MLB Player News

Glasnow is tabbed as a potential future ace of the Rays' staff by team beat writer Juan Toribio, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.

Glasnow was once considered the top prospect in the Pirates' organization, and his performance in an injury-shortened 2019 served as a tangible reminder of why. The towering right-hander posted a 1.78 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 76:14 K:BB across 12 starts and followed it up with a pair of scoreless appearances in Grapefruit League action this spring before play was suspended. Naturally, southpaw Blake Snell is also considered top-of-the-rotation material for the Rays, but Toribio notes Glasnow was arguably the AL's best pitcher over the first six weeks of last season and could ultimately be the team's most effective arm over the long term if he remains healthy.

Heaney has been working out at home in order to stay in baseball shape, but he has not thrown a bullpen session since spring training was suspended, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Heaney, who is slated to be the Angels' Opening Day starter, has been playing catch in the street with teammate Garrett Williams but is waiting for more information about the potential resumption of play before ramping up his routine. Per Bollinger, Angels pitchers are expected to receive further instruction regarding their throwing programs in a matter of days.

McKenzie will open the year at Double-A Akron.

The Indians were taking things slowly with him this spring, but with a shortened season, managing his workload will be pretty easy. He missed all of 2019 and part of 2018 while recovering from forearm and back strains. While he is already on the 40-man roster, McKenzie is unlikely to reach the majors until at least 2021.

Gilbert, who fired four scoreless innings across two Cactus League appearances before spring training was suspended, is considered a future ace of the Mariners' staff, Jesse Sanchez and Greg Johns of MLB.com report.

The 22-year-old performed like a seasoned veteran over his pair of Cactus League appearances this spring, an extension of the dominant form he displayed at three different stops during his 2019 minor-league debut. Gilbert was already at Double-A Arkansas by the end of last season, with his overall body of work earning him the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. Johns notes the right-hander's mid-90s fastball is complemented by an effective slider, curve and changeup, and that his 6-foot-6 frame leads to an unusually long stride toward the batter's box that makes his power pitch even more effective.

Luzardo, who generated a 1.08 ERA and 0.60 WHIP across three Cactus League starts before spring training was suspended, has the talent to ascend to the role of staff ace if he remains healthy, Jesse Sanchez and Martin Gallegos of MLB.com report.

The supremely talented southpaw's spring was highly encouraging, as it served as an extension of the dominance he exhibited during his first taste of the big leagues at the tail end of last season. Luzardo won't open the 2020 regular season as the official ace of the staff in terms of his rotation slotting, as he's projected to serve as the Athletics' No. 4 starter; however, Gallegos notes Luzardo's arsenal of five plus pitches supports the franchise's belief the 22-year-old could anchor the rotation for "the next decade or so."

Severino (elbow) is among a group of Yankees eligible to use the Yankees' facility in Tampa in the midst of Florida's stay-at-home declaration, George A. King III of the New York Post writes.

With Florida's stay-at-home order set to kick in at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, most players will no longer be allowed to gather at George M. Steinbrenner Field. However, the policy makes an exception for players undergoing rehab programs, meaning Severino will be able to continue to use the facility along with a short list of other players including Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Aaron Judge (rib). Severino underwent Tommy John surgery in late February and is expected to miss the entire 2020 campaign.

Gil "seemed likely" to open the 2020 campaign with High-A Tampa prior to the suspension of play, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

Though minor-league assignments are not set in stone, the thought that Gil will return to Tampa when the season resumes makes sense given that he was optioned to the High-A club in early March. The 21-year-old excelled with Low-A Charleston last season, posting a 2.39 ERA and 1.19 WHIP along with a 112:39 K:BB over 83 innings, but he was less effective in three starts with Tampa. Nonetheless, Gil possesses one of the best fastballs in the minors and could ascend quickly through the system if he is able to improve his command and consistency with his secondary pitches.

Garcia will likely make the Tigers' Opening Day roster when the MLB season is able to resume, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

It is expected that teams will be able to start the season with as many as 30 roster spots instead of 26. That's good news for players like Garcia, who was competing for a bullpen spot when spring training ended. The righty made his MLB debut toward the end of last season and logged 6.2 innings for the Tigers.

Canning (elbow) has been cleared to resume a throwing program, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

A late-February MRI showed "chronic changes to the UCL" in Canning's right forearm. Many feared the worst, but Canning has responded well to a PRP injection and general manager Billy Epler suggested Wednesday that Canning could be back on elevated ground by the end of April. With that, it seems like Canning is currently on track to be ready whenever the regular season begins, though he will carry elevated injury risk after also dealing with elbow issues at the end of 2019.

The Yankees feel good about Paxton's rehab from lower spinal surgery, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

He has been continuing a throwing program in his home state of Wisconsin and we have been receiving updates roughly every week that he is trending in the right direction. Paxton will need some sort of setting to build up before he would be ready to start a major-league game, but it seems he may have enough time to catch up to the rest of the Yankees' starters.