MLB Player News

Minter (hip) isn't guaranteed to be ready for Opening Day, though the Mets are optimistic he'll be available, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander joined New York on a two-year, $22 million contract in mid-January and is poised to serve as a setup man for closer Edwin Diaz. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Minter is expected to throw his first bullpen of the spring in late February. He underwent hip surgery in August and should be in game-ready condition early in the season even if he's not fully good to go by Opening Day.

Staumont signed Tuesday with the Reds on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.

Staumont split time between the Twins and Cubs organizations in 2024, making all 25 of his big-league appearances with the former club and submitting a 3.70 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB in 24.1 regular-season innings. He'll get the chance to compete for a middle-relief role in Cincinnati's Opening Day bullpen during spring training.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Assad is dealing with oblique soreness and will undergo imaging Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It's not clear when Assad was injured, but the issue is significant enough that he's being sent in for an MRI. If healthy, Assad will compete for the final spot in the Cubs rotation after a season where he may have been pitching over his head. He logged a 3.73 ERA in 147 innings while all of his ERA estimators (xERA, FIP, xFIP, SIERA) were above 4.60. Colin Rea, Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks are the other top candidates for the final spot in Chicago's rotation.

Junk signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Monday.

Junk's deal includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where he'll get the chance to compete for a spot in Miami's Opening Day bullpen. The 29-year-old has seen MLB action in each of the last four campaigns, but he hasn't covered more than 17 innings in any of those seasons while bouncing around across five different organizations. Over his 15 career MLB appearances (seven starts) spanning 40 innings, Junk owns a 6.75 ERA and 1.78 WHIP.

Lopez (groin) is the only reliever in the Nationals' bullpen with any significant closing experience, Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports reports.

Washington non-tendered Kyle Finnegan in November, leaving the team without a clear favorite for the ninth inning. Lopez signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Nats in January, and while the fact that he's pitched for five different teams over the prior three seasons isn't encouraging, his 23 saves between the O's and Twins in 2022 could give him a leg up on winning the closer job in spring training. Derek Law, Jose Ferrer and Colin Poche also figure to be in the high-leverage mix.

Imanaga will start one of the first two games of the season when the Cubs face the Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

This was hardly a surprise, but manager Craig Counsell provided confirmation Sunday. Imanaga, who is 31, logged a 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 174 strikeouts in 173.1 innings last regular season.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Scott will see the bulk of the save chances to begin the season, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports.

GM Brandon Gomes said after Scott signed in January that the left-hander won't be Los Angeles' set closer, but it appears Roberts still envisions Scott as the lead option for the ninth inning. Despite Scott's four-year, $72 million contract, it could be a fluid situation throughout the season with the Dodgers also having Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech (forearm) and Blake Treinen in the high-leverage mix.

Richards was among 20 non-roster players invited to spring training by the Cubs on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Richards joined the Cubs last month on a minor-league deal, and he will now officially participate in spring training, where he'll compete for a bullpen job. The righty compiled a 4.55 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 65.1 innings for Toronto and Minnesota last season. If Richards does make the team, he'll likely have a low-leverage role and figures to be mostly off the fantasy radar.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Friday that Nardi (elbow) will be behind at the start of spring training after something flared up over the offseason, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

McCullough didn't disclose the nature of the injury, but it's probably safe to assume it's related to the left elbow injury that caused Nardi to miss the final five-plus weeks of the 2024 season. The skipper noted that the team is still waiting for further clarity on the severity of Nardi's injury. If healthy, Nardi could be in the mix for saves in 2025. He held a 5.07 ERA but a 70:18 K:BB over 49.2 innings last season.

The Giants re-signed Del Pozo to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Del Pozo inked a minor-league deal with the Giants last June as he continued his rehab from Tommy John surgery but never pitched in a game in 2024. He appears healthy now and will look to return to the majors for the first time since 2021, although an initial assignment to Triple-A Sacramento is likely.