MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Ferguson will work out as a starter during the early portion of spring training, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old acted almost exclusively as a starter in the minors, but he was an integral part of the Dodgers' bullpen down the stretch last season. In 49 innings split between three starts and 26 relief appearances, Ferguson posted a 3.49 ERA and a 59:12 K:BB. The Dodgers will decide whether he'll be used as a starter or as a reliever sometime in early March, though it seems like a bit of a stretch that he'll find a spot in the team's well-established rotation.

Stephenson (shoulder) is still behind his Reds teammates in workouts this spring but is getting closer, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I think he's real close to being back on a normal routine," manager David Bell said.

Stephenson has an uphill battle to make the Reds' Opening Day roster even without the injury, though that he lacks options works in his favor. He'll get stretched out as a starter even though he's not competing for the fifth starter's job.

Hicks has been limited to throwing bullpen sessions thus far in spring training as the Cardinals look to regulate his spring workload, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

There's no injury behind Hicks' restrictions, as the Cardinals merely want to avoid overextending the right-hander with Opening Day still more than a month away. Though the Cardinals seem committed to using Hicks as a high-leverage reliever -- and potentially as their closer -- rather than as a starter at this point, his youth and reliance on premium velocity probably makes monitoring his workload a greater priority for the organization than most of their other bullpen arms. Hicks should face hitters in batting practice in the near future, but he may not make his Grapefruit League debut until next week or later.

Reyes (lat) threw his first live batting practice session of the spring Tuesday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

The Cardinals had suggested in the offseason that Reyes would be back to full health for spring training, so his ability to face hitters in the second week of camp is merely confirmation that the torn lat muscle he sustained last May is no longer a concern. It's possible that St. Louis still acts cautiously with Reyes' usage in the spring so as to save his bullets for the regular season, but the 24-year-old should still merit consideration for the club's Opening Day rotation. Reyes' chances of breaking camp as a starter in the big leagues may have improved after it was revealed Monday that Carlos Martinez (shoulder) would push back his throwing progression at least two weeks.

Hoffman is among the pitchers scheduled to pitch in the Rockies' exhibition opener Saturday versus the Diamondbacks, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Chad Bettis will start the Cactus League contest, with Hoffman slated to follow either directly behind him or after another reliever. Incidentally, both Bettis and Hoffman -- along with Antonio Senzatela -- will be vying for the final spot in the Colorado rotation throughout the spring. Of the trio, Hoffman pitched the least at the big-league level in 2018 (8.2 innings), but he's the most impressive of the group in terms of raw stuff thanks to a fastball that was clocked as high as 98.6 miles per hour during a training session this offseason, per Saunders.

The Phillies list Romero (ribs) as their starting pitcher for their fourth Grapefruit League game Monday versus the Tigers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Romero covered just 106.2 innings last season at Double-A Reading while dealing with a fractured rib that kept him on the 7-day disabled list for a large chunk of the second half. The Phillies' decision to invite him to major-league spring training along with including him in the pitching schedule early during the Grapefruit League schedule suggests there's little concern about his health heading into 2019. Once camp closes, Romero will likely be ticketed for Triple-A Lehigh Valley or a return trip to Reading.

Suter (elbow) was moved to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The move makes room on the 40-man roster for the newly signed Mike Moustakas. It has no bearing on Suter's return timeline, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in August and will miss well more than the first 60 days of the season. He will likely sit out for the whole year.

Loup agreed to a one-year contract with the Padres on Sunday that includes a team option for 2020, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Loup is a decent southpaw reliever, compiling a 4.54 ERA (3.39 FIP) and a 10.0 K/9 in 39.2 innings split between the Blue Jays and Phillies last season. He'll provide a veteran presence and a much-needed left-handed arm for the San Diego bullpen this season.

Manager Mike Shildt won't name Hicks or anyone else the team's closer, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Hicks has classic closer stuff, with a fastball that averaged over 100 mph in his rookie season. He got the ball in the ninth inning occasionally last year, picking up six saves, but the Cardinals also signed Andrew Miller over the offseason, a veteran with 53 career saves. Shildt is likely to play the matchups, as Hicks is a righty and Miller a lefty, which could prevent either pitcher from recording a high saves total.

Jackson signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers that includes an invite to major-league spring training.

Jackson last pitched in a major-league organization with the Padres in 2015, mostly appearing at the Triple-A level. The 31-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Hiroshima Carp in the Japan Central League, posting a 2.10 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 across 175 appearances.