MLB Player News

The Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

Means will be eased along slowly into the season after he experienced a flareup in his surgically repaired left elbow back in October. According to MLB.com, Means was about a month behind the Orioles' healthy pitchers in his throwing progression when he reported to spring training Feb. 14, so he only recently reached the point in his ramp-up program where he's able to face hitters. Means is expected to report to Triple-A Norfolk in the near future for a rehab assignment and is likely to make multiple starts on the farm before the Orioles are comfortable bringing him back from the IL.

The Pirates placed Contreras (personal) on the paternity list Thursday.

Contreras will be away from the team between one and three days while he tends to more important matters. Jose Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

The Orioles placed Bradish (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

The fact that Bradish is opening the season on the 15-day IL rather than the 60-day IL supports the notion that the Orioles are hopeful the 27-year-old will avoid a longer-term absence to begin the season while he recovers from a right UCL sprain. Bradish remains likely to miss all of April, but since he resumed throwing bullpen sessions more than two weeks ago, the right-hander is seemingly on pace to pitch at some point in May, barring any setbacks in the ramp-up process.

The Pirates designated Wolf for assignment Thursday.

Wolf was optioned to Double-A Altoona early in spring training, and he'll now be squeezed off the 40-man roster ahead of Opening Day. In addition to making a spot start with the Padres last season, Wolf turned in a 4.13 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 124.1 frames at Double-A San Antonio.

Arizona placed Rodriguez (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Rodriguez has been able to resume playing catch since being diagnosed last week with a left shoulder strain, but he's without a clear timeline to make his season debut and will most likely miss beyond the minimum 15 days. Arizona recently bolstered its rotation with the signing of Jordan Montgomery to a one-year deal, but only one of Ryne Nelson or Tommy Henry will likely end up sticking in the rotation as Rodriguez's replacement once Montgomery is fully ramped up and ready to make his Diamondbacks debut.

The Astros placed Urquidy (forearm) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

He suffered the injury during an appearance in a minor-league game in mid-March. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Urquidy hopes to start playing catch by the weekend. Even if that happens, he's unlikely to be ready to make his 2024 Astros debut before the end of April.

The Astros placed Verlander (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Verlander's recovery from right shoulder inflammation is going well, as he most recently threw a live batting practice session Tuesday. The plan is for him to begin a rehab assignment soon, which should consist of multiple starts before he's ready to rejoin Houston's rotation.

The Astros placed Garcia (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Garcia will be a candidate to shift to the 60-day IL when the Astros need a 40-man roster spot. He's expected to be out until around midseason while working his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery.

The Astros placed McCullers (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Tayler Scott, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land. McCullers is expected to be out until late June or early July as he continues his recovery from right elbow surgery.

The Yankees recalled Gil from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

He was optioned in early March, but Gil wound up winning the Yankees' fifth starter job after Gerrit Cole went down with an elbow injury that forced him to the 60-day IL. Gil is tentatively slated to make his season debut Monday in Arizona.