MLB Player News

With Hayden Wesneski likely closing in on the fifth spot in the rotation, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Assad will probably begin the season in the bullpen.

Assad has looked sharp this spring in limited work, but Wesneski has also turned heads, and the latter seems to have the inside track on a rotation spot. That will likely push Assad into a long-relief role, though he certainly could start at some point this year. The righty made his MLB debut last season and held his own across nine appearances (eight starts), registering a 3.11 ERA.

Diaz underwent successful surgery to repair his patellar tendon Thursday.

Diaz tore his tendon during a celebration on the field after Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in Wednesday's World Baseball Classic matchup. He is expected to begin a rehab program in a week, but he is a long shot to pitch at any point in 2023.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Strahm would be stretched into a multi-inning reliever, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Strahm initially figured to slide into a setup role after he signed with the Phillies during the offseason, but now he appears in line to give the team multiple innings out of the bullpen. He has experience as a starter, making up to 16 starts for the Padres in 2019, so he's certainly up to the task of going multiple innings in relief. It now is just a matter of getting him re-acclimated to doing so.

Melancon was diagnosed with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder Thursday and will begin the season on the injured list, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The news keeps getting worse regarding Melancon's shoulder. He will receive a PRP injection Thursday and is expected to miss the first few months of the season. Expect Andrew Chafin and Kevin Ginkel to pick up an increased share of save opportunities while Melancon is out.

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.