MLB Player News

The Brewers placed Gasser (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

A 40-man roster spot needed to be freed up for Tyler Alexander, who inked a one-year deal Wednesday. Gasser had Tommy John surgery last July, and manager Pat Murphy said that the Brewers aren't anticipating the southpaw making his 2025 debut until late August or early September, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Iriarte will be used as a starting pitcher this spring, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

All six of Iriarte's appearances with the White Sox last season came in relief, and it's possible a lack of command will eventually force him to move to the bullpen on a full-time basis. However, the 23-year-old has primarily been a starter in the minors and the White Sox aren't ready to give up on him in that capacity. One of the primary pieces acquired from the Padres in last spring's Dylan Cease trade, Iriarte collected a 3.71 ERA and 122:57 K:BB over 126 innings last season with Double-A Birmingham.

Harrison said Wednesday that he's rediscovered his velocity this spring after fixing issues with his delivery, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Harrison averaged 92.5 mph with his four-seamer in 2024 and just 91.2 mph in his final start of the season before he was shut down with left shoulder inflammation. That's after the pitch came in at 93.5 mph on average in 2023. Harrison believes the shoulder injury and an earlier ankle problem contributed to his delivery getting out of whack, but he's healthy now and is throwing harder. The left-hander is competing for the final spot in the Giants' rotation this spring and has some bounce-back potential if his velocity holds.

The Marlins placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Cal Quantrill, who signed a one-year contract with the Marlins in a corresponding move. Garrett underwent UCL revision surgery with an internal brace on his left elbow in December and will be sidelined for the entire 2025 season.

The Marlins signed Quantrill to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Wednesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Quantrill was non-tendered by the Rockies earlier this offseason after posting a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 110:69 K:BB over 148.1 innings covering 29 starts in 2024. The 30-year-old did have a solid stretch with the Guardians from 2021 to 2022, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 336 regular-season innings, although his 4.10 FIP during that span was more indicative of how he pitched. Quantrill should slide into a Marlins rotation that lacks established options at the back end.

McClanahan (elbow) confirmed Wednesday prior to throwing his first bullpen session of the spring that he's 100 percent and will face no restrictions in spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

The Rays are still expected to cap McClanahan at around 150 innings in 2025 after he missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from August 2023 Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be entering the spring on a normal throwing progression that mirrors Tampa Bay's other healthy rotation candidates. According to Bass, McClanahan's fastball sat at around 94-to-95 mph during Wednesday's throwing session, just a tick or two behind his average velocity from the 2023 season. McClanahan made his second consecutive All-Star appearance that season and turned in a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121:41 K:BB over 115 innings before requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career.

Manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Peralta will start Opening Day, March 27 against the Yankees, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Peralta will presumably be opposed by Gerrit Cole, although the Yankees have not yet confirmed as much. It will be the second straight Opening Day assignment for Peralta, who collected a 3.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 200:68 K:BB over 173.2 innings covering 32 starts during the 2024 regular season.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Kopech (forearm) is behind schedule in his throwing program and admitted that the right-hander could begin the season on the injured list, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kopech experienced right forearm inflammation over the winter, and though Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes previously said in January that the 28-year-old wasn't on track to miss time to begin the season, the organization's stance on the matter has seemingly changed as spring training has gotten underway. On a positive note, Kopech hasn't been shut down from throwing, but it's unclear when he might be cleared to face hitters and eventually make his Cactus League debut. After being acquired from the White Sox in July, Kopech pitched to a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB while going 6-for-6 in save chances over 24 innings for the Dodgers to close out the regular season, then struck out 10 batters while allowing three runs over nine postseason innings. Despite his dominant showing during his time with the Dodgers last season, Kopech's uncertain health in addition to the team's deep stable of capable high-leverage relievers renders him primarily an NL-only or deep mixed-league consideration in 2025 fantasy drafts.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday during his appearance on MLB Network that he anticipates Sasaki pitching in the Dodgers' second game of the season March 19 against the Cubs in Tokyo.

The Dodgers will be taking a cautious approach to Sasaki's workload this season, but they also recognize the importance of giving him a start in his native country. Fellow Japanese hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to take the hill for the Dodgers' first game of the series March 18, and Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga is expected to start one of the two games for the Cubs.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday on MLB Network that he expects Yamamoto to pitch during the Dodgers' March 18-19 series versus the Cubs in Tokyo.

Roberts anticipates Yamamoto's countryman, Roki Sasaki, pitching during the two-game series, as well. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said previously that Shota Imanaga will get the ball for one of the two contests, and it seems likely that he and Yamamoto will match up in the first game.