MLB Player News

Gusto will have the chance to compete for the fifth rotation spot for Houston, but he is more likely to establish himself as a depth option, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros have four clear members of the rotation to begin the season, though they are depleted by injuries thereafter. Hayden Wesneski is the likeliest occupant of the final rotation spot, but Gusto is on the radar after a solid 2024 season at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he posted a 141:53 K:BB across across 148.1 innings while maintaining a 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Gusto was also set to make his big-league debut on the final day of the 2024 regular season before the game was rained out.

Hampton has received an invitation from the Yankees to participate in big-league spring training.

Hampton is one of the organization's top pitching prospects but is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign during which he made just seven starts. The right-hander fared well when healthy, posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 18.2 innings. Hampton has just 5.2 frames of experience above Single-A ball, so he's not likely to break camp with the major-league Yankees, though a big-league debut sometime in 2025 isn't out of the question.

The Yankees designated Winans for assignment Wednesday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Owen White, who was claimed off waivers. Winans was a waiver claim himself in late January and will now go through the process again.

New Marlins manager Clayton McCullough believes Cabrera can take a big step forward this season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 26-year-old has never been lacking in raw arm talent and has struck out 225 batters in 196 innings over the last two seasons, but Cabrera's shaky control and command have been the main thing holding him back so far during his big-league career, along with an inability to stay healthy. Despite McCullough's enthusiasm, it's hard to get too excited about Cabrera as a fantasy asset given his 4.95 ERA, 4.68 FIP and 1.40 HR/9 in 2024, but the Marlins are in dire need of quality innings and the right-hander is locked into a rotation spot as long as he can avoid another trip to the IL.

Perez (elbow) is hoping to rejoin the Marlins' rotation by the All-Star break, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 21-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last April, so a July 2025 return would be right on schedule. Perez displayed his considerable upside over 19 starts during his big-league debut in 2023, striking out 108 batters over 91.1 innings en route to a 3.15 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. but a Marlins team that's highly unlikely to be in playoff contention in 2025 won't have much incentive to be aggressive with his recovery timeline.

Alcantara (elbow) is expected to be ready to take the mound Opening Day, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 29-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery the prior October, but he was facing live hitters last September and should have no restrictions when spring training begins. Alcantara won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022 on the strength of a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 207:50 K:BB over 228.2 innings, but he'll carry plenty of risk as a fantasy asset this season until he can demonstrate he's fully recovered from the surgery and has something close to his pre-injury command and control.

Scott (elbow) said Wednesday that he's about a month away from beginning a throwing program, SNY.tv reports.

Scott is nearly five months removed from a hybrid Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure on his right elbow. He will miss the entire 2025 campaign, but assuming all goes well with his rehab, should be ready to go for the start of the 2026 season.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated in a recent interview that he does not expect Woodruff (shoulder) to be ready by Opening Day, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff underwent surgery in October of 2023 to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. His rehab had to be paused in August when he wasn't progressing as hoped, and while things have gone well with his recovery since then, he will be behind at the start of camp. A clearer timetable for when Woodruff will be ready for his season debut could be available at some point during spring training.

Phillips recorded a 2.49 ERA while striking out 24 over 21.2 innings in his last five starts in 2024.

Phillips, who made his major-league debut in 2023, was rocked at Triple-A Louisville last year. The Reds sent him to the Arizona Complex League in late June after 14 starts with a 10.11 ERA, 7.9 BB/9 and 2.4 HR/9 with the top affiliate. After a two-month reset in the desert, the 23-year-old right-hander returned to Louisville, where he finished strong. Phillips then pitched in the Arizona Fall League and, apart from one clunker, was effective. He needs to find the strike zone with more consistency -- he walked 14 batters in 19.1 innings in the AFL -- but he made adjustments and is trending in a positive direction again following the lowest point of his professional career.

Burke has worked with a physical therapist this offseason in the hopes of increasing the durability of his arm, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Burke had an impressive big-league debut to close out the 2024 season, maintaining a 22:7 K:BB across 19 innings while allowing only three earned runs. That puts him in prime position to grab a rotation spot for the White Sox to begin 2025. Durability will be one key to securing the role, as Burke has been forced to work through right shoulder soreness for the past two seasons. Burke reported that he has felt good this offseason and also worked on getting comfortable with a two-seam fastball to complement the rest of his repertoire, which includes a four-seamer, curveball, changeup and slider.