MLB Player News

The Cubs reassigned Hughes to minor-league camp Sunday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After turning in an 8.15 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over 17.2 innings in the majors with Arizona in 2024, Hughes had to settle for a minor-league deal with the Cubs over the winter. His contract included an invitation to MLB spring training, but the 29-year-old lefty faced long odds to win a spot in the Cubs' season-opening bullpen. Hughes is expected to begin the campaign in a relief role at Triple-A Iowa.

While Almonte is expected to start the season in the minors, he could be a bullpen option for the Cubs over the summer, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Almonte figures to start the year with Triple-A Iowa. The righty had a 3.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB across 15.2 innings with Chicago last season before entering free agency in November, but he wound up returning on a minor-league deal. Should he make it back to the majors, Almonte will likely serve in a middle relief role and have limited fantasy appeal.

Pannone was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his left forearm Saturday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old suffered the injury last weekend and will be shut down from throwing for at least one month. Pannone could miss the first couple months of the season before taking the mound for Triple-A Nashville.

Kinley has not allowed a run and has a 6:1 K:BB across four innings of Cactus League action.

Kinley is among the top candidates to begin the season as Colorado's closer, and he's performed very well to begin spring training. He earned a career-high 12 saves with the Rockies in 2024, though that was paired with an ugly 6.19 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.

Iglesias gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Atlanta's closer has been sharp in camp, posting a 0.00 ERA and 3:1 K:BB in his three innings so far. Iglesias has produced 67 saves along with a 2.30 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 9.79 K/9 over the last two seasons, and the 35-year-old is entrenched in his ninth-inning role heading into Opening Day.

The Mets reassigned Waddell to minor-league camp Sunday.

Waddell joined the Mets on a minor-league deal in December following a three-year stint overseas that featured stints stops with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization and Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Though New York's rotation depth has already taken a couple of notable hits this spring due to injuries to Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat), Waddell didn't impress enough over his two Grapefruit League outings (5.40 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and 1:2 K:BB in 3.1 innings) to make a compelling case for an Opening Day gig. Waddell will slot into the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse.

The Mets reassigned Rios to minor-league camp Sunday.

Rios attended the Mets' big-league camp as a non-roster invitee for the second straight spring, but he once again fell short in his bid for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. After seeing MLB action in six straight seasons from 2017 through 2023, Rios spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Syracuse, logging a 3.30 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 30:22 K:BB over 30 innings.

The Mets reassigned Hartwig to minor-league camp Sunday.

Hartwig is likely to open the 2025 season in the bullpen at Triple-A Syracuse. He previously made 32 relief appearances for the Mets between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, logging a 5.14 ERA and 34:19 K:BB over 42 innings.

The Mets reassigned Garcia to minor-league camp Sunday.

Garcia logged 35.2 big-league innings over parts of four seasons from 2019 through 2023, but he spent the entire 2024 campaign at Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals organization. The 31-year-old righty is likely to report to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2025 season.

The Mets optioned Warren to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Warren spent the 2024 season in the Giants organization, giving up two earned runs on nine hits and five walks over his 10.2 innings in the big leagues. After being claimed off waivers by the Mets in January, Warren profiles as an organizational depth arm.