MLB Player News

Manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Assad (oblique) has resumed playing catch, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad was diagnosed with a mild oblique strain early on in camp but appears to be making strides. It's not clear when he might be ready for mound work and a game appearance, however. Assad is in a competition for the final spot in the Cubs' rotation, so he can't afford too long of a delay.

Kinley (elbow) isn't expected to be operating with any restrictions in spring training after having a normal offseason, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

Kinley finished last season on the injured list after developing right elbow inflammation in September, but he needed only a brief period of down time before he was able to resume throwing. With Colorado making no major additions to its bullpen during the offseason, Kinley should factor into the team's unsettled closer picture in 2025, just as he had last season before getting shut down due to the minor elbow issue. Over his 64 innings, Kinley turned in poor ratios (6.19 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 13.7 K-BB%), but the 34-year-old got the job done when called upon in save situations, converting 12 of his 13 opportunities.

Go was diagnosed with a fractured right index finger Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

He will be re-evaluated in a couple weeks. Go spent all of the 2024 season in the minors, holding a 6.54 ERA and 52:22 K:BB over 52.1 innings and the Double- and Triple-A levels. He was removed from the Marlins' 40-man roster last June.

Poteet is in line to start Thursday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Jordan Bastian and Sonja Chen of MLB.com report.

Poteet joined the Cubs back in December in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. Poteet could be minor-league depth once the regular season begins, though with Chicago not using all of its regulars in Thursday's spring training opener, he will get the chance to take the mound. The veteran righty posted a 2.22 ERA and 16:8 K:BB across 24.1 innings for New York last year.

Lopez (groin) completed a live batting practice session Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Lopez is facing no limitations this spring after a right groin strain kept him on the injured list for the final week of the 2024 season. Before getting shut down, Lopez accrued a 2.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 50:19 K:BB over 53 innings between stops with the Mets and Cubs, with his strong finish to the season earning him a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency with the Nationals. With Washington non-tendering last season's closer, Kyle Finnegan, earlier in the offseason, the back end of the bullpen is unsettled, but manager Dave Martinez reiterated earlier this week that Lopez and Jose Ferrer will likely be the leading candidates to pick up saves if the Nationals don't bring aboard a more proven closer before Opening Day. "Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez told Zuckerman. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it." With Ferrer being the left-handed option of the two, the right-handed Lopez could have the inside track to see a higher volume of save opportunities.

The Rockies signed Alexander to a one-year, $2 million contract Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Alexander, 35, collected a 2.56 ERA and 31:15 K:BB over 38.2 innings while inducing groundballs at a 58.9 percent clip with the Athletics in 2024. The sinkerballer will give manager Bud Black another left-handed option in the bullpen.

Manager Dave Martinez said earlier this week that Ferrer remains a candidate to save games for the Nationals along with Jorge Lopez, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. "As I said earlier, Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez said. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it."

The back end of the Washington bullpen is in flux heading into Opening Day, after the Nationals elected to non-tender Kyle Finnegan in November coming off a 38-save season. Washington brought in Lopez over the winter on a one-year, $3 million deal, and based on Martinez's comments, Lopez -- who saved 23 games in 2022 between stops with the Orioles and Twins -- looks to be the preferred option in what could be a two-pronged approach at closer. Ferrer, meanwhile, has just one career save to his name, but he was one of Washington's top relievers in 2024 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB in 32 innings. As the southpaw option of the two relievers, Ferrer could be the choice over Lopez for save situations that arise when the Nationals face lefty-heavy lineups in the ninth inning.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Moreta (elbow) is unlikely to pitch in any Grapefruit League games, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Moreta is right where the Pirates expected him to be in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last March, with Tomczyk noting that the right-hander has been able to throw side sessions. He'll continue to slowly increase the intensity of his throwing sessions throughout the spring before potentially facing hitters in live batting practice, but any games that Moreta pitches in during camp will likely come on the back fields in a controlled setting. Moreta was placed on the 60-day injured list over the weekend, and while he could be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment by late April, he won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut for the Pirates until at least late May.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Stratton (knee) is slated to begin a running progression, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Stratton is already throwing off a mound as he returns from a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee he suffered last August, but he'll now test the knee out with some running and soon with pitchers' fielding practice. The reliever has not been ruled out for Opening Day, but he's in camp as a non-roster invitee and is facing an uphill battle to win a roster spot.

The Nationals placed Thompson (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Manager Dave Martinez indicated previously that Thompson had a chance to be ready in time for Opening Day following Tommy John surgery last March. However, the club has elected to proceed cautiously with the reliever, who is now ineligible to return until late May. Thompson's removal from the 40-man roster clears a spot for the newly-signed Lucas Sims.