MLB Player News

Weathers is likely to start the fifth game of the season for the Padres, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Acee notes how well Weathers has pitched this spring, and it's worth pointing out that the left-hander made changes to his delivery before the season that appear to have paid off. The southpaw will likely be on the bump for Monday's start against the Diamondbacks with a chance to earn more starts for San Diego if he pitches well in the early part of the season.

Wantz will be a part of the Angels' Opening Day roster, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.

Wantz made the decision easy for the Angels with a 0.00 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 6.1 innings in the Cactus League. The 27-year-old right-hander will be a middle-innings option for the Angels to open the 2023 season.

Anderson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday.

Anderson was sent down a week ago even after pitching terrifically during Grapefruit League play, but injuries to Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) and Kyle Wright (shoulder) means he'll make the Opening Day roster after all. He could wind up pitching important innings for Atlanta if he can stay healthy.

Criswell was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rays on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Criswell pitched exceptionally well in the Grapefruit League with a 0.79 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over six appearances and 11.1 innings, but he falls victim to the depth of pitching in the Tampa Bay system. He's likely to be up at some point in a middle-innings role for the Rays in 2023.

Pacheco was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Tigers on Monday with a right elbow sprain, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Pacheco was dealing with an elbow injury when the Tigers claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals earlier this month and now he'll miss at least the first couple months of the season. The specifics on the 24-year-old's injury aren't clear at this time.

Jimenez, Trevor May and Jeurys Familia could all be used in closer situations this season, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday.

JImenez led the team with 11 saves last season, but his year ended with a shoulder injury and he's had velocity issues this spring. The 29-year-old could emerge as the team's best option if he's able to regain his velocity, but for now he's a mediocre reliever in a committee situation on a bad team.

May, Jeurys Familia and Dany Jimenez could all be used in closer situations this season, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday.

"I think we'll start out with the mindset that they're all options," Kotsay said. A closer-by-committee situation on a bad team is a nightmare situation for fantasy managers, although someone could emerge as the preferred option eventually. That someone could be May, who has a $7 million contract and who has mostly been very good the last several seasons. Still, it's not a bullpen worthy of much of an investment in fantasy.

The Orioles reassigned Garrett to minor-league camp Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Garrett, who previously saw big-league action with the Tigers in 2019 and the Nationals in 2022, is expected to serve as organizational relief depth at Triple-A Norfolk as he begins his first season with Baltimore.

The Orioles reassigned Bazardo to minor-league camp Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 27-year-old struck out 11 and held opposing hitters to a .194 average over 8.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, but the strong showing in Florida wasn't enough for him to break camp as a member of the big-league bullpen. Bazardo has fared well over brief stints with the Red Sox in 2021 and 2022, so there's a good chance he surfaces in the big leagues at some point in 2023 even though he doesn't currently possess a spot on the 40-man roster.

Hughes (knee) is expected to open the season on the 15-day injured list, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Though Hughes was able to throw a bullpen session Monday and looks to be making solid progress in his recovery from left knee soreness, the fact that he hasn't yet resumed facing hitters with Opening Day just three days away suggests that the Cubs will err on the side of caution and stash him on the IL to begin the season. Assuming he's able to return after a minimum-length stay on the IL or close to it, the left-handed Hughes should factor into the Cubs' late-inning mix once healthy, though he may not be manager David Ross' preferred option for save situations.