MLB Player News

Schmidt could be given a spot on the Yankees' taxi squad if the 2020 season is able to be played, Peter Gammons of The Athletic reports.

Many questions remain about how a potential 2020 MLB season would play out, but the proposal of a 20-man taxi squad would enable prospects such as Schmidt to gain some experience during the campaign in the likely absence of a minor-league season. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake specified Schmidt as a player who could earn a taxi-squad role out of a restarted camp, though such a designation would not guarantee that the 24-year-old would actually garner big-league playing time during the season.

Hill (elbow) expects to be ready when spring training resumes, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

When exactly play resumes remains to be seen, though reports suggest that won't happen before mid-June at the earliest. That fits with Hill's timeline, as he's been targeting a return in June or July since undergoing elbow surgery back in October. He's been able to throw throughout the shutdown, allowing him to stay on his original timetable.

Lynn has been throwing the equivalent of two bullpen sessions per week while awaiting the start of the MLB season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Lynn, who was poised to be the Rangers' Opening Day starter, is home in Nashville (Tenn.) throwing in a tunnel he built for himself or into a net in his driveway. Once the league and the players' union agree to a re-opening, the loose plan for Texas' starters is to get three starts apiece in a mini-spring training, going from three innings the first day, then building up to 80-85 pitches by the third outing. Typically, starters are up to 90-to-100 pitches by the end of a normal spring training, so expect shorter outings initially.

Luzardo may avoid any cumulative innings limit during what would be an abbreviated 2020 regular season, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

As a pitcher who would have been on an Opening Day big-league roster for the first time, Luzardo was almost certainly looking at an innings limit of some sort in a season of normal duration. However, with the 2020 campaign now projected to essentially be half of the usual 162 games, Slusser reports the Athletics will not have to necessarily be concerned with monitoring Luzardo's workload anywhere near as closely as they would have. The young left-hander had seemingly secured a spot in the rotation before spring training was suspended courtesy of the 1.08 ERA he generated across 8.1 Cactus League frames.

Mize could make an expanded Tigers' roster or taxi squad to begin a shortened 2020 season, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

A number of details still need to be worked out about a potential MLB season in 2020, but current proposals aim for an early July start, a shortened season, and expanded rosters and taxi squads to give teams more flexibility. In such a scenario, the Tigers could add Mize to their bullpen and let him get his feet wet at the MLB level, especially because it looks unlikely that there will be a minor league season. Service time issues would still need to be considered, and Detroit may opt to be overly cautious with their star prospect, but it's possible we see Mize with the Tigers this summer.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed Thursday that Paxton (back) has been throwing simulated innings this month, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Cashman's comments essentially align with what manager Aaron Boone said last week regarding where Paxton stands in his recovery from a February procedure to remove a peridiscal cyst on his back. Boone suggested that Paxton would be fully recovered from the procedure by mid-May, so the lefty may only need to complete another simulated game or two before doctors give him full clearance. Assuming Paxton avoids any further setbacks between now and the time the season begins, he'll likely be lined up to start the Yankees' second or third game behind ace Gerrit Cole.

Canning (elbow) has been "ramping up intensity and volume," Jeff Fletcher of The Orange Country Register reports.

Canning was reported to have resumed throwing off a mound last week, and Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed that the right-hander has progressed to that stage in a text message Wednesday. With a potential Opening Day slated to take place no sooner than early July, Canning appears on track to claim a spot in the Angels' starting rotation to kick off the campaign.

Cease is looking to build off his first season in the majors and will introduce a tweak to his mechanics, Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald reports.

Cease's MLB debut was a bumpy one, as he went 4-7 with a 5.79 ERA in 14 starts. "One of (the things I learned) was more a physical adjustment with my front side," Cease said. "Not getting too rotational on my front side, that's the main thing that's going to be different. I think that's one of the big reasons I was having cutting issues with my fastball." Cease, who permitted 4.3 BB/9 and 1.8 HR/9, hopes the mechanical adjustment will allow him to pitch deeper into games. While his overall numbers were not pretty, the right-hander finished on an up note, allowing seven runs over 21 innings (3.00 ERA) with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in his final four starts. He's expected to slot in as the fourth starter in the rotation.

Canning (elbow) has been cleared to start throwing bullpen sessions, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

In a post to his story on his personal Instagram page, Canning shared video of himself throwing in the bullpen at Angel Stadium on Tuesday. That suggests the right-hander has continued to progress in his recovery from the elbow discomfort that sidelined him in late February. The injury was originally expected to land Canning on the injured list to begin the season, but with MLB play still suspended, chances are high that he could be ready to pitch whenever play resumes.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Paxton (back) is expected to be fully recovered from his microscopic lumbar discectomy by "mid-May."

Paxton had already been making rapid progress during spring training after requiring the procedure in early February to remove a peridiscal cyst, and MLB's ongoing hiatus has only provided more time for him to heal up without having to miss any game action. After checking out fine following five bullpen sessions, Paxton was cleared to pitch a simulated game Monday, which likely marks one of the final checkpoints he'll need to clear in the recovery process. He should be a part of the Yankees' Opening Day rotation and face no workload restrictions whenever the season resumes.