MLB Player News

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo indicated Thursday that Sewald is likely to get the first chance to serve as the team's closer, Cameron Cox of 12 News in Arizona reports.

When asked who will be the team's closer, Lovullo noted that Sewald has been a "very back end" reliever for a "long time" and "I'd be foolish not to strongly consider him" as closer. Lovullo did not mention any other relievers by name, only adding that Sewald will not be able to pitch every day, so the club will need "understudies" if Sewald is the closer. While Sewald looks like the clear early favorite for saves in the Diamondbacks bullpen, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson could also be in the mix. Sewald held a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers during an injury-shortened 2025 season.

Bummer will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 32-year-old southpaw will likely slot in behind Dylan Lee in the pecking order for high-leverage work. Bummer has been a fairly reliable middle-relief option for Atlanta over the last two seasons, posting a 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 120:35 K:BB in 109.2 innings, but in 98 appearances he has just seven wins, four holds and zero saves.

Lee has won a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 31-year-old figures to be the top left-hander in the bullpen, although he could face competition from Aaron Bummer for that assignment. Lee is coming off a career-best 2025 season in which he recorded 19 holds, more than doubling his previous best, along with a 3.29 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 76:14 K:BB over 68.1 innings for Atlanta.

Kinley will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

No surprise here after Kinley posted a 0.72 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over 25 innings for Atlanta last season following his trade from the Rockies, and then re-signed with the NL East squad on a one-year, $4.5 million deal this offseason. Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez will be the top right-handed high-leverage arms for Atlanta, but Kinley could still post strong a strong holds total as one of the primary options for the seventh inning -- his career high in holds is 15, set in 2024 for Colorado.

The Padres placed Matsui (groin) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Since straining his left groin in late February, Matsui has begun throwing off a mound and is slated to face hitters soon, but he'll still likely to remain on the shelf until at least around mid-April. Because he missed the entire Cactus League slate, he'll need to complete a rehab assignment in the minors before making his season debut with the Padres.

The Padres placed Hoeing (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Hoeing is set to miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow. He'll officially begin the season on the 15-day IL but will likely be transferred to the 60-day IL if/when the Padres need to clear a 40-man roster spot.

The Padres placed Adam (quadriceps) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

The 2025 All-Star underwent surgery in September to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon, and though he was able to strike out a batter in a perfect inning in his lone Cactus League appearance this past Friday, the Padres will give him more time to build up before adding him to the 26-man active roster. The 34-year-old right-hander will likely report to an affiliate later this weekend once the minor-league begins so that he can kick off a rehab assignment, and he could be ready for activation when first eligible April 6.

La Sorsa will remain in the Pittsburgh organization and will accept an assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis after going unclaimed off waivers Wednesday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

La Sorsa, who had attended Pirates camp on a minor-league deal, had an upward-mobility clause in his contract that allowed him to move on from the Pirates if another organization had claimed him off waivers and placed him on its Opening Day roster. However, after finding no suitors on the waiver wire, La Sorsa will stick around with the Pirates and likely serve as a high-leverage arm in the Indianapolis bullpen to begin the season.

The Phillies placed Kerkering (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Kerkering's move to the IL was a foregone conclusion after the righty reliever didn't make his Grapefruit League debut until last Friday while he recovered from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. He was able to make another appearance Monday on the back fields of camp, but the Phillies presumably want to see the 24-year-old stack up a few more innings before clearing him to join the big-league bullpen. He'll likely be ready to start a rehab assignment when the minor-league season gets underway Friday, and he could be ready to return from the IL when first eligible April 7.

The Mets placed Minter (lat) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Still on the mend from the left lat surgery he underwent May 12, 2025, Minter is expected to spend the next couple of weeks continuing his rehab program at the Mets' spring training facility in Florida, per MLB.com. The southpaw reliever has been facing hitters for the past few weeks, so he could get the green light to start a rehab assignment at Single-A St. Lucie shortly after the Florida State League season gets underway. Minter is expected to eventually move up to a higher-level affiliate as the final step before he makes his return from the IL.