MLB Player News

The Blue Jays have left the door "cracked open" for Tiedemann to contribute in a relief role this season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Tiedemann -- who was added to the 40-man roster this winter -- is without restrictions this spring after missing the entire 2025 campaign following Tommy John surgery. The Blue Jays still view the lefty as a starting pitcher long-term, but he might have a better chance to break into the big leagues in a bullpen role. Tiedemann has totaled just 140 innings in the minors since being drafted by Toronto in 2021 and didn't throw a pitch in 2025, so he'll have workload restrictions in 2026. Working in relief would help curtail that workload, but Tiedemann will likely begin the season in the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo.

Miller said Monday that he hasn't dealt with any discomfort in his right elbow this offseason and the elbow "feels 100 percent" early in spring training, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Miller had two stints on the injured list last season due to a bone spur in his right elbow, but after a consultation this offseason with Dr. Keith Meister, the 27-year-old was able to avoid surgery. Though the elbow could give him trouble again at some point during the upcoming season, Miller looks to be in a good spot on the health front for the time being. He'll be looking to bounce back in 2026 after collecting a 5.68 ERA and 74:34 K:BB over 90.1 innings during the regular season in 2025.

Soroka might open the season in the bullpen, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Diamondbacks enter spring training well stocked in the rotation but with an unsettled outlook in the bullpen. Soroka, signed by Arizona as a free agent in December, made 17 starts for the Nationals and Cubs in 2025 before a shoulder injury limited him to relief work over the final two weeks of the regular season. Built into Soroka's contract are incentives that reward him for starts or relief appearances -- two points for every start, one point for a relief outing. He will earn $250,000 each for reaching 10 and 20 points, $425,000 each for reaching 30 and 40, and $650,000 for reaching 50. Barring a significant injury, the 28-year-old right-hander could reach those incentives as a full-time starter or reliever or a combination of the two roles.

Hampton (elbow) has been throwing on flat ground and could return to pitching in games in May or June, per MLB.com.

Hampton underwent Tommy John surgery last February, so he didn't pitch at all during the 2025 campaign. The right-hander nonetheless remains one of New York's top pitching prospects and was added to the 40-man roster in November, as the Yankees opted to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft. Hampton is likely to spend much of the season at the Double-A level once he's ready to throw in games again.

Anderson has impressed early in spring training and is expected to advance quickly through the Mariners system, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Anderson has yet to make his professional debut since being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, but the left-hander is already receiving rave reviews following his performance Sunday during a live batting practice session against some Mariners regulars. Anderson is likely to begin the upcoming season with High-A Everett, though he's not expected to "spend a heck of a lot of time in the high minors," according to Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners' president of baseball operations. Seattle's rotation is one of the league's best, and while Anderson still has a lot to prove, he could have an outside chance at making his MLB debut at some point in 2026.

Sloan (eye) threw a live batting practice session Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Despite having yet to pitch above the High-A level, Sloan didn't look out of place while facing off against some of the Mariners' top hitters in Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor during the BP session. According to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, the 20-year-old righty sported a four-seamer that hit 99 miles per hour and a two-seamer that reached 98 mph. Sloan missed the final month of the 2025 campaign after undergoing a procedure on his eye, but he's seemingly free of restrictions heading into 2026 and could establish himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects if health prevails this season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Schlittler (back) is expected to resume mound work Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The 25-year-old right-hander reported to camp this week nursing mid-back inflammation, and his scheduled return to mound work Tuesday appears to confirm that the injury is minor. Schlittler should have a fairly normal ramp-up for the regular season and appears set for an Opening Day rotation spot for the first time in his career.

The Mets placed Nunez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Ben Rortvedt, whom the Mets claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Sunday. The move won't affect Nunez's timeline for a return, as the 29-year-old right-hander is likely to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery July 14.

Waldrep experienced right elbow discomfort following a recent live batting practice session and will visit specialist Dr. Keith Meister later this week, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

An MRI showed loose bodies in his elbow and no ligament damage, but it's too early to declare Waldrep in the clear until he visits Dr. Meister, who is a surgeon well known for performing operations on MLB pitchers. The 23-year-old Waldrep was already facing an uphill battle to cracking Atlanta's Opening Day rotation, but his availability for the start of the season -- and beyond -- is now in question.

The Tigers announced Sunday that Gipson-Long (oblique) has been playing catch daily since reporting to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

While the right-hander hasn't been shut down from activity entirely as he works his way back from a left oblique strain, he still has multiple checkpoints to hit in the recovery process before making his Grapefruit League debut. Assuming the Tigers plan to have Gipson-Long get stretched out for starting duty, he appears likely to either open the season on the 15-day injured list or in the rotation at Triple-A Toledo.