MLB Player News

Martin could be in the mix for saves with the Cubs this season as manager David Ross may use multiple pitchers in the closer role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Rowan Wick is the presumptive favorite for ninth-inning work, though Ross said he may rotate pitchers into the role. That could include the veteran Martin, along with the likes of Mychal Givens, David Robertson and Manuel Rodriguez. Martin was an effective reliever the last two seasons for Atlanta, though he only recorded two saves in that time, so he was more of a setup option than a true closer.

Quezada cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A Springfield on Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Quezada was designated for assignment Tuesday but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 27-year-old will report to the Double-A level, where he allowed 14 earned runs with a 14:6 K:BB over 11.2 innings last season.

Kerr was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

Kerr was traded to the Padres during the offseason, and he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five in three innings across three relief appearances during Cactus League play. The left-hander will begin the year in the minors but will likely be in the mix to make his major-league debut at some point this season.

Atlanta expects to reinstate Yates (elbow) from the 60-day injured list at some point in August, barring any setbacks in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Yates had the elbow procedure March 24 of last year, so he would be 16 months removed from surgery by the time August arrives. The 35-year-old Yates may need some time to shake off some rust once Atlanta activates him and may not take on a high-leverage role right away, but he could prove to be a valuable late-season addition to the bullpen. Just three years earlier, he turned in one of the best reliever seasons in recent memory, converting 41 of his 44 save chances while submitting a 1.19 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 101:13 K:BB in 60.2 innings for the Padres.

Finnegan threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with one hit allowed in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Even so, Finnegan sits with a 12.27 ERA this spring. He was knocked around for five runs in his first three Grapefruit League appearances, and while he's turned in a pair of scoreless appearances since, he hasn't fanned a single batter his last couple times out. By no means does that negate Finnegan's strong 2021 body of work, but manager Dave Martinez seemed to prefer Tanner Rainey as his closer entering camp and Finnegan has done little so far to close the gap.

Rodriguez may have an outside chance to close for the Cubs this season with manager David Ross planning on beginning the season with a mixture of pitchers in the ninth-inning role, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

There is no quote from Ross in the article directly putting Rodriguez in the late-game conversation. However, Bastian speculates Rodriguez could be in the mix for save chances along with Rowan Wick, David Robertson, Mychal Givens and Chris Martin. Rodriguez mostly struggled in his first cup of coffee in the big leagues last season, but he averages north of 97 mph on his sinking fastball, so he's at least a name to know.

Pagan and Robert Suarez look like the readiest options at closer for the Padres, speculates Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

This doesn't seem to be tied to any firm reporting, just Lin's expertise from being around the team this spring. Pagan has 22 career saves across five big-league seasons while Suarez most recently served as an effective closer in Japan.

Suarez and Emilio Pagan look like the readiest options at closer for the Padres, speculates Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

This doesn't seem to be tied to any firm reporting, just Lin's expertise from being around the team this spring. Suarez, 31, emerged as one of the top closers in Japan over the last two years and got a $5 million deal with the Padres this winter.

The Cardinals have been tinkering with the idea of having a fluid bullpen free of defined roles, so there are a handful of pitchers who could get saves in addition to Gallegos, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

It sounds like Jordan Hicks, Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley could all get opportunities in the ninth inning. There is no direct quote here from the brass, but apparently manager Oliver Marmol, pitching coach Mike Maddux and the front office are on the same page in trying to utilize an approach where pitchers are called upon because of favorable matchups and their top pitches instead of set schedules. Gallegos is clearly the team's best reliever, so he retains the most fantasy value, even in a committee; however, fantasy managers shouldn't be banking on 30-plus saves from him this season.

Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Sanmartin will start the Reds' second game of the season April 8 in Atlanta, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Coming into spring training, Sanmartin was one of a handful of pitchers battling for the two open rotation spots behind Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle. The Reds then traded Gray to the Twins and acquired a replacement for him in Mike Minor, but the latter won't be ready to go for the start of the season while he recovers from a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Castillo is also set to begin the campaign on the injured list due to a shoulder issue of his own, so Sanmartin was able to claim a rotation spot without having to truly battle for the job. Whether Sanmartin maintains a starting role by the time Castillo and Minor are healthy will hinge on his performance over the first couple of weeks of the season. The 25-year-old lefty turned in an impressive 2021 campaign at Triple-A Louisville before making two solid late-season starts for the big club in which he allowed two earned runs over 11.2 innings while striking out 11 and walking two.