MLB Player News

Kahnle (elbow) threw his second live batting practice Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The 32-year-old won't be ready for Opening Day as he nears his return from Tommy John surgery in August of 2020, but he could be off the injured list by the end of April, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com. Kahnle was a key bullpen piece for the Yankees back in 2019 and had 27 holds with a 3.67 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 88:20 K:BB over 61.1 innings.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Bickford isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day after experiencing arm soreness before the start of spring training, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Bickford had a delayed start to camp and has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game, though his spring debut may not be far off given he's already thrown live batting practice. The 26-year-old turned into a reliable bullpen piece for the Dodgers last season with nine holds and a 2.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 59:19 K:BB across 51.1 innings, and he should fill a setup role once healthy in 2022.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Brogdon is scheduled to make his third Grapefruit League appearance Wednesday against the Tigers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Brogdon reported to camp with a clean bill of health after finishing the 2021 campaign on the injured list with a groin issue, but he hasn't looked particularly sharp in his limited spring action to date. Over two relief appearances, Brogdon has given up two earned runs on two hits and four walks across 1.1 innings, with Zolecki noting that the right-hander's average fastball velocity has been down a few ticks from his 2021 average of 96 miles per hour. The Phillies haven't suggested that Brogdon is dealing with any sort of physical issue, but his poor form so far this spring might mean that he'll have to settle for lower-leverage work when the regular season begins.

Santillan told Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer on Tuesday that he'll serve as a reliever for the Reds to begin the season. "I'll go in and attack every hitter I face," Santillan said.

Santillan has mostly served as a full-time starter since joining the Reds organization as a second-round pick in 2015, with this past season marking the first time he dabbled between starting and relief duty. The 24-year-old still made four starts across his 26 appearances with the big club in 2021, and though he was expected to compete for a rotation role in spring training, the Reds have since tabled those plans. Even with Luis Castillo (shoulder) and Mike Minor (shoulder) set to begin the season on the injured list, the Reds may be content to let prospects Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene fill out the final two openings in the rotation behind Tyler Mahle, Vladimir Gutierrez and Reiver Sanmartin. Meanwhile, manager David Bell informed Santillan that he'll be heading to the bullpen, where he's expected to serve as one of the Reds' high-leverage relievers, according to Goldsmith. Santillan could be a factor in the Reds' closing picture, which has become more murkier this spring with Lucas Sims (elbow) on track to join Castillo and Minor on the IL to begin the season.

Robertson (personal) faced hitters in a live batting practice session Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After recently taking a few days away from the team to witness the birth of his child, Robertson is back at Cubs camp and has resumed gearing up for the regular season. The workouts he missed likely won't put him too far behind in his preparation for Opening Day, so Robertson should remain on track to break camp with the club. He linked up with the Cubs on a one-year, $3.5 million deal earlier in March after impressing during his stint with the United States team in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo last year before he joined the Rays for the final month of the 2021 campaign.

Alvarado (neck) has been playing catch, but the Phillies are skeptical that he'll be able to avoid the injured list to start the season, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Alvarado's neck issue may not be a long-term problem, but the fact that he's still merely playing catch with Opening Day just 10 days away suggests a trip to the injured list is likely. Once healthy, he'll compete with Brad Hand to be the top lefty in the Philadelphia bullpen, a role that could come with at least the occasional save.

Sims (elbow) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Sims entered camp behind schedule after dealing with elbow and back issues over the winter. There haven't been reports of any setbacks, but he's yet to pitch in a game this spring and won't have time to get up to speed by Opening Day, as manager David Bell confirmed Monday. Art Warren, who posted a 1.29 ERA and a 41.5 percent strikeout rate in 21 innings last season, could open the season as the Reds' closer as a result.

The Cardinals designated Quezada for assignment Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for designated hitter/first baseman Albert Pujols, who returns to St. Louis on a one-year deal for what will likely be the final season of his prolific career. Quezada made his big-league debut out of the Miami bullpen in 2020, but after being acquired by the Cardinals last February, he pitched exclusively in the minors in 2021. The Cardinals will hope to pass him through waivers and stash him in the Triple-A Memphis bullpen for the upcoming season.

Hudson could be a source of saves this season with Blake Treinen and the team openly embracing the idea of Treinen being used to get the highest-leverage outs, regardless of which inning he pitches.

Treinen is the team's best reliever, so he will naturally get some saves, wins and holds, but he is unlikely to push for 30 saves and he may not even lead the team in saves. With 27 career saves to his name, Hudson is as well positioned as anyone to get the ball in the ninth inning when Treinen has already been used earlier in the game.

Treinen has embraced the idea of being used in a versatile fireman role, rather than as a traditional closer, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Manager Dave Roberts has been open this spring about his feeling that Treinen being a traditional closer isn't necessarily what's best for the team, and it seems like everyone is on the same page. Treinen is clearly the Dodgers' best reliever, so he will get saves, wins and holds this season -- he is just unlikely to push for 30 saves. Daniel Hudson and Brusdar Graterol seem like the top options to work the ninth inning when Treinen is used earlier in the game to get high-leverage outs.