MLB Player News

Bolton relayed Wednesday that he's "100 percent perfect" after undergoing surgery last April to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Bolton has backed up his own optimism about his health by throwing two live-batting practice sessions in the early stages of the Pirates' minor-league spring training camp in Florida. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season on account of the COVID-19 pandemic before he suffered the untimely knee injury, Bolton hasn't pitched in affiliated ball since 2019, when he amassed a 3.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 102:30 K:BB in 101.2 innings between High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona. After serving as a full-time starter that season, Bolton is expected to begin the 2022 campaign in a middle-relief role as he looks to build up innings and regain comfort on the mound following an extended absence.

Helsley (elbow/knee) posted a video on his personal Instagram account last week featuring his throwing a bullpen session off a mound, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The Cardinals won't provide a formal update on Helsley's health until the MLB lockout ends and members of the 40-man roster are able to begin spring training, but his ability to throw off a mound at near-peak velocity -- 97 miles per hour, according to the caption of the Instagram video -- is certainly a positive sign that he'll be ready to go for Opening Day, whenever it might be. Helsley didn't make an appearance after Aug. 14 last season due to a stress reaction in his right elbow and a left knee injury that later required offseason surgery. If available for the start of the upcoming season, Helsley will likely fill a setup or middle-relief role for St. Louis.

Weems signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Weems made seven relief appearances for the Athletics and Diamondbacks during the 2021 campaign but struggled, as he allowed 10 runs in 5.2 innings. The right-hander will be invited to major-league camp once it gets underway. Weems could make some big-league appearances while serving as organizational depth in 2022, but he'll presumably serve in a low-leverage role if he's called up.

Edwards signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Edwards spent most of the 2021 campaign in the minors and logged a 2.65 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 17 innings across 18 relief appearances at the Triple-A level. The right-hander will likely be at big-league camp once the lockout is over, but he hasn't made double-digit appearances in the majors since 2019.

Garrett signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Garrett spent the last two seasons in Japan but has joined the Nationals for spring training. The right-hander hasn't appeared in the majors since 2019, when he logged 13 relief outings for the Tigers. He'll likely serve as organizational depth for Washington once the season gets underway.

Payano signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Feb. 1.

Cincinnati has since assigned Payano to Double-A Chattanooga, where he'll likely open the 2022 campaign. The 27-year-old right-hander previously made six appearances (four starts) for the Rangers during the 2020 season, but he spent all of 2021 in the minors while he was a member of Detroit's organization. Between stops at Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie, Payano submitted a 4.65 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 124 innings.

Neal signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies on Thursday, according to his representation at MSM Sports.

Neal has played the last three season in the Nippon Professional Baseball league with the Seibu Lions. He worked exclusively as a reliever and maintained a 4.85 ERA to go along with only 185 strikeouts across 337.2 innings. Neal will have the chance to earn a bullpen role in Colorado, though even if he sticks with the team he isn't likely to serve in a high-leverage role.

The Giants signed Ortiz to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Ortiz spent the 2021 season in the Rangers organization, pitching exclusively at Triple-A Round Rock and submitting a 4.60 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB in 43 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander previously made three appearances at the MLB level with the Orioles between 2018 and 2019, giving up eight earned runs on 11 hits and eight walks in 5.2 innings.

Guzman's (elbow) agency announced Jan. 15 via its personal Instagram account that the right-hander signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Giants.

Guzman will move on to the fourth organization of his career after he signed with the Astros as a teenager in 2014 and then was traded to the Yankees and Marlins in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The 26-year-old appeared in two games in the big leagues in 2021, but Miami outrighted him off its 40-man roster in late October after he had been sidelined for the preceding two months with a right elbow injury. The Giants' decision to bring Guzman aboard on a two-year deal could hint that he may have undergone an offseason surgery on the elbow, putting his availability for the start of the 2022 season in question. San Francisco is unlikely to provide much clarity on Guzman's situation until the lockout ends and manager Gabe Kapler is available to speak to the media again.

Carasiti (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Thursday.

Carasiti joined the Red Sox on a minor-league deal last year but spent the entire season on the injured list after he underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2020. It's not yet clear when he'll be ready to pitch, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him invited to major-league spring training in 2022 if he's healthy by then.