MLB Player News

Cabrera has yet to arrive at camp due to travel issues, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Cabrera's issues don't seem likely to keep him away from the team for too long. Assuming he doesn't miss too much more time, he should be up to speed by Opening Day.

Gallegos wasn't available for the start of camp due to personal reasons, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gallegos' delay isn't expected to last long, though it's not clear exactly when he's supposed to return. As long as he arrives in time to build up for Opening Day, he should have the inside track for the closer role in St. Louis.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he would "love" for Rainey to cement himself as the Nationals' closer coming out of spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Martinez's comments can't be taken as evidence that Rainey is penciled in as the team's ninth-inning man, but the 29-year-old's strong finish to an otherwise turbulent 2021 season appears to make him the early frontrunner for the job. In addition to sustaining a collarbone injury last spring, testing positive for COVID-19 in May, and then suffering a right tibia stress reaction in late June, Rainey struggled mightily when available for the first four months of the season with a 7.62 ERA while walking 16.5 percent of the batters. However, upon returning in mid-September from a one-month stint at Triple-A, Rainey recaptured the strong form he displayed in 2020, submitting a 29.2 K-BB% and holding hitters to a .150 average while notching a pair of saves over five appearances. Though the late-season sample was a small one, it might be enough to position Rainey atop the depth chart in a bullpen that's mostly lacking in upside arms.

Reyes (shoulder) has yet to throw off a mound this winter, so he'll be behind the rest of his teammates even if cleared by team doctors, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Reyes avoided the injured list last season and went on to record 29 saves with a 3.24 ERA. His shoulder issues may be nothing more than the lingering effects of finally throwing a full season last year, as his 72.1 innings weren't far from the total of 87 frames he threw over the previous four years combined.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Topa (elbow) will remain in rehab mode during spring training and isn't expected to pitch in any Cactus League games, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Topa be ready to throw bullpen sessions by the end of spring training, but the update from Counsell implies that the right-hander will open the season on the injured list while he continues to work back from the flexor tendon injury he sustained in a Sept. 3 appearance versus the Cardinals. Topa was limited to only four relief appearances for the big club in 2021 after suffering a similar elbow injury last spring.

Reyes underwent an extensive review of his shoulder by team doctors Monday to determine whether or not he could start spring training on time, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The results of the review are not yet known. The 27-year-old finally had an injury-free season last year and recorded 29 saves with a 30.0 percent strikeout rate and a 3.24 ERA, though he also walked 16.4 percent of opposing batters. Reports from last season indicated that the Cardinals planned on Reyes pushing for a rotation role this season, but it's possible he remains in the bullpen if the team doesn't think his arm can handle the increased workload.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Monday that Alzolay is dealing with shoulder tightness and is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

A clearer timeline for Alzolay to make his season debut could begin more clear later in spring training, but the fact that Hoyer is already dismissing the possibility of the right-hander breaking camp with the club suggests he'll likely spend more than the minimum amount of time on the IL. Had he reported to camp at full health, Alzolay would have been in good shape to win a back-end rotation spot, but his absence to begin the season improves the chances of Alec Mills, Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele winning starting roles.

The Giants designated Harvey (triceps) for assignment Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

San Francisco dropped the talented but injury-prone Harvey from the 40-man roster to make room for Jakob Junis, who signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the team. The Giants put in a waiver claim for Harvey in November with the thought that he might make for a high-upside lottery ticket out of the bullpen, but he was at major-league camp for just a few days before losing his 40-man spot. If Harvey clears waivers this time around, he'll stick in the organization and presumably open the season with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.

Junis (shoulder) signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Giants on Monday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Junis isn't expected to be part of the Giants' Opening Day rotation if the team escapes spring training with its top five starters intact, but given the poor durability that the likes of Carlos Rodon, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood and Alex Cobb have shown during their careers, the 29-year-old Junis makes for valuable insurance. After working as a full-time starter for Kansas City from 2017 through 2019, Junis served as more of a swingman the past two years, accruing a 5.71 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 14.9 K-BB%. While those numbers aren't overly impressive, the Giants' ability to coax good results out of their pitchers in recent seasons will make Junis someone to keep an eye on if he gets a look in the rotation at any point.

Hand agreed Monday with the Phillies on a one-year, $6 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

One of the top lefty relievers who was available on the open market, Hand ultimately landed with the fourth different NL East team of his career after stops with the Marlins, Mets and Nationals. With 121 career saves on his ledger, Hand immediately becomes the most accomplished reliever in the bullpen, but because he'll be making $4 million less than fellow free-agent pickup Corey Knebel, the former could be second in line for saves. Phillies manager Joe Girardi could also choose to use the two relievers as part of a loose closer committee, with the southpaw Hand and right-handed Knebel both representing appealing options against opposite-handed hitters. While the transaction makes handicapping the Phillies' closer situation a more difficult endeavor, the offseason additions of Hand and Knebel (and longtime Mets setup man Jeurys Familia) undoubtedly strengthen the bullpen, which has been a major trouble spot for the team in recent years.