MLB Player News

The Marlins optioned Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.

After being sidelined all of last season while recovering from elbow surgery, Garrett will begin 2026 in the minors. He gave up three runs with three strikeouts and three walks over four Grapefruit League innings. The left-hander will likely get a look in Miami's rotation at some point this season, but it'll be Janson Junk who begins the campaign as the No. 5 starter.

Taylor opted out of his contract with the Angels on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Taylor signed an NRI deal with the Halos in February, but after being informed he wouldn't make the big-league roster, he opted out of the deal. The veteran utility player will hit the open market after going 9-for-39 (.231) with one home run and a 10:11 BB:K during spring training.

Sanchez was announced as the Phillies' Opening Day starter for Thursday's game versus the Rangers, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The left-hander certainly earned it after he posted a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 212:44 K:BB across 202 innings during the regular season last year, though Zack Wheeler (shoulder) likely would have still earned the nod if healthy. Sanchez has established himself as a frontline starter the past two seasons, with his 212 strikeouts last year ranking seventh in MLB.

Holliday (hand) took live batting practice Thursday with no issues and is doing so again Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The 22-year-old continues working his way back from surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right hand, which he underwent in mid-February. Holliday won't be ready to join Baltimore for Opening Day, but he could begin a rehab assignment at the start of the Triple-A season.

Sale has officially been named Atlanta's Opening Day starter, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Sale will make his seventh career Opening Day start and his second straight in Atlanta. The soon-to-be 37-year-old will face the Royals. Sale has had back-to-back stellar seasons, posting a 2.38 ERA in 2024 and a 2.58 ERA in 2025.

Benge is likely to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

The Mets have already optioned MJ Melendez to the minors, but Mike Tauchman remains in camp as the club has yet to make anything official regarding the season-opening roster. It's possible both outfielders land on the 26-man roster if New York goes short on the infield. Benge has put his best foot forward during spring training with a .406/.472/.500 slash line through 11 Grapefruit League games, which gives him a chance not just to make the roster but begin the year with a regular role.

The Nationals assigned Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Rutledge will fall short of making the big-league roster after yielding three runs (two earned) across 6.1 innings spanning seven appearances this spring. The 26-year-old threw 73.1 innings out of the bullpen for Washington last season, posting a 5.77 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.

The Nationals assigned Crews to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

This is a disappointing outcome for fantasy managers who had taken a late-round swing on the talented 24-year-old or have shares of him in a dynasty league. Crews slashed .103/.206/.103 with 11 strikeouts and four walks during spring training. The move leaves Daylen Lile, Joey Wiemer and Christian Franklin as the Nationals' remaining right field options.

Johnson was informed Friday that he has made the Angels' Opening Day roster, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Johnson has been making a strong case to not only make the big-league roster but also be part of the Halos' rotation. While he'll be part of the roster, his exact role remains uncertain. He and Jack Kochanowicz, who will also make the Opening Day roster, had seemingly been competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, and that path could be clear with Alek Manoah struggling this spring and Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) battling injury.

The Guardians named Bibee as their starter for Opening Day against the Mariners on Thursday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

It'll be the first Opening Day start for Bibee, who was scheduled to do so last season before being a late scratch due to an illness. The right-hander is coming off an up-and-down 2024 campaign during which he posted a 4.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 162:54 K:BB across 182.1 regular-season innings. Now entering his age-27 campaign, Bibee will look to regain the form that resulted in a 3.25 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across his first two MLB seasons in 2023 and 2024.