MLB Player News

Manager Derek Shelton said Sunday that Bednar (lat) played catch for the second straight day and that everything felt good, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Bednar was shut down from throwing activities March 4 after feeling tightness in his lats, but the right-hander appears to be on the right track in his rehab. If Bednar is forced to miss time to start the season, Aroldis Chapman figures to fill the closer role while the former progresses through his recovery.

Williams is dealing with a sore back and will get a second opinion from a spine specialist in the coming week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin adds that Williams had an MRI on his back this past week. He'll continue to take time off as a precaution until he is assessed by a back specialist this week. Williams tallied 36 saves in 40 tries last season while posting a 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 87:28 K:BB over 58.2 innings.

The Brewers optioned Blalock to Double-A Biloxi on Sunday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Blalock was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster this winter and is seen as one of the organization's top pitching prospects, but he's most likely a year or more away from making his MLB debut. The 22-year-old righty split time between the Single-A and High-A levels in the Red Sox and Brewers organizations in 2023, logging a collective 2.82 ERA and 75:20 K:BB in 67 innings over his 15 starts.

Milwaukee optioned Roller to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Roller will start the 2024 season in the minors after slashing .247/.394/.449 with 15 home runs, 67 RBI and 19 stolen bases between the Brewers' and Guardians' Triple-A affiliates in 2023. He has yet to make a plate appearance in the majors since being drafted in 2017, but he could make his way onto the Brewers' active roster in 2024 if he continues to excel at the dish at Triple-A and if Milwaukee has a need for an extra outfielder.

The Brewers optioned Quero to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Quero was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster in November after slashing .262/.340/.443 with 16 home runs and 51 RBI over 382 plate appearances with Double-A Biloxi in 2023. He'll start 2024 with Triple-A Nashville and could crack into the majors later in the season if he's able to show continued improvement in the minors and/or if the Brewers have a need for another catcher.

The Marlins announced that Cabrera was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Sunday versus the Astros due to right shoulder tightness, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami is describing Cabrera's removal as precautionary, but at this stage of spring training, a shoulder injury of any kind to a pitcher is concerning with Opening Day less than three weeks away. If Cabrera isn't cleared to resume throwing within the next few days, he'll be a strong candidate to open the season on the injured list. A potential Cabrera absence to begin the campaign would bolster the odds of Max Meyer or Ryan Weathers breaking camp with the big club as the team's No. 5 starter.

Fernandez has allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings in Grapefruit League play.

Fernandez was acquired by the Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft in December. He will need to be on the major-league roster for all of the 2024 campaign -- if not, he must be offered back to the Red Sox. Given his work in spring, the Cardinals may be able to find a role for the 25-year-old right-hander. There are still a lot of options for middle-relief roles, but Fernandez's good first impression may help him stick with St. Louis.

Rojas was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks due to lower leg soreness, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Even though Rojas was scratched, Ardaya notes that the veteran infielder was still taking groundballs in pregame warmups, so the leg injury likely isn't a major concern. Rojas made 109 starts for Los Angeles during the 2023 season, but he'll likely be in line for more of a reduced role in 2024 with Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux slated to serve as the Dodgers' primary starters in the middle infield.

Luciano has slipped behind Nick Ahmed for the Giants' starting shortstop job, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Luciano has had a terrible spring, going 1-for-14 (.071) with nine strikeouts over six games. Ahmed, meanwhile, has gone 5-for-9 with two home runs across four spring contests. Luciano was viewed as the frontrunner for the shortstop job heading into spring training, but he's struggled in all aspects after battling a hamstring injury early in camp, and that has eroded his advantage. With both Luciano and Ahmed being right-handed hitters, there's little chance a platoon develops here.

Sheehan (shoulder) completed a bullpen session Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Sheehan was able to get back on the mound for the first time since he experienced shoulder soreness shortly after reporting to spring training in late February. Manager Dave Roberts already noted Saturday that Sheehan will start the season on injured list, but the young right-hander's ability to throw a bullpen session Saturday offers hope that he'll avoid an extended absence. With Walker Buehler (elbow) expected to join Sheehan on the IL to begin the campaign, Gavin Stone looks to the frontrunner for the No. 5 spot in the Los Angeles rotation.