MLB Player News

Machado went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run, an additional run and two walks in Thursday's 15-11 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the Seoul Series.

San Diego built a big 9-2 lead by the middle of the third inning only to see Los Angeles fight back over the following frames. The Padres' lead was 12-11 in the top of the ninth when Machado tagged J.P. Feyereisen with a three-run blast to left field, sealing the outcome for his team. The homer was Machado's lone hit in seven at-bats during the two-game, season-opening set, but he did draw three walks. He served as San Diego's DH in both contests as he continues to work his way back from offseason elbow surgery, though the procedure doesn't seem to have impacted his ability to swing the bat.

The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Palencia is one of the Cubs' most talented young relief arms, but he'll head back to Iowa for now for a little more seasoning. The hard-throwing righty has plenty of swing-and-miss ability but needs to cut down on the walks.

Lipscomb has been the most surprising prospect in camp for the Nationals and has a real chance of winning a spot on the Opening Day roster, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

A third-round pick in 2022, Lipscomb climbed up to Double-A Harrisburg last year and slashed .284/.310/.438 with 10 homers and an 18.2 percent strikeout rate over 80 games. The 23-year-old won a minor-league Gold Glove at third base in 2023, but he's played second base and shortstop as well in camp while batting .372 (16-for-43) with a 5:7 BB:K. He's peaking at the right time too, slugging his first homer of the spring Wednesday off Steven Matz while going 3-for-4 with four RBI against the Cardinals. The organization doesn't view him as a future utility player and wants him to play every day, but given that the Nationals have question marks at both second base and third base in Luis Garcia and Nick Senzel, it's not out of the question Lipscomb displaces one of them in the starting lineup to begin the season.

Musgrove allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Thursday in the second game of the Seoul Series.

The Padres handed Musgrove a five-run lead before he even took the mound for his season debut, but the right-hander was unable to hold the Dodgers at bay. Los Angeles struck for a run in each of the first two frames before chasing Musgrove in the third. While San Diego still went on to win, this was certainly not a promising beginning from an individual perspective for Musgrove, who got to only 60 pitches (38 of which were strikes) before he was removed. Musgrove's season was cut short by a shoulder injury last year, and he gave up nine earned runs in six innings during spring training, so questions will remain about lingering impacts of the injury until he begins to look better on the mound.

The Rockies designated Hilliard for assignment Thursday.

Hilliard became expendable after the Rockies needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for shortstop/outfielder Greg Jones, whom Colorado acquired from Tampa Bay on Thursday. The 30-year-old Hilliard will now be exposed to waivers, but if he clears, he'll likely stick in the Colorado organization and open the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Scott struck out seven batters without walking anyone over four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

Getting the start against a Miami lineup that included plenty of experienced major leaguers like Jon Berti, Avisail Garcia and Trey Mancini, Scott frustrated veterans and younger players alike by pounding the upper portion of the strike zone with a fastball that averaged 96.5 mph, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The only blemish on his line Wednesday was a third-inning solo homer by Jonah Bride. The 24-year-old right-hander finished last season at Double-A Binghamton, posting a 2.47 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 77:8 K:BB over 62 innings, and while he'll begin 2024 at Triple-A Syracuse, another strong performance to begin the season could put Scott in the big-league rotation some time this summer.

Diekman appears locked into a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 37-year-old southpaw has pitched for four different teams over the last two seasons with mixed results, posting a 4.17 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 114.1 innings despite 143 strikeouts, as he also issued 80 walks. Diekman's numbers were much better at the end of last year with the Rays however, and the Mets are counting on that improvement to carry forward into 2024 after signing him to a one-year, $4 million contract in February. His spring results have been relatively encouraging, as he has a 7:3 K:BB through six innings while allowing two runs. Diekman figures to be the second lefty in the bullpen behind Brooks Raley, a role that should get him back to double-digit holds after he managed only eight in 2023.

Lopez has posted a 2.57 ERA and 5:1 K:BB through seven Grapefruit League innings this spring.

The 31-year-old right-hander is trying to get his career back on track after a rough 2023 that saw him stumble to a 5.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 18.4 percent strikeout rate over 59 innings split between the Twins, Orioles and Marlins. Lopez was an effective closer for Baltimore as recently as 2022 however, and after signing a one-year, $2 million contract with the Mets in December, he should fill a middle-relief role in a bullpen that doesn't have a lot of established high-leverage arms to get the ball to closer Edwin Diaz. If Lopez can regain his prior form, he could emerge as one of the team's primary setup options.

Ottavino has allowed one run this spring over four appearances with a 4:4 K:BB.

The 38-year-old right-hander re-signed with the Mets in January and should be one of the team's top setup men in front of closer Edwin Diaz. Ottavino helped cover for Diaz's absence last year and recorded a career-high 12 saves along with 12 holds, but he has six career seasons with 20-plus holds and should return to that level in 2024.

The Rockies acquired Jones from the Rays on Thursday in exchange for left-hander Joe Rock, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Jones was set to head into his second season as a member of the Rays' 40-man roster but has yet to make his MLB debut. He was optioned to minor-league camp early in spring training and didn't appear to be particularly close to reaching the majors with Tampa Bay, but the move to Colorado should help accelerate his big-league debut. For now, Jones is still likely to play at the Triple-A level with the Rockies' top affiliate in Albuquerque, but his experience at both shortstop and in the outfield will give him multiple pathways to a call-up if Colorado loses a position player to an injury at any point. The 25-year-old saw most of his action in 2023 at Triple-A Durham, slashing .278/.344/.467 with seven home runs and 12 stolen bases across 188 plate appearances.