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Brandon Bielak Brandon Bielak Could be headed for rotation
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 9:30 PM
Bielak could be in consideration for a rotation spot to begin the regular season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Astros were hit with injuries to both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and J.P. France (shoulder) to start spring training. Depending on their availability to begin the regular season, Houston could immediately be reliant upon depth in their pitching staff. Bielak would likely be at the top of the list, as he made 13 major-league starts last season and is also out of minor-league options. |
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Chris Devenski Chris Devenski Building up workload
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 9:19 PM
The Rays plan to build Devenski up to three innings by mid-March, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Devenski ended the 2023 season with the Rays and re-signed with the club in free agency. He hasn't made a start in the majors since 2019 and that was only a two-inning appearance. Given that, he's unlikely to be a traditional starter in 2024, but he is lining up for a potential multi-frame relief role. |
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Mike Moustakas Mike Moustakas Invited to White Sox camp
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 9:11 PM
Moustakas signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Wednesday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.
Analysis: After a solid start to the season with the Rockies in 2023, Moustakas' production fell sharply upon being traded to the Angels in late June. He slashed just .236/.256/.371 across 250 plate appearances with the Halos. The 35-year-old Moustakas will have a chance to make the White Sox's Opening Day roster, but he would likely be limited to a reserve role with the big-league club. |
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Jasson Dominguez Jasson Dominguez Lands on 60-day IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 6:32 PM
The Yankees placed Dominguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Dominguez has begun participating in outfield drills and is on track to play catch in the near future, but little details have been offered regarding his return timeline other than sometime in the summer. For now, Dominguez will be stashed on the injured list and lose his roster spot, which will be given to the newly-signed Lou Trivino (elbow). |
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McKinley Moore McKinley Moore Designated for assignment
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 4:45 PM
The Phillies designated Moore for assignment Wednesday.
Analysis: Moore will lose his spot on Philadelphia's 40-man roster as a result of Spencer Turnbull officially signing with the club Wednesday. Moore appeared in three games for the Phillies last season, surrendering seven earned runs in 3.1 innings while striking out two batters and walking five. He found consistent success in the minor leagues, however, making it possible another team gives him a look off the waiver wire. |
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Robbie Ray Robbie Ray Placed on IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 4:26 PM
The Giants placed Ray (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Ray's 40-man roster spot will be given to Austin Warren, who signed with the Giants on Wednesday. Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May and has recently been cleared to throw three times per week, but he is not expected to join the Giants' rotation until the second half of the season. |
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Austin Warren Austin Warren Signing with San Francisco
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 4:18 PM
Warren (elbow) agreed to a one-year contract with the Giants on Wednesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Warren was designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Angels last week, but it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. The right-hander missed most of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May, so he's likely to also be sidelined for the first half of 2024. |
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Francisco Perez Francisco Perez Back in Oakland
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 3:36 PM
Perez re-signed Thursday with the Athletics on a minor-league contract.
Analysis: Just one day after he elected free agency upon being outrighted off Oakland's 40-man roster, Perez opted to stick with the organization on a new deal. The 26-year-old lefty made 17 appearances at the big-league level in 2023, logging a 5.94 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 16.2 innings. |
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Aaron Brooks Aaron Brooks Catches on with Oakland
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 3:33 PM
Brooks signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Friday.
Analysis: Brooks will begin his third stint with the Athletics organization, after previously seeing big-league action with the club in the 2015 season and during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He spent the entire 2023 season in the minors with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, logging a 4.95 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 51:20 K:BB in 63.2 innings. Brooks will likely open the 2024 campaign as a member of Triple-A Las Vegas' bullpen. |
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Emerson Hancock Emerson Hancock Throwing in camp
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 2:38 PM
Hancock (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday at Mariners camp.
Analysis: After receiving his first big-league call-up in early August, Hancock made just three starts for the Mariners before suffering a Grade 1 shoulder strain, which ended his season. Fortunately for the 24-year-old, he avoided any structural damage and didn't require offseason surgery, so he looks like he'll begin spring training at full health. Hancock will be given a chance to compete for a spot in Seattle's Opening Day rotation, but with five other healthy, more established pitchers in front of him in Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, it may take an injury in order for Hancock to avoid an assignment to Triple-A Tacoma once camp comes to a close. |
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Josh Winder Josh Winder Building up slowly in camp
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 2:12 PM
Winder is behind the Twins' other pitchers for the start of spring training while he builds back up from a right scapula stress fracture he suffered late in the 2023 season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Winder wasn't placed on the injured list at any point due to the stress fracture, which wasn't detected until he underwent an MRI in October, per Park. After taking some extra time to rest up during the offseason, Winder seems to have moved past the injury, but he was still limited to playing catch from 90 feet at Wednesday's workout while most other Twins relievers threw bullpen or live sessions. |
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Lou Trivino Lou Trivino Back with Yankees on MLB pact
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 1:36 PM
Trivino (elbow) agreed to a one-year contract with the Yankees on Wednesday.
