MLB Player News

Martinez signed a five-year, $18 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

In addition to covering him for 2025, Martinez's new deal will buy out his three arbitration years and includes club options for 2030 and 2031, giving him immediate financial security while the Diamondbacks get their young, hard-throwing reliever locked into a team-friendly deal. Martinez turned in a 2.48 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 91 strikeouts over 72.2 innings during his first full season in the majors last year, though it's still unknown if he, A.J. Puk or Kevin Ginkel will be the preferred ninth-inning option once the regular season begins.

The Mets optioned Zuber to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.

Zuber pitched well this spring, posting a 1.17 ERA with six strikeouts in 7.2 innings, but it wasn't enough to capture an Opening Day roster spot. The 29-year-old will be part of the Syracuse bullpen to open the year.

Strahm (shoulder) will pitch in a minor-league game Saturday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

If that goes well, he will pitch in the Phillies' Grapefruit League finale Monday, setting him up to be ready to go for Opening Day. Strahm's last game appearance came on March 5, as he's been shelved by a left shoulder impingement that's caused inflammation.

Imanaga will not start either of the Cubs' first two games during their March 27-30 series against the Diamondbacks, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Imanaga started the first game of the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers and spun four scoreless innings. However, he will have to wait until at least the third game back in the states, as the Cubs will go with Justin Steele in their domestic opener and follow him with Jameson Taillon.

Garrett seems locked into a spot on the Opening Day roster, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report.

The 32-year-old right-hander is coming off a breakout campaign in 2024, and Garrett has picked up where he left off this spring with a 0.00 ERA and 9:1 K:BB through six Grapefruit League innings. He racked up 14 holds in 53 appearances last season and stands a good chance of topping that number in 2025 as part of the setup crew for Edwin Diaz.

Young will likely win a spot on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report.

The 30-year-old would provide the Mets' bullpen with a second lefty behind A.J. Minter, who still isn't guaranteed to avoid a brief IL stint to begin the year after undergoing hip surgery last August. Young has a 3:0 K:BB over three Grapefruit League innings this spring, and after posting a 4.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 48:18 K:BB over 37.2 regular-season innings in 2024, he'll likely be ticketed for a low-leverage role.

The Giants optioned Beck to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Beck was competing for a spot in the Giants' bullpen. He's mostly been used as a starter in the minors and could stay stretched out while at Sacramento.

Simpson walked one and struck out five over 2.1 scoreless, no-hit innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The 27-year-old southpaw lost his spot on the 40-man roster during the offseason, but Simpson's performance in camp -- plus the Marlins' lack of established relief options from the left side -- has put him back on the radar. Simpson has a 12:4 K:BB through 9.1 Grapefruit League innings, and he's out-pitched Anthony Veneziano, who has an 8:7 K:BB in 9.2 spring frames. If Simpson does break camp on the 26-man roster, he may work in long relief behind an injury-ravaged rotation.

Tinoco gave up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, in one inning during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out one.

The 29-year-old right-hander is projected to split closing duties with Calvin Faucher to begin the season, but Tinoco did himself no favors with Thursday's outing as the long balls didn't exactly come against Houston's most dangerous bats -- Jake Meyers and Zack Short did the honors in the seventh inning. Tinoco has a rough 9.72 ERA and 7:5 K:BB through 8.1 Grapefruit League innings, but Faucher hasn't been much better this spring with an 8.10 ERA and 6:4 K:BB through 6.2 frames. The Marlins' closing picture could remain muddled well into the summer.

Junk (back) gave up one run on one hit and two walks over 3.2 innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros before leaving the game accompanied by a trainer. He struck out three.

The 29-year-old right-hander appears to be the next man up in the Marlins' rotation with Ryan Weathers (forearm) set to begin the season on the IL, and Junk got stretched out to 55 pitches (35 strikes) as he prepares for the role. His body may not have been ready for that increased workload, as per Chuck King of MLB.com, back spams forced him from the contest. He doesn't think the issue will linger, however. "Just kind of one of those weird over-extension things, and doing some treatment modalities and stuff, it already feels better," he said after the game. Miami will be Junk's fourth team in five years since he made his big-league debut in 2021, and his last name accurately reflects the lack of fantasy appeal in his arsenal -- he's got a 6.75 ERA and 34:11 K:BB over 40 career MLB innings.