MLB Player News

Flores was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals on Thursday.

Flores failed to break camp with the White Sox this year, but he'll find a spot on the Cardinals' 40-man roster. The southpaw posted a 4.15 ERA and 2.08 WHIP in 4.1 innings this spring and has been assigned to the Cardinals' alternate training site to begin the season.

The Padres placed Lamet on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right UCL strain.

Lamet's injury dates back to last September, but his placement on the IL is the result of him not being fully ramped up rather than any major concern about his health on the Padres' part. After working 1.1 innings in his final spring-training outing Monday, Lamet will likely need at least a couple more weeks to get fully conditioned for starting duty. Adrian Morejon is expected to serve as San Diego's fifth starter until Lamet is ready to make his 2021 debut.

Holmes' contract was selected by the Pirates on Thursday.

Holmes returned to the Pirates on a minor-league deal in December, but he'll break camp with the major-league club after an impressive spring. The right-hander made 10 relief appearances this spring, delivering 9.2 scoreless innings with a 1.03 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB. He made just one relief appearance for the Pirates in 2020, allowing two hits and striking out one over 1.1 innings.

Hicks will be eased into game action to begin the 2021 season, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Hicks opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and he hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since June of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. While the right-hander is expected to take over as the Cardinals' primary closer at some point in 2021, manager Mike Shildt said that Alex Reyes should be the favorite to work in the eighth and ninth innings early in the year while Hicks is eased into action. Hicks converted on 14 of his 15 save chances while posting a 3.14 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 28.2 innings during the 2019 campaign.

Reyes will work in the eighth and ninth innings early in the season while Jordan Hicks is eased into action, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Reyes is expected to work as a long reliever for most of the 2021 campaign with the hope that he'll move to the starting rotation in 2022. However, Reyes will likely be the top option for save chances to begin the season since the Cardinals will be cautious with Hicks' usage early on after he missed the entire 2020 campaign. While Hicks should take over as the primary closer once he's fully built up, Reyes will handle ninth-inning duties to begin the year. Manager Mike Shildt said that Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller could be utilized in high-leverage situations as well.

Miller has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Miller was reassigned to minor-league camp in mid-March but is currently away from the team. It's not clear whether the right-hander has tested positive for COVID-19, but he'll need to clear the league's health and safety protocols before he's eligible to return.

The Brewers placed Topa (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

The Brewers aren't anticipating Topa being available for the first half of the season while he recovers from a right flexor tendon strain, so he'll be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL when the team needs to open up an extra spot on the 40-man roster.

Smith (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith has been dealing with right shoulder soreness recently and hasn't made an appearance in game action since March 13. He'll begin the season on the injured list and doesn't yet have a timetable for his return.

Castano was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

Castano missed out on a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, with the organization's decision to keep Rule 5 picks Paul Campbell and Zach Pop on the roster likely playing a major factor. The 26-year-old lefty will likely open the campaign as a member of Jacksonville's rotation.

Johnson (groin) faced hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

While Padres manager Jayce Tingler has already indicated that Johnson will begin the season on the injured list, the right-hander looks to be tracking toward a minimum-length stay, or close to it. Assuming his groin responds well to Wednesday's throwing session, he may only need to complete one or two more simulated outings before the Padres sign off on his return from the IL.