MLB Player News

Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Story (back) is expected to play in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Story was scratched from Friday's lineup due to back tightness, which was particularly concerning given the fact he already missed a week earlier this spring due to a similar issue. While his latest injury doesn't seem to be anything severe, fantasy managers may want to take note of Story's frequent back issues, as the 32-year-old has been injured often since joining the Red Sox in 2022.

The Orioles placed Bradish (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bradish isn't expected to return until the second half of the season as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL has no impact on his return timeline. It does, however, free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Kyle Gibson, who signed a one-year deal with the O's on Friday.

Gibson signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Orioles on Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

With Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish all set to miss the start of the season due to elbow injuries, the Orioles will bring in Gibson to give their rotation a bit of extra depth heading into Opening Day. The 37-year-old righty left Baltimore to play in St. Louis last season, where he turned in a 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP alongside a 151:68 K:BB over 169.2 innings. He's been pitching in simulated games against college hitters to stay in shape during the offseason, though his 2025 debut will be delayed while the Orioles put him through a normal spring ramp-up process, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.

The Brewers traded Canha to the Royals on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Canha was unlikely to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster after going just 2-for-23 with two RBI and four runs scored in nine spring contests. The Royals will gladly take him in, however, and Rogers notes that the 36-year-old veteran will be part of the big-league squad's bench. Because he was on a minor-league deal with Milwaukee, Canha will need to be added to Kansas City's 40-man roster first.

The Rangers optioned Harris to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Harris made two appearances for the Rangers late last season and entered camp in the race for a spot on Texas' bench, but he'll fall short and return to Triple-A for the start of 2025. The 25-year-old has experience at the corner infield spots as well as in the outfield, which gives a boost to his chances of returning to Texas at some point this year.

Cantillo allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning of relief in Friday's spring game against San Francisco.

Cantillo was a rotation candidate and made five starts this spring before getting work as a reliever in his last two Cactus League appearances. He gave up a three-run home run in the eighth inning to take the loss. Both Cantillo and Triston McKenzie, another starter candidate earlier in the spring, worked out of the bullpen Friday. That suggests Logan Allen (1.89 ERA, 19 innings) will be Cleveland's No. 5 starter.

McKenzie walked two, hit a batter and struck out two over one scoreless inning of relief in Friday's spring game against the Giants.

McKenzie, who made three Cactus League starts prior to Friday's relief appearance, managed to avoid damage despite loading the bases. He entered camp as one of several options competing for a spot in the rotation, but the right-hander's 8.18 ERA and location issues seemingly have the Guardians moving him to the bullpen.

Freeman started at second base and went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a triple and an RBI in Friday's spring game against the Giants.

The Guardians auditioned several players for second base during Cactus League play, and it's still not clear who will be the primary starter. Two players in the competition, Juan Brito and Angel Martinez, were optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Friday, leaving Freeman (four starts), Gabriel Arias (10) and Daniel Schneemann (one) in camp The three can field multiple positions and would give manager Stephen Vogt mix-and-match options. Freeman (1.080 OPS, eight extra-base hits) has been the best hitter among the three this spring.

Neto (shoulder) has been throwing across the diamond in addition to participating in other defensive drills, Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Neto began throwing from shortstop to first base this week after being limited to shorter throws during the first half of March. The 24-year-old is also doing "just about every defensive drill that the rest of the team is doing" aside from throwing and was recently cleared to take swings off a hitting machine. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to face live pitching, and Neto remains likely to begin the season on the injured list, but he continues to be described as "ahead of schedule" in his rehab from the right shoulder surgery he underwent last November. Neto made it clear that he's pleased with his progress to this point, saying, "Honestly, I feel really great with my shoulder and where it's at. I'm feeling way stronger since when I first walked in here. I'm trusting our training staff and our coaches to get me in the right spot. I'm feeling great every day I walk in here."

Palacios was withheld from Friday's spring lineup due to a small fingertip fracture on his right hand, and manager Kevin Cash said the utility man will "probably miss a couple days," Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Cash also described the injury as "more [of an] annoyance than anything," so it doesn't appear the issue will affect Palacios' availability for Opening Day. The 27-year-old is expected to begin the season in a utility role for the Rays.