MLB Player News

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.

DeGrom (elbow) said that he began a throwing program Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

DeGrom rested Tuesday before he resumed throwing Wednesday, and he may continue to limit himself to a few throwing sessions per week as he begins a slow ramp-up process from last June's Tommy John surgery. The Rangers are hoping for deGrom and co-ace Max Scherzer (back) to make midsummer returns from their respective surgeries, though no firm target date will likely be in place for either pitcher until they advance to the point in their rehab that they're facing hitters. The 35-year-old deGrom hasn't pitched more than 100 innings in any season since 2019 and will fall short of that threshold once again in 2024 while he's likely out for at least the first half of the campaign.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that France is dealing with shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

While it's less than ideal that France is nursing an injury in the early stages of spring training, Brown didn't express much concern, noting that the right-hander hasn't been shut down from throwing and is still able to play catch. France is likely to gradually stretch out his throwing distance before advancing to mound work in the weeks to come, but the shoulder injury is still likely to delay his Grapefruit League debut. So long as France is fully stretched out by the end of camp, he could still head into Opening Day with a spot in Houston's rotation.

DeSclafani (elbow) is considered fully healthy at the start of spring training, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

DeSclafani was limited to 19 starts in 2023 due to a right flexor strain but told reporters Wednesday that he's been throwing for months. The veteran right-hander was acquired via trade last month and is competing to be the Twins' fifth starter.

Verlander said Wednesday that he's "a couple weeks behind" schedule after his right shoulder didn't bounce back as hoped during his offseason throwing program, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander referred to his ongoing recovery as a "hiccup" rather than a setback and added that he's thrown three bullpen sessions as he ramps back up. Though Verlander seems confident the shoulder issue isn't a major concern, the veteran right-hander notably missed the first five weeks of last season with a shoulder problem that developed during spring training. The Astros haven't outlined a timeline for when Verlander might be ready to pitch in a Grapefruit League game.

The Rays placed McClanahan (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Tampa Bay needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Phil Maton. McClanahan will be sidelined until 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Baz (elbow) will be built up slowly coming out of spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Baz had Tommy John surgery nearly 17 months ago and has completed that rehab. However, since he's coming off a lost season and didn't have ton of pro innings under his belt prior to that, the team will proceed cautiously with the young right-hander. Whether that could mean starting his season at extended spring training or in the minors isn't clear. Baz posted a 4.02 ERA and 48:12 K:BB over 40.1 innings covering nine starts for Tampa Bay from 2021-22.

Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander indicated Tuesday that he doesn't expect Rasmussen (elbow) back until well into the second half of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Neander listed July or August as a timetable for Jeffrey Springs (elbow) and added that Rasmussen's return isn't expected until sometime after that. The right-hander underwent an internal brace procedure in July and probably can't be counted on as an impact fantasy option again until 2025.

Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Springs (elbow) is on track to return in July or August, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Springs underwent Tommy John surgery in late April, so the timetable Neander offered up would have the left-hander back in around 16 months. Of course, it's a rough timeline at this point, and Springs will be facing workload restrictions when he does make it back. Fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on a major impact until 2025.

Boyle, who impressed in a trio of late-season starts in 2023, could have an edge for the No. 5 role in the Athletics' rotation to open the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Gallegos reports general manager David Forst has already strongly implied that Paul Blackburn, JP Sears, Alex Wood and Ross Stripling -- the latter two veteran offseason additions -- will unsurprisingly slot into the top four spots in the rotation. Southpaw Ken Waldichuk (elbow) may eventually join that group when healthy, but he's not expected to be ready for the start of the season; therefore, Boyle, who went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across his first three major-league starts last September, could slot into that No. 5 role coming out of spring training. However, he'll have some reasonably experienced competition, including holdovers Luis Medina, Freddy Tarnok (hip) and Adrian Martinez,