MLB Player News

Wells could open the season in the Orioles' rotation following injuries to Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (elbow), Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The tall right-hander was seemingly squeezed out of the rotation following the team's trade for Corbin Burnes, but he's now firmly back in the mix with Bradish pegged for the injured list and Means likely to join him. Wells finished with a 3.64 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 117:34 K:BB over 118.2 innings in 2023 but had a 7.07 ERA in just 14 frames after the All-Star break.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Means (elbow) is a month behind schedule, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Means suffered a flare-up with his surgically-repaired left elbow last October. While previous indications had been that the southpaw was past the issue, clearly the team still plans to proceed cautiously with him in spring training. Elias was not ready to commit to a stint on the injured list for Means, but it's difficult to see him avoiding one if he's a month behind other Orioles starters.

Bradish will open the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his right elbow, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bradish has been given a platelet-rich plasma injection and will begin a throwing program Friday. The hope is that the right-hander will be able to recover with rest and rehab, but eventual Tommy John surgery is always the fear when a UCL sprain is involved. Bradish had a breakout 2023 campaign with the Orioles, collecting a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 168:44 K:BB over 168.2 innings covering 30 starts.

Martin (elbow) will begin throwing bullpen sessions Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last May and his rehab has come along without any hiccups to this point. A clearer timetable for when Martin could rejoin the White Sox probably won't be available for a while, but it figures to be at least August.

Bielak could be in consideration for a rotation spot to begin the regular season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The Astros were hit with injuries to both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and J.P. France (shoulder) to start spring training. Depending on their availability to begin the regular season, Houston could immediately be reliant upon depth in their pitching staff. Bielak would likely be at the top of the list, as he made 13 major-league starts last season and is also out of minor-league options.

Hancock (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday at Mariners camp.

After receiving his first big-league call-up in early August, Hancock made just three starts for the Mariners before suffering a Grade 1 shoulder strain, which ended his season. Fortunately for the 24-year-old, he avoided any structural damage and didn't require offseason surgery, so he looks like he'll begin spring training at full health. Hancock will be given a chance to compete for a spot in Seattle's Opening Day rotation, but with five other healthy, more established pitchers in front of him in Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, it may take an injury in order for Hancock to avoid an assignment to Triple-A Tacoma once camp comes to a close.

Kopech (knee) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and doesn't appear to have any limitations on the White Sox's first day of spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Kopech finished the 2023 season on the injured list while recovering from a minor surgery he underwent in September to remove a cyst from his right knee, but after an estimated 6-to-8-week recovery period, the right-hander had a more normal offseason than he's experienced in recent years, as general manager Chris Getz relayed to Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com earlier this week. Despite struggling to a 5.43 ERA and 1.59 WHIP while striking out 134 batters over a career-high 129.1 innings in 2023, Kopech looks secure in the White Sox rotation heading into Opening Day due mostly to the team's lack of attractive alternatives.

The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Though Waldichuk has been cleared to play catch at the outset of spring training, he'll need at least two months to complete his throwing progression and get stretched out over a multi-start rehab assignment before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for Oakland. The southpaw was shut down for most of the offseason after he underwent surgery in October to address a UCL sprain as well as flexor tendon damage in his throwing arm.

Whitlock is preparing to compete for a spot in the Red Sox's Opening Day rotation this spring, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Fully healthy again after battling elbow issues at various points last season, Whitlock threw his first live batting practice of spring training Wednesday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. Though Whitlock opened the 2023 campaign as a starter, he worked out of the bullpen over his final 12 appearances upon returning in August following his third stint on the injured list. In November, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe that the Red Sox planned to have Whitlock get stretched back out for a starting role heading into the spring training, and the right-hander looks like he's right where he needs to be in his buildup program at this stage of camp. Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford project as the Red Sox's top four starters in some order to begin spring training, leaving Whitlock to battle with Tanner Houck and Josh Winckowski for the final spot, which became open after Chris Sale was traded to Atlanta in December.

Waldichuk (elbow) was cleared to play catch Wednesday and could be throwing bullpen sessions by the end of spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, but ramping up his throwing program during spring training would be encouraging after he underwent surgery to repair UCL damage in his left elbow in October. Assuming there are no further complications, Waldichuk could theoretically be ready for game action by late April or early May.