MLB Player News

Bundy said Saturday that he has been throwing his cutter the past two weeks, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

After featuring the pitch early in his career, Bundy strayed away from it in 2016 because he thought it was contributing to his injury issues. Now, after putting together a healthy season, surpassing 100 major league innings for the first time, the righty is looking to add the pitch back to his repertoire. If he can stay healthy, the added fourth pitch should help him show why he was once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

Quintana attended Friday's opening day of SoxFest, the White Sox unofficial kickoff to the season, before returning to Colombia on Saturday to prepare for the World Baseball Classic.

Several White Sox players and prospects are attending the three-day event, including Quintana, whose name has popped up in trade rumors during the offseason. After general manager Rick Hahn traded away Adam Eaton and Chris Sale -- essentially broadcasting the organization's desire to rebuild -- there has been much speculation about Quintana heading to another city. Hahn maintains he'll continue to explore ways to improve the team, but will wait until there is an appropriate return. In the meantime, he doesn't expect the uncertainty to bother Quintana.

Keuchel (shoulder) has been playing catch three times a week for the past few weeks, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 2015 AL Cy Young winner, who was shut down in late August last season due to shoulder inflammation, has been steadily progressing his offseason workouts and has thrown from 110-115 feet away. He struggled in 2016 before being shut down for the season, posting a 4.55 ERA across 168.0 innings.

Morton (hamstring) is "softly" in the Astros starting rotation for 2017, according to manager A.J. Hinch, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.

Morton signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Astros in November after a torn hamstring limited his 2016 season to four starts. The 33-year-old has been injury-prone in recent years, but it looks like he will get the chance to start once again. While Morton appears poised to break camp as the team's fifth starter, 24-year-old Joe Musgrove has more potential and may be a more intriguing option, as he finished 2016 with a 4.06 ERA over 11 games (10 starts) in Houston. Musgrove may begin the season in Triple-A, but he figures to make his way back to the majors at some point in 2017.

Manager Brad Ausmus confirmed over the weekend that Verlander will start Opening Day against the White Sox, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Verlander's appointment does not come as a surprise, as he will start Opening Day for the ninth time in his career -- the second-most times in team history, behind only Jack Morris. Verlander had one of the best seasons of his career in 2016, finishing 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 254:57 K:BB over 227.2 innings.

Rodriguez (knee) is expected to be 100 percent by the time spring training comes around, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

The left-hander injured his knee during a winter league game, although manager John Farrell doesn't seem too concerned about the ailment in the long run. There is a chance that Rodriguez begins the season in the minor leagues due to neither Drew Pomeranz or Steven Wright having minor league options remaining. However, the Red Sox still see the 23-year-old as a big part of their future, meaning he'll likely spend a considerable amount of time in the big leagues in 2017 regardless of where he starts the campaign.

Paxton agreed to a one-year deal with the Mariners on Friday, avoiding arbitration, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

This was Paxton's first year as an arbitration-eligible player. The terms of the agreement were not announced. He is a trendy breakout candidate this season, as he showed velocity gains and posted a 2.80 FIP in 20 starts last season, which was not reflected in his 3.79 ERA.

Smyly agreed to a one-year deal with the Mariners on Friday, avoiding arbitration, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

He was just traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle, in large part because the Rays did not want to pay him in arbitration. This was Smyly's second year as an arbitration-eligible player. The terms of the agreement were not announced. He should improve, at least slightly, on his numbers from last season with the Rays, and should receive more run support while spending less time in the harsh pitching conditions of the AL East.

Cobb and the Rays avoided arbitration Friday with a one-year, $4.2 million deal, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cobb's return from Tommy John surgery was less than ideal in 2016, as he allowed an 8.59 ERA in five starts. He could easily bounce back in 2017, but it could be a red flag for his recovery.

Gray agreed to a one-year, $3.575 million contract with the A's on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

Gray will receive a substantial raise (from $527,500) in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander struggled in 2016, posting a 5.69 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 117 innings, although his FIP was more than a full run lower than his ERA. He's again a prime trade candidate, but Gray will need to do his part and build his trade value back up with a better first half.