MLB Player News

Hernandez will get stretched out as a starter during spring training but is expected to begin the regular season in the rotation with Triple-A Syracuse, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets have five veteran starters on guaranteed contracts, which means when everyone is healthy, depth options like Hernandez will either work out of the big-league bullpen or get stashed at Syracuse. As the former Marlin has minor-league options remaining, the latter route seems more likely to begin the season. Hernandez made 10 of his 20 appearances for Miami last season as a starter, but his lack of plus stuff and difficulties keeping the ball in the park mean a long-relief role is likely his best path to a consistent spot in the majors.

Thompson will work exclusively as a reliever this spring, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Thompson's MLB debut was a four-inning relief appearance last June, and he followed that up with a five-inning start, but he filled a much more conventional relief role the rest of the way. He finished with an impressive 2.08 ERA, but that came with a sub-par 19.9 percent strikeout rate and 10.3 percent walk rate. Now 25 years old, the lefty could still spend time starting for Triple-A Memphis, but it looks as though he'll be relieving in St. Louis if all goes well.

Roberts (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Cubs on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

This clears a spot on the 40-man roster, which needed an opening after the Cubs signed Edwin Rios on Friday to a one-year deal. Roberts is going to miss the overwhelming majority of 2023 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and there's a decent chance he won't be able to pitch this season.

Pomeranz (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pomeranz was forced to miss all of 2022 as he recovered from a flexor tendon surgery he received in 2021. Padres manager Bob Melvin said Pomeranz is "still a little behind everybody else," but is hoping the 34-year-old lefty is up to speed by the end of spring training. Between 2020-21, Pomeranz put up a 1.62 ERA and 1.08 WHIP alongside a 59:20 K:BB through 44.1 innings.

Hicks is expected to earn high-leverage spots as a reliever to begin 2023, Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hicks was used as both a starter and a reliever last season, but he was more effective out of the bullpen. The hard-throwing righty has added some weight to get back to where his body is most comfortable, and that should in turn help his durability after he missed time with shoulder, forearm and neck issues in 2022. Manager Oliver Marmol tends to avoid strict roles in the bullpen, so Hicks should join Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos as the Cardinals' top late-inning options.

Heuer (elbow) might begin the season on the 60-day injured list, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Heuer is coming up on the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery, so him getting a late start to the season was expected. The right-hander doesn't figure to be ready to join the Cubs' bullpen until at least June or so, and even after his return the team will likely be careful with his workload.

Brazoban has yet to report to spring training due to visa issues, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

The 33-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut last season and was expected to compete for a low-leverage spot in the Marlins' bullpen this spring, but any significant delay could cost him that opportunity. Brazoban averaged 97.2 mph with his fastball and posted a solid 28.4 percent strikeout rate with a shaky 14.9 percent walk rate over 27 appearances for Miami in 2022, but he showed sharper control at Triple-A prior to his promotion.

Jimenez is already throwing side sessions and is expected to be fully recovered from offseason back surgery prior to Opening Day, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. "Oh, yeah, he's fine," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Thursday.

The right-hander had a breakout season for Detroit in 2022, posting a career-best 33.3 percent strikeout rate and 5.6 percent walk rate over 56.2 innings, but a lumbar strain ended his campaign a couple weeks early. Dealt to Atlanta in December, Jimenez should be one of the team's top setup men in 2023 alongside A.J. Minter, and he could get some save chances should closer Raisel Iglesias be unavailable at any point.

Alvarado signed a three-year, $21.5 million contract extension Friday with a $9 million club option for 2026.

Alvarado and the Phillies avoided arbitration with a one-year, $3.45 million deal last week, but this new contract wipes that out and tacks on two, and possibly three, more years. The buyout for the option is $500,000, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, so Alvarado is guaranteed at least $22 million. The big left-hander had been slated to hit free agency next offseason. Alvarado put up a 3.18 ERA and 81:24 K:BB over 51 innings for Philly in 2022, earning two saves along the way. He'll be in the late-inning mix for the team again in 2023.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Nelson (elbow) has no limitations this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Nelson officially re-signed with the Dodgers on Wednesday on a one-year, $1.2 million deal, and Roberts has called him a "full-go" for all camp workouts. The 33-year-old did not pitch at any level in 2022 following Tommy John surgery in August 2021, but that is well behind him now. He has past experience as both a starter and a reliever, and Los Angeles could deploy him as a versatile swingman in 2023 if his health cooperates.