MLB Player News

Stephenson spent a good part of his offseason working on improving against opposing baserunners, who were six of seven in stolen-base attempts against him, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After struggling to gain a foothold in the majors, Stephenson took a major step forward in the bullpen in 2019 and can now afford to refine certain weaknesses, like his ability to hold runners. He'll likely be deployed in a higher-leverage role than he was last season.

Rodriguez is scheduled to start Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Dodgers, Amy Gutierrez of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Rodriguez started 16 games for the Giants in 2019, recording a 5.64 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 71:36 K:BB across 99 innings. The 27-year old is among a plethora of pitchers vying for a back-end spot in the starting rotation following San Francisco's offseason additions of experienced major-league arms Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly. While it is encouraging that Rodriguez is getting the nod to begin spring training, he is likely heading for a move to the bullpen or the minor leagues unless the Giants' pitching staff is plagued by preseason injuries.

Nelson (groin/back) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Thursday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Everything appeared to go off without a hitch in what was Nelson's first bullpen session since being shut down earlier in the month with groin and back tightness. The right-hander is competing for a spot on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster as a starter or multi-inning reliever.

Treinen (back) completed a bullpen session Thursday and doesn't appear to have any restrictions this spring, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

While he was a member of the Athletics last season, Treinen was shut down in mid-September due to a stress reaction in his back, but the injury was never expected to be an issue heading into spring training. Treinen's ability to complete a bullpen session Thursday can be taken as a sign that he's healthy, so he'll now turn his focus to getting his arm conditioned ahead of Opening Day. After signing a one-year, $10 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason, Treinen should be the leading candidate to serve as the top setup option to closer Kenley Jansen if he can recapture the form that made him an All-Star in 2018.

Nelson (groin) has shown improvement but won't throw off the mound for multiple days, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

In addition to groin soreness, Nelson is also suffering from a tight back. The 30-year-old has pitched only 22 innings since the end of the 2017 campaign and is not a lock to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster. If he does earn a spot on the squad, Nelson could be used as a starter or as a "Brandon Morrow-type reliever," per Gurnick.

Arano (elbow) played catch from about 100 feet during a workout over the weekend, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

After requiring season-ending elbow surgery last May, Arano enters spring training behind the majority of the Phillies' other relief candidates. Per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the right-hander estimated that he would be able to advance to mound work by late February or early March, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to go by the time Opening Day arrives. Whenever he's deemed healthy again, Arano could be a late-inning factor for the Phillies after posting a 2.65 ERA and 26.3 strikeout percentage through his first three years in the majors.

Hoffman will start Saturday in the Rockies' Cactus League opener versus the Diamondbacks, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old struggled to produce attractive stats in his fourth big-league season in Colorado, recording a 6.56 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 68:34 K:BB across 70 innings. Hoffman enters spring training in a competition with Chi Chi Gonzalez, Antonio Senzatela and Peter Lambert to fill two spots near the bottom of the Rockies' starting rotation, and he could find himself either in a long-relief bullpen role or returning to the minors to begin his 2020 campaign.

Young will start Saturday in the Diamondbacks' Cactus League opener versus the Rockies, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old southpaw started 15 games for Arizona during his rookie season in 2019, posting a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 71:27 K:BB across 83.1 innings. With the Diamondbacks' offseason signing of Madison Bumgarner and the return of Luke Weaver from an elbow injury, Young will compete for a back-end spot in a crowded starting rotation this spring and may be more likely to find a long-relief role in the bullpen or a trip back to the minors coming out of camp.

Howard (knee) completed his first bullpen session of spring training Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Howard is a little behind the Phillies' other rotation candidates after tweaking his right knee last week, but his ability to quickly get back on the mound suggests the injury isn't anything worrisome. The Phillies likely won't iron out a date for Howard's Grapefruit League debut until he completes a simulated game or tosses a live batting practice session, either of which should happen within the next week. Rather than the knee issue, Howard's lack of a 40-man roster spot and his limited experience above the lower levels of the minors seemingly represent bigger obstacles to him making the Phillies' Opening Day rotation.

Cabrera is one of several pitchers that could temporarily fill Miles Mikolas' (forearm) spot in the rotation while the latter is sidelined, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera has garnered plenty of starting experience during a minor-league career that dates back to 2015, and he even logged a pair of starts during his initial big-league stint last season. The 23-year-old southpaw is therefore a candidate to take Mikolas' spot while the latter recovers from a flexor tendon injury over the next month-plus, but Cabrera faces competition from a crowded field of candidates that includes Kwang-Hyun Kim, John Gant, Ryan Helsley and Daniel Ponce de Leon.