MLB Player News

The Cubs plan to ramp Little (lat) up slowly this spring, and the lefty appears unlikely to be ready for an Opening Day bullpen role, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Little sustained a strained left lat in July, which ended his 2024 season prematurely. The Cubs are understandably being cautious with the lefty, so he likely won't be available when the team heads to Tokyo to play the Dodgers on March 18 and 19, though he could be ready for regular-season action later in the month or in early April. Little flashed some promise last year, as his fastball sat a tick below 96 mph and he recorded a 9.7 K/9 and 3.46 ERA across 26 innings. When he's ready to roll in 2025, the southpaw figures to be an interesting bullpen weapon for Chicago, though he likely won't see save opportunities with Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge around.

Imanaga will start March 18 against the Dodgers in the Cubs' season-opening series in Tokyo.

Manager Craig Counsell had said previously that Imanaga would take the ball in one of the two contests in Japan, and now it's been confirmed that the lefty will start the opener. He's expected to be opposed by fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although the Dodgers have not yet confirmed that. Imanaga held a 2.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 174 strikeouts over 173.1 innings in 2024, his first season with the Cubs.

Nicolas (side) faced off against Andrew McCutchen during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Nicolas appears to have entered spring training with a clean bill of health after he finished last season on the injured list due to a left side injury. Before being shut down, Nicolas had turned in a 3.95 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB while collecting two wins and seven holds over 54.2 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. He'll likely be ticketed for a middle-relief role to begin the 2025 campaign.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Monday that Montas has been diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain and won't throw for the next 6-to-8 weeks, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Mets over the winter, will leave camp and head to New York to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to treat the injury. For now, he appears set to avoid surgery, but since he's not projected to resume throwing until early April at the soonest and will need to complete his own version of spring training before being activated from the injured list, Montas looks poised to miss at least the first month of the season. With Montas sidelined, the Mets could have starting spots available for two of Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn (back) in their projected six-man rotation.

Montas was diagnosed Monday with a lat injury and is without a timeline to resume pitching, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Details regarding the severity of Montas' injury remain unknown, but the 31-year-old righty hadn't been throwing in spring training and will remain shut down for "a significant stretch," per Heyman. A firmer timeline for Montas' return should be available once he undergoes further testing, but he looks on track to open the season on the injured list. Montas' injury could improve the odds of both Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill breaking camp as members of the Mets' six-man rotation.

The Diamondbacks designated Martinez for assignment Monday.

Martinez was cast off the 40-man roster with the Diamondbacks needing to clear a spot for newly signed right-hander Kendall Graveman (shoulder). The Diamondbacks had previously claimed Martinez off waivers earlier this offseason after he held a 3.59 ERA and 36:18 K:BB across 52.2 frames for Houston in 2024.

Lawrence changed the grip on his sweeper this offseason, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Lawrence entered 2024 as one of Colorado's better relievers, but he struggled to a 6.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP across 59.2 innings and quickly lost his role as closer. He consulted with pitching experts at Rapsodo Baseball this offseason, who determined that Lawrence was releasing the ball off of his index finger rather than his middle finger when throwing a sweeper. With the adjustment, Lawrence is hoping to regain his 2023 form that resulted in 11 saves and 11 holds.

Moreta (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Moreta is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in March of 2024. The right-hander will now be forced to miss the first two months of the 2025 season while on the 60-day IL. The transaction opened a spot on the 40-man roster for newly-signed outfielder Tommy Pham.

Farmer has joined Atlanta's spring training camp as a non-roster invitee, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Farmer appeared in 61 games, including one start, with the Reds in 2024, posting a 3.04 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 70 strikeouts over 71.0 innings. He'll now get a chance to prove himself with Atlanta ahead of the 2025 season.

The Mets placed Smith (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Smith signed a one-year deal with the Mets on Wednesday that includes a club option for 2026. However, he isn't expected to pitch until very late in the season, if at all, after undergoing a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure in July, so New York will move him to the 60-day IL to conserve a spot on its 40-man roster.