MLB Player News

Rodriguez signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Boston declined Rodriguez's $4.25 million option in November, but the two sides have reunited and the journeyman southpaw will have a chance to win a job in camp. Oblique, shoulder and hip injuries limited Rodriguez to only 11 appearances last year, with his final appearance of the season coming July 25.

Shaw is a candidate to earn saves for the White Sox this season, Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports.

Shaw is in camp on a minor-league deal, but he pitched fairly effectively for the White Sox last season by maintaining a 4.14 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 40:17 K:BB across 45.2 innings. He also logged four saves and four holds, showing some ability to pitch in high-leverage situations. Shaw's role remains far from certain however, as Chicago's bullpen is wide open, and general manager Chris Getz specifically declined to name a closer early in spring training.

Law signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Law posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 55 innings with the Reds last season, yet the team opted to non-tender him in November. Now with the Nationals, Law has a strong chance to make the team's Opening Day bullpen and would likely serve in middle relief.

Winn said Wednesday that he's not overly concerned about his sore right elbow and is still expecting to be ready for Opening Day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Winn was sent in for an MRI after experiencing soreness following his most recent bullpen session of spring training, but those tests apparently didn't reveal any structural or ligament damage. The right-hander will still be shut down from throwing for the time being, putting him behind the Giants' other healthy rotation options as Cactus League play gets underway this weekend. If Winn avoids an extended shutdown period and is able to build up to a starter's workload by the end of March, he should still have the inside track on a rotation spot.

Howard could have a chance to make the Giants' Opening Day rotation if Keaton Winn (elbow) isn't ready, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

An MRI on Winn's elbow came back clean, but his status is up in the air. Howard is with the Giants as a non-roster invitee and appears to be one of the top candidates to fill in for Winn, if needed. The 27-year-old has flopped so far at the big-league level, holding a 7.20 ERA and 109:55 K:BB over 115 innings covering 29 starts and nine relief appearances.

Antone (elbow) is on a normal schedule this spring, Gordon Wittenmyer and Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer report.

Antone didn't pitch at all in 2022 following Tommy John surgery and made just 19 total appearances between the majors and minors in 2023. He finished last year on the injured list with right elbow tendinitis but told reporters last week that he's "full go and ready to rock" this spring. Antone has been a dominant reliever when healthy, collecting a career 2.41 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 94:31 K:BB over 74.2 innings covering parts of three major-league seasons. He figures to be in the mix for high-leverage spots in 2024 if he can stay off the IL.

Rolison (undisclosed) was spotted throwing off flat ground at Rockies camp Wednesday, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Rolison didn't pitch after June 2 last season due to an unspecified injury, with the extended absence once again costing the 26-year-old some meaningful development time after his entire 2022 season was wiped out by shoulder surgery. Though Rolison looks to be healthy entering camp, he was moved off the 40-man roster in the offseason and will likely need to pitch well for an extended period at Triple-A Albuquerque before he gets the chance to make his MLB debut.

Pivetta is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday versus the Cardinals, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Though he'll be integrated into the spring pitching schedule after Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito, Pivetta and the latter two pitchers are still looking like locks for the Red Sox's Opening Day rotation. Pivetta split time between the bullpen and rotation in 2023, but he was one of Boston's top pitchers during the second half of the campaign, pitching to a 3.30 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 102:19 K:BB in 73.2 innings over his final 16 outings (eight starts).

Winn underwent an MRI after feeling right elbow soreness following his last bullpen session, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The good news is the MRI came back negative, so the Giants are hopeful that he'll be OK following a few days of rest. Still, any elbow-related injury should garner some cause for concern. Assuming health, Winn is tentatively lined up to open the season as San Francisco's fourth starter. He posted a 4.68 ERA and 35:8 K:BB across 42.1 innings in 2023.

Middleton (illness) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Middleton was a late arrival to camp after he battled a stomach bug last week, but the fact that he's taking the mound to face hitters Wednesday suggests he's overcome the illness. After signing a one-year, $5 million contract in free agency, Middleton is projected to be a key part of the late-inning bridge to closer Ryan Helsley in 2024.