MLB Player News

Stripling will be treated as a starting pitcher this spring, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The Blue Jays' starting rotation gained an additional back-end starter when the team signed Yusei Kikuchi on Saturday, which could leave Stripling as an odd man out once the regular season begins. However, the right-hander will be stretched out as a starter during spring training. Regardless of whether Stripling has a spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2022 campaign, he should be available as one of the team's top options for spot starts.

Maeda (elbow) said Sunday that he began a throwing program earlier this month and is currently playing catch off flat ground from 30 feet, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

In the early stages of his rehab program from the modified Tommy John surgery he underwent Sept. 1, Maeda has thus far avoided any setbacks, but the right-hander acknowledged that he's unsure if he'll be able to pitch for the Twins at any point this season. Ultimately, whether Maeda toes the rubber in the big leagues in 2022 will be dictated by how he progresses in the months to come, and the Twins' place in the standings in the second half of the season should factor into the equation as well. Even if Maeda is able to advance through his rehab quickly and make a 12-month turnaround from the elbow procedure, he won't be worth stashing in any redraft leagues until several months down the road.

Whitley (elbow) posted a video Sunday on his personal Instagram account featuring him throwing off a mound.

As a player on the Astros' 40-man roster, Whitley wasn't able to work out at the organization's minor-league camp while the MLB lockout was in place, but now that labor peace has been reached, he'll have his rehab from March 2021 Tommy John surgery overseen by the Houston staff. Now that he's nearly a full year removed from the procedure, Whitley could advance to facing hitters by the end of camp in early April, though he won't be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season. Once the Astros are comfortable with Whitley pitching in games, he'll likely report to one of the organization's lower-level affiliates before settling into the Triple-A Round Rock rotation. Houston still appears intent on developing Whitley as a starter long term, though he could make his MLB debut as a reliever at some point in the second half of the 2022 season if he looks sharp in his initial minor-league appearances.

Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said Sunday that Hancock (arm) sustained a minor lat strain about three weeks ago and has been shut down from throwing since then, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Hancock was shut down to close out the 2021 campaign while focusing on arm care and strengthening his shoulder, and he's now dealing with a lat issue as spring training gets underway. Although the righty hasn't been throwing recently, he's been working out and conditioning with the other pitchers in the team's minor-league camp. Even if Hancock is forced to miss time to begin the minor-league season, it's unlikely that he'll face a lengthy absence.

Velasquez agreed to a contract with the White Sox on Sunday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The specific terms of the deal remain unclear, though James Fegan of The Athletic reports it's a major-league contract. Velasquez had the worst season of his big-league career between the Phillies and Padres in 2021, as he had a 6.30 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 101:49 K:BB over 94.1 innings. The veteran right-hander may have a tough time cracking the White Sox's starting rotation to open the season, and he's more likely to serve as a depth and bullpen option.

The Twins acquired Gray and minor-league pitcher Francisco Peguero from the Reds on Sunday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Chase Petty.

Gray had an up-and-down 2021 campaign with a 4.19 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 155:50 K:BB over 153.1 innings (26 starts), and the Reds opted to move on while acquiring Petty, who was the Twins' 2021 first-round pick. Gray also has a team option worth $12 million for 2023, which Minnesota is likely to pick up if he pitches well this year. Gray will headline a Twins rotation that otherwise features Joe Ryan, Dylan Bundy and Bailey Ober.

Verlander (elbow) threw 35 pitches across two simulated innings during live batting practice Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander is ramping things up at the start of spring training as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander has pitched in only one game over the past two seasons, but he was as effective as ever in 2019 with a 2.58 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 300:42 K:BB across 223 innings. Verlander should be ready for game action by Opening Day, but he could face some workload limitations given the shortened spring training and length of his absence.

Houck isn't a lock to be in the Opening Day rotation, but he is being stretched out this spring to help with innings early on, according to manager Alex Cora, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

This vague report is a good reminder that Boston already has five veteran starters on the roster, with Houck and Garrett Whitlock representing the team's young, high-upside alternatives. Houck's devastating fastball/slider combination should allow him to have success in any role, so he should retain value in deeper leagues regardless of whether he's a starter, swing man or reliever. However fantasy managers need to be aware that he may not operate as a traditional starter all season.

Whitlock is getting stretched out this spring, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Manager Alex Cora wouldn't say if Whitlock or Tanner Houck would be in the Opening Day rotation, explaining that they are being stretched out to help with innings early on. The Red Sox have five veteran starters on the roster, with Whitlock and Houck representing the exciting potential next wave. We already know Whitlock's stuff plays well in a high-leverage relief role, but he could be more valuable to Boston long term if he successfully transitions back to being a starter. The 25-year-old righty has a starter's pitch mix and came up as a starter with the Yankees before being poached by Boston in the Rule 5 draft last offseason.

Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Blue Jays on Saturday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Kikuchi declined his $13 million player option with the Mariners in early November, and he'll now land a multi-year deal with Toronto as spring training gets underway. The southpaw has made at least 29 starts in each of the last two full seasons, and he posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 163:62 K:BB in 157 innings during the 2021 campaign. He'll have a spot at the back end of the Blue Jays' talented rotation to begin the year.