MLB Player News

Strahm could begin the season as the fifth starter or bulk reliever for the Phillies, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Strahm has been getting stretched out this spring in preparation for a multi-inning relief role, so the southpaw shouldn't be too taxed if he's called upon to make starts or serve as a primary pitcher to begin the regular season after manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Ranger Suarez likely won't be ready for Opening Day while contending with forearm inflammation. If Strahm is given the opportunity to make starts early on, he's unlikely to work deep enough into games to qualify for wins whenever his turn in the rotation comes up.

Burdi was reassigned Wednesday to the minor-league side of Rays camp.

Burdi had allowed three earned runs on eight hits and one walk through 4.2 innings of work this spring in the Grapefruit League. The oft-injured 28-year-old carries a career 7.79 ERA in 17.1 total major-league frames.

Bristo was reassigned Wednesday to the minor-league side of Rays camp.

Bristo joined the Rays on a minor-league contract this winter after posting a rather underwhelming 4.56 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 64:31 K:BB over 53.1 innings last summer for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization. He is 28 years old and has yet to appear in a game at the MLB level.

Rossman signed a minor-league contract Wednesday with the Mets.

Rossman made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year at age 30 and surrendered two earned runs over one inning before heading back down to Triple-A. The right-hander will function as minor-league bullpen depth for New York in 2023.

Winckowski will pitch in relief during Thursday's spring game against the Pirates, Mac Cerullo of The North Andover Eagle-Tribune reports.

Winckowski will pitch after Kutter Crawford during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh. The right-hander is competing with Crawford for the final spot in the Boston rotation, and he has yet to allow a run this spring with a 10:4 K:BB in his 10 innings of work in Florida. Winckowski or Crawford could also be options out of the bullpen, and the odd man out also is a candidate to head to Triple-A Worcester to remain stretched out for a possible promotion back to the big leagues over the summer.

Santillan (back) is scheduled to pitch a minor-league game Wednesday for the Reds in Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

This will be Santillan's first appearance of the spring -- albeit on the minor-league fields -- as he has been sidelined with a back strain that also saw him miss action during the 2022 campaign. The right-hander is hoping to be ready for his 2023 debut by mid-April, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he'll open the regular season on the injured list.

Bird (oblique) allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of relief in Tuesday's 14-2 loss to the Padres in Cactus League play.

Bird faced four batters in his spring debut, which had been delayed after he suffered a left oblique strain early in spring training. The injury initially seemed to put him in line to open the season on the injured list, but as a reliever who never threw more than 43 pitches in any of his 38 appearances in 2022, he probably won't require much time to build up. Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Bird is listed among the Rockies' available relievers for Friday's game against Milwaukee.

Cubs manager David Ross told reporters that Assad is lined up to pitch Thursday for Chicago, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Hayden Wesneski is listed as Thursday's probable starter, and it's worth pointing out the two are currently in a battle for one of the final starting spots in Chicago's rotation. Assad impressed in his time with Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, and he could be a bullpen option for the Cubs if he doesn't open the season in the starting rotation.

Machado was touching 98 mph with his fastball while pitching for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The 29-year-old right-hander is also out of minor-league options, which could give him a leg up on winning one of the final spots in the Nationals' bullpen. Machado also has a 5:0 K:BB through three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play, so he's done just about everything he can this spring to earn a job. The Nats' bullpen is very unsettled behind Kyle Finnegan, so if Machado's stuff has taken a step forward this offseason, he could work his way into some high-leverage work before long.

Karinchak struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to the Dodgers.

Karinchak has covered 7.1 innings this spring, though he's allowed five home runs, five hits and five walks with nine strikeouts. There shouldn't be too much concern for his performance this spring, as long as he can leave his uneven pitching in Arizona when the Guardians begin the campaign. Karinchak should serve in a high-leverage role as a setup man to Emmanuel Clase.