MLB Player News

Canning (back) is a full-go at Angels camp this spring, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Canning did not pitch at any level in 2022 because of a stress fracture in his lower back, but he enjoyed a fairly normal offseason and already has several bullpen sessions under his belt. If his health cooperates, the 26-year-old right-hander should again emerge as an option for the Angels' six-man rotation here in 2023. He holds a 4.73 ERA and 214:81 K:BB through 209.1 career major-league innings.

Sale (wrist) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Abraham notes that this will be the first "normal spring" for Sale in the last 3-4 years. The left-hander missed the first half of the 2022 season due to a stress fracture in his ribcage and then suffered a broken wrist in a bicycle accident in August, ultimately logging just two total appearances for Boston. But both of those injuries are now in the rearview and he'll be looking to return to top-flight form in 2023.

Paxton (lat) is a full participant at the beginning of Red Sox camp, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Paxton signed with the Red Sox last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he's yet to debut for them after suffering a Grade 2 left lat strain in August. The left-hander doesn't have any restrictions right now, so Boston is planning for him to be part of its Opening Day rotation. Paxton's upside is undeniable, but he's made just six major-league starts and one rehab start since 2020.

Cortes won't pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic after he revealed Monday that he sustaining a low Grade 2 right hamstring strain, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Cortes' absence during the World Baseball Classic is a significant hit for Team USA, as he was expected to serve as one of the Americans' top starting options. The southpaw noted that he expects to be behind the Yankees' other healthy pitchers for at least a couple weeks as a result of the injury, but he remains hopeful to be ready to go for the start of the regular season, according to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Cortes' progress over the next month and a half.

Bush is currently dealing with an oblique injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Fletcher reports that the injury is "minor," but the Angels decided not to have the left-hander appear in MLB spring training as he recovers. Bush is one of the top pitching prospects in the Angels' system, and the 23-year-old finished 2022 with a 3.67 ERA and 101:29 K:BB in his 103 innings over 21 starts. He has a good chance to make starts for the Halos before the end of 2023.

Javier signed a five-year, $64 million extension with the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

This could be the first of many long-term deals under new Astros general manager Dana Brown, who has seemingly convinced owner Jim Crane that it's worth locking up certain key contributors. Javier flourished with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 194:52 K:BB in 148.2 regular-season innings in 2022. The 25-year-old then allowed just one earned run and racked up 16 strikeouts across 12.2 postseason frames. His contract now runs through the 2027 campaign, securing all of Javier's arbitration-eligible seasons and what would have been his first two years of free agency.

Skubal (elbow) said Thursday he has advanced to flat-ground throwing, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.

Skubal is currently doing around 40 throws on flat ground four times a week, and the hope is that he can get clearance to return to mound work sometime this spring. The 26-year-old left-hander is already ticketed for a season-opening stint on the IL following flexor tendon surgery last August, but he should be an option again for the Tigers around mid-2023 if there are no setbacks along the way.

Astros general manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday that Valdez won't pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez and the Astros agreed to have the southpaw sit out the WBC after he pitched a career-high 201.1 innings in 2022, nearly 65 more frames than his previous career high of 134.2 set in 2021. The 29-year-old was outstanding during Houston's championship 2022 season, producing a 2.82 ERA, 194:67 K:BB and 1.15 WHIP. With Justin Verlander leaving for the Mets this offseason, Valdez should be in contention for the Astros' Opening Day nod.

Garcia agreed to a minor-league contract with the Astros on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Garcia posted a 3.54 ERA in four starts with the Tigers last season, though he did also issue 10 walks over his 20.1 total big-league frames. He surrendered 25 free passes in 39.1 innings of relief with Detroit in 2021, spoiling a promising showing from the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. The 27-year-old right-hander will likely be viewed as organizational bullpen depth leading into Astros camp.

Whitlock (hip) did weight training and ran sprints Tuesday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock arrived early to camp in Fort Myers, Florida, and appears to be fully recovered from September surgery on his right hip. Assuming there are no setbacks along the way this spring, the 26-year-old right-hander should be locked into a spot at the back end of Boston's season-opening starting rotation. He registered a strong 3.45 ERA and 82:15 K:BB across 78.1 innings (nine starts, 22 relief appearances) for the Sox during the 2022 campaign.