MLB Player News

Harrington was reassigned to minor-league spring training Monday.

It was reported earlier in the day that Harrington appeared to be on the outside of the Opening Day roster looking in, and the team made the move official Monday evening. Still, the future is bright for the 23-year-old right-hander, who will be in the mix for a mid-season promotion.

The Nationals placed Herz on the 15-day injured list Monday due to an undisclosed injury.

Washington previously optioned Herz to Triple-A Rochester on Friday after he fell short in his bid for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but as a result of his move to the IL, he won't immediately report to the minors. Though the nature of Herz's IL placement isn't known, the lefty dealt with dead arm in spring training, so he could just need more time to build up. Washington will presumably have more details on the nature of the 24-year-old's injury as well as a potential timeline for him to return from the IL in the coming days.

Hart will open the 2025 season as the fifth starter for the Padres, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hart didn't perform well in his final start of the spring, surrendering six runs over 4.2 innings of work, but he did enough to win a rotation spot over Stephen Kolek. Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso, meaning Randy Vasquez will take over the No. 4 spot and Hart will round out the rotation. He'll tentatively be scheduled to make his regular-season debut March 31 against the Guardians.

Thompson signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Oct. 19.

Thompson spent the 2024 season rehabbing after he underwent surgery to address a partially torn flexor tendon He'll toe the rubber for Atlanta's final exhibition game of the spring Tuesday against the Cubs before presumably being reassigned to the minors. Thompson is likely to open the season in the rotation at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Roupp will open the season as the Giants' fifth starter, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

He was locked in a heated battle with Hayden Birdsong, who will open the season in the Giants' bullpen. Roupp received the nod after allowing five runs with a 14:1 K:BB over 12 innings during Cactus League play. The 26-year-old made four starts and 19 relief appearances with the Giants last season, finishing with a 3.58 ERA and 47:26 K:BB over 50.1 innings. Roupp doesn't have Birdsong's upside, but he is an interesting arm in his own right and deserves consideration in deeper fantasy leagues.

Birdsong will serve out of the Giants' bullpen for the start of the 2025 season after Landen Roupp was named as the fifth starter Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Birdsong and Roupp were the final two candidates for the Giants' fifth-starter spot after Kyle Harrison was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Birdsong recorded a 0.75 ERA across 12 Cactus League innings this spring, but he'll begin the 2025 regular season in the bullpen, possibly in a long reliever role.

Birdsong is expected to be fine after dealing with a cracked right middle fingernail during an appearance Sunday in an exhibition game versus Triple-A Sacramento, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Birdsong noted that it's something he battles with a lot and he expects to be fine after getting a fake fingernail put on the finger. The right-hander has made the Giants' Opening Day roster and is the team's presumed fifth starter, although the club has not yet confirmed what Birdsong's role will be.

Gray has been battling the flu recently, which has sapped him of his strength, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It could help explain why Gray's velocity has been down this spring, though the righty suspects that starting his offseason throwing program later than usual also played a part. Gray said Monday that he's feeling better, and it does not seem as though his availability for Opening Day on Thursday is in question.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that Painter will begin pitching in extended spring training games in a couple weeks, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Painter is considered healthy, but the Phillies slow-played him this spring after he missed nearly all of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery in July 2023. He will build up in extended spring training games and eventually the minors before becoming an option to join the Phillies' rotation around midseason.

Birdsong has made the Giants' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Birdsong has been in a battle with Landen Roupp for the final spot in the Giants' rotation, and while the team has yet to confirm it, it appears Birdsong will break camp as the fifth starter and Roupp will be used in the bullpen. The 23-year-old Birdsong earned the spot following a fantastic Cactus League showing that saw him allow just one run with an 18:0 K:BB over 12 innings of work.