MLB Player News

Stephenson (elbow) felt good after throwing live batting practice Wednesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Stephenson is likely to log one more live BP session before potentially making his Grapefruit League debut. The 30-year-old right-hander is still hoping to be ready for Opening Day as he works past a bout of minor elbow discomfort.

Garcia was diagnosed Thursday with an injury to the nerves in his left biceps and will be shut down from throwing for at least the next month, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Garcia has undergone a range of different tests since leaving a Grapefruit League game back on March 4 due to tightness in his upper left arm. It sounds like the Pirates might have found the root of the issue, but there is no exact timetable for when he might be ready again to take the mound. Given the length of the initial shutdown, the 30-year-old shouldn't be expected back until at least late May.

Mets general manager Billy Eppler announced Thursday that Diaz (knee) will undergo surgery and is likely to miss the entire 2023 season, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Diaz suffered a complete tear of his right patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico's big win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night. Eppler suggested that a return in six months would be the best-case scenario and that the usual timeline calls for eight full months of rest and rehab. David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley are among the options to step in at closer for the Mets.

Diaz's initial diagnosis Thursday is that of a right patellar tendon injury, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

There should be more information soon about the overall scope and severity of the injury, as Diaz was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday afternoon. He injured his right knee late Wednesday night while celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. It's an ugly situation for the Mets, and for fantasy managers who already selected Diaz high in drafts.

Manager Bob Melvin said Thursday that Castillo is currently shut down from throwing due to left shoulder discomfort, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Castillo has made just two appearances in the Cactus League this spring, and the last one was March 3. Given that Opening Day is now only two weeks away, the 27-year-old reliever seems likely to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list.

Szapucki (arm) said Thursday he is planning to see a thoracic outlet specialist next week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

That's ominous news given the way thoracic outlet syndrome has altered many promising pitching careers. Szapucki has been experiencing nerve issues in his upper left arm for the last couple of weeks in Giants camp. The initial diagnosis was neuropathy, but it might prove to be a more severe issue.

Raley (hamstring) and David Robertson are viewed as the primary options for saves for the Mets in the event that Edwin Diaz (knee) is lost for a significant period of time after the closer suffered an injury Wednesday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Raley collected six saves for the Rays last season before being traded to the Mets in December. The left-hander was dominant in 2022 against lefties and righties alike, so there aren't platoon split worries. Robertson might be higher in the pecking order given his long history as a closer, but both should be on the radars of mixed-league fantasy managers. Raley is working his way back from a hamstring injury but is expected to be ready to pitch in a game in a few days.

Robertson and Brooks Raley are viewed as the primary options for saves for the Mets while Edwin Diaz (knee) is sidelined, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Official word on Diaz won't be available until sometime after his MRI on Thursday, but the Mets are bracing for their star closer to be out for a significant period of time. Robertson would be a natural choice to slide into the ninth inning, having saved 20 games while posting a 2.40 ERA over 58 appearances for the Cubs and Phillies last season. He and Raley are both worthy of being selected in fantasy leagues -- pending news on Diaz -- with Robertson probably the favorite.

Diaz will undergo an MRI on his right knee Thursday afternoon and initial indications are that the injury is "bad," one source told Andy Martino of SNY.tv.

Martino writes that those briefed on the situation "fear that Diaz could be lost for a significant period, perhaps the entire season." The report comes as no surprise, unfortunately, as the right knee injury Diaz sustained Wednesday following Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic certainly looked major. The Mets could reveal the results of Diaz's MRI as soon as Thursday evening.

Diaz injured his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday in the World Baseball Classic and will undergo imaging on his knee Thursday.

After striking out the side to secure the victory for Puerto Rico, Diaz was swarmed by his teammates on the mound before collapsing. He needed to be taken off the field in a wheelchair and appeared to be in a great deal of pain. He could face an extended absence, but we'll know more once his test results come back Thursday.