MLB Player News

Alzolay is a candidate for the Cubs' three-player "taxi squad" for road trips to begin the regular season, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Tyler Chatwood figures to secure the No. 5 starter spot, which would push Alzolay out of contention for the rotation. The latter could still potentially snag a bullpen role, but the taxi squad makes a lot of sense for the 25-year-old. MLB teams will be allowed to add these players onto their regular rosters if a need arises while on the road. Alzolay, who made two starts for the Cubs last season and 15 starts for Triple-A Iowa, would figure to be available as a spot starter under this scenario.

Jansen strongly indicated on 710 ESPN Los Angeles that he will not opt out of the 2020 season, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com reports. "I don't want to live my life in fear of something," Jansen said. "I'm going to be cautious, make sure I wash my hands, if I'm in a clubhouse, just keep my distance. But health-wise I think I'm fine, I feel great, thank God."

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, players considered "high risk" can opt out of the season and still receive their full pro-rated pay. Jansen underwent a procedure in November of 2018 to fix an irregular heartbeat, so he would be considered "high risk" for an MLB player, but it sounds like he fully intends to return to his role as endgamer for the Dodgers in 2020.

President of baseball operations John Mozeliak revealed Wednesday that Brebbia underwent Tommy John surgery three weeks ago, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

This is a fairly significant blow to the Cardinals, as Brebbia has been a rock in the bullpen with a 3.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over the past three seasons. He was given a bigger role last year and came through, recording 12 holds while blowing only one lead in 66 appearances. Ryan Helsley, 25, will likely move up a rung on the ladder and take on a lot of Brebbia's work in the mid-to-late innings.

Hicks (elbow) would likely be part of a closing committee as opposed to having sole possession of the ninth-inning job for much, if not all, of a shortened 2020 season, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hummel is answering a reader question about how heavy Hicks' workload would be right from the start, with any 2020 season now likely to begin right around the point where Hicks might be healthy enough to pitch. The hard-throwing right-hander will be taking the mound for the first time since June 2019 when he does return, so Hummel's assessment of shared responsibility seems to be supported by logic, especially when considering expanded rosters and a season not likely to exceed 60 games.

Cabrera would be a strong candidate for middle-relief work during an abbreviated 2020 season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The virtual certainty of expanded rosters during any 2020 season that unfolds makes the versatile Cabrera one of the team's likely multi-inning bullpen options in Goold's view. The 23-year-old southpaw was optioned to Triple-A Memphis back on March 26 in a procedural move; however, with teams expected to manage starters' innings more closely than usual during a potential 2020 season, it's likely the Cardinals keep pitchers capable of handling robust workloads such as Cabrera at the ready.

Ponce de Leon is projected to primarily log middle-relief work during any 2020 season that unfolds, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Goold lists Ponce de Leon as one of the Cardinals' natural middle relievers now that Miles Mikolas (forearm) is expected to be ready from the onset of a delayed regular season and Kwang-Hyun Kim is projected to round out a likely six-man rotation. Ponce de Leon is a natural for a multi-inning bullpen role, considering he has no shortage of starting experience at both the minor- and major-league levels and has proven effective as both a reliever and occasional member of the rotation. The 28-year-old reinforced his candidacy for a big-league roster spot by posting an 0.69 ERA across four Grapefuit League appearances before spring training was suspended.

Dominguez is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his torn UCL in the near future, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Dominguez would officially miss all of whatever 2020 season the MLB comes up with, if any. The decision to undergo surgery was unfortunately delayed by failed attempts to return to the United States from the Dominican Republic, which could set his potential 2021 return date back slightly given the usual expected recovery time of 12-plus months.

Szapucki is a strong candidate for a spot on the taxi squad for the Mets, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Injuries have limited the southpaw to only 145 minor-league innings since being drafted in the fifth round in 2015, but Szapucki has still flashed upside when he's been on the mound, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 72:26 K:BB in 61.2 innings across three levels in 2019. If the 23-year-old does wind up in the mix for the Mets this season, he could make his big-league debut in relief.

Thompson, who fired three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play before spring training was suspended, took advantage of his time with the big-league club to consult with the team's various starting pitchers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 22-year-old southpaw leveraged his first chance to be around big leaguers on a day-to-day basis by peppering hurlers like Adam Wainwright, Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson with questions. Thompson, the 19th overall pick of the Cardinals last season, struck out 19 of the 61 hitters he faced at High-A Palm Beach in 2019 and relies heavily on both a curveball and a slider he's actively looking to refine. Thompson appeared ticketed for time at Double-A Springfield at some point in 2020, but with the likelihood the minor-league season is lost outright, Thompson's development may be restricted to any baseball activities that the organization puts together for its top prospects.

Alzolay is a candidate to make an expanded Cubs bullpen when the regular season is able to begin, Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Alzolay was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in March and was slated to spend a good chunk of the season there, with the Cubs boasting a number of veteran starters. However, the coronavirus pandemic might alter those plans, as MLB teams are expected to operate with expanded rosters whenever the season is able to begin, and the minor-league season might not happen at all. Alzolay made his MLB debut toward the end of 2019, and he's still likely a part of Chicago's future, so the Cubs may want to get him more run in the majors if they can.