MLB Player News

The Marlins signed Quantrill to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Wednesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Quantrill was non-tendered by the Rockies earlier this offseason after posting a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 110:69 K:BB over 148.1 innings covering 29 starts in 2024. The 30-year-old did have a solid stretch with the Guardians from 2021 to 2022, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 336 regular-season innings, although his 4.10 FIP during that span was more indicative of how he pitched. Quantrill should slide into a Marlins rotation that lacks established options at the back end.

Manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that he expects Quero (shoulder) to be playing in Cactus League games at some point this spring, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Quero had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder last April but estimated Wednesday that he's at "75 to 80 percent" physically. The catching prospect was limited to just one game with Triple-A Nashville before getting injured and is likely headed back to Nashville to begin the 2025 campaign.

Manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Peralta will start Opening Day, March 27 against the Yankees, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Peralta will presumably be opposed by Gerrit Cole, although the Yankees have not yet confirmed as much. It will be the second straight Opening Day assignment for Peralta, who collected a 3.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 200:68 K:BB over 173.2 innings covering 32 starts during the 2024 regular season.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Hall is recovering from a lat strain and won't throw for two weeks before being re-evaluated, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hall had been expected to compete for a rotation spot in spring training after he worked out of the bullpen toward the end of his first season in Milwaukee, but the lat injury looks as though it could foil those plans. Even if the southpaw is cleared to resume throwing by the end of February, he would likely need at least a few weeks to get stretched out for starting duty before the season gets underway March 27. With that in mind, a relief role may represent Hall's clearest path to making the Opening Day roster, if he doesn't instead require a stint on the injured list.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) will not pitch in Cactus League games this spring, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The announcement comes as little surprise, as the Dodgers don't yet have a date for Ohtani to resume throwing full bullpen sessions. While Ohtani is unlikely to join the Los Angeles rotation until May as he works his way back from right elbow surgery and left shoulder surgery, he's fully expected to serve as the team's designated hitter for its season-opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Kopech (forearm) is behind schedule in his throwing program and admitted that the right-hander could begin the season on the injured list, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kopech experienced right forearm inflammation over the winter, and though Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes previously said in January that the 28-year-old wasn't on track to miss time to begin the season, the organization's stance on the matter has seemingly changed as spring training has gotten underway. On a positive note, Kopech hasn't been shut down from throwing, but it's unclear when he might be cleared to face hitters and eventually make his Cactus League debut. After being acquired from the White Sox in July, Kopech pitched to a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB while going 6-for-6 in save chances over 24 innings for the Dodgers to close out the regular season, then struck out 10 batters while allowing three runs over nine postseason innings. Despite his dominant showing during his time with the Dodgers last season, Kopech's uncertain health in addition to the team's deep stable of capable high-leverage relievers renders him primarily an NL-only or deep mixed-league consideration in 2025 fantasy drafts.

Hicks said Wednesday that he added 14 pounds this offseason and is ready to "take the training wheels off" in 2025, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Hicks got off to a nice start last season in his move from the bullpen to the rotation, but he hit a wall and finished with a 4.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 96:47 K:BB over 109.2 frames covering 20 starts and nine relief appearances. The 28-year-old should be better prepared to handle a starter's workload in 2025, but Hicks is a bit of a wild card in terms of his expected performance.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday during his appearance on MLB Network that he anticipates Sasaki pitching in the Dodgers' second game of the season March 19 against the Cubs in Tokyo.

The Dodgers will be taking a cautious approach to Sasaki's workload this season, but they also recognize the importance of giving him a start in his native country. Fellow Japanese hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to take the hill for the Dodgers' first game of the series March 18, and Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga is expected to start one of the two games for the Cubs.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday on MLB Network that he expects Yamamoto to pitch during the Dodgers' March 18-19 series versus the Cubs in Tokyo.

Roberts anticipates Yamamoto's countryman, Roki Sasaki, pitching during the two-game series, as well. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said previously that Shota Imanaga will get the ball for one of the two contests, and it seems likely that he and Yamamoto will match up in the first game.

Manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that Walker will open the season as the Giants' closer, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

After Camilo Doval endured a string of poor performances following the All-Star break and was removed from the closer's role in early August, Walker took over as the Giants' primary closer to finish out the 2024 campaign. In addition to providing sterling ratios (1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 99:18 K:BB over 80 innings) in his high-leverage relief role, Walker collected 10 wins, 10 saves and 21 holds. With the Giants opting not to make any major additions to the bullpen over the offseason, Walker looks like he'll get the chance to close on a full-time basis for the first time in his career. He'll be in position for fewer wins in the ninth-inning role, but if health prevails and he continues to perform at the level he did in 2024, Walker could finish among the league leaders in saves.