MLB Player News

Rodriguez may have an outside chance to close for the Cubs this season with manager David Ross planning on beginning the season with a mixture of pitchers in the ninth-inning role, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

There is no quote from Ross in the article directly putting Rodriguez in the late-game conversation. However, Bastian speculates Rodriguez could be in the mix for save chances along with Rowan Wick, David Robertson, Mychal Givens and Chris Martin. Rodriguez mostly struggled in his first cup of coffee in the big leagues last season, but he averages north of 97 mph on his sinking fastball, so he's at least a name to know.

Pagan and Robert Suarez look like the readiest options at closer for the Padres, speculates Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

This doesn't seem to be tied to any firm reporting, just Lin's expertise from being around the team this spring. Pagan has 22 career saves across five big-league seasons while Suarez most recently served as an effective closer in Japan.

Suarez and Emilio Pagan look like the readiest options at closer for the Padres, speculates Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

This doesn't seem to be tied to any firm reporting, just Lin's expertise from being around the team this spring. Suarez, 31, emerged as one of the top closers in Japan over the last two years and got a $5 million deal with the Padres this winter.

The Cardinals have been tinkering with the idea of having a fluid bullpen free of defined roles, so there are a handful of pitchers who could get saves in addition to Gallegos, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

It sounds like Jordan Hicks, Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley could all get opportunities in the ninth inning. There is no direct quote here from the brass, but apparently manager Oliver Marmol, pitching coach Mike Maddux and the front office are on the same page in trying to utilize an approach where pitchers are called upon because of favorable matchups and their top pitches instead of set schedules. Gallegos is clearly the team's best reliever, so he retains the most fantasy value, even in a committee; however, fantasy managers shouldn't be banking on 30-plus saves from him this season.

Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Sanmartin will start the Reds' second game of the season April 8 in Atlanta, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Coming into spring training, Sanmartin was one of a handful of pitchers battling for the two open rotation spots behind Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle. The Reds then traded Gray to the Twins and acquired a replacement for him in Mike Minor, but the latter won't be ready to go for the start of the season while he recovers from a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Castillo is also set to begin the campaign on the injured list due to a shoulder issue of his own, so Sanmartin was able to claim a rotation spot without having to truly battle for the job. Whether Sanmartin maintains a starting role by the time Castillo and Minor are healthy will hinge on his performance over the first couple of weeks of the season. The 25-year-old lefty turned in an impressive 2021 campaign at Triple-A Louisville before making two solid late-season starts for the big club in which he allowed two earned runs over 11.2 innings while striking out 11 and walking two.

Harvey (triceps) is slated to face hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The Nationals picked up Harvey on March 21 via waivers after the 27-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment for the second time since the end of the 2021 season. Though the oft-injured pitcher was able to pass a physical, he's still in the process of building up after he finished last season on the injured list with a right triceps strain. Harvey has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut and could be a candidate to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but he shouldn't be sidelined for much longer than the minimum amount of time if he avoids any further setbacks.

Underwood (shoulder) is scheduled to make his third relief appearance of spring training in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Underwood reported to Pirates camp at full health after a bout with right shoulder inflammation sidelined him for the final month of the 2021 campaign. He's been effective in both of his first two Grapefruit League appearances, spinning three scoreless frames while striking out three and allowing only two baserunners. Underwood looks well positioned to win a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen.

The Pirates plan to split closing duties between Bednar and Chris Stratton to open the season, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Bednar and Stratton split the job last year after the departure of Richard Rodriguez, and it's not a major surprise the pair will continue to do so to begin 2022. Bednar had a lighter share of the role with three saves but pitched better with a 2.23 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 77:19 K:BB across 60.2 innings. Meanwhile, Stratton picked up eight saves and had a 3.63 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 86:33 K:BB.

Lamet is expected to open the season in the bullpen, though the Padres haven't officially decided on his role, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Lamet mostly worked in relief last season with nine starts in 22 appearances, and he finished with a 4.40 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 57:22 K:BB across 47 innings. The right-hander was electric as a starter during 2020 with a 2.09 ERA and 93:20 K:BB in 12 starts, but he then had four stints on the injured list last season with elbow issues. A move to the bullpen could help keep Lamet healthy, and his stuff would play well as a closer. However, the 29-year-old, who rarely worked in relief prior to 2021, would need to get acclimated to regularly pitching out of the bullpen before taking on a high-leverage role, so he's unlikely to be a factor in the late innings until later in the season should the Friars opt to utilize him that way.

Atlanta has placed Jackson on the 60-day injured list March 19 with a right lat strain.

The transaction opened up a roster spot for reliever Kenley Jansen, who inked a one-year, $16 million deal with Atlanta. Jackson, whom Atlanta acquired from San Francisco in November, recorded a 3.74 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 21.2 innings with the Giants in 2021.