MLB Player News

Blackburn will start the Athletics' first Cactus League game Thursday against the Mariners, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

There's a decent chance the game gets rained out, but if it goes on as planned, Blackburn will toe the rubber first for Oakland. This is encouraging given that the right-hander missed the second half of the 2018 season due to elbow tendinitis. With his health woes seemingly behind him, Blackburn can focus on trying to win a major-league rotation spot. He would seems like a bit of a long shot given his 4.48 career ERA.

Gonzales is scheduled to start Thursday against the A's, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Weather permitting -- it's supposed to rain in Arizona on Thursday -- the southpaw is slated to pitch two innings during Thursday's Cactus League opener before giving way to Justus Sheffield. Gonzales, who posted a 4.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 145:32 K:BB across 29 starts (166.2 innings) last season, is a candidate to take the ball for the Mariners on Opening Day following the offseason departure of James Paxton.

Glasnow has been working to quicken his delivery to home plate in the early stages of spring training and has seen his fastball hover around 98.7 miles per hour in his initial bullpen sessions, according to manager Kevin Cash, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Already touted for his premium velocity after sporting an average fastball of 96.5 mph in 2018, per Statcast, Glasnow is now hoping the offering is even tougher for hitters to catch up with while simultaneously stymieing the running game. Opponents nabbed 21 steals on Glasnow in just 111.2 innings a season ago, so even if the added velocity doesn't directly translate to more strikeouts, it could at least reduce the opportunities for baserunners to reach scoring position. In order for the delivery change to be a net benefit, however, Glasnow, who is projected to serve as the Rays' No. 3 starter this season, will need to ensure he doesn't sacrifice any control as a result. As the owner of an exorbitant 12.5 percent career walk rate, Glasnow can't afford to take another step back in that regard.

Mejia will be stretched out as a starter during spring training, manager Rocco Baldelli told Skor North 1500 am Twin Cities.

It's possible that Mejia could be moved to the bullpen eventually or may begin the season in the rotation at Triple-A, but he'll begin spring in the competition for the fifth starter job. He's a long shot to win a rotation spot and will need to show he's healthy after his 2018 season ended in August due to nerve irritation in his elbow.

Rodon is the leading candidate to start Opening Day in Kansas City on Mar. 28, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After a delayed start in 2018 due to his recovery from shoulder surgery, Rodon pitched like an ace for much of the summer. The left-hander went 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA and .151 batting-average against over nine starts between July 5 and Aug. 27, but Rodon fell apart in six September starts (1-5, 9.22 ERA). There were underlying numbers to indicate his summer stretch was unsustainable -- .176 BABIP, 3.90 FIP, 4.77 xFIP, 3.8 BB/9 -- but that horrible September is not an accurate picture. The White Sox are anxious to see how the 26-year-old performs from March to September, given Rodon's full offseason of health.

Severino signed a four-year, $40 million contract with the Yankees on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal buys out Severino's remaining arbitration years and also includes a fifth-year club option for 2023. The right-hander -- who turns 25 on Feb. 20 -- made about $600,000 in 2018 and had a 3.18 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 as a full-time starter for the Yankees over the past two seasons. Severino is once again expected to serve as New York's Opening Day starter in 2019.

Giolito underwent 20 sessions of neurofeedback during the offseason in an effort to improve his breathing and stay relaxed, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that uses an individual's brainwaves to teach self-regulation of brain function. Giolito explored this technique as a way to combat early-inning adversity that snowballed on him. "That's what plagued me, those outings in the first two innings I'm already giving up four, five runs, letting it snowball and get away from me,'' Giolito said Thursday. "Getting rid of those, building some consistency as a starting pitcher - I know I have the stuff to do it.'' The 24-year-old right-hander had a 9.00 and 9.60 ERA in the first and second innings, respectively, while walking 45 batters in 62 innings. That early adversity led to an MLB-worst 6.13 ERA among qualified starters and an AL-high 90 walks.

Kremer strained his left oblique a couple weeks ago and isn't expected to throw for another two weeks, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

The injury was apparently incurred as the pitching prospect was working out in preparation for spring training. Kremer and the team seem to be downplaying the severity of the issue, though oblique injuries are notorious for having somewhat lengthy recovery times. A more concrete timetable for return will likely come forth once he's able to get back to throwing.

Manager Aaron Boone said Severino is expected to start for the Yankees on Opening Day, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

This comes as no surprise. The soon-to-be 25-year-old will be making his second consecutive Opening Day start. He finished the 2018 campaign with a 3.39 ERA and 10.3 K/9 across 32 starts (191.1 innings). Severino will likely be followed in the rotation by James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia.

Cole will make $13.5 million in 2019 after winning his arbitration case against the Astros on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Cole was excellent for Houston last season, posting a 2.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 276:64 K:BB in 200.1 innings. As a result, the right-hander will get his way in arbitration, earning more than the $11.425 million figure the Astros proposed. With the contract situation out of the way, Cole can focus his efforts on preparing for the 2019 season as one of the Astros' top starters.