MLB Player News

Quijada (elbow) plans to play catch from 120 feet Monday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Quijada continues to take incremental steps forward in his recovery from Tommy John surgery May 17, but the left-hander is opening the season on the 60-day injured list and is unlikely to be ready to make his 2024 debut until the summer.

Bachman (shoulder) is expected to play catch from 75-to-90 feet Monday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Bachman is gradually increasing his throwing distance off flat ground as he makes his way back from the right shoulder surgery he underwent Sept. 28. The 24-year-old is expected to miss at least the first month of the 2024 season and could be optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake once he's reinstated from the injured list.

Cimber has been cleared for regular activity after coming down with left hamstring tightness last Thursday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Cimber was down for a couple days but threw a live batting practice session Sunday without issue, and it sounds like his next time facing batters will be in a Cactus League game. The righty inked a one-year deal with the Angels back in December and is in line for middle-relief duty in 2024.

McMillon (forearm) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

McMillon has yet to make his Cactus League debut, but now that he's facing hitters again, he doesn't seem to be far from getting in his first game action of spring training. The 26-year-old right-hander reached the big leagues for the first time last August and struck out eight over four innings of one-run ball out of the Kansas City bullpen before he was shut down for the season with a right forearm strain.

Ortega (back) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Monday in the Astros' Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Ortega will be making his spring debut in the Astros' fourth Grapefruit League game, an indication that he's fully healthy after he spent the final five weeks of the 2023 season on the Twins' injured list with a left lumbar strain. Claimed off waivers by Houston in the offseason, Ortega will look to impress in spring training as he aims to secure a spot in the Astros' Opening Day bullpen.

Matzek (elbow) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Matzek is unlikely to work more than an inning or two in what will not only be his first outing of spring training, but also his first since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2022. Though Matzek reported to spring training at full health, Atlanta could still opt to place him on the injured list to begin the season if the left-hander struggles to regain his pre-surgery velocity and command during camp. Atlanta will likely let Matzek's performance in the Grapefruit League slate guide whether or not he cracks the Opening Day roster.

Gallegos (shoulder) is listed among the Cardinals' available relief pitchers for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

According to John Denton of MLB.com, Gallegos is scheduled to pitch an inning out of the bullpen Monday, an indication that he's fully moved past the right rotator cuff tendinitis that resulted in him being shut down for the final two weeks of the 2023 season. Though he's saved between 10 and 14 games in each of the past three campaigns, Gallegos may find himself in more of a pure setup role in 2024 if closer Ryan Helsley is able to stay healthy.

Leasure has impressed coaches and teammates early in camp, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Leasure was acquired by the White Sox at the trade deadline last season and reached Triple-A Charlotte prior to the close of the campaign. His surface stats weren't particularly impressive, but he did manage 23 punchouts across 13.1 innings of work at the level. With a fastball that hits triple digits, Leasure has the upside to be a high-leverage reliever. Given that the White Sox's bullpen is wide open, he may work his way into a setup -- and potentially even closer -- role as early as 2024.

Ingram was claimed off waivers by the Mets on Sunday.

The left-hander was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Tuesday and will now join his third team of the offseason. Ingram has just five big-league appearances under his belt but had a 2.95 ERA in 45 appearances at Triple-A last year.

Manager Mike Shildt told reporters Sunday that Matsui is dealing with back spasms and will not pitch against the Cubs, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Matsui felt his back tighten up Saturday and is considered day-to-day. He joined the Padres in December on a five-year, $28 million contract after spending the last several years in the Nippon Professional Baseball league with the Rakuten Eagles. In 2023, Matsui posted 39 saves and a 2-3 record over 59 appearances while registering a 1.57 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 72 strikeouts over 57.1 innings.