bard sailed up and in, catching Altuve and knocking the second baseman to the ground. Altuve was in visible discomfort as he left…
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Arte Moreno Discusses Ohtani, Luxury Tax, Angels Stadium, Ownership
In the wake of Arte Moreno’s decision to abandon plans to sell the Angels, the owner has been somewhat uncharacteristically willing to discuss team matters with the media. Moreno has already spoken with the New York Post’s Jon Heyman in February and Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci over the last month, and today the Halos owner…
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Latest On The Yankees’ Shortstop Battle
As top prospect Anthony Volpe continues to make a strong case to win the Yankees’ starting shortstop job this spring, Andy Martino of SNY reports that the team are not close to making a decision on who’ll start there on Opening Day. Volpe, fellow youngster Oswald Peraza, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and to a lesser extent Oswaldo…
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Diamondbacks’ Corbin Martin To Miss “Months” Due To Lat Tendon Tear
Corbin Martin left Wednesday’s game due to injury, as the Diamondbacks right-hander was brought to his knees in obvious pain after throwing a pitch. Martin has been diagnosed with a tear in the lat tendon under his right shoulder, and though manager Torey Lovullo said that Martin is exploring a second opinion on the injury,…
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Brandon Nimmo Week-To-Week With Low Grade Strain In Knee And Ankle
Brandon Nimmo is week-to-week with a low grade strain in his right knee and ankle, Mets general manager Billy Eppler told reporters, including Joel Sherman of the New York Post. His status for Opening Day remains unclear. Nimmo, 30 later this month, re-signed with the Mets on an eight-year, $162MM deal this winter. The left-hander…
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Luke Voit Pushes Back Opt-Out Date
First-baseman/designated hitter Luke Voit has pushed back the opt-out date on his minor league deal with the Brewers until Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Voit told reporters he likes the fit with Milwaukee, and that the team likes him, but they are trying to maintain maximum 40-man roster flexibility going into the season. Voit…
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Austin Slater Suffers Strained Hamstring
Giants outfielder Austin Slater has suffered a strained hamstring, manager Gabe Kapler told reporters, including Evan Webeck of Mercury News. It’s not known yet how this injury affects Slater’s status for Opening Day, now just 12 days away. Slater’s injury is another blow to the Giants’ outfield depth chart, with Mitch Haniger already recovering from…
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Red Sox Notes: Rodriguez, Paxton, Meneses
Red Sox reliever Joely Rodriguez left today’s game with what the team described as right torso pain. The discomfort was visible, as The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham (Twitter link) described Rodriguez as “groaning in pain as he went to the clubhouse and was holding onto his side.” The somewhat vague wording of the club’s official…
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Mariners Release Drew Ellis
The Mariners announced Friday evening that corner infielder Drew Ellis has been released. He’d been in camp as a non-roster invitee after being outrighted off Seattle’s roster last November. Seattle claimed Ellis off waivers from the Diamondbacks last June. The Louisville product only played one MLB game with the M’s, going 1-3 with a strikeout. He…
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MLBTR Poll: Braves’ Fifth Starter
The Braves made a surprising decision this week, optioning both Bryce Elder and Ian Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett. That takes the duo out of consideration for the fifth spot in the rotation. Atlanta’s top four of Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Kyle Wright and Charlie Morton is settled, but the final slot now looks as if it’ll go to someone previously expected…
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Mets Claim Dennis Santana
The Mets have claimed right-hander Dennis Santana off waivers from the Twins, tweets Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Santana is out of minor league options, and the Twins apparently attempted to pass him through waivers after deciding he wouldn’t break camp with the club. Minnesota claimed Santana off waivers from the Braves earlier in spring…
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Offseason Review Chat: Philadelphia Phillies
Now that the Phillies edition of MLBTR’s Offseason In Review series has been published, it’s time to open the floor to Philly fans for a live chat at 1pm CT. Click this link to submit questions in advance.
