MLB Player News

Taylor signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Taylor hasn't yet participated in spring training, but he does have a team for 2024. He spent last year with the Twins and slashed .220/.278/.442 with a career-high 21 home runs while adding 51 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 388 plate appearances. Taylor could fill the short side of a platoon in center field for Pittsburgh since the lefty-hitting Jack Suwinski has struggled against southpaws.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday that he views Ross primarily as a starting pitcher, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

He didn't confirm Ross would be in the Brewers' starting rotation for Opening Day, but Murphy's statement does suggest that Ross will be sent to Triple-A Nashville and stay stretched out rather than begin the year in Milwaukee's bullpen should the 30-year-old righty lose out on a big-league rotation job. Ross hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021 and has surrendered five runs across seven innings so far this spring with a 9:6 K:BB.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn't plan to enter the season with defined bullpen roles for Leiter or any other reliever, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Leiter has notched seven saves over the last two seasons with the Cubs, collecting a 3.75 ERA and 150:49 K:BB over 132 innings along the way. The reverse-splits reliever could potentially work his way into the saves mix again in 2024, although he's probably at least behind Adbert Alzolay and Hector Neris, and possibly also Julian Merryweather, in the pecking order.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn't plan to designate specific roles for Merryweather or any other reliever before the season, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Merryweather got off to a poor start for the Cubs last season but posted a 2.69 ERA and 84:33 K:BB over 60.1 innings from May on. He'll likely be behind Adbert Alzolay and Hector Neris in the bullpen hierarchy initially, but Merryweather has a chance to work his way into saves consideration.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn't plan to have defined roles for Neris or any other member of the bullpen heading into the season, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Adbert Alzolay is probably first in line to close for the Cubs, with Neris closely behind. However, Counsell wants his usage of the bullpen to evolve organically rather than pigeon-holing guys before the season starts. Neris inked a one-year, $9 million contract with the Cubs in January after posting a 1.71 ERA with 77 strikeouts and a career-high 31 holds in 68.1 frames for Houston last year.

Lucchesi was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old appeared to have a decent chance of making the Mets' Opening Day rotation after Kodai Senga (shoulder) was shut down, but Lucchesi came into camp behind most of the organization's pitchers and sat below 90 mph with his fastball during his lone game appearance of spring training. The left-hander pitched to a 2.89 ERA in nine starts for the Mets last season but is poised to open 2024 at Triple-A.

The Mets optioned Garrett to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Garrett had a solid spring, allowing two runs with a 7:2 K:BB over five innings. The right-handed reliever will head to Syracuse for now and wait for a call to rejoin the big-league bullpen.

Reds manager David Bell said Friday that Martinez (rib) is not a lock to start Saturday as previously anticipated, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Martinez has pitched through a rib issue in his last couple Cactus League appearances, but he was scratched from a scheduled start Thursday, throwing long toss instead. The pitcher doesn't feel any pain while on the mound but is in some discomfort doing day-to-day things. If Martinez does start Saturday, it could be in either a Cactus League game or a minor-league contest. The Reds are still confident he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Cabrera (shoulder) is playing catch Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement earlier this week but was able to get back to throwing within a few days. Cabrera is likely to miss Opening Day as he ramps his throwing program back up, but he could make an early-season return if he's able to avoid any further issues.

Bednar (lat) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It will be his first time throwing from the bump since some right lat tightness cropped up at the beginning of the month. Bednar has not made an appearance in a Grapefruit League game this spring, but that seemingly should come soon if things go well Friday. He could still have time to ramp up for Opening Day, but it will be close.