MLB Player News

MRI scans on Morejon's elbow came back negative Friday, Bob Scanlan of Bally Sports San Diego reports.

After having to leave Sunday's contest against Oakland early with elbow soreness, Morejon's MRI results bring some good news for the 24-year-old lefty. He will be treated for elbow inflammation going forward, and there is still no official word on how much time, if any, he will miss to start the season.

Pilkington was optioned to Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians on Friday.

Pilkington will begin the year in the minors after failing to secure a bid on the Opening Day staff. The southpaw will likely be an up-and-down option for Cleveland during the 2023 campaign.

Martin has been diagnosed with a right lat tendon tear, JJody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

As Jackson notes, this will cause Martin to miss months and not weeks while he recovers from the injury, and surgery cannot be ruled out at this time. The right-hander was diagnosed with shoulder soreness initially, but imaging revealed the tear. He'll begin the season on the IL, and likely won't be able to help the Diamondbacks until sometime this summer, at the very earliest.

Misiewicz has allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings across six Grapefruit League games.

That's pretty much in line with Misiewicz's experience at the major-league level over the last three years. He had a 4.34 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB over 29 innings between the Mariners and the Royals last season. If he can make the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, he'd likely work as a middle reliever with little chance of competing for high-leverage assignments.

Cano struck out on in a perfect inning in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Twins.

Cano has had an uneven spring, allowing four earned runs on five hits over 2.2 innings across four appearances. The Orioles still have a lot of trimming down to do with the pitching staff, and it's unclear if Cano will fit into the Opening Day plans. He had an 11.50 ERA, 2.33 WHIP and 21:16 K:BB across 18 innings between the Orioles and the Twins in 2022, which was his first taste of action in the big leagues.

Smith has pitched to a 5.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB across 4.2 innings in four Cactus League appearances.

Smith struggled out of the gate in his Athletics debut against the Diamondbacks on Feb. 25, getting tagged for three earned runs on three hits and a walk over one inning. However, the veteran right-hander has bounced back to fire 3.2 scoreless, one-hit frames. Smith has flashed some solid swing-and-miss stuff and a penchant for keeping the ball in the park throughout his minor-league career before getting his first MLB opportunity with the Rockies in 2022, during which control issues (7.5 BB/9 across 18 innings) helped lead to a bloated 7.50 ERA and 1.72 WHIP.

The Mets claimed Santana off waivers from Minnesota on Friday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Less than a month after being claimed by Minnesota from Atlanta, Santana will be on the move again to the Big Apple. The 26-year-old reliever recorded a 5.22 ERA and 1.33 WHIP through 58.2 frames with the Rangers last season.

Yarbrough (groin) made it through a one-inning minor-league appearance without issue Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

He's set up for a two-inning Cactus League appearance next in what will be his first official spring outing since late February. Yarbrough has been battling a groin strain but doesn't appear to be in any danger of missing Opening Day.

McHugh gave up a hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings of relief in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

Seeing his first game action of the spring, McHugh tossed 24 pitches, with 17 of them going for strikes. The veteran right-hander has posted a sub-1.00 WHIP in three of the last four seasons since moving into a relief role, and after collecting a career-high 17 holds in 2022, he's expected to fill a setup role once again for Atlanta.

Ottavino is an option to replace Edwin Diaz (knee) in save situations, Tim Britton and Andy McCullough of The Athletic report.

The veteran right-hander is probably the best healthy reliever remaining on the roster, but that fact could encourage manager Buck Showalter to use him earlier in games in high-leverage spots rather than limiting him to the ninth inning. Ottavino's platoon splits could also keep him out of the save picture in games where the opposition has tough left-handed hitters due up in the ninth. David Robertson and Brooks Raley appear to be the other internal options to replace Diaz, although Mets owner Steve Cohen likely won't be afraid to spend more money and acquire another relief arm.