MLB Player News

Castillo will arrive to camp late due to a flight/family issue, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The report didn't say when Castillo would report. Castillo's situation could be similar to the Phillies' Ranger Suarez, who will be delayed by visa issues. With the shortened spring training, that might limit Castillo's innings early in the season if the delay is significant.

Bassitt was sent from the Athletics to the Mets in exchange for J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The 33-year-old righty, who has just one year remaining on his contract, has taken big steps forward over the last two seasons, posting a combined 2.90 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 38 starts. Those numbers were helped by the fact the he pitched half his games in Oakland, but he's now on his way to another pitcher-friendly park. He's also now found himself on one of the strongest rosters in the league, which should boost his chances of racking up wins.

Kershaw (forearm) signed a one-year, $17 million deal to return to the Dodgers on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

A return to the only organization Kershaw has ever known always seemed like the most likely outcome for the veteran lefty, though the fact that he wasn't tendered a qualifying offer after missing the entire postseason with a forearm issue raised the possibility that the Dodgers didn't have enough faith in his health to bring him back. Those health questions remain and it's unclear whether or not he'll be ready for game action by Opening Day, but it's at least now clear he'll be pitching in a pitcher's park with a strong roster at his back, maximizing his fantasy appeal for however many trips to the mound he's able to make.

Rodon signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the Giants on Friday which includes an opt-out after the first season, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal places Rodon in one of the best possible landing spots for any pitcher, as the Giants play in a pitcher-friendly park and have earned a reputation for getting the most out of their starters in recent years. That said, Rodon didn't seem to need much help making the most of his talents in 2021, as he's coming off a season in which he rode a 34.6 percent strikeout rate to a 2.37 ERA. Health is easily his most significant question mark, as he's battled arm troubles throughout his career and was used very cautiously by the White Sox down the stretch last season while he managed shoulder trouble.

Suarez may not be ready for Opening Day due to visa issues, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Suarez was excellent across multiple roles for the Phillies in 2021, and he spent part of the season as the team's closer. However, he ended the campaign in the rotation and completed at least six innings in six of his last eight appearances while posting an excellent 1.24 ERA in that span. Reputable Phillies prospect analyst Matt Winkelman attributed this report to Gelb, and if Suarez's absence does ultimately stretch into the regular season it will leave the Phillies with a shorthanded rotation as Zach Eflin (knee) is also likely to be sidelined to begin the campaign.

Overton (shoulder) drew the start in an intrasquad game Thursday during the Reds' minor-league camp, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The news affirms that Overton is fully healthy after he concluded the 2021 season on the Pirates' injured list due to a right shoulder strain. Pittsburgh later outrighted Overton off its 40-man roster in November before he signed with Cincinnati on a minor-league deal. Overton should get the chance to stick around with the big club for spring training whenever the MLB lockout ends, but the 28-year-old doesn't look like a realistic candidate to win a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster.

Sanchez is taking longer than expected to recover from July shoulder surgery and isn't expected back before midseason, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Heyman's report denied rumors that Sanchez is dealing with an entirely separate injury, but the short-term prognosis on the right-hander's health still doesn't seem to be good. The 23-year-old's inability to meet with team trainers during the lockout undoubtedly isn't helping his progress, though there have also been suggestions that Sanchez wasn't closely following the team's rehab plan. He's still young, so it's certainly possible he eventually gets healthy and lives up to his considerable potential, but Sanchez's fantasy value for the 2022 season takes a big hit with the news that he'll potentially be unavailable for at least half the campaign.

Morton (lower leg) said Feb. 12 that he's "mostly caught up" with where he would normally be at in spring training if the MLB lockout wasn't in place, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Though he acknowledged he wouldn't know exactly where he's at from a conditioning standpoint until the team formally begins spring workouts, Morton at least looks on track for the start of the season after fracturing his right fibula during Game 1 of the World Series against Houston this past October. Atlanta was able to cruise to its first title since 1995 in spite of Morton's absence, but the 38-year-old was unquestionably the team's most dependable starter from about mid-May onward last season. He wrapped up the 2021 regular season with a 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20.9 K-BB% across 33 starts.

Lodolo (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday at the Reds' training site in Arizona without issue and isn't expected to face any limitations during minor-league spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "He's been here, and we're trying to build him up and make sure we're beyond the shoulder issues," Reds vice president of player development Shawn Pender said Wednesday. "We were cautious last year. I think rightfully so, based on some of the other things that were happening...He looks completely healthy."

Lodolo finished the 2021 campaign on Triple-A Louisville's 7-day injured list with a strained left shoulder, but the 24-year-old southpaw has been throwing off a mound for most of the offseason without incident. The injury in question limited him to just three starts for Louisville following his promotion from Double-A Chattanooga in early August. Lodolo's limited experience at Triple-A along with his lack of a 40-man roster spot makes an assignment to Louisville his most likely outcome to begin the season, but once big-league camp opens, he'll at least have a chance to compete for the Reds' No. 5 starter job along with youngsters Hunter Greene, Reiver Sanmartin and Riley O'Brien. Cincinnati could also look to add a veteran to compete for the role once the free-agent market reopens when the lockout is lifted.

The Reds extended Ashcraft an invitation for major-league spring training Wednesday.

Ashcraft split 2021 between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, and he found success at both levels with a combined 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 129:37 K:BB across 111 innings (22 starts). The 23-year-old will be a longshot to open the season in Cincinnati's starting rotation, but he is a likely bet to make his big-league debut at some point in 2022.