MLB Player News
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Chris Murphy RP | CHW
Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Begins throwing program
Murphy (elbow) began a throwing program last week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Murphy had Tommy John surgery in April and has finally been cleared to begin throwing again. The left-hander is sure to begin next season on the injured list -- perhaps the 60-day IL -- but will hope to contribute out of Boston's bullpen eventually.
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Michael Fulmer RP | SF
Red Sox's Michael Fulmer: Throwing off mound
Fulmer (elbow) has begun throwing off a mound, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Fulmer is coming up on the one-year anniversary of his UCL revision surgery and is tracking toward being ready to go for spring training. The right-hander inked a two-year, minor-league contract with the Red Sox in February and could open the 2025 season in the big-league bullpen, barring any setbacks with his recovery.
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Chris Stratton RP | LAD
Royals' Chris Stratton: On track for start of spring
Stratton (forearm) is expected to be healthy for the beginning of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Stratton missed the final couple weeks of the regular season and the playoffs with a right flexor strain, but he's expected to recover with an offseason of rest. The veteran reliever holds a $4.5 million player option for 2025, which he seems likely to exercise after posting a lackluster 5.55 ERA and 44:33 K:BB over 58.1 innings in 2024.
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James McArthur RP | KC
Royals' James McArthur: Expected to be ready for spring
McArthur (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
McArthur was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September, resulting in a premature end to his season. While a Grade 1 sprain is the least severe, there is always going to be some long-term concern when UCL damage is involved. For now, though, the expectation is McArthur will be ready for spring training after some rest and rehab.
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Pedro Avila RP | CLE
Guardians' Pedro Avila: Makes Cleveland's ALCS roster
Avila is on the Guardians' roster for the ALCS versus the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Avila was not on Cleveland's ALDS roster, but after it used its bullpen heavily against the Tigers it makes sense to add some more relief protection. The 27-year-old Avila is capable of pitching multiple innings, having tallied 74.2 frames over 50 appearances while posting a 3.25 ERA during the regular season for the Guardians.
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Grant Taylor RP | CHW
White Sox's Grant Taylor: Cleared for AFL
Taylor (lat) is slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Taylor missed LSU's 2023 national championship season following Tommy John surgery and missed most of this season with a lat strain, so this is a chance for him to make up for lost time. It's a weak crop of pitching prospects in the AFL, and Taylor has the stuff to stand out, headlined by a mid-90s fastball, low-90s cutter and a pair of breaking balls. He posted a 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 25:1 K:BB in 16 innings over four starts for Single-A Kannapolis earlier this year.
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Jake Cousins RP | NYY
Yankees' Jake Cousins: Activated off IL for ALDS
Cousins (pectoral) was activated off the 15-day injured list Saturday ahead of Game 1 of the American League Division Series versus Kansas City, per MLB's transaction log.
Cousins finished the regular season on the injured list due to a pectoral strain but was able to toss a series of bullpen sessions ahead of the playoffs. The right-hander was able to prove his health and will serve as a relief option for New York against the Royals. Cousins has posted a 2.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB while logging eight holds and one save over 38 innings this season.
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Tyler Holton RP | DET
Tigers' Tyler Holton: Will be opener in Game 1
Holton will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher Saturday for Game 1 of the ALDS in Cleveland, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Holton pitched in both games of the wild-card series versus the Astros, including as an opener in Game 2. That means he will technically be "starting" back-to-back postseason games for the Tigers, but the bullpen will be heavily involved Saturday.
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Felix Bautista RP | BAL
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Expected to be full go in spring
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Bautista (elbow) to more or less be without restrictions at the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Bautista started throwing off the mound in August and will be 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery by February. As long as he looks good during Grapefruit League play, he should regain the closer role for Baltimore heading into 2025. Bautista posted a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110:26 K:BB over 61 innings while notching 33 saves in 2023.
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Tyler Holton RP | DET
Tigers' Tyler Holton: Opening Game 2
Holton will open Game 2 of the Tigers' wild-card series versus Houston on Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
After turning in a 2.19 ERA and 0.78 WHIP through 94.1 innings in the regular season, Holton will now be rewarded with an opener assignment in the playoffs as the Tigers look to advance to the ALDS. He'll likely only remain in the game for an inning or two before turning things over to Reese Olson, though Holton has reached three frames in four of his 66 appearances.