MLB Player News

Winder is behind the Twins' other pitchers for the start of spring training while he builds back up from a right scapula stress fracture he suffered late in the 2023 season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Winder wasn't placed on the injured list at any point due to the stress fracture, which wasn't detected until he underwent an MRI in October, per Park. After taking some extra time to rest up during the offseason, Winder seems to have moved past the injury, but he was still limited to playing catch from 90 feet at Wednesday's workout while most other Twins relievers threw bullpen or live sessions.

Trivino (elbow) agreed to a one-year contract with the Yankees on Wednesday.

The deal won't be made official until Trivino completes a physical, but the Yankees are already aware that the right-hander likely won't be available until the second half of the 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery last May. In his last full big-league season in 2022, Trivino logged a 4.53 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB in 53.2 innings between the Yankees and Athletics. He'll likely settle at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once he completes an extended rehab assignment, but he could earn a look in the big-league bullpen if he's able to quickly regain his pre-surgery velocity and command during his appearances in the minors.

Andrews was acquired by the Yankees from the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Joshua Quezada.

Andrews was designated for assignment by the Brewers last week, and the Yankees elected to trade for him rather than risk another team claiming him through the waiver wire. The left-hander allowed 10 earned runs over 3.1 frames in his first taste of the majors last season but had a 2.53 ERA in 48 outings at Triple-A.

The Yankees placed Effross (back) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Effross can be activated from the IL in late May, but he may not be ready to pitch when first eligible, given that manager Aaron Boone said earlier Wednesday that the right-handed reliever would be out until sometime in the summer while he recovers from the back surgery he underwent in December. The 30-year-old is on the 60-day IL to open a season for a second year in a row, after he missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He'll be replaced on the 40-man roster by left-handed reliever Clayton Andrews, whom the Yankees acquired from the Brewers on Wednesday.

Hendriks (elbow) holds multiple contract offers and has set a Thursday deadline for signing with a team, but he'll otherwise hold a throwing showcase in late July if he doesn't receive an offer to his liking, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Regardless of whether he signs with a team this week or at some point after he holds the planned showcase, Hendriks is unlikely to be ready to pitch in MLB games until the final two months of the regular season after he underwent Tommy John surgery Aug. 2 of last year. The major elbow injury was another tough break on the health front for the veteran reliever, who missed most of the first two months of last season while recovering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Even before he developed the elbow injury, Hendriks' velocity was down a couple ticks from 2022 and he had struggled with command in his limited MLB and minor-league rehab appearances, so the three-time All-Star may not be viewed as a viable closing candidate for his next team as he heads into his age-35 season.

The Nationals announced Wednesday that Thompson is dealing with an elbow injury and will be shut down from throwing for at least the next two weeks, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The right-hander apparently suffered the injury over the winter, and his availability for Opening Day is now in question. Thompson made a career-high 51 appearances for the Nationals last season but struggled to a 5.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB over 54 innings, so he's hardly guaranteed to make the roster even if fully healthy.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Effross (elbow) had back surgery in December and won't be available until some point in the summer, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Effross had his entire 2023 campaign wiped out while he recovered from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October 2022, but he had been expected to be fully cleared for spring training. However, with the back injury cropping up over the winter and necessitating another surgery, Effross doesn't look like he'll be ready to make his 2024 debut until June or July. On a positive note, Boone said that Effross was able to begin a throwing program last week, but the veteran reliever will presumably be brought along slowly throughout camp and is unlikely to pitch in Grapefruit League games. Effross could be a candidate to open the season on the 60-day injured list.

The Orioles placed Bautista (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Bautista will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October followed by a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition procedure last week. Baltimore brought in veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel on a one-year, $13 million contract in December and will install him as the closer this season while Bautista completes his rehab.

Jansen reported to spring training Wednesday but won't immediately start a throwing program due to general lat soreness, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Everything initially appeared to be in order after the veteran closer's individual workout Wednesday morning, but Boston GM Craig Breslow then announced the lat injury. It's believed to be a mild issue, but coming into spring training with a new injury is always a concerning development. Jansen said he hopes to being throwing in about a week, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.

Alexander (lat) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

While he was with the Tigers last season, Alexander didn't make any appearances after July 2 due to a left lat strain. He's seemingly entering his first Rays camp with few restrictions, if any, as he was throwing Wednesday alongside the team's other healthy relievers. The lefty turned in an unremarkable 4.50 ERA in 44 appearances with Detroit in 2023, but he had stronger underlying metrics (3.66 xERA, 3.48 SIERA, career-best 21.5 K-BB%). The Rays claimed him off waivers in November after the Tigers non-tendered him and are hoping that he can serve as a reliable multi-inning option out of the bullpen.