MLB Player News

Skubal will likely be on the Tigers' 20-man taxi squad when the regular season gets underway, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Skubal is one of the Tigers' prized pitching prospects, joining Matt Manning and Casey Mize. All three seem destined for the taxi squad, where they'll be able to continue their development in the likely absence of a minor league season. Skubal had a productive 2019 campaign split between High-A and Double-A, working entirely as a starter. The organization likely wants him to remain a starter long term, but the lefty could serve as an effective bullpen weapon sooner versus later if the club wants to go in that direction.

Mize will likely be on the Tigers' 20-man taxi squad when the regular season gets underway, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

This doesn't come as much surprise, as there was chatter about the possibility a month ago. Teams are unlikely to have the benefit of a minor league season, so a taxi squad is the best place to continue the development of a top prospect such as Mize. The 23-year-old could also push his way into the majors at some point this season, depending on how the righty looks and what needs arise on the MLB roster.

Manning will likely be on the Tigers' 20-man taxi squad when the regular season gets underway, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

In addition to their normal 40-man rosters, MLB teams will use 20-player taxi squads for further depth during the abbreviated season. And with the minor league season unlikely to happen, taxi squads will also undoubtedly be used to get work for top prospects. Manning certainly fits the bill as a top prospect, so expect the Tigers to put him on their taxi squad. The 22-year-old will use the opportunity to continue his development, and he could find himself in the majors at some point this year.

Hill (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of next week's training camp, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Hill had been targeting a return in June or July since undergoing elbow surgery back in October, so it would make sense that he may be back to full speed. However, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told Aaron Gleeman of TheAthletic.com that the Twins may use a six-man rotation to begin the season, which could mean Hill will slowly ramp up his workload.

Lynn will serve as the Rangers' Opening Day starter, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Lynn was scheduled to serve as the Rangers' Opening Day starter under normal circumstances, so it was relatively unsurprising when manager Chris Woodward announced Thursday that the right-hander will take the mound in the first game of the 60-game regular season in late July. The 33-year-old pitched a career-high 208.1 innings for the Rangers last year, posting a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 246:59 K:BB.

Dunn is much more likely to open the 2020 regular season in the starting rotation now that expanded rosters are official, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

General manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed in a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday that the Mariners were slated to start the campaign with a six-man starting rotation. Johns explains it's highly likely that extra spot goes to Dunn, who appeared to just be on the outside looking in with respect to a starter's role when spring training was suspended. The 24-year-old right-hander put together a solid Cactus League stint (2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP across 6.2 innings) and has been throwing regularly while play has been paused, and Dipoto estimated Wednesday that at present, Dunn and the rest of the team's hurlers are approximately where they'd be after an initial two-inning outing in spring training with respect to their arms.

Glasnow is in the process of returning to the Tampa area from his Arizona home ahead of the Rays' upcoming summer camp, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Glasnow has been working out on his own in Arizona and apparently doing a very good job of it, considering pitching coach Kyle Snyder described the towering southpaw as "ready right now" for the regular season weeks ago. While there might have been at least a slight degree of embellishment in Snyder's comments given the restricted conditions players have been subjected to, Glasnow should have plenty of time to further condition himself for a late-July start to the 2020 campaign.

Snell was slated to be back in his St. Petersburg home Thursday after spending the last several weeks in the Seattle area, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The numerous Rays players that were scattered about the globe are naturally beginning to formulate their plans to return to the Tampa area following the finalization of the details of a truncated 2020 regular season. Snell has been busy working a throwing program in his Seattle home in recent weeks, and it appears he'll now have several days to immerse himself back into the team environment ahead of the ramp-up to the campaign. It remains to be seen how manager Kevin Cash will handle his starters' workloads the first couple turns through the rotation, with that expected to be sorted out during the team's upcoming summer camp.

Allard and Joe Palumbo will serve as a depth starters for the Rangers, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Allard had been assigned to Triple-A Nashville during spring training but was always expected to be on the short list of callups if an injury felled one of the Rangers' starters. Without a minor-league season in place, Allard is expected to be on the expanded roster or the taxi squad.

Kopech (elbow) is expected to be with the White Sox when the MLB season resumes, but his role is not yet defined, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

In a normal 162-game season, Kopech would have thrown innings in the minors and joined the White Sox by now. He was impressive during a one-inning stint in spring training, when six of his pitches hit 100 MPH. The White Sox already have five starters lined up for the rotation, but they will want to give Kopech the necessary work to continue his trajectory toward becoming an ace. That means the right-hander could be used as an opener or paired with other starters that are not ready to pitch deep into games.