MLB Player News

Honeywell was informed Wednesday that he's won a spot on the Padres' Opening Day roster, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Honeywell makes the Padres even after a mixed Cactus League season that saw him register a 6.50 ERA that came with a 24:6 K:BB over 18 innings. The former top prospect will likely be a multi-inning bullpen option for the Padres to start 2023, and he isn't likely to see much time in high-leverage situations until he shows he can be trusted.

Weathers will start the Padres' fifth game of the season on Monday versus the Diamondbacks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

He's not guaranteed anything beyond that, especially with Joe Musgrove (toe) hoping to return by mid-April. Weathers was dreadful in 2022 both at Triple-A El Paso and in his one start with the Padres, making him a risky fantasy streaming option. With Weathers taking the ball in the Padres' fifth game, that sets Yu Darvish up for the sixth contest.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker mentioned Scott, A.J. Puk and Dylan Floro as being "in the mix" for closing situations to begin the season, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Both Scott and Floro have a similar amount of closing experience at the MLB level, while Puk, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, may profile as the most talented arm in the bullpen if he can enjoy the sustained run of health that has thus far eluded him in his professional career. The fact that Schumaker is a first-year manager makes it even more difficult to predict whether he'll end up setting on one of the aforementioned three pitchers or someone else to see the bulk of the save chances, or if he'll take a loose committee approach to the ninth inning for the balance of the campaign. Scott brings immense strikeout upside to the table and is fine to take a dart throw on late in drafts or pick up off the waiver wire with the hope that he falls into save chances, but his career-long control issues -- his 15.9 percent walk rate last season was the worst among all relievers who pitched at least 50 innings -- make it hard to envision him locking down the closing gig for the entirety of the campaign.

Nelson (elbow) threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout during Tuesday's exhibition game against the Angels, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The strikeout was the first that Nelson has picked up this spring. The right-hander is going to open the 2023 season on the injured list, but it's encouraging to see him pitch well after struggling for most of the Cactus League. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters they'll evaluate Nelson on a week-to-week basis, so there's no timetable for when he'll be ready to contribute to the Dodgers' bullpen.

Thompson did not allow a run across seven Cactus League innings. He gave up two hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Thompson looked good this spring as he geared up for a role in Chicago's bullpen this season. The righty made 17 starts for the Cubs in 2022, but the team will use him as a reliever after adding Jameson Taillon in the offseason and inserting Hayden Wesneski into the rotation to start the year as well. Thompson may pick up some spot starts here and there, though his fantasy value is limited for now in a long-relief role.

Montes de Oca will undergo arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove bone fragments from his right elbow, Russell Dorsey of Bally Sports reports.

Dorsey hears that the 26-year-old right-hander is looking at around four months of rest and rehab "with a possible return to action in mid-August." Montes de Oca made his MLB debut in 2022 and almost certainly would have been given another shot at some point in the first half of the 2023 campaign. He spent the majority of last season in the upper minors, pitching to a 3.33 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 51.1 innings between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.

Nelson will have the final spot in the Diamondbacks' bullpen to begin the 2023 season, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Joe Mantiply is headed for a season-opening stint on the 15-day IL because of shoulder fatigue, and Nelson will essentially fill the vacancy. The 26-year-old left-hander registered a strong 2.19 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 37 innings for the Diamondbacks in 2022.

Mantiply will begin the season on the injured list with left shoulder fatigue, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

While shoulder issues are always concerning for pitchers, nothing yet suggests Mantiply is dealing with a major issue. The 2022 All Star is coming off a 2.85-ERA season and should see plenty of opportunities for holds -- and maybe even saves -- once healthy.

Vargas won the final spot in the Diamondbacks' bullpen, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports reports.

Vargas put his stamp on the job with a sharp 2.61 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings this spring in the Cactus League. Acquired from the Guardians in November, the 23-year-old right-hander could quickly work his way up the patchwork bullpen depth chart in Arizona. He might even be a sleeper for saves.

The Pirates optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

De Los Santos made his MLB debut last year in Pittsburgh and showed some promise before a lat strain shut him down in August. The 25-year-old has posted stellar minor-league numbers when healthy and figures to get another shot with the Pirates in 2023.