MLB Player News

The Nationals placed Arano on the 60-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder strain, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Arano has been shut down since mid-March and now will be out until at least late May. It's not clear when he might resume throwing.

The Nationals selected Banda's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Thursday.

Banda will open the season as the Nats' lone left-hander in the bullpen. That means he's likely to be busy, but it's not going to lead to any fantasy value.

Ferguson pitched in eight Cactus League contests, allowing two runs and posting a 9:3 K:BB over seven innings.

Ferguson was one of the Dodgers' best relievers last season, recording a 1.82 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 37:17 K:BB across 34.2 frames. He'll likely have a significant role in the bullpen again during the coming campaign, and he could even see a save chance or two since Los Angeles isn't committing to a closer, at least at the start of the season.

Miller will be part of the Dodgers' bullpen to begin the regular season, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

Miller signed with the Dodgers on a minor-league contract last November. He was far from a lock to make the team after pitching in just four games last season and posting an ugly 8.92 ERA over 79.2 innings since 2018. However, the veteran showed some positives this spring, registering an 11:0 K:BB over seven frames (though he also gave up five earned runs). The Dodgers have a history of success with pitching reclamation projects, and Miller could be the next in line if he's able to carry over his spring success to the regular season.

Vesia pitched in eight games for the Dodgers during Cactus League play, allowing five runs over six innings. He posted a 10:3 K:BB.

Vesia racked up plenty of strikeouts this spring, but his ERA took a hit as a result of him serving up two homers. The lefty didn't have that problem last season, as he gave up only two long balls across 54.1 frames. Vesia was a major weapon for the Dodgers in 2022 with a 2.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 79:24 K:BB while recording 16 holds and two saves. He could see high-leverage work again this season and may even get a few save chances given the team's decision to go with a closer committee, at least in the early part of the campaign.

Stephan signed a four-year contract extension with the Guardians on Wednesday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Robert Murray of FanSided.com says the deal is worth $10 million, with a $7.25 million club option for 2027 and $7.5 million club option for 2028. The signing locks down a key piece of Cleveland's bullpen for another four seasons. Stephan logged a 2.69 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 82 strikeouts through 63.2 innings last season, alongside three saves and 20 holds. He remains unlikely to get many save opportunities in 2023 behind Emmanuel Clase, but the 27-year-old reliever figures to remain one of the Guardians' premier setup men.

Bickford will begin the season on the Dodgers' 26-man roster, per Chad Moriyama of Dodgers Digest.

Bickford had mixed results this spring, giving up only five hits over 6.2 innings but also allowing four earned runs and posting a mediocre 3:2 K:BB. However, his roster spot was never in much question since he's out of minor-league options. Bickford will likely take on a middle-relief role for Los Angeles to begin the campaign.

Hill tossed 8.2 innings in Cactus League play, allowing three runs on six hits while posting an 11:3 K:BB.

Despite his results this spring, Hill has never been much of a strikeout pitcher, and he posted a career-worst 4.7 K/9 last season. The southpaw is locked into a role in the Padres' bullpen, however, and he'll open the campaign as the team's lone lefty reliever not named Josh Hader since Drew Pomeranz (elbow) and Jose Castillo (shoulder) are expected to begin the season on the injured list.

Wilson finished the Cactus League slate with a 3.52 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB over 7.2 innings.

Wilson allowed a lot of baserunners across his seven outings, but only three of them crossed the plate. The righty reliever is coming off a strong rookie campaign during which he posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB over 53 frames. Wilson could see some high-leverage work to begin the season with Robert Suarez (arm) and Drew Pomeranz (elbow) likely to begin the campaign on the injured list.

Peralta pitched in six Grapefruit League games, allowing one run on eight hits and two walks while posting a 9:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings.

Peralta's 14.3 K/9 this spring probably shouldn't be hyped up too much given that the veteran has never averaged a strikeout per inning in any of his seven big-league campaigns. Still, it was a good spring overall for the left-hander, who is coming off a career-best performance last season during which he posted a 2.72 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 47:17 K:BB across 56.1 innings. Peralta is expected to have an important role in the Yankees' bullpen again this season, as he's currently the only lefty reliever slated to be on the Opening Day roster.