MLB Player News

Dunn (shoulder) was sent from the Mariners to the Reds on Monday along with Brandon Williamson and Jake Fraley, with Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez heading the other way, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Dunn was being eased into camp by the Mariners after missing most of last season with a strained right shoulder. The Reds' plan for him is not yet known. While the move represents a large downgrade in home park for Dunn, it could also give him a much easier path to a rotation spot. The value Dunn would have even with a clear starting role may not be particularly high, however, as his career 3.94 ERA comes with a poor set of peripherals. His 20.6 percent strikeout rate, 15.5 percent walk rate and 33.7 percent groundball rate have given him a 5.61 FIP and an even worse 6.05 xFIP.

Williamson, Jake Fraley and Justin Dunn were traded from the Mariners to the Reds on Monday in exchange for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Williamson was one of Seattle's top pitching prospects and is a key piece of the deal for Cincinnati. The 23-year-old began 2021 at the High-A level before being promoted to Double-A, where he rebounded from tough start and finished with a 3.48 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 94:23 K:BB across 67.1 innings (13 starts). A 2019 second-round pick, Williamson has limited professional experience but could debut later this summer if he has continued success in the upper levels.

Walker (knee) is throwing off a mound and going through a running program as he returns from a debridement procedure on his right knee in January, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Manager Buck Showalter said earlier in the day there's a chance the 29-year-old is ready for the first turn through the rotation, and there's now a better idea of where Walker currently stands in his rehab program. The right-hander will continue the mound work and running progression until receiving clearance to further ramp up his rehab.

Wheeler (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session Monday and is scheduled for another session Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

It represents Wheeler's first time throwing off a mound since the shoulder soreness surfaced in December, and he's a bit behind schedule to open spring training. The 31-year-old has already been ruled out as a possibility to start Opening Day, though there's still a chance he'll be ready sometime during the first week of the season, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The shoulder soreness doesn't appear to be an ongoing issue, but the late start to throwing will affect Wheeler's outlook for the beginning of the regular season.

Strasburg (neck/shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo implied Sunday when he spoke to the media that Strasburg was on track for Opening Day, and the right-hander's upcoming throwing session is further evidence that he's feeling healthy again after his 2021 campaign was cut short by the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he required last July. Washington may want to wait and see how Strasburg looks over multiple live throwing sessions before locking him into the Opening Day rotation, but by all accounts, the oft-injured hurler is progressing from surgery better than some may have anticipated, based on his history.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell confirmed Monday that Ashby will be stretched out for starting duty during spring training, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Counsell didn't explicitly confirm that Ashby will open the season in a starting role, though he'll likely be the favorite for the final spot if the Brewers elect to run out a six-man rotation like they did for a large portion of the 2021 campaign. After enduring a rocky MLB debut last June against the Cubs, Ashby was highly effective in his subsequent 12 appearances (and three starts) the rest of the season, posting a 3.48 ERA (3.30 FIP) and a 24.4 K-BB% over 31 innings. He looks to be a high-upside dart throw in the later rounds of mixed-league drafts.

Manager Buck Showalter revealed Monday that Walker underwent a right knee procedure Jan. 14, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Walker is behind some of the Mets' other starting pitchers early in camp following his offseason surgery, but Showalter is hopeful that the right-hander still has a chance to be ready in time for Opening Day. In his first season with the Mets last year, Walker posted a 4.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 30 appearances (29 starts). While any potential absence to begin the 2022 campaign would likely be a short-term one, Tylor Megill and David Peterson would be candidates to fill in if Walker is forced to miss time.

Manager Buck Showalter said Monday that deGrom is in line to start the Mets' Opening Day game April 7 in Washington, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

That deGrom was awarded the Opening Day nod is less of a surprise than the fact that the Mets confirmed after his first bullpen session of spring training that he would be ready to go for the start of the season, coming off a 2021 campaign in which he was shut down after the All-Star break following a series of forearm/elbow-related setbacks, including a diagnosis of a partially torn UCL. The extended time off during the second half of last season and the offseason has apparently allowed the ligament to heal, but that doesn't necessarily mean deGrom is a good bet to stay healthy for the balance of 2022. That being said, deGrom should profile as baseball's best pitcher whenever he's available, as he was a shoo-in for his third Cy Young Award through 15 starts last season until injuries thwarted those plans.

Sanchez (shoulder) has been shut down to begin spring training, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

A recent MRI on Sanchez's shoulder came back clean, but he's still feeling discomfort in his shoulder after undergoing surgery last July. With no timetable for his return to a mound, it's tough to judge how much Sanchez will be able to contribute for the Marlins in 2022, but the club will be cautious with a pitcher it still views as a potential rotation cornerstone if he can make a full recovery.

DeGrom (elbow) threw his first bullpen session of Mets camp Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

After playing catch upon reporting to camp Sunday, DeGrom's ability to get back on the mound early in camp seemingly supports the notion that he's healthy again after inflammation and a partial UCL tear of his right elbow kept him from after the All-Star break last season. The Mets are still likely to take a cautious approach with deGrom during the Grapefruit League schedule and save most of his bullets for the games that count, but barring any setbacks with the elbow in the next few weeks, he should be ready to take the hill for the April 7 season opener in Washington. Before he was shut down last summer, deGrom was in the midst of a season for the ages with a 7-2 record, 1.08 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 92 innings through 15 starts.