MLB Player News

Cabrera (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander continues building up his throwing program since being diagnosed with a shoulder impingement nearly two weeks ago. Cabrera remains without a clear timeline to join the Marlins' rotation, but if he continues to progress with no issues, his absence to begin the season may last only a few weeks.

Tovar agreed to a contract extension with the Rockies on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

According to Alvarez-Montes, it's a seven-year deal that's worth up to $84 million. The 22-year-old posted plus-13 defensive runs saved in 153 games as a rookie last season, and he also had a decent showing at the plate with 15 homers, 11 steals, 73 RBI, 79 runs and a .253/.287/.408 slash line.

Walker was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement Sunday and will start the season on the injured list, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander experienced some discomfort while prepping for a bullpen session Saturday, and he won't be available to begin the regular season. Walker will rest for an undisclosed period before attempting to restart his throwing program, so he seems likely to spend more than the 15-day minimum on the injured list. Spencer Turnbull is poised to claim the open spot in Philadelphia's starting rotation.

Jones said Sunday his right knee injury appears to be minor, and he should be good to go for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Diamondbacks, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old looked as though he might have suffered a more serious injury when he experienced some numbness in his foot after fouling a pitch off his knee Saturday, but he's just dealing with a bruise and should be considered day-to-day. Jones believes he could play in Monday's or Tuesday's exhibitions against the Brewers, but the Rockies may play it safe and hold him out until Thursday.

The Rockies reassigned Curtiss to minor-league camp Sunday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Curtiss joined the Rockies on a minor-league deal in late January after his 2023 campaign with the Mets came to an early end in August, when he required an arthroscopic procedure to remove a loose body from his right elbow. Though he received a clean bill of health heading into spring training, Curtiss submitted a 9.82 ERA and 2.05 WHIP over 7.1 innings in Cactus League play to effectively remove himself from consideration for a spot in Colorado's Opening Day bullpen.

The Rockies reassigned Blach to minor-league camp Sunday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The soft-tossing southpaw is entering his third season as a member of the Rockies organization, so even though he missed out on a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, he could stick around as a depth arm at Triple-A Albuquerque. Blach made 20 appearances (13 starts) for the Rockies in 2023, going 3-3 with a 5.54 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 78 innings.

Choi, who was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday after being informed he wouldn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, won't exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and will begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Even though the newly signed J.D. Martinez isn't expected to be available for their first series of the regular season, the Mets opted not to carry Choi as an option at designated hitter for Opening Day. Though his path to a big-league roster spot will become more blocked once Martinez is ready to make his Mets debut, Choi will stick around in the organization and stay ready at Triple-A in the event an opportunity in New York emerges.

The Diamondbacks reassigned Newman to minor-league camp Sunday.

After joining Arizona in January on a minor-league deal that included an invitation to big-league spring training, Newman posted an underwhelming .599 OPS over 20 games in Cactus League play to take himself out of consideration for a utility role. Unless he opts out of his minor-league deal and pursues opportunities with another organization, Newman is set to begin the season at Triple-A Reno.

The Diamondbacks optioned Herrera to Triple-A Reno on Sunday.

Herrera's demotion signals that Tucker Barnhart has likely won the Diamondbacks' backup catching job. The 27-year-old Herrera should still be the first catcher in line for a call-up to the big-league roster if either Gabriel Moreno or Barnhart is forced to miss time at any point in 2024.

Gray (hamstring) is scheduled to pitch in another minor-league game Thursday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals recently announced Gray will begin the season on the injured list, but he'll continue ramping up his throwing in minor-league action. The veteran right-hander could join St. Louis when first eligible during the second week of April.