MLB Player News

Herrera exited Sunday's contest against the Rangers early with right wrist soreness.

Herrera was forced out of the game in the top of sixth inning after a bang-bang play at home plate. The catcher finished his day having gone 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored. More information on Herrera's status will likely be provided in the near future.

Meckler was removed in the bottom of the first inning of Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs due to an apparent injury, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Meckler grounded out in his lone at-bat during the top of the inning, then appeared to get hurt while unsuccessfully diving at an Ian Happ line drive that fell in the gap for a double in the bottom of the frame. Immediately after the play, the Giants subbed Hunter Bishop into the game in place of Meckler. The Giants will likely provide an update on Meckler's status following the game.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Brzykcy is considered day-to-day due to a right quad injury, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The right-hander hasn't pitched in Grapefruit League action since making his spring debut Feb. 25, though he's recently thrown a few bullpen sessions. Assuming Brzykcy can soon progress to facing live batters, he may still have enough time to be ready for the start of the season.

Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Strahm is dealing with a bit of left shoulder soreness and that the club will "back him off for a few days," Paul Casella of MLB.com reports.

Strahm's last Grapefruit League action came Wednesday, and he showcased some diminished velocity while giving up four runs across two-thirds of an inning. Thomson indicated that medical imaging came back clean, so the left-hander could be back on the mound in the near future.

The Cubs reassigned Perez to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Perez's dismissal from big-league camp leaves Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya and Reese McGuire as the catchers who are likely competing for two spots on the Cubs' season-opening roster. The 34-year-old Perez has seen big-league action in parts of five seasons but spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, where he slashed .260/.344/.544 over 468 plate appearances.

The Cubs reassigned Hughes to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After turning in an 8.15 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over 17.2 innings in the majors with Arizona in 2024, Hughes had to settle for a minor-league deal with the Cubs over the winter. His contract included an invitation to MLB spring training, but the 29-year-old lefty faced long odds to win a spot in the Cubs' season-opening bullpen. Hughes is expected to begin the campaign in a relief role at Triple-A Iowa.

The Cubs reassigned Jankowski to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jankowski was part of the Cubs' latest round of cuts as the team looks to trim its travel roster to 31 in advance of the two-game, season-opening series in Tokyo versus the Dodgers that begins March 18. The veteran outfielder attended big-league camp as a non-roster invitee after slashing .200/.266/.242 over 207 plate appearances in the majors with the Rangers in 2024. Jankowski is tentatively slated to open the season at Triple-A Iowa, though the Cubs could grant the 33-year-old a release from his minor-league contract if he requests it.

The Cubs optioned Cowles to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

The 25-year-old was added to Chicago's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Cowles spent last season at the Double-A level with both the Cubs and Yankees organizations, and he had a .286/.372/.457 slash line with nine homers and 14 steals in 92 games.

Pham (hip) characterized his early exit from Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers as a precautionary move, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "In the season, I'd play through it," Pham said of his tight left hip. "In the season, I don't miss any time with this. It's just because it's second week of March, spring training. You don't have to push it."

While Pham's comments offer hope that his hip injury is only a minor concern, he may be withheld from the lineup for a few days until he returns to full health. Pham went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a strikeout prior to departing Sunday's contest.

Herz gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over 3.1 innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out one.

While his defense did him no favors -- Jacob Young in center field was the only likely Opening Day starter on the diamond behind him -- Herz also wasn't sharp, something that has been the story of his spring so far. The 24-year-old southpaw tweaked his mechanics this offseason, and he may still be getting comfortable with his new delivery. Through 6.2 innings this spring, Herz has stumbled to an 8.10 ERA and 3:7 K:BB. He still appears set for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, particularly if Mitchell Parker (neck) ends up on the shelf, but a good spring outing or two before camp breaks would go a long way toward reassuring fantasy investors that Herz's promising rookie campaign in 2024 wasn't a mirage.