MLB Player News

VerHagen signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals on Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

VerHagen becomes the first major-league signing since the end of the lockout. The 31-year-old righty owns an unremarkable 5.11 ERA and an 18.3 percent strikeout rate in 199 innings at the MLB level, with most of his time coming in relief. The last of those innings came in 2019, as he spent the last two years pitching for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan. He looked good at that level, working as a starter and posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.17 WHIP while striking out 25.0 percent of opposing batters. It's possible he'll have the chance to compete for a spot at the back of the Cardinals' rotation, though his expected role has yet to be clarified.

General manager John Mozeliak said that getting Hicks stretched out prior to Opening Day will be a challenge, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Rather than a build-up of at least six weeks, players will be limited to just under a month between reporting to spring training and the first pitch of the regular season in 2022. As a result, that could jeopardize the Cardinals' plans to use Hicks in the rotation rather than in a bullpen role. Mozeliak did note that he had to observe where Hicks stands from an arm strength and conditioning perspective, so his exact role remains unclear for now.

Brigham made a 20-pitch appearance Thursday in a game against Nationals farmhands during the Marlins' minor-league camp, Joe Frisaro of ManOnSecondBaseball.com reports.

Frisaro notes that the outing was Brigham's first game action of any kind since July 26, 2020, when he made a one-inning appearance with the Marlins during the pandemic-shortened campaign. Since then, Brigham had been shut down with a nerve issue in his right biceps that prevented him from pitching at any level in 2021. Miami outrighted Brigham off its 40-man roster in October, but he rejoined the organization on a minor-league deal this winter and looks set to open the campaign with Triple-A Jacksonville.

Heuer's unspecified arm procedure that he underwent Monday was in fact Tommy John surgery, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Heuer announced the surgery on his personal Instagram page but didn't note exactly what the procedure was. It's now clear that he'll be unable to return until some point in 2023, likely closer to midseason. Rowan Wick seemingly has a firmer grip on the Cubs' closer job in Heuer's absence, with Brad Wieck and Manuel Rodriguez lining up as potential challengers.

Heuer announced Tuesday via his personal Instagram account that he underwent an unspecified arm surgery this week.

Until it becomes clear exactly what procedure Heuer underwent, it's difficult to say when he'll be back. If he underwent Tommy John surgery, he'll definitely miss all of the upcoming season as well as a substantial portion of 2023, though a lesser procedure could still give him a chance to return this year. Heuer had looked like one of the top alternatives to presumed closer Rowan Wick, but Wick's job now appears to be comparatively safe. Brad Wieck and Manuel Rodriguez look like Wick's main competition for now.

Rockies player development director Chris Forbes announced Friday that Pint has ended his brief retirement and rejoined the organization, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Pint, whom the Rockies selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, previously announced plans to step away from baseball last June after he endured a slew of injuries and rampant control issues during his first six years in the professional ranks. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Pint's workhorse frame and big fastball that touches triple digits makes it easy to see why the Rockies fell in love with him leading up to the draft, but his poor results at nearly every stop of the minors thus far make it somewhat unlikely that he'll ever reach the majors. He's expected to open the upcoming campaign at High-A Spokane.

Bolton relayed Wednesday that he's "100 percent perfect" after undergoing surgery last April to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Bolton has backed up his own optimism about his health by throwing two live-batting practice sessions in the early stages of the Pirates' minor-league spring training camp in Florida. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season on account of the COVID-19 pandemic before he suffered the untimely knee injury, Bolton hasn't pitched in affiliated ball since 2019, when he amassed a 3.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 102:30 K:BB in 101.2 innings between High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona. After serving as a full-time starter that season, Bolton is expected to begin the 2022 campaign in a middle-relief role as he looks to build up innings and regain comfort on the mound following an extended absence.

Helsley (elbow/knee) posted a video on his personal Instagram account last week featuring his throwing a bullpen session off a mound, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The Cardinals won't provide a formal update on Helsley's health until the MLB lockout ends and members of the 40-man roster are able to begin spring training, but his ability to throw off a mound at near-peak velocity -- 97 miles per hour, according to the caption of the Instagram video -- is certainly a positive sign that he'll be ready to go for Opening Day, whenever it might be. Helsley didn't make an appearance after Aug. 14 last season due to a stress reaction in his right elbow and a left knee injury that later required offseason surgery. If available for the start of the upcoming season, Helsley will likely fill a setup or middle-relief role for St. Louis.

Weems signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Weems made seven relief appearances for the Athletics and Diamondbacks during the 2021 campaign but struggled, as he allowed 10 runs in 5.2 innings. The right-hander will be invited to major-league camp once it gets underway. Weems could make some big-league appearances while serving as organizational depth in 2022, but he'll presumably serve in a low-leverage role if he's called up.

Edwards signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Edwards spent most of the 2021 campaign in the minors and logged a 2.65 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 17 innings across 18 relief appearances at the Triple-A level. The right-hander will likely be at big-league camp once the lockout is over, but he hasn't made double-digit appearances in the majors since 2019.