MLB Player News
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Ryan Weathers SP | NYY
Yankees' Ryan Weathers: Impressive in spring debut
Weathers threw 3.2 scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, allowing one hit while striking out five. He did not issue a walk.
Acquired from the Marlins in a January trade, Weathers quickly made believers out of Yankees fans, reaching as high as 99.8 mph with his fastball in his spring debut. "I felt really good," Weathers told Bryan Hoch MLB.com afterward. "I feel like the command is starting to get back to where I used to be, and I came out feeling healthy. Anytime I can stay healthy after pitching, that's a good day for me." The lefty added that veterans Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Max Fried have helped him simplify things and trust his stuff. Weathers showed increased velocity last spring as well before going down with an injury, and the book is still out on whether he can hold up to the rigors of MLB starting duty.
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Johan Oviedo SP | BOS
Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Wild in spring opener
Oviedo allowed one hit and three walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Twins. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.
It was a rough Grapefruit League debut for the right-hander, who has battled control issues throughout his career. He hit the first batter faced and wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. While Oviedo threw first-pitch strikes to eight of the nine batters faced, just 15 of his 33 pitches were in the zone. Red Sox manager Alex Cora summed up the performance to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "Erratic. But good stuff. We have work to do. But it's good for him to get his innings in and move on," the skipper said. Despite the wildness, Oviedo remains in the mix for the fifth spot in the rotation and has the inside track, according to sources, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Set for 'a lot of rest days'
Stanton is expected to receive "a lot of rest days during the season" as the Yankees attempt to keep him healthy and productive, Randy Miller of NJ.com reports.
Stanton made it clear Wednesday that another full offseason of rest didn't heal his tennis elbow that has plagued both arms since 2024. "I can't open a bag of chips... a bag of anything," Stanton said. The slugger missed the Yankees' first 70 games last year while rehabbing his elbows but still reached 24 homers during the regular season, marking his 14th MLB campaign clearing 20 long balls. Despite the lingering issues, Stanton is intent on playing a full season in 2026. He is set to make his spring debut March 3.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Works into third inning
Eovaldi allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over 2.2 innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Guardians.
Eovaldi upped his pitch count to 43 (29 strikes) and had three up-and-downs in his second Cactus League start. The right-hander was much better Wednesday than in his spring debut last week, when he allowed a pair of home runs and three runs overall in two innings.
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Slade Cecconi SP | CLE
Guardians' Slade Cecconi: Works out of trouble
Cecconi allowed three hits and struck out one over two scoreless innings in Wednesday's spring start against Texas.
Cecconi made his Cactus League debut and was immediately forced to work out of jams. He was aided by a runner being thrown out at home plate, and he also stranded a runner at third base in the first inning and second base in the second. The good news was he didn't issue any walks, and he was around the zone (20 strikes among his 30 pitches). After serving in a hybrid starter/reliever role for the Diamondbacks in 2023 and 2024, Cecconi was a full-season starter for the Guardians in 2025. Results were mixed, but the right-hander showed enough to keep him in Cleveland's plans for the rotation in 2026.
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Steven Kwan LF | CLE
Guardians' Steven Kwan: Starts in center field
Kwan started in center field and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's spring game against the Rangers.
Kwan, a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field, will be exposed to center field this spring and made his Cactus League debut at the new position. He handled all the chances that came his way. While the position is relatively new to him in the majors -- he made four starts there as a rookie in 2022 -- Kwan has abundant experience in center field from his days in college (Oregon State) and made 152 appearances there in the minors.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Back with Blue Jays
Scherzer agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The Blue Jays and Scherzer had mutual interest in a reunion throughout the offseason, and the two sides have now finally agreed on a deal that includes up to $10 million in incentives. The veteran righty took a step back in 2025, as he finished the regular season with a career-worst 5.19 ERA and gave up 19 home runs in 85 innings (17 starts). That being said, he still maintained a strong 82:23 K:BB in the regular season, then posted a 3.77 ERA in three starts during Toronto's postseason run. With Shane Bieber (forearm) due to open the season on the injured list, Scherzer has a path to being included in the Blue Jays' Opening Day rotation, though he likely won't be guaranteed a job when the team's starters are all fully healthy.
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Randal Grichuk LF | CHW
Yankees' Randal Grichuk: Signs NRI deal with Yankees
Grichuk signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Wednesday and was invited to spring training, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Grichuk turned in one of the worst seasons of his career last year, slashing .228/.273/.401 with 27 RBI and 35 runs scored across 293 plate appearances between Arizona and Kansas City. The Yankees have been searching for a right-handed bat to play in the outfield, though the 34-year-old will first need to earn a spot on the 40-man roster.
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Peyton Pallette SP | CLE
Guardians' Peyton Pallette: Battling shoulder fatigue
Pallette has yet to make his Cactus League debut due to right shoulder fatigue, SI.com reports.
Pallette is scheduled to throw live batting practice in the near future, and the Guardians are hopeful that he'll begin pitching in spring games sometime next week. The 24-year-old righty joined the Guardians in December through the Rule 5 Draft and will have to remain on the major-league roster all season. Otherwise, he'll be offered back to the White Sox.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Hitting off tee
Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Volpe (shoulder) has begun hitting off a tee, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Volpe began taking dry swings last week and has since been cleared to take the next step in his hitting progression, though Boone noted that the 24-year-old infielder is still several weeks away from being able to dive on his surgically repaired left shoulder. He's slated to begin the regular season on the injured list, leaving Jose Caballero to work as New York's primary shortstop for the time being.