Thompson said he addressed an issue of tipping pitches that impacted him early in 2025, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Thompson was uncharacteristically ineffective over the first 19 outings last season, leaving a May 19 appearance with a 7.50 ERA while allowing 2.0 home runs per nine innings. Once the side-armer discovered he was tipping pitches and addressed the issue, Thompson finished with a stretch of 29 games during which he posted a 1.16 ERA and did not allow a home run over 23.1 innings. The right-hander enters spring training as part of an unsettled bullpen without a closer and could pick up save opportunities on 2026. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo included Thompson along with Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald as potential closers.

Junk was wearing a boot on his right foot after rolling his ankle Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Initial testing on the ankle was good, and the Marlins are saying the boot is merely precautionary. Junk had been slated for a pitch-design session Wednesday, but he'll be evaluated by a doctor that day instead. Consider him day-to-day for now. The 30-year-old is competing for a spot in the Marlins' rotation but is more likely to fill a long-relief role.

O'Brien is managing calf soreness that is being evaluated Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

It's unclear exactly how O'Brien sustained the injury, but it puts his availability in question for Team South Korea for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. After recording six saves and six holds with a 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB over 48 innings last year, the 31-year-old righty is expected to be in the mix for saves to begin the year for St. Louis.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo mentioned Ginkel, Paul Sewald and Ryan Thompson as candidates to emerge as the club's closer, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

"I mean it's probably simple arithmetic for you guys to figure out," Lovullo said. "I'm just going to go kind of blind here, but Sewald, Ginkel, Thompson, all those guys that have had that experience in big moments... they're all wanting to do it." Lovullo added that he would like to establish a defined closer, though it's unclear whether he plans to name one before Opening Day. A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow) could also figure into the closer mix when they return, though the latter won't be back until late in the season, if at all. Ginkel had a disastrous, injury-shortened 2025 season, posting a 7.36 ERA and 29:13 K:BB over 25.2 innings. He's healthy now, however, and from 2023-2024 he held a 2.86 ERA and 147:38 K:BB across 135.1 regular-season frames.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo listed Sewald, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson as candidates to emerge as the team's closer, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

"I mean it's probably simple arithmetic for you guys to figure out," Lovullo said. "I'm just going to go kind of blind here, but Sewald, Ginkel, Thompson, all those guys that have had that experience in big moments... they're all wanting to do it." Lovullo prefers to establish a defined closer, though it's unclear whether he intends to name one prior to Opening Day. A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow) should also be in the closer mix when they return. Sewald was the Diamondbacks' closer when they won the National League pennant in 2023 and opened the 2024 season in the role before eventually losing it. The veteran righty held a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers during an injury-shortened 2025 season.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo mentioned Thompson, Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald when asked who could fill the team's closer job, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

"I mean it's probably simple arithmetic for you guys to figure out," Lovullo said. "I'm just going to go kind of blind here, but Sewald, Ginkel, Thompson, all those guys that have had that experience in big moments... they're all wanting to do it." D'Agostino writes that while Sewald, Ginkel and Thompson are the "likely frontrunners" for the gig, Lovullo was "emphatic that no roles will be handed to anyone." A.J. Puk (elbow) should also be in the mix to close when he returns around midseason, and Justin Martinez (elbow) will be a candidate if he makes it back late in the year. Lovullo noted that he prefers to have a defined closer, though it's unclear whether he plans to name one before Opening Day. Thompson has notched a total of four saves in his two-and-a-half regular seasons in Arizona, collecting a 3.21 ERA and 97:29 K:BB over 120.2 innings.

Manaea worked with Tread Athletics this offseason and believes he's rediscovered his ideal arm slot, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Manaea experienced a breakthrough in 2024 with a lowered arm slot, but he struggled in 2025 after lowering his arm slot even further. He's now got it back closer to where it was in 2024 and said it's "definitely cleaned up and feels a lot better now." The left-hander dealt with a loose body in his elbow last season and didn't have surgery, so the possibility exists that the issue will resurface in 2026. However, Manaea is fully healthy right now and feels good about where he is early on in Mets camp.

Smith (elbow) agreed Monday with the Nationals on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Michelle Margaux of SNY.tv reports.

According to Margaux, Smith's deal will be worth $1.75 million if he makes the Opening Day roster and includes up to $1.25 million in performance-related bonuses. The 32-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2025 season while on the mend from July 2024 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace, but he could be at or near full health at this point. If Smith proves during spring training that he's regained his pre-surgery velocity and command, he could quickly earn a high-leverage role in an unsettled Washington bullpen. Over parts of six big-league seasons, Smith owns a 3.48 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 15.2 K-BB% over 191 appearances, all of which came with the Mets.

The Diamondbacks placed Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The left-hander will be unavailable for at least the first couple months of 2026 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL is just a procedural move. After reporting for spring training last week, Puk said that he expects to make his season debut before July.

The Diamondbacks claimed Holman (finger) off waivers from the Athletics on Sunday.

The addition of Holman gives the Diamondbacks an intriguing developmental arm out of the bullpen. Though he struggled to a 5.09 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 23 innings in the big leagues with the Athletics last season, the 6-foot-6 Holman boasts a four-pitch mix and long levers that helped him finish in the 94th percentile in extension, per Aaron Hughes of SI.com. Arizona placed A.J. Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Holman.