MLB Player News

Matz (lat) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, the first day for pitchers and catchers at Cardinals camp, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz was limited to 105 innings in 2023, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over 25 appearances (17 starts) before being shut down in August. It's encouraging that the southpaw is throwing to begin camp after avoiding offseason surgery. The Cardinals focused on pitching in the winter, but Matz is still penciled in for a rotation spot regardless of if the team breaks camp with a five-man or six-man unit. From a fantasy perspective, the injury-prone 32-year-old is a low-end option after showing significant year-to-year inconsistency, but he should be considered fully healthy once he gets into spring games.

Williams hasn't yet reported to spring training as he awaits the birth of his child, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The right-hander will remain home in San Diego until the arrival of his family's newest addition. Williams is penciled in as the Nationals' No. 5 starter to begin the season despite stumbling to a 5.55 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 144.1 innings during 2023, but the eventual return of Cade Cavalli (elbow) could bump the veteran to the bullpen over the summer.

Cavalli threw a bullpen session Monday and got back on the mound again Wednesday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The Nationals are targeting a June return for Cavalli, but at least to begin the spring he doesn't appear to be significantly behind the other arms in camp. The right-hander will throw off a mound three times a week until he gets clearance to face live hitters, but he's not expected to see any game action during spring training. Cavalli, a first-round pick in 2020, posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB across 97 Triple-A innings in 2022 and was expected to be part of last season's rotation for the Nats before getting injured in spring training.

Sanchez (shoulder) told reporters Thursday that he's 90-to-95 percent healthy, Kevin Barral of Fish on First reports.

Sanchez made one appearance with Double-A Pensacola last September in what was his first outing since 2020, but he had to be scratched from his next scheduled appearance because his surgically repaired shoulder didn't bounce back as hoped. It's good that he currently appears trending in the right direction, but at this point it seems unlikely Sanchez will healthy and effective for a sustained period.

The Giants placed Ray (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ray's 40-man roster spot will be given to Austin Warren, who signed with the Giants on Wednesday. Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May and has recently been cleared to throw three times per week, but he is not expected to join the Giants' rotation until the second half of the season.

President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that Strasburg (shoulder) won't participate in spring training but could report to Nationals camp at some point to work with the younger pitchers on the staff, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The 35-year-old right-hander is effectively retired from professional baseball while he's struggled to recover from his July 2021 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. However, Strasburg remains on the Nationals' 40-man roster while he and Washington ownership have thus far been unable to finalize an agreement regarding the $105 million he's still owed over the next three seasons on the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed in December 2019. Strasburg will forfeit the remainder of the salary he's owed if he retires without coming to a formal agreement with Washington, while ownership is presumably keen on recouping at least a portion of their financial commitment. Even if retirement negotiations aren't completed anytime soon, the Nationals will at least be able to open up a spot on the 40-man roster by placing Strasburg on the 60-day injured list.

The Pirates placed Oviedo (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Oviedo is set to miss the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in December, so his move to the IL is merely a procedural one. The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for left-hander Josh Fleming, whom the Pirates signed to a one-year deal Wednesday.

The Giants announced Wednesday that Teng will miss at least the first 2-to-3 weeks of spring training with a left oblique strain, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Teng was added to the Giants' 40-man roster over the winter, but even if he wasn't sidelined for the start of camp with the oblique injury, he wouldn't have been a serious candidate for a spot in the big club's Opening Day rotation. Once he moves past the oblique strain, Teng will likely head to Triple-A Sacramento, with whom he tallied a 4.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 96:48 K:BB in 79 innings last season.

Ray (elbow) said Wednesday that he's been cleared to throw three times per week as he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ray was limited to just one start in his second season with the Mariners in 2023 before requiring the major elbow procedure. He was dealt to the Giants in January and appears to be on track with his recovery, though he's not expected to be available to make his San Francisco debut until sometime around the All-Star break.

Cobb (hip) said Wednesday that he hopes to be cleared to throw off a mound soon, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Coming back from October left hip surgery, Cobb began throwing on flat ground a few weeks ago and is eager to take the next step. The goal is to progress to facing hitters before the end of spring training with an eye toward rejoining the Giants' rotation before the All-Star break, although any timetable at this juncture is tentative.