MLB Player News

Nelson (elbow) returned to the Dodgers on Tuesday, Pedro Moura of Fox Sports reports.

Nelson's contract is a major-league one and comes with a team option for 2023, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The 32-year-old recorded an excellent 1.86 ERA and a 37.9 percent strikeout rate last season, but that came in just 29 innings, as he hit the injured list three times and missed almost all of the last two months of the season with an elbow issue that eventually required surgery.

Cabrera (visa issues) arrived at the Cardinals' spring training complex Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session later in the day, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Cabrera missed only a few days of camp while he waited to acquire a visa, so he shouldn't need much time to catch up to the Cardinals' other relief pitchers. The 25-year-old lefty was an integral part of the bullpen in 2021, making 71 appearances and delivering a 3.73 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 70 innings.

The Pirates placed Mears on the 60-day injured list Tuesday while he continues to recover from arthroscopic surgery for his right elbow, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Biertempfel relays that Mears had the procedure Feb. 9 for the purpose of cleaning up scar tissue in his right elbow. Since his surgery wasn't a reconstructive one, Mears should have a chance at being available to rejoin the Pirates in June once the 60-day window ends. The Pirates signed veteran reliever Heath Hembree to take Mears' spot on the 40-man roster and in Pittsburgh's bullpen.

Kahnle (elbow) probably won't be ready to pitch in a game by Opening Day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Kahnle and Caleb Ferguson -- both of whom are coming off 2020 Tommy John surgery -- are unlikely to be ready for the start of the big-league season. Kahnle has yet to make his Dodgers debut and has pitched only one inning (for the Yankees) since the 2019 campaign. When he is ready to return to the big-league mound, Kahnle will likely be used in a low-leverage role out the gate.

Ferguson (elbow) is unlikely to be ready to pitch by Opening Day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ferguson underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2020 but doesn't appear to be fully ready to return. The left-hander was a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen during the abbreviated 2020 season, posting a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 27:3 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He could claim a middle-relief role for Los Angeles at some point this season, but the organization will likely play it safe with Ferguson and give him plenty of time to ease his arm back into action.

Diaz has yet to arrive at camp due to visa issues, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Diaz is one of several players around the league facing similar problems. As long as he arrives soon, he'll have plenty of time to build up for Opening Day, though he's not a favorite to spend that day on the active roster.

Cabrera has yet to arrive at camp due to travel issues, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Cabrera's issues don't seem likely to keep him away from the team for too long. Assuming he doesn't miss too much more time, he should be up to speed by Opening Day.

Gallegos wasn't available for the start of camp due to personal reasons, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gallegos' delay isn't expected to last long, though it's not clear exactly when he's supposed to return. As long as he arrives in time to build up for Opening Day, he should have the inside track for the closer role in St. Louis.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he would "love" for Rainey to cement himself as the Nationals' closer coming out of spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Martinez's comments can't be taken as evidence that Rainey is penciled in as the team's ninth-inning man, but the 29-year-old's strong finish to an otherwise turbulent 2021 season appears to make him the early frontrunner for the job. In addition to sustaining a collarbone injury last spring, testing positive for COVID-19 in May, and then suffering a right tibia stress reaction in late June, Rainey struggled mightily when available for the first four months of the season with a 7.62 ERA while walking 16.5 percent of the batters. However, upon returning in mid-September from a one-month stint at Triple-A, Rainey recaptured the strong form he displayed in 2020, submitting a 29.2 K-BB% and holding hitters to a .150 average while notching a pair of saves over five appearances. Though the late-season sample was a small one, it might be enough to position Rainey atop the depth chart in a bullpen that's mostly lacking in upside arms.

Reyes (shoulder) has yet to throw off a mound this winter, so he'll be behind the rest of his teammates even if cleared by team doctors, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Reyes avoided the injured list last season and went on to record 29 saves with a 3.24 ERA. His shoulder issues may be nothing more than the lingering effects of finally throwing a full season last year, as his 72.1 innings weren't far from the total of 87 frames he threw over the previous four years combined.