MLB Player News

Webb (elbow) is throwing without any restrictions, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

As expected, Webb is on track to be ready for the start of the 2020 season after missing the second half of the 2019 campaign with a right elbow impingement that ultimately required surgery. The 26-year-old should reprise his role in Atlanta's bullpen after posting a 1.39 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB across 32.1 innings last season.

Graterol was sent home from camp Thursday due to an illness, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Manager Dave Roberts said the hard-throwing right-hander is otherwise healthy, per Gurnick. Still, the Dodgers are expected to monitor Graterol's workload throughout spring once he's over the illness. He spent most of the 2019 season with Double-A Pensacola but made his big-league debut in September, compiling a 4.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 9.2 innings with the Twins.

Burdi (biceps) reported to spring training this week without any restrictions to his throwing program, Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic reports.

Burdi will be a full participant to begin camp after he required season-ending surgery last June to relieve symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. Prior to getting shut down, Burdi had been lit up for nine runs over 8.2 innings, though he picked up 17 strikeouts on the back of his upper-90s fastball. Assuming Burdi can quickly regain his pre-surgery velocity in camp, he could emerge as a dominant setup man in front of newly minted closer Keone Kela.

Hartlieb (foot) reported to camp this week healthy and without any restrictions following offseason surgery, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Hartlieb required the procedure on his right foot in October, but the offseason provided sufficient time for him to make a full recovery. The 26-year-old righty will be aiming to secure a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen after compiling a 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB across 35 innings with the big club in 2019.

Boxberger agreed Thursday with the Marlins on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Boxberger arrives in Miami with two 30-save seasons on his resume, but he's unlikely to factor into the Marlins' closer competition this spring. The 31-year-old may not even be a viable setup option at this stage of his career, as he's coming off a rough 2019 season with Kansas City in which he posted a 5.40 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB in 26.2 innings before being waived in July. He went on to land minor-league deals from Washington and Cincinnati later in the summer, but both organizations released him when he was unable to earn a promotion back to the big leagues. Boxberger will get another opportunity in Miami to compete for a bullpen job, though he'll remain well off the fantasy radar unless he somehow finds himself back in a high-leverage role.

Crowe was invited to big-league camp by the Nationals on Wednesday.

Crowe isn't far from pushing for a big-league roster spot, but he still has something to prove at the Triple-A level. In 10 starts for Triple-A Fresno last season, he struggled to a 6.17 ERA, walking 10.4 percent of opposing batters while striking out just 16.4 percent.

Hernandez will attend spring training with the Nationals as a non-roster invitee.

Hernandez spent a majority of the 2019 season with the Reds, recording a 8.02 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB across 42.2 innings. The veteran reliever owned an impressive 0.98 WHIP in 2018 with Cincinnati and will have the opportunity to make a positive first impressive on the Nationals' big-league coaching staff during spring training.

Hicks (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Hicks was moved to the injured list in order to create a roster spot for Brad Miller, who was signed by St. Louis on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Hicks was already eyeing a midseason return from undergoing Tommy John surgery in late June of 2019. It is possible the Cardinals will attempt to ease Hicks back from his long absence in a setup role rather than have him resume immediate closing duties. Giovanny Gallegos is expected to begin the season as the closer with the recent news that Carlos Martinez will be competing for a spot in the starting rotation.

Neris will be away from the team for a few days to start camp as he recovers from the flu, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Neris is expected to rejoin the team no later than this weekend, so his build-up for the upcoming season won't be significantly impacted. Neris is expected to enter the season as the dedicated closer under new manager Joe Girardi, who has a reputation for preferring much stricter bullpen roles than his predecessor, Gabe Kapler, did.

Dominguez (elbow) indicated that he's on track to be ready for Opening Day after he completed his third bullpen session of the spring Tuesday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Dominguez looked like a potential candidate for Tommy John surgery after he was diagnosed with a damaged UCL in his right elbow last June, but doctors allowed him to treat the injury with rest and rehab. Though he never pitched again after being shut down last season, Dominguez said he was able to resume a throwing program Dec. 1. With Dominguez having thus far avoided any setbacks while playing catch or working off a mound, he's expected to handle a normal workload progression this spring. If his health remains intact, Dominguez should open the season as one of the top setup options for projected closer Hector Neris.