MLB Player News

Lopez (groin) completed a live batting practice session Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Lopez is facing no limitations this spring after a right groin strain kept him on the injured list for the final week of the 2024 season. Before getting shut down, Lopez accrued a 2.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 50:19 K:BB over 53 innings between stops with the Mets and Cubs, with his strong finish to the season earning him a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency with the Nationals. With Washington non-tendering last season's closer, Kyle Finnegan, earlier in the offseason, the back end of the bullpen is unsettled, but manager Dave Martinez reiterated earlier this week that Lopez and Jose Ferrer will likely be the leading candidates to pick up saves if the Nationals don't bring aboard a more proven closer before Opening Day. "Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez told Zuckerman. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it." With Ferrer being the left-handed option of the two, the right-handed Lopez could have the inside track to see a higher volume of save opportunities.

The Rockies signed Alexander to a one-year, $2 million contract Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Alexander, 35, collected a 2.56 ERA and 31:15 K:BB over 38.2 innings while inducing groundballs at a 58.9 percent clip with the Athletics in 2024. The sinkerballer will give manager Bud Black another left-handed option in the bullpen.

Manager Dave Martinez said earlier this week that Ferrer remains a candidate to save games for the Nationals along with Jorge Lopez, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. "As I said earlier, Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez said. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it."

The back end of the Washington bullpen is in flux heading into Opening Day, after the Nationals elected to non-tender Kyle Finnegan in November coming off a 38-save season. Washington brought in Lopez over the winter on a one-year, $3 million deal, and based on Martinez's comments, Lopez -- who saved 23 games in 2022 between stops with the Orioles and Twins -- looks to be the preferred option in what could be a two-pronged approach at closer. Ferrer, meanwhile, has just one career save to his name, but he was one of Washington's top relievers in 2024 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB in 32 innings. As the southpaw option of the two relievers, Ferrer could be the choice over Lopez for save situations that arise when the Nationals face lefty-heavy lineups in the ninth inning.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Moreta (elbow) is unlikely to pitch in any Grapefruit League games, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Moreta is right where the Pirates expected him to be in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last March, with Tomczyk noting that the right-hander has been able to throw side sessions. He'll continue to slowly increase the intensity of his throwing sessions throughout the spring before potentially facing hitters in live batting practice, but any games that Moreta pitches in during camp will likely come on the back fields in a controlled setting. Moreta was placed on the 60-day injured list over the weekend, and while he could be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment by late April, he won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut for the Pirates until at least late May.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Stratton (knee) is slated to begin a running progression, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Stratton is already throwing off a mound as he returns from a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee he suffered last August, but he'll now test the knee out with some running and soon with pitchers' fielding practice. The reliever has not been ruled out for Opening Day, but he's in camp as a non-roster invitee and is facing an uphill battle to win a roster spot.

The Nationals placed Thompson (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Manager Dave Martinez indicated previously that Thompson had a chance to be ready in time for Opening Day following Tommy John surgery last March. However, the club has elected to proceed cautiously with the reliever, who is now ineligible to return until late May. Thompson's removal from the 40-man roster clears a spot for the newly-signed Lucas Sims.

Sims agreed Wednesday with the Nationals on a one-year, $3 million deal, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

After non-tendering Kyle Finnegan following a 38-save season in 2024, Washington's bullpen is unsettled, so Sims might have the opportunity to earn a high-leverage role if he impresses during the spring. The 31-year-old owns a 26.9 percent strikeout rate over 306 career innings, but a similarly high walk rate (12.1 percent) has thus far prevented him from gaining a full-time look as a closer. He's notched just 12 saves over parts of eight big-league seasons.

Montas (lat) said Wednesday that he's already feeling better following a PRP injection and plans to begin playing catch in 4-to-6 weeks, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets had said previously that Montas' shutdown period following a diagnosis of a high-grade right lat strain would last 6-to-8 weeks. While the pitcher is painting a more optimistic picture, it's not clear whether the team is on board with it. Montas will take a while to be built back up, so even if he is able to begin throwing in a month or so, he is likely to miss all of April, at minimum.

Jameson (elbow) faced live batters Tuesday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

This was Jameson's first time facing hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. The Diamondbacks will monitor the right-hander's recovery from the session before determining the next steps.

Bednar is expected to begin the 2025 season as the Pirates' closer, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Bednar endured a tough 2024 season, highlighted by a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 57.2 innings. As a result, he didn't close the campaign in the closer role, instead ceding most of the opportunities to Aroldis Chapman in the final month. Chapman has since signed in Boston, leaving Pittsburgh hopeful that Bednar will be able to regain his previous form as a reliable closer. Bednar and the team have noted that he was overthrowing his pitches last season -- potentially due to an oblique injury he suffered early in the campaign -- an issue they believe has been resolved during the offseason.