MLB Player News

The Pirates are expected to select Stratton's contract and add him to the roster ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Marlins, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Stratton earned his spot in the Opening Day bullpen after striking out seven while allowing six hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings during Grapefruit League play. Given his limited MLB experience -- he made eight appearances out of the Pittsburgh bullpen as a 26-year-old rookie in 2023 -- Stratton will presumably begin the season in a low-leverage role.

Reid-Foley (arm) failed to record an out and was charged with two earned runs on two hits and one walk during his relief appearance Sunday in the Mets' 5-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins.

Though Reid-Foley spotted just 13 of his 23 pitches for strikes and was unable to retire any of the three batters he faced, the Mets were likely just happy to have him back in action after he had battled arm fatigue earlier this month. The two hits and two runs were the first of either that Reid-Foley had given up in his four innings this spring, and he's also held batters to a .143 average overall while striking out seven. Reid-Foley still appears in good shape to win a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen.

The Rockies announced Sunday that Lambert will open the season as a long reliever, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The 26-year-old was fighting for a rotation spot but posted a 5.40 ERA over 16.2 spring innings and lost out to Dakota Hudson and Ryan Feltner. Lambert worked as a swingman for Colorado last season with 11 starts in 25 appearances, and he should fill a similar role in 2024.

The Rockies reassigned Curtiss to minor-league camp Sunday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Curtiss joined the Rockies on a minor-league deal in late January after his 2023 campaign with the Mets came to an early end in August, when he required an arthroscopic procedure to remove a loose body from his right elbow. Though he received a clean bill of health heading into spring training, Curtiss submitted a 9.82 ERA and 2.05 WHIP over 7.1 innings in Cactus League play to effectively remove himself from consideration for a spot in Colorado's Opening Day bullpen.

Strahm signed a one-year extension with the Phillies on Sunday that includes a club option or vesting option for the 2026 season.

Strahm is entering the second season of the two-year, $15 million deal he signed with Philadelphia in December 2022, but he won't reach free agency next offseason after he and the Phillies agreed to tack on another year to his deal. According to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Strahm will earn $7.5 million in 2025 as part of the extension, while the option for 2026 vests for $7.5 million if he covers at least 60 innings in 2025. After making nine of his first 18 appearances as a starter last season, the 32-year-old transitioned into a full-time relief role in mid-June and posted a 2.53 ERA and 52:8 K:BB over his final 42.2 innings. He'll be trusted to serve as a high-leverage, multi-inning arm out of the Philadelphia bullpen once again during the upcoming season.

The Nationals placed Ferrer (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The 24-year-old has been shut down from throwing since March 15 due to a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder, and he'll be sidelined for at least the first two months of the season. Ferrer is nearly halfway through his initial three-week shutdown, so he could resume throwing in early April if his shoulder checks out fine.

The Phillies reassigned Bellatti to minor-league camp Sunday.

After being outrighted off the 40-man roster in February, Bellatti attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but wasn't able to secure a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day bullpen. He made 27 appearances at the big-league level for Philadelphia in 2023, logging a 5.11 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 24.2 frames.

The Phillies reassigned Ruiz to minor-league camp Sunday.

The right-hander, who was attending camp with the Phillies as a non-roster invitee, fell short of winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen despite striking out eight and allowing just one run over 10 innings in Grapefruit League play. Ruiz previously spent time at the big-league level with the White Sox and Diamondbacks in 2023, logging a 5.89 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 39:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings.

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

The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in early March, so his move to the 60-day IL was an eventuality. Thompson will miss the entire 2024 campaign and is also likely to be out for the first couple months of 2025.

Holderman (illness) said Sunday that he expects to open the season on the 15-day injured list, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Holderman was able to throw a bullpen session Saturday and seems to be coming out on the other side of his prolonged battle with a viral ailment, but since he lost 15 pounds while recovering from the illness and also required a hospital stay, the Pirates won't try to rush him back for the start of the season. Assuming Holderman is able to steadily regain conditioning and advance through his throwing program while the illness fades further in the rear-view mirror, he should be ready to join the Pittsburgh bullpen when first eligible to return from the IL in the second week of April.