MLB Player News

Weathers will start the Padres' fifth game of the season on Monday versus the Diamondbacks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

He's not guaranteed anything beyond that, especially with Joe Musgrove (toe) hoping to return by mid-April. Weathers was dreadful in 2022 both at Triple-A El Paso and in his one start with the Padres, making him a risky fantasy streaming option. With Weathers taking the ball in the Padres' fifth game, that sets Yu Darvish up for the sixth contest.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker mentioned Scott, A.J. Puk and Dylan Floro as being "in the mix" for closing situations to begin the season, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Both Scott and Floro have a similar amount of closing experience at the MLB level, while Puk, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, may profile as the most talented arm in the bullpen if he can enjoy the sustained run of health that has thus far eluded him in his professional career. The fact that Schumaker is a first-year manager makes it even more difficult to predict whether he'll end up setting on one of the aforementioned three pitchers or someone else to see the bulk of the save chances, or if he'll take a loose committee approach to the ninth inning for the balance of the campaign. Scott brings immense strikeout upside to the table and is fine to take a dart throw on late in drafts or pick up off the waiver wire with the hope that he falls into save chances, but his career-long control issues -- his 15.9 percent walk rate last season was the worst among all relievers who pitched at least 50 innings -- make it hard to envision him locking down the closing gig for the entirety of the campaign.

The Tigers announced Wednesday that Brieske is experiencing right upper arm discomfort following his most recent Grapefruit League outing last Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Brieske is slated to undergo further medical evaluation before the Tigers provide a more precise diagnosis of his injury, but Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press already reported earlier Wednesday that the 24-year-old right-hander is set to begin the season on the 15-day injured list. Expect Detroit to make that transaction official shortly before Thursday's season opener versus the Rays. With Brieske out of contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Garrett Hill will make the team as a long reliever and potential spot-starting option if Matthew Boyd (undisclosed) is forced to miss his first turn through the rotation this weekend in Tampa Bay.

Pacheco (elbow) will begin a throwing program next week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Pacheco was placed on the 60-day injured list earlier this week with a right elbow sprain but has apparently progressed enough that he's almost ready to throw again. A sprain is a ligament tear, so Tommy John surgery would likely be on the table if Pacheco isn't able to progress; however, for the time being, he'll attempt to address the issue through the rehabilitation process.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn announced Wednesday that Hendriks (illness) is responding well to treatment and won't be placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the season, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hahn cautions that there's still no timetable for Hendriks, though the White Sox's decision not to have him open the campaign on the 60-day IL suggests the team has hope he might be ready to make his debut before late May. The right-hander missed all of the Cactus League season while battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but he has been able to work out at camp and throw bullpens. Once able to join the White Sox, Hendriks should return to the closing role he's excelled in the past few seasons.

Wingenter will be on the Tigers' 26-man roster to begin the season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Wingenter will see his first big-league action since 2019, when he posted a 5.65 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 51 innings for the Padres. The Tigers don't boast much bullpen talent, so Wingenter could work his way into some high-leverage opportunities. Since Wingenter had been attending camp as a non-roster invitee, the Tigers will have to officially add him to the 40-man roster prior to Thursday's season opener versus the Rays.

Trivino (elbow) is hoping to return to the mound for the Yankees at the end of April, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently projected the right-hander to return from his right elbow ligament sprain to the Yankees in May, so both pitcher and team only differ slightly in their estimated timelines. Once healthy, Trivino will likely operate in the mid-to-late innings for the New York bullpen.

Jackson signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday and was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

According to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca, Jackson agreed to a split contract with Toronto that will pay him $1.4 million at the big-league level, but since he has a minor-league option remaining, the Blue Jays have the luxury of stashing him at Triple-A for the time being. Jackson has spent parts of four seasons in the majors and has accrued a 4.21 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 80:31 K:BB in 57.2 innings between stops with San Diego, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Atlanta.

The Blue Jays placed Green (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The move frees up a 40-man roster spot while Green continues his rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June 2022. While Green's two-year deal was clearly structured with 2024 in mind, the right-hander could return later this season and be a valuable contributor in Toronto's bullpen.

Leone re-signed Wednesday with the Rangers on a minor-league contract and was assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.

Texas released Leone from his minor-league deal last weekend, but the transaction looks to have been a procedural move. The 31-year-old struggled to throw strikes in the Cactus League and walked eight batters over 8.1 innings, and the Rangers will likely want to see more consistent control before adding him to the roster. Leone will need to be added to the 40-man roster if the Rangers do choose to give him a promotion to the major-league level at some point.