MLB Player News

Rockies manager Bud Black said Thursday that Marquez (elbow) is back to full health for spring training, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

After completing his recovery from his May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Marquez was cleared to make his 2024 debut for the Rockies on July 14, but he made just one start before going back on the shelf after developing a stress reaction in his surgically repaired elbow. Fortunately for Marquez, he didn't require another procedure and was able to move past the elbow issue through extended rest and rehab. The 29-year-old should be in the mix for the Rockies' Opening Day start, though that will hinge on him remaining healthy throughout the spring.

Pallante will receive a $2.1 million salary for 2025 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Cardinals on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The Cardinals had filed for a $1.925 million salary for Pallante, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time. Pallante submitted a weak 9.0 K-BB% over 121.1 innings across his 29 appearances (20 starts) in 2024, but thanks to his ability to keep the ball on the ground and generate weak contact, most of his ERA estimators (4.15 SIERA, 3.89 xFIP, 3.46 xERA) were roughly in line with his actual ERA (3.78). He should have a firm grasp on a full-time rotation spot in 2025, though his poor strikeout rate will likely make him less valuable in fantasy leagues than in real life.

Fulton (elbow) threw live batting practice to a number of hitters Thursday, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

The extent of Fulton's throwing session isn't fully known, but the fact that he was facing hitters in the early stages of camp is a sign that he's healthy again after he missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from his second career Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in the summer of 2023. Despite the major red flags on his health record, the Marlins still protected Fulton from the Rule 5 Draft this winter and added him to their 40-man roster. The 23-year-old lefty isn't expected to be a factor in the majors anytime soon, as he'll need to prove his health and turn in quality results in the upper levels of the minors before he makes his big-league debut.

Giants manager Bob Melvin indicated Thursday that Wade could bat leadoff this season, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

If it happens, it would likely be only against right-handers, as Wilmer Flores (knee) is expected to fill the short side of a platoon at first base with Wade. If Wade does indeed hit leadoff versus righties, Jung Hoo Lee would be used in the three hole. Melvin also noted Thursday that Wade could see some action in the outfield this season in addition to first base. The 31-year-old has primarily been a first baseman over the last two seasons but made five starts in the outfield last year.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said Thursday that Lee might bat third this season, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Lee was the Giants' primary leadoff hitter when healthy last season but did slide down to the three hole on five occasions when the opposition had a lefty on the mound. It sounds like he could shift down to the three hole on a more regular basis in 2025, with LaMonte Wade moving up to the top of the batting order. Such an arrangement would ding Lee's runs outlook a bit but boost his RBI potential.

Barco (lower body) completed a bullpen session Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Barco didn't make any appearances after July 28 of last season due to what Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk termed as a "left lower-extremity" injury, but the 24-year-old lefty doesn't appear to be operating with any restrictions to begin spring training. He'll likely open the 2025 season at Double-A Altoona, with whom he struck out six over four innings of one-run ball across his two starts last summer before landing on the injured list.

Oviedo (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Oviedo was sidelined for the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in December of 2023, but he was regularly doing long toss off flat ground in September and has now reached another checkpoint in the recovery process by throwing off a mound. According to MLB.com, Oviedo is being viewed as a "full go" for spring training, but because he's returning from a major injury, the Pirates could bring him along more slowly than their other rotation candidates. The right-hander could build up his pitch count in simulated games on the backfields of camp before he makes his Grapefruit League debut.

Montgomery said Thursday that he lost 20 to 25 pounds over the offseason, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Montgomery appears motivated following a disastrous 2024 campaign which saw him collect a 6.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 83:44 K:BB across 117 innings. It's been no secret that the Diamondbacks have attempted to trade the lefty this offseason, but his $22.5 million salary has made that difficult. Arizona plans to operate with a traditional five-man rotation again in 2025, which could mean Montgomery being used in long relief if he's still with the club on Opening Day.

Hart signed Thursday with the Padres on a one-year, $1 million contract that includes a $5 million club option for 2026, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

After reaching a four-year deal with Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, the Padres have further bolstered their rotation depth with the addition of Hart, a 32-year-old lefty whose lone MLB action came back in 2020, when he tossed 11 innings for the Red Sox. Hart was able to secure an MLB deal on the back of his standout performance this past season in the Korea Baseball Organization with the NC Dinos, as he took home the league's equivalent of the Cy Young Award while turning in a 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 182:38 K:BB in 157 innings. The lower caliber of competition in the KBO certainly helped Hart achieve his lofty results, but it's been increasingly common in recent years for American pitchers to find MLB success upon returning stateside following impressive stints in Korea, with Erick Fedde and Merrill Kelly both standing out as notable examples. Hart will likely still have to impress in spring training to secure his spot in the San Diego rotation, with knuckleballer Matt Waldron representing Hart's top challenger for the No. 5 spot.

The Reds placed Aguiar (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Scott Barlow, whose signing was officially announced Thursday. Aguiar underwent Tommy John surgery last October and will miss the entire 2025 season.