MLB Player News

Smith was reassigned to minor league spring training on Monday.

Smith inked a minor-league deal that included an invitation to big-league camp back in January, but he was unable to do enough to earn a bullpen spot. Instead, he'll set his sights on beginning the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he'll serve as organizational depth.

Rainey was reassigned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Rainey will open the season at Triple-A after producing an impressive 1.13 ERA and 0.50 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over eight innings in eight appearances with the Pirates during spring training. The right-hander appeared in 50 games with the Nationals in 2024, compiling a 4.76 ERA with 44 strikeouts over 51 innings, and he'll now look to get into a groove with Indianapolis in an attempt to earn a promotion this summer.

Fulmer was reassigned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Fulmer signed a minor-league deal with Pittsburgh in December, producing a 4.15 ERA with five strikeouts over 8.2 innings in six appearances, including one start, during spring training. The right-hander will look to impress with Indianapolis in order to potentially get a shot with the Pirates' major-league roster down the road this season.

Ohtani is set to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani will throw off the mound for the first time since Feb. 25 as he gears up to make his return to the Dodgers' rotation at some point this season. The 30-year-old last pitched in 2023 with the Angels, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 167 strikeouts over 132 innings in 23 starts. It's unclear if the team has a timeline for Ohtani's official return to the mound, but the expectation remains that it'll be during the 2025 campaign.

Betts (illness) completed a workout at Dodger Stadium on Monday and intends to play in Tuesday's game against the Angels, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Betts has already been ruled out for Monday's exhibition, but the fact that he's been able to keep food down and felt strong enough to complete a workout is a promising sign. If Betts is cleared for Tuesday's action, it would likely point to him being included in the starting lineup for Opening Day on Thursday, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Roupp will open the season as the Giants' fifth starter, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

He was locked in a heated battle with Hayden Birdsong, who will open the season in the Giants' bullpen. Roupp received the nod after allowing five runs with a 14:1 K:BB over 12 innings during Cactus League play. The 26-year-old made four starts and 19 relief appearances with the Giants last season, finishing with a 3.58 ERA and 47:26 K:BB over 50.1 innings. Roupp doesn't have Birdsong's upside, but he is an interesting arm in his own right and deserves consideration in deeper fantasy leagues.

Birdsong will serve out of the Giants' bullpen for the start of the 2025 season after Landen Roupp was named as the fifth starter Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Birdsong and Roupp were the final two candidates for the Giants' fifth-starter spot after Kyle Harrison was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Birdsong recorded a 0.75 ERA across 12 Cactus League innings this spring, but he'll begin the 2025 regular season in the bullpen, possibly in a long reliever role.

Birdsong is expected to be fine after dealing with a cracked right middle fingernail during an appearance Sunday in an exhibition game versus Triple-A Sacramento, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Birdsong noted that it's something he battles with a lot and he expects to be fine after getting a fake fingernail put on the finger. The right-hander has made the Giants' Opening Day roster and is the team's presumed fifth starter, although the club has not yet confirmed what Birdsong's role will be.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Monday that Wetherholt will begin the season at Double-A Springfield, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wetherholt played just 29 games with Single-A Palm Beach in his pro debut last year but will skip over High-A Peoria and start the 2025 campaign in the Texas League. The 22-year-old will play shortstop with Springfield, but with Masyn Winn manning that spot in St. Louis, Wetherholt's eventual home could be at second or third base.

Betts (illness) remains out of the Dodgers' lineup for Monday's exhibition game against the Angels, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Betts has been dealing with an undiagnosed illness for weeks that has resulted in him losing nearly 20 pounds. There's been no indication one way or another that he might not be ready in time for Opening Day, but it would seem to be a possibility. Miguel Rojas is at shortstop Monday and could be there again Thursday if Betts isn't feeling up to playing.