MLB Player News

Junis signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Junis has worked primarily in relief for each of the last two seasons and was particularly impressive across 67 innings in 2024 by maintaining a 2.69 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. He's unlikely to crack the Guardians' rotation to begin the season, but he's likely to see some spot starts while primarily filling a multi-inning relief role.

Paddack, who didn't pitch in the majors after July due to a forearm strain, enters spring training healthy and is seen as a part of the starting rotation as camp begins, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. "It's the first offseason he hasn't gone down to zero and then built himself back up," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "I think this could be a really good thing for him."

Paddack could have returned during the last week of the regular season, but the Twins didn't activate him from the injured list while out of the playoff race. The right-hander continued to throw all offseason and has been working on a bullet slider to add to his arsenal. It was thought Paddack and his $7.5 million salary for 2025 could be traded in the offseason as the Twins faced budget pressure, but he looks set to remain in Minnesota. He'll face competition for a rotation spot from promising younger pitchers David Festa and Zebby Matthews, but it looks like he's penciled into the rotation to begin spring. Still, Paddack will need to perform well and stay healthy to secure his positioning.

Canterino hit 95 mph in his first live bullpen session of camp and looks healthy as spring training begins, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Canterino missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned for spring training last year but suffered a rotator cuff strain in mid-March and missed the rest of the season. He'll move to the bullpen as the Twins try to reduce the workload on his arm and shoulder. The 2019 second-round draft pick was a rising pitching prospect when last on the mound in 2022 as he posted a 1.83 ERA with a 13.2 K/9 in 34.1 innings at Double-A.

Reyzelman (illness) was released from the hospital and visited with the Yankees at their spring training complex Thursday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Reyzelman had to be taken to the hospital after suffering an allergic reaction Wednesday and stayed there overnight, but he was cleared to leave Thursday and should be fine. The 23-year-old reliever held a 1.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB over 22.1 innings with Double-A Somerset in 2024 and could potentially push to debut in 2025 if things go well.

Loaisiga (elbow) said Thursday that he hopes to make his season debut around late May or early June, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Shortly after Loaisiga signed a one-year deal to return to New York in December, pitching coach Matt Blake said he expected the right-hander to return closer to the beginning of May. Although it now seems the Yankees will have to wait a bit longer than that before activating Loaisiga, he's still likely to play a key role in their bullpen once healthy.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that it's possible Bradford opens the season in the bullpen, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Bradford is coming to camp as a starting pitcher and would seem to have a good shot to begin the season as a member of the Rangers' rotation. However, the left-hander also has relief experience and could be used there if a pitcher like Kumar Rocker stakes claim to a rotation spot. Bradford has minor-league options remaining, but Bochy indicated the southpaw is virtually a lock to make the Opening Day roster.

The Angels signed Anderson to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

Anderson, 30, made two starts and four relief appearances between the Rangers and Marlins last season, posting an 8.27 ERA and 10:1 K:BB over 16.1 innings. He will likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he will provide some experienced rotation depth.

General manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Bautista (elbow) has a "very good chance" of being part of the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

While Elias acknowledged that Bautista likely won't be cleared to pitch in Grapefruit League games until late in spring training, the right-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions and has seemingly avoided any setbacks in his recovery from October 2023 Tommy John surgery. The Orioles are still planning to ease Bautista along during camp, but if he shows that he can recapture his pre-surgery velocity and command all of his pitches in spring workouts and appearances, he'll likely head into Opening Day as the team's closer. Bautista had been one of baseball's top-end gamers during the 2023 season, notching saves in 33 of his 39 opportunities while compiling a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110 strikeouts over 61 innings.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Swanson will be "a little behind" due to right forearm fatigue, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The club is proceeding cautiously with the reliever early on in camp, but Schneider believes that Swanson will have enough time to be ready for Opening Day. Swanson struggled in 2024 with a 5.03 ERA and 37:14 K:BB while allowing 11 home runs over 39.1 innings. However, if healthy, his track record (2.39 ERA, 31 percent strikeout rate from 2022 to 2023) suggests a bounce-back season should be in store.

The Tigers placed Lange (lat) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Lange hasn't suffered any setbacks since beginning a throwing program in December and has worked up to throwing off a mound twice per week. Still, he will need a while yet before he is ready to return from lat surgery. His roster spot will be given to John Brebbia, who signed a one-year deal with the Tigers on Wednesday.