MLB Player News

Pfaadt is projected to open the season at the Diamondbacks' fourth starter, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Pfaadt seemingly has the edge over other young starters -- Ryne Nelson, Tommy Henry -- as the fourth starter, given the way he pitched in the postseason. The 25-year-old right-hander turned the page on his regular-season 5.72 ERA to log a 3.27 postseason ERA. Pfaadt hinted at an improvement during the regular season when he had 4.22 ERA over the second half compared to 9.82 ERA prior to the All-Star break.

Boyle, who impressed in a trio of late-season starts in 2023, could have an edge for the No. 5 role in the Athletics' rotation to open the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Gallegos reports general manager David Forst has already strongly implied that Paul Blackburn, JP Sears, Alex Wood and Ross Stripling -- the latter two veteran offseason additions -- will unsurprisingly slot into the top four spots in the rotation. Southpaw Ken Waldichuk (elbow) may eventually join that group when healthy, but he's not expected to be ready for the start of the season; therefore, Boyle, who went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across his first three major-league starts last September, could slot into that No. 5 role coming out of spring training. However, he'll have some reasonably experienced competition, including holdovers Luis Medina, Freddy Tarnok (hip) and Adrian Martinez,

Castellanos (elbow) was invited to major-league spring training.

Castellanos will get an opportunity to begin spring training with the big-league squad after failing to see any action in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He'll be a long shot to crack the Opening Day roster and will likely start the 2024 campaign with Triple-A Reno.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns implied Monday that Severino (oblique) is fully healthy ahead of spring training, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Stearns noted that lefty David Peterson (hip), infielder Ronny Mauricio (knee) and right-hander Kyle Crick (calf) are the only players who will be held out of drills to begin camp, which suggests that Severino has a clean bill of health after a high-grade left oblique strain sidelined him for the final month of the 2023 season. Before hitting the shelf, Severino was roughed up to the tune of a 6.65 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 79:34 K:BB across 89.1 innings in what proved to be his final season with the Yankees, but the Mets are hoping that better health and a change of scenery can help the 29-year-old recapture some semblance of the form that made him one of baseball's top young pitchers just a few seasons prior. After inking a one-year, $13 million deal in November, Severino is likely being penciled in for a back-end spot in the Mets rotation.

Odorizzi (shoulder) has been throwing off a mound without restrictions and hopes to sign with a team in the coming weeks, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Odorizzi didn't pitch last season, having undergone an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder last April. He appears to be fully recovered, though, and has thrown for scouts from 10-to-12 interested clubs, per Morosi. The 33-year-old posted a 4.40 ERA and 86:35 K:BB over 106.1 innings covering 22 starts with Houston and Atlanta in 2022.

The Dodgers plan to give Yamamoto a start during their two-game season-opening series against the Padres in South Korea on March 20 and 21, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.

If Yamamoto pitches on the 20th or 21st, he could be in line to receive one final tune-up outing in Cactus League play, depending on how the Dodgers want to line up their rotation when they return for their domestic home opener March 28. The Dodgers are expected to use at least a modified version of a six-man rotation, which should make the transition for Yamamoto easier, given that he pitched on five days' rest during his career in Japan.

Cavalli (elbow) isn't expected to see game action this spring or face hitters as the Nationals take a cautious approach to his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The 25-year-old right-hander is almost 12 months removed from the surgery, but the Nats have little reason to push him to get back on a mound as they plan for another rebuilding year. Cavalli is likely to remain in extended spring training after camp breaks, and he could join the big-league rotation in June if everything goes smoothly. He made his big-league debut in 2022 after posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB through 97 innings at Triple-A Rochester, and the 2020 first-round pick remains the organization's top pitching prospect despite the setback with his elbow.

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.