MLB Player News

Jackson has been invited to Atlanta's spring training.

After being designated for assignment in December, Jackson will attend spring training as a non-roster invitee. The 26-year-old right hander accrued an ERA of 5.50 across 50.2 innings for the Braves in 2017, and has struggled in the big leagues throughout his career -- he owns a career ERA of 5.64. Unless Jackson has a stellar spring training, he's likely a long shot to make the major-league team for Opening Day.

Boxberger will compete with Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano for the D-backs' closer role this spring, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Acquired from the Rays in November, Boxberger offers past experience as a closer, and his struggles with injury in each of the last two seasons may lead the D-backs to limit him mostly to three-out appearances. It's not unreasonable to think that Boxberger might be the early favorite to take on the job, as using him as the closer gives manager Torey Lovullo more flexibility with Archie Bradley, who can be tasked with multiple innings as needed. Nevertheless, it's expected that the D-backs will make their plans for the ninth inning known at some point near the end of spring training.

Tapia resigned with the Reds on a minor-league contract Monday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

The right-hander spent much of last season with Double-A Pensacola, producing a 4.03 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 82.2 frames. Tapia struck out nearly a batter per inning, but his .283 BAA with the Blue Wahoos will likely limit him to an organizational depth role for another year.

Satterwhite agreed to a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Monday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

The 31-year-old right-hander has yet to make a big-league appearance, but his past performance in the minors hardly calls for a promotion. With Triple-A Syracuse last season, Satterwhite could only muster a 4.35 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP in 49.2 relief innings. He'll likely serve as an organizational depth piece in his return to the organization.

Poncedeleon has fully recovered from a head injury he suffered last May and will report to the Cardinals' big-league camp this spring, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Poncedeleon underwent brain surgery immediately after being struck by a line drive during a game at the Triple-A level, but thankfully, he's been able to recover from the incident over the course of the last eight months. Prior to the injury, he posted a 2.17 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over six starts (29 innings) for Memphis, and although he will likely be back in Triple-A to begin the 2018 campaign, the 26-year-old is set to get his first opportunity against major-league hitting when spring training rolls around.

Miller (elbow) will make $4.9 million in 2018 after winning his arbitration case, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.

With Miller emerging victorious, the Diamondbacks will have to pay the southpaw a hair more than their $4.7 million offer. The 27-year-old managed just four starts in 2017 before a torn UCL in his right elbow forced him to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery in May. Miller, who was coming off a brutal 2016 campaign (6.15 ERA), was showing promise prior to the injury, posting a 4.09 ERA and 20:12 K:BB across 22 innings of work. His fastball velocity also sat at a career-high 94.9 mph. While Miller remains without an exact timetable for his return, he'll likely open the season on the disabled list and could be limited to a long-relief/sixth-starter role initially upon his return.

Hernandez signed a two-year contract with the Reds on Tuesday. According to Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the deal is worth $5 million.

After failing to make the Giants' Opening Day roster, Hernandez was released and spent time with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate before being traded to the Angels and subsequently making his way back to the majors. While he's on the wrong side of 30, Hernandez posted a respectable 3.11 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 52:9 K:BB across 55 innings of relief between the Angels and Diamondbacks in 2017, proving he still has plenty left in the tank. The right-hander also racked up 18 holds last season, and seeing as he figures to continue to work as a setup man with his new club, Hernandez could prove to be a cheap source of holds in 2018.

Manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Suter will compete for a role in the Brewers' starting rotation during spring training, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Assuming the Brewers don't fill out their rotation -- via free agent signings or trades -- prior to spring training, Suter will get a chance to reprise his role in the Brewers' starting rotation in 2018. While the soft-tossing southpaw didn't blow anyone away in 2017 (7.1 K/9), he held his own in 14 starts for the big club, posting a 3.45 ERA across 70.1 innings of work. He also proved plenty effective against same-handed hitters, holding lefties to a paltry .192 average in 85 plate appearances. It's unclear what the Brewers will opt to do with Suter if he's unable to lock down a rotation spot in spring; he could stay stretched out as a starter in the minors or work out of the big-league bullpen as a lefty specialist, something he has done in the past.

Nelson (shoulder) reaffirmed Sunday that there is no timetable for his return, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, but according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, pitching coach Derek Johnson hinted that the Brewers are expecting Nelson back "around June."

Like Nelson said, it's still not clear exactly when he will be ready to make his 2018 debut, but Johnson's comments are the first time a target date has been attached to Nelson's recovery timeline; and they at least provide an initial estimate for fantasy players trying to determine how much to invest in Nelson in drafts and/or auctions. Nelson has made good progress in his rehab work and has been throwing for more than a week already.

Hader is likely to work out of the bullpen to begin the season, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hader was stellar in relief last season, striking out 68 batters across 47.2 innings and accruing a 2.08 ERA for Milwaukee. That allowed general manager David Stearns to install the 23-year-old left-hander in the same role for this campaign, although that could change. The Brewers are in pursuit of a starting pitcher, so if they pull the trigger on a trade before spring training begins, that would solidify Hader's role in the bullpen for the time being.