MLB Player News

Manoah (shoulder) is expected to head into spring training as the favorite for the Blue Jays' No. 5 starter job, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi are locked into rotation jobs, but the Jays did little this offseason to add competition for the final spot. Yariel Rodriguez could eventually be a factor, but the Cuban hasn't been a regular starter in a few years after pitching out of the bullpen in Japan, and his workload will be monitored in his first North American season. That leaves Manoah fending off the likes of Bowden Francis and Mitch White for a starting spot. Despite a disastrous 2023, Manoah is just two years removed from a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting, and Toronto's counting on the 26-year-old righty to regain something close to that form. If he looks healthy and effective this spring, his draft stock could begin to creep up again.

Bubic (elbow) will throw a bullpen session this week, Jaylon T. Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.

It will be Bubic's first time throwing off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. The hope is that the left-hander will be ready to join the Royals' rotation sometime around the All-Star break.

Paxton said Sunday that he "has no doubt" he'll be ready for Opening Day, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers wound up lowering the guaranteed amount of Paxton's contract due to an unspecified physical issue, adding in roster bonuses based on the left-hander's availability. The injury concern is considered minor, so it's not a surprise to hear Paxton isn't worried about being ready to roll by the opener. He'll remain a major injury risk, of course, as the 35-year-old has made just 25 combined starts at the big-league level since the start of the 2020 season.

Dodgers manager Dave Robert said Sunday that there's "no hard start date" for Buehler's (elbow) season debut, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers are slow-playing Buehler's throwing progression this spring after he made just one rehab appearance last year following Tommy John surgery. In addition to an undetermined date for his season debut, Buehler will also no doubt be facing workload restrictions during the 2024 campaign. It's a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.

Lowder will participate in the Reds' major-league camp this spring, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lowder was selected by the Reds with the seventh-overall pick in the 2023 Draft but did not pitch in organized ball following the draft, although he did impress in fall instructs, per his draft profile on MLB.com. The move to hold him out of game action could be due to the 120.1 innings the right-hander rung up at Wake Forest during a season in which the Demon Deacons reached the college World Series. The MLB.com profile believes Lowder will be fast mover through the system, noting an advanced feel for pitching and one of the college game's best changeups.

Turnbull agreed Sunday with the Phillies on a one-year, $2 million contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The contract includes up to $2 million in incentives.

Turnbull was non-tendered by the Tigers earlier in the offseason following an ineffective, injury-plagued 2023 campaign, but he'll be added to the Phillies' 40-man roster and should have a chance to compete for a back-end spot in the team's Opening Day rotation. The 31-year-old still has a minor-league option remaining and will most likely begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley if he falls short in his bid for a rotation spot with Philadelphia, but an injury or two could quickly pave the way for him to surface with the big club. Turnbull should at least head into Phillies camp with a clean bill of health, and he has a decent overall track record at the big-league level to fall back on in spite of his struggles in 2023. Over 61 career appearances (60 starts) across 302.1 innings with the Tigers from 2018 through 2023, Turnbull logged a 4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 12.3 K-BB%.

The Angels have included Dana among their 27 players who have been given an invitation to participate in major-league spring training.

Dana is one of the organization's top pitching prospects after posting a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 89:30 K:BB over 68.1 innings across 14 starts between Single-A and High-A last season. The right-handed hurler was selected by the Angels in the 11th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft and enters the 2024 campaign having turned 20 years old in mid-December. Dana isn't likely to see regular-season major-league action until 2025.

Houck is preparing as a starter but could be needed as a reliever if the Red Sox trade closer Kenley Jansen, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Houck will begin spring training on a starter's track, but he'll be one of seven pitchers with a chance of making the rotation. Those that lose out will head to the bullpen. Boston could eventually need a new closer, as Jansen's name has popped up in trade rumors the past week, and Houck gained experience in that role in 2022. The right-hander would prefer to start though, and he used the offseason to improve his arsenal by adding horizontal break to his slider, get more action on his sinker and tinker with his splitter, a pitch he threw only 11 percent of the time last year. In 21 starts last season, Houck went 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA and career-high 1.2 HR/9 over 106 innings.

The Dodgers placed Gonsolin (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Clayton Kershaw (shoulder). Kershaw, of course, will soon go on the 60-day IL himself, creating another spot. Gonsolin will miss the 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Kluber announced his retirement from professional baseball Friday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The final five seasons of Kluber's career were filled with injuries and some lackluster production. However, the 37-year-old's six-year run from 2013-18 is unimpeachable, featuring a 2.96 ERA, 1,364 strikeouts over 1238.2 innings, three All-Star Game appearances and two American League Cy Young awards. Kluber finished with a career 3.44 ERA and 116 wins over 13 major-league seasons.