MLB Player News

Wheeler (shoulder) completed a 42-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Wheeler is healthy again after a bout with shoulder soreness earlier in the offseason, but because the injury delayed him in his throwing progression, he's well behind the Phillies' other starting pitchers in spring training. After the extended bullpen session, Wheeler will advance to facing hitters in live batting practice, perhaps as soon as this weekend. If all goes well, Wheeler could make a Grapefruit League start next week, but he still doesn't look as though he'll be stretched out enough to start the Phillies' April 8 season opener versus the Athletics. Provided his shoulder provides no complications in his buildup program, Wheeler likely won't miss more than one turn through the rotation to begin the season.

Atlanta optioned Toussaint to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

According to Jeff Schultz of The Athletic, manager Brian Snitker said that Atlanta didn't have enough innings available for Toussaint at the big-league level, so the right-hander will continue to stay stretched out at Gwinnett to begin the season. He'll likely be one of Atlanta's top internal candidates to step into the MLB rotation should the club lose a starter to injury.

May (elbow) began throwing off the slope of a mound Tuesday and is expected to throw his first post-Tommy John surgery bullpen session April 1, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Considering May underwent the elbow procedure May 12 of last year, his recovery program is expected to extend deep into the 2022 campaign. The Dodgers already possessed ample rotation depth before May suffered the UCL tear last year, and the offseason pickups of Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson plus the potential return of Trevor Bauer from administrative leave lessens the need for Los Angeles to rush the 24-year-old back to action. If May makes enough progress to eventually rejoin the Dodgers in 2022, he may have to settle for a bullpen role.

The Marlins optioned Sanchez (shoulder) to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanchez has yet to resume a throwing program since he was shut down earlier this month after experiencing continued discomfort in his surgically repaired right shoulder. At this stage, the Marlins aren't expecting him to be available until around midseason at the soonest, so the decision to remove him from the active roster doesn't come as a major surprise. Because Sanchez will likely be placed on Jacksonville's injured list rather than the Marlins', fantasy managers may not have the luxury of stashing the 23-year-old in a reserve slot during what's expected to be a prolonged absence to begin the season.

Heaney pitched 2.1 innings against the Reds in a Cactus League game Tuesday, allowing five runs on five hits and no walks while striking out two.

Heaney's first appearance of the spring got off to a disastrous start, as he allowed five sixth-inning runs, including three on a long ball off the bat of Kyle Farmer. He retired just one batter in that frame before he was pulled for a reliever, but thanks to modified spring training rules, Heaney was able to return to the game in the following inning. The left-hander recovered from there, completing two scoreless frames during which he gave up only one hit, yet he still ended up with an ugly line in the box score. Heaney will likely need to pitch much better moving forward this spring to beat out his competition for a starting spot in the Dodgers' rotation.

Buehler tossed 4.2 innings against Cincinnati on Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five.

Buehler made it through three scoreless innings before allowing a solo homer to Jonathan India in the fourth and yielding another run in the fifth. The right-hander threw 53 pitches in the outing, which is a good sign considering this was his first appearance of the spring. Clayton Kershaw may be the sentimental favorite to take the mound for the Dodgers on Opening Day, but in fantasy circles, Buehler is without question the team's top pitcher.

Lauer (groin) and the Brewers agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $2.425 million contract to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The southpaw was one of nine arbitration-eligible Brewers to settle up on a deal for 2022 prior to Tuesday's filing deadline. With his contract situation now resolved, Lauer will turn his focus to moving past the groin issue that resulted in him being scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Tuesday against the White Sox. According to Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin, both Lauer and manager Craig Counsell described the injury as a minor concern, so the 26-year-old lefty still looks like he's on track to break camp as a member of the Milwaukee rotation.

Manager David Bell said Tuesday that Dunn (shoulder) is expected to be sidelined a couple months, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Dunn was expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation after being acquired from the Mariners last week, but he'll instead spent the first couple months of the campaign on the injured list. The right-hander suffered a shoulder strain last June and missed the rest of the season with Seattle, and the injury will also leave a significant mark on his 2022 campaign in Cincinnati.

Lucchesi (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Lucchesi underwent Tommy John surgery last June, so he's likely to sit out most of the season for his first year of arbitration eligibility. It's unclear where he currently stands in his recovery, but the left-hander could return sometime after the All-Star break if all goes well during his rehab.

Lugo agreed to a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Lugo will receive a $1 million raise from last season after recording one save and 13 holds with a 3.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 55:19 K:BB over 46.1 innings. The veteran right-hander figures to be a key bullpen piece again for the Mets in 2022.