Analysis: The deal won't be made official until Trivino completes a physical, but the Yankees are already aware that the right-hander likely won't be available until the second half of the 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery last May. In his last full big-league season in 2022, Trivino logged a 4.53 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB in 53.2 innings between the Yankees and Athletics. He'll likely settle at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once he completes an extended rehab assignment, but he could earn a look in the big-league bullpen if he's able to quickly regain his pre-surgery velocity and command during his appearances in the minors. |
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Michael Kopech Michael Kopech Seemingly healthy for camp
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 1:29 PM
Kopech (knee) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and doesn't appear to have any limitations on the White Sox's first day of spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis: Kopech finished the 2023 season on the injured list while recovering from a minor surgery he underwent in September to remove a cyst from his right knee, but after an estimated 6-to-8-week recovery period, the right-hander had a more normal offseason than he's experienced in recent years, as general manager Chris Getz relayed to Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com earlier this week. Despite struggling to a 5.43 ERA and 1.59 WHIP while striking out 134 batters over a career-high 129.1 innings in 2023, Kopech looks secure in the White Sox rotation heading into Opening Day due mostly to the team's lack of attractive alternatives. |
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Clayton Andrews Clayton Andrews Joining Bronx Bombers
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 1:25 PM
Andrews was acquired by the Yankees from the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Joshua Quezada.
Analysis: Andrews was designated for assignment by the Brewers last week, and the Yankees elected to trade for him rather than risk another team claiming him through the waiver wire. The left-hander allowed 10 earned runs over 3.1 frames in his first taste of the majors last season but had a 2.53 ERA in 48 outings at Triple-A. |
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Scott Effross Scott Effross Goes to 60-day IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 1:23 PM
The Yankees placed Effross (back) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Effross can be activated from the IL in late May, but he may not be ready to pitch when first eligible, given that manager Aaron Boone said earlier Wednesday that the right-handed reliever would be out until sometime in the summer while he recovers from the back surgery he underwent in December. The 30-year-old is on the 60-day IL to open a season for a second year in a row, after he missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He'll be replaced on the 40-man roster by left-handed reliever Clayton Andrews, whom the Yankees acquired from the Brewers on Wednesday. |
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Ken Waldichuk Ken Waldichuk Opens season on 60-day IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 1:13 PM
The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Though Waldichuk has been cleared to play catch at the outset of spring training, he'll need at least two months to complete his throwing progression and get stretched out over a multi-start rehab assignment before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for Oakland. The southpaw was shut down for most of the offseason after he underwent surgery in October to address a UCL sprain as well as flexor tendon damage in his throwing arm. |
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Luis Arraez Luis Arraez Loses arbitration case
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 1:02 PM
Arraez lost his arbitration hearing with the Marlins on Wednesday and will earn $10.6 million in salary for the 2024 season, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Analysis: Coming off a 2023 season in which he won the National League batting crown with a .354 average, Arraez filed for $12 million, but an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Marlins. The $10.6 million salary still represents a $4.5 million pay increase from 2023 for Arraez, who is set to go through the arbitration process one more time next offseason before becoming a free agent following the 2025 campaign. Arraez will head into his second season as Miami's everyday second baseman, and while he once again projects to rank among the league leaders in batting average, his paucity of power and speed put a ceiling on his overall fantasy value. |
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Liam Hendriks Liam Hendriks Hoping to sign soon
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 12:51 PM
Hendricks (elbow) holds multiple contract offers and has set a Thursday deadline for signing with a team, but he'll otherwise hold a throwing showcase in late July if he doesn't receive an offer to his liking, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Regardless of whether he signs with a team this week or at some point after he holds the planned showcase, Hendriks is unlikely to be ready to pitch in MLB games until the final two months of the regular season after he underwent Tommy John surgery Aug. 2 of last year. The major elbow injury was another tough break on the health front for the veteran reliever, who missed most of the first two months of last season while recovering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Even before he developed the elbow injury, Hendriks' velocity was down a couple ticks from 2022 and he had struggled with command in his limited MLB and minor-league rehab appearances, so the three-time All-Star may not be viewed as a viable closing candidate for his next team as he heads into his age-35 season. |
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Mason Thompson Mason Thompson Shut down from throwing
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 12:47 PM
The Nationals announced Wednesday that Thompson is dealing with an elbow injury and will be shut down from throwing for at least the next two weeks, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander apparently suffered the injury over the winter, and his availability for Opening Day is now in question. Thompson made a career-high 51 appearances for the Nationals last season but struggled to a 5.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB over 54 innings, so he's hardly guaranteed to make the roster even if fully healthy. |
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Stephen Strasburg Stephen Strasburg May serve as veteran mentor in camp
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 12:40 PM
President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that Strasburg (shoulder) won't participate in spring training but could report to Nationals camp at some point to work with the younger pitchers on the staff, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: The 35-year-old right-hander is effectively retired from professional baseball while he's struggled to recover from his July 2021 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. However, Strasburg remains on the Nationals' 40-man roster while he and Washington ownership have thus far been unable to finalize an agreement regarding the $105 million he's still owed over the next three seasons on the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed in December 2019. Strasburg will forfeit the remainder of the salary he's owed if he retires without coming to a formal agreement with Washington, while ownership is presumably keen on recouping at least a portion of their financial commitment. Even if retirement negotiations aren't completed anytime soon, the Nationals will at least be able to open up a spot on the 40-man roster by placing Strasburg on the 60-day injured list. |
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