MLB Player News

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Cease will make his first Cactus League start Friday versus the Mariners, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Through their first seven Cactus League games, the Padres haven't used any of their presumed four locks for the season-opening rotation, but that streak will end Friday when Cease takes the mound. The right-hander is likely the leading candidate to get the Opening Day nod for the Padres after he submitted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB in 189.1 regular-season innings during his inaugural campaign in San Diego in 2024. Though Cease's name has popped up in trade rumors this offseason amid an ownership shakeup in San Diego, a move elsewhere doesn't appear imminent and may not be revisited until closer to the trade deadline.

Atlanta reassigned Suero to minor-league camp Thursday.

Suero was competing for a spot in Atlanta's bullpen after posting a 2.66 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 67.2 innings with Houston's Triple-A affiliate last year. However, he gave up two earned runs over two innings in the Grapefruit League and will now head to Gwinnett to begin the 2025 campaign.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday that Winder will undergo Tommy John surgery, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Winder signed with Arizona on a minor-league deal in January and made one appearance this spring, allowing two earned runs over 1.2 innings. However, his upcoming surgery will ensure he misses the entire 2025 season and likely the first half of 2026.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday that Vieira (elbow/knee/shoulder) will undergo Tommy John surgery, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Vieira reported soreness in his knee, shoulder and elbow Monday -- the last of which seems to be the most severe, as it will require him to undergo Tommy John surgery. The operation will force him to miss the entire 2025 season, and he likely won't be cleared for game action until mid-2026.

Gonsolin has pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three batters, over two appearances in Cactus League play.

Gonsolin missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he appears back to full health this spring. The right-hander was super efficient in his most recent appearance Wednesday, needing just 13 pitches -- all of which were strikes -- to retire six batters. Gonsolin is a candidate to open the regular season as the Dodgers' fifth starter.

Woodruff (shoulder) threw a simulated game consisting of about 30 pitches Thursday, Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin reports.

Woodruff has now faced hitters on three occasions this spring and has built his workload up from around 20 pitches to 30. While Woodruff is being treated as a full participant in spring training, he's still being ramped up slowly following his October 2023 shoulder surgery and is not being viewed as a realistic candidate for the Opening Day rotation. Following his second sim game this past Friday, Woodruff told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com that his fastball was touching 92 miles per hour, which is about three ticks below his average velocity from his last healthy season in 2023. Woodruff could need to complete another sim game or two before the Brewers potentially make room for him in the Cactus League pitching schedule.

Yoho threw a scoreless inning of relief in Wednesday's exhibition game.

The 25-year-old rose rapidly through the minor-league ranks last season and is competing for a relief spot with the big club. Even if he secures one it's unlikely he jumps into a key role with just 14.1 career innings above the Double-A level, but he tallied 10 saves last season and owns both a 15.5 K/9 as a professional. He features and elite changeup and is worth keeping an eye on this spring.

The Cardinals were granted a fourth option year on Thompson earlier this offseason, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Before the extra option year was granted, Thompson would have either had to be included on the Opening Day roster or exposed to waivers. Now, St. Louis has the ability to send him to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2025 season, which it's likely to do after Thompson struggled both in the majors (9.53 ERA) and minors (4.40 ERA, 14.2 percent walk rate) in 2024.

The Nationals designated Garrett for assignment Thursday.

Garrett was the casualty from the 40-man roster with the Nationals needing to clear a spot for reliever Kyle Finnegan, who officially re-signed with the club on a one-year deal. Though Garrett has slashed an impressive .276/.341/.492 (125 wRC+) over 361 plate appearances across parts of three big-league seasons, he missed most of the 2024 campaign while recovering from the left ankle reconstruction surgery he underwent last August. He finished the season healthy, but Garrett's standing as a 29-year-old, bat-first player who profiles best as a short-side platoon designated hitter made him an expendable piece for Washington.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Sasaki will "potentially" make his Cactus League debut Tuesday versus the Reds, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Sasaki tossed a three-inning simulated game against White Sox hitters earlier this week, and his next outing looks as though it might come in an official game setting. The 23-year-old is expected to make his MLB debut March 19, in the second of the Dodgers' two games against the Cubs in Tokyo.