MLB Player News

Lagrange tossed 2.2 innings in an exhibition start against the Cubs on Monday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out four batters.

Lagrange has frequently turned heads this spring, and he won the 2026 James P. Dawson Award given to the most outstanding rookie in Yankees camp, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. However, Monday serves as a reminder that the flamethrowing hurler is still a 22-year-old who has yet to pitch above Double-A. The Cubs smoked four extra-base hits against Lagrange, including two home runs. Even with the ugly line, the right-hander will finish the spring slate with a 4.96 ERA and 1.29 WHIP while posting an impressive 17:6 K:BB over 16.1 innings. He'll open the season in the minors, but Lagrange certainly boosted his prospect status this spring.

Lodolo (finger) played light catch Tuesday with 15-to-20 throws, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo -- who is recovering from a blister on his left index finger -- said afterward that things went OK, but the hurler "didn't sound particularly enthused," per Wittenmyer. The lefty is tentatively slated to make his season debut Saturday versus the Red Sox, but it's considered likely that Lodolo will either be pushed back or placed on the injured list. The Reds will make a decision on Lodolo's status soon.

McGarry cleared waivers and was returned to the Phillies and assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 26-year-old righty was selected by the Nationals during the Rule 5 Draft in December but was designated for assignment over the weekend. McGarry will now rejoin the organization that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. He spent most of last year at the Double-A level and had a 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 103:45 K:BB over 72 innings.

Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

The transaction clears a 40-man roster spot for waiver pick Osvaldo Bido. Wentz will miss the entire 2026 campaign after undergoing surgery earlier this month to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.

Atlanta claimed Bido off waivers Tuesday.

The right-hander was recently waived by the Yankees and will now return to Atlanta, which rostered him briefly in December before he was claimed by the Rays. Bido made 26 appearances (10 starts) for the Athletics last season and had a 5.87 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 68:35 K:BB across 79.2 innings.

The Brewers acquired Woodford from the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for K.C. Hunt and selected Woodford's contract from Triple-A Nashville.

Woodford wasn't going to make the Rays' Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee, but he'll now open the year in the Brewers' bullpen. The right-hander holds a career 5.10 ERA over 111 appearances (25 starts) at the big-league level. Woodford will fill a long-relief role in Milwaukee.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Gil will be optioned to the minor leagues to start the regular season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

New York is beginning the season with a four-man rotation since a fifth starter isn't needed until April 11 in Tampa Bay, and Gil will stay stretched out in the minors rather than sticking in the majors as a bullpen piece. The right-hander missed the first four months of 2025 due to a lat strain but returned for 11 regular-season starts down the stretch, posting a 3.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 41:33 K:BB across 57 innings. Gil surrendered 10 earned runs (including six homers) with a 24:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings during spring training, so he'll begin the minor-league season with decent momentum despite the incoming demotion.

The Cubs hope Hodge (elbow) is ready to play catch around April 1, MLB.com reports.

Hodge was diagnosed with a right flexor strain in early March. Given that he will be shut down for nearly a month, at minimum, it's going to take a while for him to get built back up. Hodge posted a 6.27 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over his 36 appearances with the Cubs in 2025.

Defrank has regularly hit 100 mph with his fastball this spring while showing a potentially plus changeup and the makings of a quality slider or sweeper, Sam Dykstra of MLB.com reports.

Still only 17 years old, Defrank has also impressed Marlins brass with his makeup and maturity. "I would say what excites me the most is how much he grew last year and how much I think we're going to see him grow again this year because of his discipline, his work ethic, and just the physicality that he gained," director of player development Rachel Balkovec said. "I think he's exploded onto the map." Given DeFrank's age, Miami will treat the right-hander with kid gloves in 2026 after he threw 31 innings in the Dominican Summer League last year, but he'll climb prospect lists quickly if he stays healthy and continues to refine his control and his arsenal.

Winquest has made the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The Rule 5 pick had an uneven Grapefruit League performance, finishing with a 6.48 ERA and 7:3 K:BB over 8.1 innings. However, the Yankees are intrigued enough with Winquest's upside to carry him on the Opening Day roster in a low-leverage role. In order for the Yankees to maintain Winquest's rights, the righty must remain on the major-league roster or injured list the entire season, with at least 90 days spent on the active roster and not the injured list.