MLB Player News

Chirinos may not be a full-time starter this season, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The Rays going with a flexible approach to their pitching staff certainly wouldn't be news. Chirinos posted a 3.85 ERA over 133.1 innings in a flexible role last season and lines up to do something similar this year.

Giolito is dealing with a strained muscle in his rib cage area and is expected to miss the first week of Cactus League action, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Giolito made a pair of brief trips to the injured list during his breakout 2019 campaign, first for a hamstring strain in April and subsequently for a lat strain in September, the latter ending his season prematurely. The lat issue doesn't appear to have carried over into this season, but he's now dealing with a new problem. The rib cage strain isn't expected to affect his availability for Opening Day, but it is nonetheless something to monitor.

German (suspension) won't join the Yankees for spring training and will continue to work out at the organization's academy in his native Dominican Republic, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports.

Per the terms of the 81-game suspension he accepted in January for violating the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence Policy, German agreed not to pitch in any Grapefruit League contests, so the Yankees didn't see the benefit in having him report to Florida right away. German will presumably move to the United States no later than May 21, when he's first eligible to resume pitching in minor-league games in preparation for his return to the big club once his suspension is lifted. Since he already missed the Yankees' final 18 games of 2019 after being placed on administrative leave, German will have 63 games left to serve before he can be reinstated to the roster June 5.

Walker returned to the Mariners on a one-year, $2 million deal Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Walker spent the first seven years of his professional career in the Mariners' organization before being traded to Arizona following the 2016 season. He's thrown just 14 big-league innings over the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, but he's found himself a soft landing spot where starts should be easy to come by. Don't expect the 27-year-old to handle a particularly heavy workload in his first full season back on the mound, but his respectable 3.95 career ERA is good enough to make him a fine budget fantasy option.

Luzardo won't be on a specific innings limit this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

While this is undoubtedly good news, fantasy owners should be wary of overreacting here, as the lack of a specific number for Luzardo heading into the season doesn't mean the Athletics won't be watching his workload carefully. His 109.1 innings in 2018 represent his career high in that regard as a professional, and injuries limited him to just 58.0 frames last year. With better health, he should blow past the latter number this season, but don't expect him to suddenly be up among the league leaders in innings pitched.

Interim manager Ron Roenicke said Wednesday that Sale's recent bout with the flu turned into a mild case of pneumonia, though the lefty "feels really good" after completing a throwing session Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Sale is scheduled to throw again Wednesday at his home before reporting to Red Sox camp Friday, which offers some more reassurance about his health. Because of the physical toll the illness may have taken on his body, it's possible Sale is eased along more slowly than Boston's other rotation candidates. Per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, Roenicke noted that he wants all of his starters to get in six outings during spring training, so Sale will presumably get some competitive action in by the end of February.

The Rangers are being careful with Gibson, who lost strength last season while dealing with ulcerative colitis, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Gibson has been throwing his bullpen sessions and looks ready for spring training, but pitching coach Julio Rangel plans to take it "a day at a time." Rangel later added that he does not foresee any problems with Gibson, who is slated as a member of the rotation.

Sale is said to be fully healthy but is sick and will begin slowly to start spring training, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Sale had an encouraging appointment with Dr. James Andrews in December and was given permission to resume offseason preparations without any restrictions approaching spring training. The 30-year-old finished the 2019 season with a career-high 4.40 ERA and less than 11 wins for the first time in his career as a starter. Sale comfortably remains atop the Red Sox rotation and will look to bounce back strong after signing a five-year, $145 million contract extension last March.

The Dodgers agreed to a deal Sunday that sends Maeda and cash to the Twins in return for Brusdar Graterol, Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 draft, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Following the drama between the Red Sox and Twins involving Graterol's medical history, it was uncertain whether the 31-year-old would find a new home before spring training arrived. Maeda finished the 2019 season with a 4.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 169:51 K:BB across 26 starts. The veteran makes the move to another playoff contender and will likely compete for a spot near the top of the Twins' rotation during spring training.

McCullers enters training camp as the likely third starter, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros will use spring training to figure out which of several candidates will slot in behind Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke. McCullers, who is coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery that cost him all of 2019, will lead the pack of aspiring rotation members. The question is how deep he can go. The right-hander has never thrown more than 128.1 innings, but new manager Dusty Baker is hopeful. "We need McCullers back badly and have him a full year," Baker said. "I'm sure he's raring to go and, hopefully, will make it to a full year." Other pitchers with significant MLB experience are Brad Peacock and Austin Pruitt. Beyond McCullers, Peacock and Pruitt, the Astros will be looking at several young prospects.