MLB Player News

Martinez, Andrew Abbott and to a lesser extent, Brandon Williamson, are competing for the Reds' fifth starter role, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Martinez would still pitch in a high-leverage role out of the bullpen should he lose out to Abbott, a role he has filled before. This presumes Hunter Greene, Frankie Montas, Graham Ashcraft and Nick Lodolo (lower leg) are all healthy enough to begin the season, which is no sure thing.

Scholtens was placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday with a torn UCL in his right elbow.

Scholtens finished last season on the injured list with a calf strain and will begin the 2024 campaign in the same fashion with a much more serious injury. The 29-year-old is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday, per LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune, and is poised to miss the entirety of the 2024 season.

Horn was acquired by the White Sox from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for Matthew Thompson, Ken Rosenthal and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

The trade clears up space on the Cubs' 40-man roster for the signing of Cody Bellinger, which will soon be made official. Horn made 39 relief appearances at Triple-A Iowa last season and had a 4.58 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 59:29 K:BB across 53 innings.

Hernandez (shoulder) received a cortisone injection Tuesday and has been shut down from throwing, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander threw a bullpen session Saturday, but his sore right shoulder didn't respond well after resting for the previous two weeks. It's unclear when Hernandez will resume throwing, but his availability for Opening Day is now very much in question.

Kranick struck out two batters over two perfect innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

The 26-year-old didn't pitch in the majors at all last season while still in the Pirates' organization, but after being claimed off waivers by the Mets in January, Kranick has a chance to crack the big-league rotation. Monday's outing came against a Washington squad that featured most of its likely Opening Day lineup, but the right-hander will need to keep pitching well this spring to emerge from a pack of arms that includes Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi and seize the fifth starter role.

Beck has been sent back to San Francisco to be evaluated due to right hand discomfort, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Beck has not made a Cactus League appearance yet this spring but evidently has felt something in his hand while throwing. More should be known about a potential timetable for his return after he's examined. Beck and Keaton Winn (elbow) are expected to slot into the final two spots in the Giants' rotation, but both players are now dealing with injuries.

Manager John Schnieder said Tuesday that Swanson stepped away from the team in order to be with his family, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Swanson's four-year-old son was struck by a car over the weekend, and the veteran pitcher will understandably prioritize his family for the immediate future.

Barnes signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Barnes missed much of the 2023 season following hip surgery and had just a 5.48 ERA in 24 appearances before the operation. The veteran reliever is now healthy and looking for a bounce-back year. Barring another injury, Barnes should make the Nats' Opening Day roster.

White (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

It was his first time throwing off a mound since a brief shutdown period due to posterior right elbow discomfort. White will throw another bullpen session Thursday as he ramps back up with an eye on a Grapefruit League appearance.

Floro (shoulder) threw 15 pitches off a mound at about 70 percent effort Monday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Floro has been dealing with some early-camp right shoulder tightness but has continued with a scaled-down throwing program. He figures to need a little time before being cleared for games, but it doesn't seem like an injury that will affect his Opening Day readiness.