MLB Player News

The Pirates selected Jones' contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Jones captured a spot in the Pirates rotation by allowing just three unearned runs to go along with a 15:8 K:BB in 16.1 innings during Grapefruit League play. The young right-hander is slated to make his major-league debut Saturday in Miami.

The Nationals placed Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Strasburg is essentially medically retired from baseball after he struggled to bounce back from his July 2021 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, but he remains in the organization after he and the Nationals have thus far been unable to come to an agreement on how to dispense the $105 million he's still owed over the remaining three seasons of the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed in December 2019. Washington ownership is believed to be interested in deferring more of the money remaining in the deal, but Strasburg is already due $80 million in deferred money from 2027 through 2029 and is presumably keen on getting more of his salary up front. Until a resolution on Strasburg's financial situation is reached, he'll remain on the Nationals' books, though placing him on the 60-day IL at least frees up a 40-man roster spot.

The Rangers selected Urena's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

The veteran hurler held a 2.25 ERA and 14:3 K:BB over 16 innings this spring to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. Most of Urena's big-league experience is as a starter, but he will be used in long relief by the Rangers for the time being.

The Mariners recalled Hancock from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

The 24-year-old had been sent down last week, but he will enter the Seattle rotation as a replacement for the injured Bryan Woo (elbow). Hancock's first start of the season is slated to come Monday against the Guardians.

The White Sox placed Drohan (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

A Rule 5 selection this winter, Drohan missed the entirety of his first spring training with Chicago while recovering from left shoulder nerve decompression surgery. According to MLB.com, Drohan is expected to begin a throwing program shortly after the regular season begins, but his placement on the 60-day IL implies that the White Sox expect him to take nearly two months to get fully ramped up. Drohan served primarily as a starter for the Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate in Worcester last season, registering a 6.37 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 93:63 K:BB in 89 innings.

The Tigers placed Gipson-Long (groin) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Gipson-Long didn't pitch during the Grapefruit League while battling a left groin strain, so his move to the IL to begin the regular season was fully expected. After an eye-opening finish to the 2023 campaign over his first four big-league starts with the Tigers, Gipson-Long had been expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring if the groin injury hadn't cropped up. Because of the missed time in addition to the Tigers' other rotation options being in generally good health, Gipson-Long could be optioned to Triple-A Toledo once he completes a minor-league rehab assignment. Per MLB.com, Gipson-Long has resumed facing hitters in live batting practice as of last week, so he shouldn't be far away from reporting to an affiliate for game action.

Turnbull secured a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day rotation and is scheduled to make his first start Tuesday versus the Reds in Philadelphia, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Turnbull entered spring training on the outside looking in for a rotation spot and was more realistically competing for a long-relief role with the Phillies, but a starting role opened up after Taijuan Walker suffered a shoulder injury last weekend that resulted in him being placed on the 15-day injured list. Though he was lit up to the tune of a 7.26 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in seven starts at the big-league level with the Tigers last season in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, Turnbull owns much more palatable ratios (4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 12.3 K-BB%) over his 302.1 career innings in the majors. The Phillies are hoping that with the elbow procedure further in the rear-view mirror, Turnbull can give the team some quality outings at the back end of the rotation before Walker is ready to return from the IL.

The Phillies placed Walker (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

He was one of five Phillies players to land on the IL on Thursday as Philadelphia reduced its active roster to 26 men in advance of the team's season opener versus Atlanta. Walker, who is recovering from right shoulder soreness, hasn't resumed throwing since he experienced discomfort in a bullpen session last weekend. Spencer Turnbull will step into the Philadelphia rotation as the team's No. 5 starter until Walker is ready to make his season debut.

The Marlins placed Cabrera (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Cabrera will unsurprisingly begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement in mid-March. The 25-year-old threw 39 pitches an intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday and should soon begin a rehab assignment.

The Reds claimed Zulueta off waivers from Toronto on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville.

Zulueta struggled during spring training, surrendering six runs over five innings while striking out two batters and walking four. He'll find a spot on Cincinnati's 40-man roster anyway and head to Louisville to give the Reds some extra organizational bullpen depth. Matt McLain (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.