MLB Player News

Hoeing will remain in the Padres' bullpen rather than being stretched out as a rotation option, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Hoeing has plenty of past starting experience and San Diego had given consideration to building him back up. However, the club has ultimately decided he'll provide more value by staying in the bullpen. Hoeing made 32 relief appearances and two starts between the Marlins and Padres in 2024, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 43:14 K:BB over 53.2 innings.

Diaz agreed Wednesday with the Mariners on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Seattle removed Diaz from its 40-man roster earlier this month, and after he elected free agency upon clearing waivers, the 28-year-old will now rejoin the Mariners for the start of spring training. He'll presumably get the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen as a long reliever. The Mariners boast a talented rotation that has all five members healthy heading into spring training, but Diaz's prior big-league starting experience could put him high on the list for spot starts if injuries in the rotation stack up at any point. He made five appearances (one start) for Seattle in 2024, covering 9.2 innings and allowing five earned runs on 14 hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Kolek will be stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

All 42 of Kolek's appearances with the Padres last season came in relief and he was a full-time reliever in the minors in 2023, as well. However, the 27-year-old made 25-plus starts on two occasions during his time in the minors, so starting is not completely foreign to him. Stretching Kolek out makes sense for a Padres team that lacks rotation depth, but he's a long shot to break camp as one of the team's starting five. Kolek missed the final two months of last season with a forearm issue but appears to be healthy as camp opens.

Reyzelman was taken to a Tampa-area hospital Wednesday after suffering an allergic reaction prior to a workout, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

The Yankees relay that Reyzelman is expected to remain hospitalized overnight while he receives treatment and doctors presumably put him through further tests. A 23-year-old right-handed reliever, Reyzelman was a standout performer at Double-A Somerset in 2024, submitting a 1.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB over 22.1 innings.

Smith (elbow) agreed Wednesday with the Mets on a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2026, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Smith will earn $1 million in 2025, and the 2026 club option is for $2 million, with the potential to climb if he achieves performance-based incentives. Smith is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after he underwent a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure on his right elbow this past July, but he'll be able to conduct his rehab within a team setting after re-signing with the Mets. Before getting the second Tommy John surgery of his career during the summer and then becoming a free agent in November, Smith turned in a 3.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB across 17.2 innings over 19 appearances out of the Mets bullpen in 2024.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Hall is recovering from a lat strain and won't throw for two weeks before being re-evaluated, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hall had been expected to compete for a rotation spot in spring training after he worked out of the bullpen toward the end of his first season in Milwaukee, but the lat injury looks as though it could foil those plans. Even if the southpaw is cleared to resume throwing by the end of February, he would likely need at least a few weeks to get stretched out for starting duty before the season gets underway March 27. With that in mind, a relief role may represent Hall's clearest path to making the Opening Day roster, if he doesn't instead require a stint on the injured list.

Hicks said Wednesday that he added 14 pounds this offseason and is ready to "take the training wheels off" in 2025, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Hicks got off to a nice start last season in his move from the bullpen to the rotation, but he hit a wall and finished with a 4.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 96:47 K:BB over 109.2 frames covering 20 starts and nine relief appearances. The 28-year-old should be better prepared to handle a starter's workload in 2025, but Hicks is a bit of a wild card in terms of his expected performance.

McArthur will be delayed to begin spring training after he underwent surgery in the offseason to address an olecranon fracture in his right elbow, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

McArthur's procedure didn't address any ligament damage, but he needed to have two screws placed in his arm to help stabilize his elbow. The right-hander recently started up his throwing progression, but he'll be further behind the Royals' healthy pitchers while he ramps up. The Royals haven't yet suggested that McArthur's availability for Opening Day is in any jeopardy.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday Marsh is recovering from right shoulder tightness that could delay when he will first face hitters, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Marsh experienced the tightness during his offseason throwing program. He has resumed throwing every day and there doesn't seem to be much concern at the moment that it could be a long-term issue, but he will be a bit behind schedule. Even a slight delay for Marsh isn't ideal, as he is competing this spring to be the Royals' fifth starter. Marsh's primary competitor for that spot is Kris Bubic.

Manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that Walker will open the season as the Giants' closer, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

After Camilo Doval endured a string of poor performances following the All-Star break and was removed from the closer's role in early August, Walker took over as the Giants' primary closer to finish out the 2024 campaign. In addition to providing sterling ratios (1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 99:18 K:BB over 80 innings) in his high-leverage relief role, Walker collected 10 wins, 10 saves and 21 holds. With the Giants opting not to make any major additions to the bullpen over the offseason, Walker looks like he'll get the chance to close on a full-time basis for the first time in his career. He'll be in position for fewer wins in the ninth-inning role, but if health prevails and he continues to perform at the level he did in 2024, Walker could finish among the league leaders in saves.