MLB Player News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Mauricio (knee) will not appear in any spring games, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Mauricio missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing ACL surgery in December of 2023 before having a cleanup procedure in August. Mendoza said back in February that Mauricio was targeting a mid-March return, but it appears the 23-year-old infielder may start the 2025 season on the injured list or in extended spring training before reporting to Triple-A Syracuse.

Manager Oliver Marmol announced Sunday that Gray will start Opening Day against the Twins on March 27, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It's hardly a surprise that the veteran right-hander will be leading the St. Louis rotation, but the skipper made it official Sunday. Gray had a 3.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 203:39 K:BB across 166.1 innings last season, though his two spring starts have been a bit bumpy with five homers allowed.

The Marlins optioned Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

Pauley was acquired by the Marlins from the Padres in late July in a trade package centered around Tanner Scott. Pauley will begin the 2025 regular season in Triple-A after going 7-for-26 with two walks and four RBI in spring training. He appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Padres in 2024 and could see some action in the majors in 2025 if the Marlins are in need of infield depth.

Diaz allowed five runs on three hits and three walks while striking out one over a third of an inning in Saturday's Cactus League game against Kansas City.

Diaz, who was delayed getting into Cactus League games after dealing with a hamstring issue early in camp, struggled during his third spring appearance. "It's his third outing. Certainly, we've got to lock it in here. We've got about another week," Reds manager Terry Francona said about Cincinnati's closer to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. At some point during the outing, Francona and a team trainer visited the mound because the right-hander's thumb was bleeding. Diaz remained in the game and walked the next batter before being removed. Francona said the cut on his thumb, which was exacerbated by the pitcher's thumbnail, had nothing to do with Diaz's troubles.

The Marlins optioned Ramirez to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

Ramirez faced an uphill battle to make the Marlins' Opening Day roster, and as expected he'll begin the 2025 regular season in Triple-A. He was acquired by the Marlins from the Yankees in the Jazz Chisholm trade in late July, slashing .270/.368/.364 for Jacksonville with four home runs and 20 RBI across 125 plate appearances. Ramirez made a good impression during camp, and a strong start in Triple-A could see him jump to the major-league roster at some point during the 2025 campaign.

Greene allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over four innings in Saturday's spring start against the Royals.

Greene made his fifth Cactus League start and appears to be dialing it in ahead of his Opening Day assignment. After a couple of shaky outings to open the spring, Greene has allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks over 12 innings in his last three appearances. He worked his pitch count up to 74 (49 strikes) on Saturday and will make one more spring start before taking the ball for the regular-season opener March 27 against the Giants.

Mancini went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Saturday's spring game against the White Sox.

The veteran signed an NRI deal with the Diamondbacks just prior to camp and has hit well, going 9-for-21 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI over 13 Cactus League games. Most of Mancini's appearances have come off the bench against lesser-quality pitching, signaling that's he's not likely to win an Opening Day roster spot. He told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he does not intend to opt out of his minor-league contract if doesn't make the team's initial 26-man roster.

Rodriguez will make his next start Wednesday on a back field, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports

Rodriguez tossed 3.2 dominant innings against the Reds on Friday, and the decision to hold him out of Cactus League competition for his next start does not indicate anything other than a scheduling issue. The club plans to start Jordan Montgomery on Wednesday, so Rodriguez will get his work in while maintaining his five-day schedule.

Burnes allowed one run on four hits and struck out four over four-plus innings in Saturday's spring start against the White Sox.

He struck out the side in the first en route to retiring the first six batters he faced, and Burnes pitched into the fifth inning before being removed after 64 pitches (42 strikes) following a leadoff single. He owns a 1.35 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 13.1 spring innings. Those results -- and the contract Burnes signed during the offseason -- put him in line to start Opening Day, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has yet to decide between Burnes and Zac Gallen, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. The manager said the league is after him to name a starter and he needs to get back to them, but he wants "to be as thorough as possible." Arizona is set to host the Cubs in their March 27 opener.

Manager Dave Roberts said that Betts "showed some fatigue" during pre-game workouts for Sunday's exhibition against the Hanshin Tigers and later added, "We're really trying to mindful not just of Opening Day but not putting him in harm's way...not putting him in a position where he potentially could get hurt," Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Betts is scheduled to work out again Monday and be re-evaluated, and he may not be available for Tuesday's season opener against the Cubs in Tokyo unless he shows significant improvement. The 32-year-old has been battling an illness over the past week and lost some weight, so it could take a few days for him to regain the strength necessary to be cleared for game action.