MLB Player News

Alvarado (neck) has been playing catch, but the Phillies are skeptical that he'll be able to avoid the injured list to start the season, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Alvarado's neck issue may not be a long-term problem, but the fact that he's still merely playing catch with Opening Day just 10 days away suggests a trip to the injured list is likely. Once healthy, he'll compete with Brad Hand to be the top lefty in the Philadelphia bullpen, a role that could come with at least the occasional save.

Sims (elbow) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Sims entered camp behind schedule after dealing with elbow and back issues over the winter. There haven't been reports of any setbacks, but he's yet to pitch in a game this spring and won't have time to get up to speed by Opening Day, as manager David Bell confirmed Monday. Art Warren, who posted a 1.29 ERA and a 41.5 percent strikeout rate in 21 innings last season, could open the season as the Reds' closer as a result.

The Cardinals designated Quezada for assignment Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for designated hitter/first baseman Albert Pujols, who returns to St. Louis on a one-year deal for what will likely be the final season of his prolific career. Quezada made his big-league debut out of the Miami bullpen in 2020, but after being acquired by the Cardinals last February, he pitched exclusively in the minors in 2021. The Cardinals will hope to pass him through waivers and stash him in the Triple-A Memphis bullpen for the upcoming season.

Hudson could be a source of saves this season with Blake Treinen and the team openly embracing the idea of Treinen being used to get the highest-leverage outs, regardless of which inning he pitches.

Treinen is the team's best reliever, so he will naturally get some saves, wins and holds, but he is unlikely to push for 30 saves and he may not even lead the team in saves. With 27 career saves to his name, Hudson is as well positioned as anyone to get the ball in the ninth inning when Treinen has already been used earlier in the game.

Treinen has embraced the idea of being used in a versatile fireman role, rather than as a traditional closer, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Manager Dave Roberts has been open this spring about his feeling that Treinen being a traditional closer isn't necessarily what's best for the team, and it seems like everyone is on the same page. Treinen is clearly the Dodgers' best reliever, so he will get saves, wins and holds this season -- he is just unlikely to push for 30 saves. Daniel Hudson and Brusdar Graterol seem like the top options to work the ninth inning when Treinen is used earlier in the game to get high-leverage outs.

The Phillies acquired Moore from the White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Adam Haseley, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

A 2019 14th-round draft pick out of Arkansas-Little Rock, Moore split time between Low-A Kannapolis and High-A Winston-Salem in 2021. Between the two affiliates, the 23-year-old righty produced a 4.20 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 59:21 K:BB across 40.2 innings, all of which came in relief.

Jameson allowed a run on one hit and struck out three over two innings to earn a save in Monday's spring training game against the Dodgers.

The right-handed Jameson, picked 34th overall in 2019 by Arizona, hit 100 mph multiple times during his first Cactus League appearance, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. "His command of the baseball, that's the thing that stands out to me more than anything else," manager Torey Lovullo said of Jameson. "It's 100 with command... There's a lot of weapons there. He's pitching, not just throwing." Jameson had a 3.98 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and 36 walks over a combined 110.2 innings (21 appearances, 20 starts) at High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo in 2021.

Martin allowed two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings in a spring training start against the Dodgers on Monday.

Martin made his second appearance and first start of the Cactus League. Both outings were for multiple innings, so he's being stretched out as a potential starter for Arizona, which is looking to fill the fifth spot in the rotation. Zach Davies is the leading candidate, but he may not be ready the first week of the season. If Martin doesn't stick with the Diamondbacks -- as a starter or long reliever -- he'll likely serve as a starter at Triple-A Reno.

The Nationals reassigned Garrett to minor-league camp Monday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Garrett fell short in his bid for the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen and is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Rochester. The 29-year-old right-hander's lone MLB action came with the Tigers in 2019, when he turned in an 8.22 ERA over 15.1 innings.

The Mets reassigned Rodriguez to minor-league camp Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Rodriguez, who was attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, previously made 10 appearances in the majors with the Angels between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He most recently spent the 2021 campaign in Atlanta's organization at Triple-A Gwinnett, starting in 17 of his 19 appearances and posting a 5.29 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 78.1 innings. The 26-year-old righty is expected to contend for a spot in the rotation at the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.