MLB Player News

Montas landed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The news is not unexpected after reports emerged Wednesday that Montas tested positive for the virus. A timeline for his arrival in camp has not yet been provided, so it's possible his buildup winds up being delayed enough that he's not at full strength by Opening Day. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the Athletics to add new signee Yusmeiro Petit.

Cobb visited Driveline Baseball over the offseason and worked on some mechanical changes, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Angels need the 33-year-old to be something other than he's been thus far in his 30s, as he's struggled to a 5.10 ERA over the last three seasons. Driveline has a deserved reputation for making pitchers suddenly more productive, though a trip there doesn't guarantee anyone's problems will be instantly solved. The report perhaps makes Cobb more interesting than most pitchers his age with his recent track record, but he'll have to demonstrate a new level of performance on the field before he becomes a truly compelling fantasy option.

Rodriguez threw a bullpen session Wednesday and came out of it feeling 100 percent, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez missed all of last season after developing myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, as a result of his battle with COVID-19. The issue made it unsafe for him to exercise, so he has plenty of work to do to get back into baseball shape this spring. He'll presumably be brought along slowly, but it looks as though everything is going as planned so far.

Wentz (elbow) will play catch off a mound Friday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

It's a significant step for the 23-year-old as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery in March of 2020. Wentz could return to game action over the summer if all goes well in his recovery over the upcoming months.

Cease has worked with White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz to correct mechanical flaws in his lower body, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Cease threw a side session Thursday under the watchful eye of catcher Yasmani Grandal, who liked what he saw. "If we get him to where we see him going, this guy could be a Cy Young finalist," Grandal said. "He could possibly be a Cy Young winner. He's got the tools to do it, there's no doubt on that." The right-hander pitched to a 4.01 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 44 strikeouts and 34 walks over 58.1 innings in 2020. Cease is expected to claim a spot at the back end of the rotation to start the season.

Houck is not guaranteed a starting role to begin the 2021 season, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Houck was excellent to close the 2020 season in his big-league debut, as he allowed only one earned run across 17 innings in three starts. Despite that, he won't be guaranteed a spot in the rotation immediately for the 2021 campaign and instead will compete for the role with Martin Perez, Nick Pivetta, Matt Andriese and Garrett Whitlock.

Giolito had his first bullpen session of spring training Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

New manager Tony La Russa got a look at Giolito and came away impressed. "The sharpness, because he has worked really hard to get here," La Russa said of what stood out. "And you can see the connection he has with [pitching coach] Ethan [Katz]." The right-hander will fit somewhere in the top three of what should be one of the better trios in MLB. Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Lance Lynn sit atop a deep rotation.

Garcia is one of several options to close out games for the Tigers to begin the season, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Garcia pitched well across 21.2 innings in 2020, recording a 1.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and he finished the year as Detroit's closer, registering four saves in six chances. Gregory Soto might have the best pure stuff in the team's bullpen, but it's unclear how exactly new manager A.J. Hinch will approach end-game decisions.

Stripling has yet to arrive at camp while awaiting the birth of his child, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Stripling is expected to compete for a back-end rotation spot to begin the regular season, but he'll be unavailable for the start of spring training. The right-hander served as a swingman during his first year with the Blue Jays in 2020, posting a 5.84 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 49.1 innings across 12 appearances (nine starts). It's not yet clear when Stripling will arrive at camp, but his wife is expecting a baby "very soon."

Sale (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Sale was expected to miss the first several months of the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of 2020, so his placement on the injured list is simply procedural and will clear up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander John Schreiber, who was claimed off waivers in a corresponding move. Sale experienced some neck stiffness in early February but remains on track in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.