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Offseason In Review: Philadelphia Phillies
The National League champions reloaded for another run at the World Series, including a $300MM splurge on Trea Turner. Major League Signings Trea Turner, SS: Eleven years, $300MM Taijuan Walker, SP: Four years, $72MM Matt Strahm, RP: Two years, $15MM Craig Kimbrel, RP: One year, $10MM Josh Harrison, IF/OF: One year, $2MM 2023 spending: $64.77M…
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Orioles Move Mike Baumann To Relief
The Orioles are converting right-hander Mike Baumann to a short relief role, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after today’s Spring Training contest (relayed by Nathan Ruiz of the Baltimore Sun). Baumann worked one inning, the eighth, in today’s game against the Blue Jays. Prospect evaluators have suggested for a few seasons that Baumann might be better…
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Injury Notes: Blackburn, Pina, Morejon, Garcia, Szapucki
The A’s will open the season with both starter Paul Blackburn and catcher Manny Piña on the injured list, manager Mark Kotsay told reporters this afternoon (link via Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle). Blackburn still can’t throw at full strength after ripping the nail on his middle finger a couple weeks ago. Piña, meanwhile, was…
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Tony Gonsolin Expected To Open Season On Injured List
Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin won’t be ready for the beginning of the season due to his current ankle injury, manager Dave Roberts announced Friday (Twitter link via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times). He’s expected to open the season on the 15-day injured list. Righties Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove are the favorites to break…
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Manny Pina Visiting Wrist Specialist
Earlier this week, the Athletics announced that veteran catcher Manny Piña was uncertain for Opening Day after experiencing discomfort in his left wrist. It was an alarming development considering Piña lost almost all of last season after suffering ligament and cartilage damage in the joint that required surgery. This afternoon, Oakland informed reporters that Piña was…
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Angels, Evan Marshall Agree To Minor League Deal
The Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed reliever Evan Marshall, tweets James Fegan of The Athletic. Marshall himself suggested on Twitter last night that he’d signed with the Halos. He’s represented by ISE Baseball. Marshall, 33 next month, missed the 2022 season recovering from 2021 Tommy John surgery. He enjoyed an…
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Latest On Marlins’ Rotation
Even after trading Pablo López for Luis Arraez as part of their effort to overhaul the lineup, the Marlins go into 2023 with a strong group of starting pitchers. Defending Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara is followed by Jesús Luzardo, Trevor Rogers and offseason pickup Johnny Cueto. The fifth spot has at least been a bit up in the air,…
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The Opener: WBC, Relief Market, Voit
With Opening Day less than two weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. WBC Update The World Baseball Classic continues tonight as Puerto Rico takes on Mexico in the quarterfinals. Marcus Stroman will take the mound for Puerto Rico, while Julio…
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Phillies Notes: Strahm, Suarez, Plassmeyer
The Phillies are stretching lefty Matt Strahm out to handle a multi-inning relief option, tweets Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Manager Rob Thomson said this week that the organization’s goal is for Strahm to be built up to the point that he can handle three-inning stints by the end of camp, Lauber notes. He’s…
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Dylan Moore Diagnosed With Grade One Oblique Strain
Mariners utility player Dylan Moore was diagnosed with a Grade One strain in his oblique, he informed reporters this afternoon (relayed by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com). While that’s the lowest degree, any oblique strain typically comes with a recovery time of multiple weeks. Moore indeed indicated he’ll be shut down from baseball activity for between two…
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Mark Melancon Expected To Miss Multiple Months With Shoulder Strain
The D-Backs announced on Wednesday that veteran reliever Mark Melancon would miss the start of the season after experiencing shoulder discomfort. Manager Torey Lovullo provided a disheartening update on Thursday afternoon. The four-time All-Star will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to address a subscapularis strain, an injury the skipper said will be measured in “months, not…
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Matt Harvey Hoping To Sign With MLB Club
Right-hander Matt Harvey didn’t make it to the big leagues last year but is hoping for another shot, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Harvey, turning 34 this month, didn’t make it into a major league game last year for the first time since 2014. He signed a minor league deal with the…
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Latest On The Red Sox’ Rotation
The Red Sox’ rotation will likely be down several starters to begin the season, as MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo writes that each of Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello and James Paxton are expected to begin the season on the injured list. Paxton had already been trending in this direction, but Whitlock and Bello now join him in…
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Tigers Prospects Jackson Jobe, Dillon Dingler Facing Significant Absences
The Tigers today announced a number of injury updates on some of the minor league players, with Evan Woodbery of MLive.com among those to relay the info (Twitter links). Per the release, right-hander Jackson Jobe has lumbar spine inflammation and will be sidelined for three-to-six months. Meanwhile, catcher Dillon Dingler received a meniscectomy on his…
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Edwin Diaz To Undergo Surgery To Repair Patellar Tendon
Mets closer Edwin Diaz will undergo surgery this afternoon to repair a full-thickness tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee, general manager Billy Eppler announced this afternoon. The general timeline for recovery is around eight months, although in certain cases it’s possible to return in closer to six months. The team is not…
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Cade Cavalli To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo announced today in a press release that right-hander Cade Cavalli has a grade 3 UCL sprain and will require Tommy John surgery, meaning Cavalli will miss the entire 2023 season. Cavalli, 24, figured to be a member of the Nationals starting rotation this year after making his big…
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Cubs Notes: Madrigal, Wesneski, Leiter Jr.
Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal has only played second base in his big league career thus far, but he’s not likely to see a lot of time there this year. The club’s major investment this offseason was signing shortstop Dansby Swanson, thus pushing Nico Hoerner over to second base. That nudged Madrigal into a competition for…
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Zack Britton Throwing For Teams Again
Free-agent lefty Zack Britton is hosting yet another workout for teams seeking bullpen help, as first reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post (via Twitter). The Mets will be in attendance, he adds. They’ll be joined by around seven other clubs, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds. It’s at least the third time…
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The Dodgers’ Rotation Options If Tony Gonsolin Misses Time
The Dodgers were dealt some undesirable news last week when All-Star starter Tony Gonsolin rolled his left ankle during a pitcher-fielding practice session. He was diagnosed with a sprain and unable to put much weight on the leg for a few days. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters yesterday that Gonsolin has again started throwing (via Bill…
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The Opener: WBC, Diaz, Offseason In Review
With just two weeks to go until Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. WBC Update The first round of the World Baseball Classic is officially in the books, with Cuba, Italy, Japan, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, and Puerto…
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Mark Melancon Likely To Miss Start Of Season Due To Shoulder Injury
The Diamondbacks expect to be without veteran reliever Mark Melancon to open the season because of a shoulder injury, general manager Mike Hazen said this evening (relayed by Steve Gilbert of MLB.com). The issue’s severity isn’t clear but apparently will send him to the injured list at the start of the year. It’s an unfortunate beginning…
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Sergio Romo Signs Non-Roster Deal With Giants For Likely Final Appearance
Veteran reliever Sergio Romo has signed with the Giants on a minor league deal with a non-roster invite to Spring Training, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. According to Baggarly, the plan is for Romo to pitch in the team’s Bay Bridge exhibition against the A’s at Oracle Park towards the end of Spring…
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Royals Sign Jake Brentz To Two-Year Deal
The Royals announced Thursday evening they’ve signed lefty reliever Jake Brentz to a two-year contract. It’s a big league deal that reportedly guarantees $1.9MM with an additional $700K in attainable incentives. Brentz, a client of the Bledsoe Agency, will make $850K for the upcoming season and $1.05MM in 2024. Kansas City created a 40-man roster spot yesterday…
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Astros Notes: Gurriel, McCullers, Bullpen
As Yuli Gurriel’s free agency lingered into the late stages of the offseason, many Astros fans wondered whether there might be potential for a reunion between the two parties. Houston GM Dana Brown candidly acknowledged last month that while the organization loved Gurriel as both a person and a player, it would be difficult to…
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Out Of Options 2023
Every spring at MLBTR, we publish a list of players who are out of minor league options and cannot be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing outright waivers. Option status is particularly relevant as teams set their rosters prior to Opening Day. A lack of minor league options is often a key reason…
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The Brewers’ Keston Hiura Dilemma
Not long ago, the future looked bright for Keston Hiura and the Brewers. The former No. 9 overall draft pick (2017) had been a universally lauded top-25 prospect in the sport due to a high-probability hit tool that overshadowed concerns about his glovework. He breezed through the minors, torching opponents in Rookie ball, Class-A, High-A,…
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Phillies Dealing With Injuries To Pitching And Catching Depth
The Phillies announced a batch of injuries to reporters, including Matt Gelb of The Athletic (Twitter links). Left-hander Cristopher Sanchez and right-hander Nick Nelson have both been shut down, due to triceps soreness and a moderate hamstring injury, respectively. Catcher Garrett Stubbs is headed for an MRI on his sore right knee while fellow backstop…
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Jake Odorizzi To Begin Season On Injured List
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy informed reporters this afternoon that right-hander Jake Odorizzi will start the season on the injured list (link via Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News). General manager Chris Young had indicated last week that was a possibility, as Odorizzi has been delayed in camp by arm fatigue. Acquired from the Braves at…
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Sam Coonrod Diagnosed With High-Grade Lat Strain
The Mets announced to reporters, including Tim Healey of Newsday, that reliever Sam Coonrod has a high-grade strain of his right lat. The club has yet to provide a timeline but even mild lat strains usually lead to weeks-long absences. For Coonrod, 30, it’s a concerning and frustrating development as its two years in a…
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Offseason In Review Chat: New York Mets
MLBTR will be hosting team-specific chats in conjunction with each entry of our Offseason In Review series. Yesterday, we released the Mets entry in the series. Click here to read the transcript of the Mets-centric chat.
