MLB Player News

Cortes won't pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic after he revealed Monday that he sustaining a low Grade 2 right hamstring strain, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Cortes' absence during the World Baseball Classic is a significant hit for Team USA, as he was expected to serve as one of the Americans' top starting options. The southpaw noted that he expects to be behind the Yankees' other healthy pitchers for at least a couple weeks as a result of the injury, but he remains hopeful to be ready to go for the start of the regular season, according to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Cortes' progress over the next month and a half.

Bush is currently dealing with an oblique injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Fletcher reports that the injury is "minor," but the Angels decided not to have the left-hander appear in MLB spring training as he recovers. Bush is one of the top pitching prospects in the Angels' system, and the 23-year-old finished 2022 with a 3.67 ERA and 101:29 K:BB in his 103 innings over 21 starts. He has a good chance to make starts for the Halos before the end of 2023.

Javier signed a five-year, $64 million extension with the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

This could be the first of many long-term deals under new Astros general manager Dana Brown, who has seemingly convinced owner Jim Crane that it's worth locking up certain key contributors. Javier flourished with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 194:52 K:BB in 148.2 regular-season innings in 2022. The 25-year-old then allowed just one earned run and racked up 16 strikeouts across 12.2 postseason frames. His contract now runs through the 2027 campaign, securing all of Javier's arbitration-eligible seasons and what would have been his first two years of free agency.

Skubal (elbow) said Thursday he has advanced to flat-ground throwing, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.

Skubal is currently doing around 40 throws on flat ground four times a week, and the hope is that he can get clearance to return to mound work sometime this spring. The 26-year-old left-hander is already ticketed for a season-opening stint on the IL following flexor tendon surgery last August, but he should be an option again for the Tigers around mid-2023 if there are no setbacks along the way.

Astros general manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday that Valdez won't pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez and the Astros agreed to have the southpaw sit out the WBC after he pitched a career-high 201.1 innings in 2022, nearly 65 more frames than his previous career high of 134.2 set in 2021. The 29-year-old was outstanding during Houston's championship 2022 season, producing a 2.82 ERA, 194:67 K:BB and 1.15 WHIP. With Justin Verlander leaving for the Mets this offseason, Valdez should be in contention for the Astros' Opening Day nod.

Garcia agreed to a minor-league contract with the Astros on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Garcia posted a 3.54 ERA in four starts with the Tigers last season, though he did also issue 10 walks over his 20.1 total big-league frames. He surrendered 25 free passes in 39.1 innings of relief with Detroit in 2021, spoiling a promising showing from the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. The 27-year-old right-hander will likely be viewed as organizational bullpen depth leading into Astros camp.

Whitlock (hip) did weight training and ran sprints Tuesday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock arrived early to camp in Fort Myers, Florida, and appears to be fully recovered from September surgery on his right hip. Assuming there are no setbacks along the way this spring, the 26-year-old right-hander should be locked into a spot at the back end of Boston's season-opening starting rotation. He registered a strong 3.45 ERA and 82:15 K:BB across 78.1 innings (nine starts, 22 relief appearances) for the Sox during the 2022 campaign.

Means (elbow) said Sunday's he's throwing from 140 feet and expects to throw off a half-mound at the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last April and isn't expected to be ready for big-league action until at least July, but it's still a good sign he's ramping up his throwing program. A more detailed return timeline should come into focus as Means increases his throwing intensity over the next couple months.

Means (elbow) won't rejoin the Orioles' rotation until at least July, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Means underwent Tommy John surgery in late April of last year, so it's not a surprise to hear the team isn't expecting to have him available at least until around the All-Star break. Fantasy managers would be wise to keep expectations low for the left-hander in 2023, with the hope that he can regain his form and workload in 2024.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told reporters Wednesday that Castillo won't pitch in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

"It's a choice that we made together," Dipoto told reporters. The Mariners want Castillo to have a full spring training in his first full season with the club, and Castillo agreed. The right-hander was excellent in his time with Seattle after being traded from the Reds shortly before last season's deadline, producing a 3.17 ERA, 77:17 K:BB and 1.10 WHIP over 65.1 innings across 11 starts. He'll open the year as the ace of Seattle's pitching staff, with the combination of last season's body of work and that of his previous campaigns suggesting he'll be a top-end fantasy asset again in 2023.