MLB Player News

Long (oblique) reported to spring training this week and won't face any restrictions, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Long missed the last month-plus of the 2022 season with a right oblique strain. The left-hander was effective as a reliever for the Giants in 2022 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 42.1 innings of work, but he also has experience as a starter. The 27-year-old could compete for one of the final spots in the San Francisco rotation during the Cactus League, but his most likely landing spot to begin the 2023 campaign is the bullpen.

Nelson (elbow) agreed Wednesday with the Dodgers on a one-year, $1.2 million deal, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Nelson's deal includes incentives that could push his contract up to $4 million in total value. After Nelson missed the entire 2022 season while on the mend from August 2021 Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers declined their $1.1 million team option for the right-hander, who will end up getting a slight pay raise for 2023 after all is said and done. He'll have a chance to help the Dodgers' pitching staff at some point in 2023, but it's unclear if Nelson enters spring training with a clean bill of health or still has a few hurdles to clear in the rehab process.

Manager David Bell reluctantly confirmed Diaz as the Reds' closer to begin the season when asked about the matter Tuesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. "I guess the only reason I'm hesitant to say that -- and I'm not, he's going into the season as our closer -- there are times where it's an important game and he's fully available, we might use him earlier than that," Bell said of Diaz. "He's that good."

Bell's quote is important, but his managerial tendencies are still going to be a little frustrating for fantasy players when he sees a situation where Diaz needs to put out a fire in the seventh inning. Even so, Bell's comments represent a more affirmative statement about his plans at closer than he's typically provided during his tenure as Reds manager. Diaz's ascension to closing duties comes in part due to the Reds' lack of reliable alternatives, though he certainly earned the role on merit as a rookie in 2022. The 26-year-old converted 10 of 14 save chances while providing a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 83:33 K:BB across 63.2 innings in his first taste of the big leagues.

Holton was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

As a result of the team officially signing Andrew Chafin, Holton was removed from the 40-man roster. The left-hander will now either get claimed by another team, be released outright or remain with Triple-A Reno, the last of which seems the most likely. Overall, Holton appeared in 10 games with the Diamondbacks in 2022, allowing three runs over nine innings while recording six strikeouts.

Nelson (elbow) will be ready for the start of spring training, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Nelson missed the final few weeks of the season while he was dealing with inflammation in his left shoulder. Prior to the injury, the 26-year-old was one of the most effective members of the Arizona bullpen, posting a 2.19 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 37 innings from 43 appearances. Assuming he carries his health into the start of the regular season, Nelson should be a bridge in the middle innings to Mark Melancon or whoever wins the Diamondbacks' closing job.

Sims (back) reported to spring training earlier this week and will be a full participant in camp, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Sims was limited to just 6.2 innings at the big-league level 2022 before undergoing season-ending surgery, and he gave up seven runs over that span. The right-hander has been an effective relief option when healthy, however, and he's expected to re-enter the high-leverage mix for Cincinnati now that he's made a full recovery from back surgery. Reds manager David Bell has named Alexis Diaz the closer, so Sims will have to settle for setup work early on.

Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Santillan (back) may not be ready to pitch by the start of the regular season, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Santillan is making steady progress in his recovery from the lower-back strain that he suffered last summer, but he hasn't quite returned to full strength yet. The 25-year-old right-hander projects to fill a middle-relief or setup role for Cincinnati whenever he's fit enough to do so.

Padres manager Bob Melvin told reporters that Pomeranz (elbow) will likely be limited to start spring training, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pomeranz didn't pitch at all in 2022 while he recovered from flexor tendon surgery over the summer of 2021 . The southpaw has been an effective option when he's healthy, and Melvin believes that he'll be ready for the start of the season even with limitations to begin the Cactus League. In his 44.1 innings of work in 2020-21 before the injury, Pomeranz registered a 1.62 ERA and 59:20 K:BB over 47 appearances.

Puk was traded from the Athletics to the Marlins in exchange for JJ Bleday on Saturday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Puk was expected to compete for a rotation spot with the Athletics this spring, but now will head to the Marlins, and will likely be a member of the Miami bullpen. The left-hander is not long removed from being considered among the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, but he has battled injuries and worked exclusively in relief since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017. He was effective in that role in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 76:23 K:BB over 66.1 innings for the A's. Puk could battle for a high-leverage role for the Marlins in 2023.

De La Rosa agreed to a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Saturday.

De La Rosa has spent the last four seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, and posted a 2.53 ERA with 33 saves over his 137 appearances in the NPB. The right-hander hasn't appeared in an MLB game since 2017 as a member of the Diamondbacks. He will provide Triple-A Oklahoma City with some depth for the 2023 campaign.