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Marlins Select Garrett Hampson
The Marlins announced to reporters, including Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald, that they have selected infielder/outfielder Garrett Hampson to the roster. In a corresponding move, right-hander Anthony Bender was placed on the 60-day injured list. Hampson had an opt-out in his deal, per Craig Mish of the Miami Herald. Hampson, 28, spent his entire…
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Twins, Hernan Perez Agree To Minor League Deal
The Twins are in agreement with veteran utility player Hernan Perez on a minor league contract, reports Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El ExtraBase (Twitter link). The GSI client will join the organization after the World Baseball Classic wraps up, as he’s currently representing Venezuela at that event. Perez, 32 later this month, has played parts of ten…
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Edwin Diaz Helped Off Field With Right Leg Injury
Star reliever Edwin Díaz was carted off the field after tonight’s World Baseball Classic contest. The Mets closer threw a perfect inning to save Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic and apparently injured his right leg while the team celebrated its victory on the mound (video provided by Fox Sports MLB). Díaz was helped…
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Rays Acquire Victor Castaneda As PTBNL From Javy Guerra Trade
The Rays have acquired right-hander Victor Castaneda from the Brewers as the player to be named later from the November trade that sent fellow righty Javy Guerra to the Brewers, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Castaneda, 24, was an international amateur signed by the Brewers out of Mexico in 2017. He’s worked…
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Latest On Nationals’ Rotation
The Nationals are holding their breath after top prospect Cade Cavalli exited yesterday’s spring start with an elbow issue. He’s undergoing an MRI today, and while there’s no update on his status as of yet, manager Dave Martinez indicated to the Nationals beat this morning that non-roster invitee Chad Kuhl could get the first look…
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The Opener: WBC, Rays, MLBTR Chats
As Opening Day approaches, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. WBC Update The first round of the World Baseball Classic ends today, with a trio of key games that will decide who advances: At 2pm CT, Mexico will face Canada on FS2,…
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Royals Place Ángel Zerpa On 60-Day IL With Shoulder Injury
The Royals announced that left-hander Ángel Zerpa has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to left shoulder tendinopathy. No corresponding move was announced so the club’s 40-man roster count is down to 39. Zerpa, 23, was added to the club’s roster in November of 2020 to protect him from being selected in the…
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Rays Select Trevor Kelley, Place Andrew Kittredge On 60-Day IL
The Rays announced Wednesday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Trevor Kelley, who signed a minor league deal over the winter and has been in camp as a non-roster invitee. A spot on the 40-man roster has been opened by placing fellow right-hander Andrew Kittredge on the 60-day injured list. Tampa Bay originally made…
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Yankees Notes: Kiner-Falefa, Volpe, Trevino
Yankees infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been at the center of plenty of speculation this spring. That’s both revolved around whether he’d hold onto the starting shortstop job with youngsters Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe on the horizon and whether he could be traded to an infield-needy team like the Dodgers or Rockies. Now, Kiner-Falefa’s role for the…
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Examining The Tigers’ Options Behind The Plate
The Tigers had a quiet offseason in Scott Harris’ first winter as president of baseball operations. The new front office head seems content to take a season to evaluate the organization before reevaluating where to invest to return to playoff competitiveness in 2024 and beyond. Throughout the lineup, the club has players trying to carve…
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Poll: Will The Yankees Trade Isiah Kiner-Falefa Before Opening Day?
From the moment the Yankees originally acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Twins, the expectation has been that he’d serve as a bridge to top infield prospects Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe. At the time of the trade — which also saw Josh Donaldson and Ben Rortvedt go the Bronx while sending Gary Sanchez and Gio…
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Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Reds
MLBTR is conducting team-specific chats in conjunction with the Offseason In Review series. Anthony Franco will chat about the Reds on March 16. Click here to leave a question in advance. The Reds had another slow offseason, their second straight winter defined mostly by inactivity. It’s a rebuild in Cincinnati, with the upcoming season again…
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Ronald Guzmán Diagnosed With Pronator Strain
Ronald Guzman of the Giants recently underwent an MRI after experiencing some forearm discomfort. The team provided an update to reporters today, with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle among those to relay the information. Guzman has a left pronator strain but will not require surgery. Slusser later got an update from Guzman himself,…
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Diamond Sports Group Officially Files For Bankruptcy
Diamond Sports Group, the corporation which owns the Bally Sports regional sports networks, officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas this afternoon. The company announced the news in a press release. Josh Kosman of the New York Post reported yesterday that Diamond was planning to file for bankruptcy. That was…
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