MLB Player News

The Cubs optioned Morgan to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Ryan Herrera of JustBaseball.com reports.

Morgan was on the roster for the two-game series versus the Dodgers in Tokyo, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings in the first contest. However, he will not be part of the roster for the Cubs' domestic opener next week. Morgan was acquired from the Guardians via trade over the offseason.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Thursday that Junk will be stretched out in the wake of the injury to Ryan Weathers (forearm), Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.

Connor Gillispie had already seemed likely to take Edward Cabrera's (blister) spot in the rotation, and now Junk might be the favorite to open the season among the team's starting five as well. Junk has made one start and four relief appearances this spring, allowing six runs with a 10:4 K:BB over 10.1 frames. The 29-year-old has made seven starts and eight relief appearances at the big-league level, compiling a 6.75 ERA.

Diaz sat 93-95 mph with his fastball during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, according to the stadium radar gun, and Statcast has him averaging 95.7 mph with his four-seamer this spring, his lowest mark since 2020, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Stadium guns aren't always reliable, and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says he isn't concerned -- he indicated after Wednesday's outing that the closer had hit 97 mph in a back-field game recently. Still, Diaz's velocity has been on the decline since his 2023 ACL surgery, and he averaged 99 mph the spring prior to that injury. If the 30-year-old right-hander has lost some of his heat, he'll need to compensate with better control -- his 9.3 percent walk rate last season was his highest mark since 2020. Even if he can't regain his elite form or consistent triple-digit fastball, Diaz is still locked in as the Mets' closer.

In discussing Arizona's closer role, manager Torey Lovullo mentioned Mantiply as someone that could get save opportunities, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. "I don't want to dismiss Joe Mantiply," Lovullo said. "He's really good against lefties. So I don't know what the answer is, but I'll probably go more matchup based for right now until it's the right time to make that decision."

Lovullo feels all the candidates to close, which include Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk, have thrown well this spring. There's still a handful of Cactus League games the manager can use to evaluate, but this process could play out into the regular season. Mantiply has a 1.35 ERA with three walks and three strikeouts over 6.2 spring innings.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo may hold off on naming a closer prior to Opening Day, which means Ginkel remains an option to earn saves during the regular season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Lovullo maintains his preference is to have one primary closer, but he believes none of the group that includes Ginkel, Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk have separated from the pack. "Everyone's thrown really well," Lovullo said. " I want somebody to emerge in the moment and see where that goes." The manager also meditated on various late-game scenarios, where it might make sense to use a lefty or righty matchup in the ninth inning. Lovullo also mentioned lefty Joe Mantiply could be used in a specific matchup.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo may not name a closer before the start of the regular season, leaving Puk, Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel as candidates to earn saves, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Lovullo insists that his preference is to have one primary closer, but he feels all three candidates are throwing the ball well. He wants to take more time, possibly into the regular season, to evaluate options. Lovullo also mentioned Joe Mantiply while musing on various matchup scenarios for the late innings.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that he probably won't name a closer at the start of the season and instead will play matchups with Martinez and others, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel also figure to be squarely in the mix for saves as Lovullo sorts through his late-inning options. Martinez recorded eight of the team's 11 traditional saves during the final two months of last season, while Puk notched two and Ryan Thompson had the other.

The Brewers reassigned Yoho to minor-league camp Wednesday.

Yoho was arguably the team's most impressive pitcher this spring, allowing just one run and two hits with a 12:3 K:BB over 7.1 innings. However, he's not yet on the 40-man roster, and that worked against him breaking camp with the big club. Yoho should still receive his first promotion to the majors later in 2025.

Atlanta returned Pilar to Miami on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

A Rule 5 selection over the winter, Pilar fanned 12 batters in 5.2 Grapefruit League innings but has also walked six and permitted nine runs. The 27-year-old should open the 2025 season in the Triple-A Jacksonville bullpen, but he'll no longer possess a 40-man roster spot as he rejoins his previous organization.

The Diamondbacks reassigned McGough to minor-league camp Wednesday.

Arizona declined McGough's $4 million team option for 2025 in November before bringing him back on a minor-league deal in February and allowing him to compete for an Opening Day roster spot. After turning in a 7.44 ERA over 26 appearances with the big club in 2024, McGough didn't do much this spring to demonstrate that his performance turned a corner, as he was lit up for six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. The 35-year-old righty will likely open the season in the bullpen at Triple-A Reno.