MLB Player News

Thorpe (elbow) could begin the season on the injured list, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Thorpe had surgery in September to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and has experienced a couple setbacks since then, which led to him being given a cortisone shot in January. While an MRI showed no structural damage, Thorpe will not be ready for the start of spring training and it seems as though the pitcher "won't be available at the season's outset," per Merkin. If Thorpe does indeed begin the year on the IL, it could mean both Sean Burke and Bryse Wilson beginning the season in the rotation for the White Sox.

The Rangers have had internal discussions about the possibility of using Gray as their closer, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Gray said in January that he would be open to the idea of closing if the team asked him to, and it appears it is indeed a possibility. However, Grant writes that, as things stand right now, the innings Gray can provide in the rotation "seem the higher priority." Texas' closer job appears wide open, but it's a situation which could gain further clarity during spring training.

With the Tigers bolstering their rotation in the offseason, Manning could work as both a starter and a reliever in 2025 if he's able to make the team, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Detroit added Alex Cobb and Jack Flaherty during the offseason, and the team already has ace Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson locked into starting roles. Manning is thus among a large group of pitchers competing for the No. 5 spot that includes Keider Montero, top prospect Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, Kenta Maeda and Brant Hurter. Manning spent most of 2024 with Triple-A Toledo, so he figures to be behind most of those players in the competition at this point. However, the 27-year-old could find his way onto the roster as a reliever. If Manning makes the bullpen out of spring training, he likely won't see high-leverage work, so his fantasy value figures to be limited either way.

With the Tigers bolstering their rotation in the offseason, Montero could work as both a starter and a reliever in 2025, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Detroit added Alex Cobb and Jack Flaherty during the offseason, and the team already has ace Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson locked into starting roles. That leaves the likes of Montero, top prospect Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Kenta Maeda and Brant Hurter all vying for the No. 5 spot. Manager A.J. Hinch could mix and match in that role, which leaves Montero's outlook a bit in flux. The righty primarily served as a starter during his 2024 rookie campaign, making 16 starts among his 19 appearances overall. He posted a 4.76 ERA across 98.1 total innings. Montero's 2025 fantasy value would take a hit if he pitches in long relief, though more clarity should emerge during spring training.

Winans cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Winans was let go by the Yankees on Wednesday, but he will remain with the organization after clearing waivers. He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees in late January after spending the last two seasons in Atlanta. Winans spent most of the 2024 regular season with Triple-A Gwinnett and posted a 7-5 record across 24 outings (16 starts) with a 3.30 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 100:37 K:BB over 114.2 innings.

The Orioles claimed Contreras off waivers from the Yankees on Friday.

Contreras' journey via waivers continues. He's been claimed five times this offseason, and this is the second time he's been scooped up by the Orioles. The right-hander is out of minor-league options, so he will have to make Baltimore's Opening Day roster or be exposed to waivers again.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Friday that Rodriguez will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation during spring training, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It makes sense for the club to keep Rodriguez stretched out in case someone else gets hurt, but the right-hander is pretty clearly sixth in the rotation pecking order heading into spring training following the addition of Max Scherzer. He still figures to be needed to start some games at some point, but Rodriguez is likely to begin the season in the bullpen if the Blue Jays' top five starters are healthy.

Gordon will serve as a rotational depth option for the Astros in 2025, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Gordon is a longshot to secure a rotation spot during spring training, but Houston added him to the 40-man roster this offseason. That makes him a name to monitor given the lack of healthy depth options the Astros are projected to have for their starting staff. Gordon has a decent skillset, as he maintained a 16.3 K-BB% across 123.1 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024. However, he has a poor fastball, which could lead to inconsistent results as he seeks to establish himself in the majors.

Gusto will have the chance to compete for the fifth rotation spot for Houston, but he is more likely to establish himself as a depth option, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros have four clear members of the rotation to begin the season, though they are depleted by injuries thereafter. Hayden Wesneski is the likeliest occupant of the final rotation spot, but Gusto is on the radar after a solid 2024 season at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he posted a 141:53 K:BB across across 148.1 innings while maintaining a 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Gusto was also set to make his big-league debut on the final day of the 2024 regular season before the game was rained out.

Hampton has received an invitation from the Yankees to participate in big-league spring training.

Hampton is one of the organization's top pitching prospects but is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign during which he made just seven starts. The right-hander fared well when healthy, posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 18.2 innings. Hampton has just 5.2 frames of experience above Single-A ball, so he's not likely to break camp with the major-league Yankees, though a big-league debut sometime in 2025 isn't out of the question.