MLB Player News

Lynch has made small changes in the offeseason to simplify his mechanics on the mound, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch said he wanted to do something small and simple after feeling a disconnect between his performance in bullpen sessions and in games. Rogers adds the southpaw is looking to differentiate his curveball and his slider. He struggled with the curve -- opposing hitters tagged him for a .471 batting average and a .529 slugging percentage off that pitch, though he threw it only 5.1 percent of the time. Lynch is in the mix for a rotation spot this spring, and how he performs during camp will likely determine if he begins the year in Kansas City or at Triple-A Omaha.

Means (elbow) said Monday that he plans on throwing his first bullpen session off a half-mound early next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

On Sunday, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Means was on track to throw off a half-mound within the next few days, but the southpaw clarified one day later that he's currently in the "deload" phase of his throwing program and will begin ramping back up next week. Means, who is on the mend from last April's Tommy John surgery, is targeting July for his potential 2023 season debut.

Espino has yet to throw from a mound during spring training and is expected be down from throwing for eight weeks after suffering a right shoulder strain, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

According to Bell, Espino also suffered an additional muscle tear in the shoulder, and he'll now be forced to miss the entirety of spring training and the start of the 2023 minor-league season as a result. Though he's regarded as one of the Guardians' top pitching prospects, the fact that Espino is dealing with more shoulder trouble after missing considerable time due to a related issue in 2022 is a discouraging sign for his long-term durability. Whenever he's back to full strength, Espino will likely settle into a spot in the rotation at Double-A Akron.

Ray will start for the Mariners in Friday's spring training opener versus the Padres, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Ray will get the ball first as the Mariners try and build off a very successful 2022 campaign in 2023. The team is coming off its first playoff appearance in 21 years and will look to make the next step with additions like Teoscar Hernandez and AJ Pollock this offseason. The left-handed Ray produced a 3.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 212 strikeouts over 189 innings in 32 starts with Seattle last season.

Schmidt developed a cutter during the offseason, and he hopes the pitch will help him be more effective against lefty hitters, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

The directive to develop the new pitch came from the organization and was predicated on the belief that the cutter could come easily to Schmidt given the natural cut and high spin rate on his four-seam fastball. Per Joyce, metrics on the pitch have looked good when Schmidt has thrown it during bullpens, and the right-hander said he already feels comfortable deploying it. If the cutter proves to make Schmidt more effective against left-handed batters, it could help him win the fifth-starter spot in the rotation to begin the campaign, as he's currently competing with Domingo German for the role that is up for grabs due to Frankie Montas' impending right shoulder surgery.

DeGrom (side) felt good during his workout Sunday and appears on track to continue his throwing program Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Shortly after reporting to the Rangers for his first spring training with his new organization, deGrom experienced left side tightness in a bullpen session, resulting in the coaching staff shutting him down for workouts for a few days. However, the minor side injury looks to be mostly in the rearview mirror at this point, and if he can get back on the mound within the next day or two, he shouldn't find himself too far behind the Rangers' other starting pitchers once Cactus League play opens next weekend. Though deGrom isn't expected to pitch during the Rangers' first week of spring games, that's likely in deference to his status as the staff ace rather than any legitimate concern about his injury. Instead, expect the Rangers to use the first week of spring games to get longer evaluations on some of the pitchers who are fighting for spots on the Opening Day roster.

Glasnow (illness) completed a bullpen session Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Glasnow had been scheduled to take the hill Saturday, but the Rays scratched him from the side session while he battled a stomach illness. As anticipated, Glasnow was cleared to get back on the mound Sunday, with manager Kevin Cash noting afterward that it was the best bullpen session that he had seen the right-hander throw. Glasnow was able to make two abbreviated starts for the Rays late in the 2022 regular season following his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and after a long winter to continue resting up, the 29-year-old appears poised to enter the 2023 campaign without any notable workload restrictions.

Manager Alex Cora said Bello (forearm) "will be ready" to throw off flat ground Monday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

The 23-year-old was recently shut down from throwing after he experienced some soreness in his forearm during a bullpen session, but he'll quickly restart his throwing program. Bello could return to the mound later in the week if all goes well during Monday's session.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Means (elbow) is scheduled to throw off a half-mound at some point during the upcoming week, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Means won't take the hill Monday, but the rehabbing southpaw looks like he'll be ready to take the next step forward in his recovery from last April's Tommy John surgery within the next handful of days. Per Jake Rill of MLB.com, general manager Mike Elias said a July return date is a possibility for Means, though that would be on the early side for the 29-year-old's 2023 debut. As such, those in redraft leagues who are stashing Means shouldn't plan on him being ready to pitch until the second half, and his pitch counts could be managed carefully for several starts.

DeGrom (side) isn't expected to pitch during the Rangers' first week of Cactus League games, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom was removed from workouts for four days with tightness in his side but is scheduled to resume on-field activity Sunday. The Rangers are exhibiting an abundance of caution with the right-hander, and Grant notes that deGrom's initial action may come in "B" games or intra-squad games, where the environment is more controlled.