MLB Player News

Red Sox starting pitcher Wade Miley made his first official spring start Monday against the Cardinals after making a start last week against Boston College. Miley tossed three scoreless innings Monday, allowing three hits and two walks. He struck out two.

Miley seemed to credit a lot of his success Monday to catcher Christian Vazquez, per The Boston Herald.

“That's the big key to why he's going to be so good, he's a young leader,” Miley said. “He's going to lead. He's the only guy that sees the whole field. He understands what he needs to do. And like I said, he does an unbelievable job behind the plate. He has some of the best hands I've ever seen.

“We've been in contact, and it's been the same way when I got here. He wants to pick my brain and I want to pick his. The sooner you get on the same page, the better off you are.”

Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said Monday the team will make an announcement Wednesday regarding their plans for injured starting pitcher Yu Darvish, per MLB.com. It was revealed Saturday that Darvish has torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and could need Tommy John surgery.

Darvish flew to New York on Monday to get a second opinion from Dr. David Altcheck, who is the Mets' medical director. He will be evaluated Tuesday.

"He's flying today, he's going to meet with them tomorrow and that will give us a chance to regroup once we get the information," Levine said.

The Rangers estimate Darvish wouldn't throw for six weeks, even if surgery isn't necessary. Darvish, who left his spring debut Thursday after one inning, missed the final six weeks of the 2014 season due to elbow inflammation. 

While the Rays are not overly concerned about Drew Smyly's left shoulder tendinitis, the team is formulating a contingency plan in the event he is not ready by the start of the season, per The Tampa Tribune.

Nathan Karns, Matt Andriese, Burch Smith and Alex Colome -- who are all competing for the final spot in the team's rotation -- could be stopgap options in case Smyly begins the year on the disabled list. 

Manager Kevin Cash added Everett Teaford  and Enny Romero, who appear to be two pitchers headed for Triple-A, could also be options, if they pitch well this spring.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton is scheduled to make his spring debut March 17, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Paxton threw his first official bullpen session Friday and reported no soreness in his forearm. If he can start March 17 as scheduled, he'd be in line to make four spring starts before the start of the season.

The Yankees have come the closest of any team to landing Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels in trade discussions this offseason, the Boston Globe reports.

The Yankees are reported to have offered a package of prospects that has given the Phillies a baseline for future talks. Hamels has stopped discussing trade possibilities and indicated he was looking forward to pitching for a contender again.

Hamels went 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA and 198:59 K:BB ratio in 204 2/3 innings last season.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that pitcher Drew Smyly has been slowed by shoulder tendinitis, not his offseason finger injury, the Tampa Tribune reports.

Cash added that "it's fair to say there is concern" when asked if Smyly would be ready for the start of the regular season. It was reported Saturday that Smyly was tentatively expected to throw a simulated game Monday and make his spring debut Saturday. If that timetable changes, the team may have to plan to be without the pitcher in the initial rotation.

Smyly said Sunday that the issue is nothing serious and that he'll resume throwing after a few days of rest.

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly is behind schedule this spring while recovering from a finger injury that kept him out of workouts for much of the winter, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

The team is staying cautious with Smyly, and he doesn't know when exactly he will pitch. For now, Smyly is tentatively scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday and make his spring debut Saturday against the Orioles. It would allow him up to five spring training starts.

Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt worked two scoreless innings, allowing just one baserunner in his first appearance this spring. Bassitt was pushing himself more than he usually does Saturday, trying to work a bit quicker, reports MLB.com.

"I haven't had that in a long time," Bassitt said. "It was nerve-wracking, exciting, whatever you want to call it, because you want to put your best foot forward. No one really knows you yet, and this is when it starts counting in games."

Bassitt is just focusing on being able to throw strikes and trying to block everything else out.

"I'm really making a conscious effort this year, and I've been preached about it a long time. Just don't beat yourself. No walks," Bassitt said. "I don't really care about the score. If I don't walk anyone, I really feel like I like the odds."

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale discussed his foot injury for the first time Saturday, saying the swelling has gone down since it first occurred, reports MLB.com.

"It's progressing. Most of the swelling is out of there. The bruising is coming up to the surface, but we're right on track, I guess," said Sale. "I'm just doing what I'm told, and they keep saying it's getting better and looking better."

Sale was originally expected to miss three weeks with the injury and is using the time off to prepare his arm for the season.

"I'm doing everything I can. It's gonna react how its gonna react, and we're gonna plan accordingly," Sale said. "My arm is fine. I can get my arm ready in a week or two. I don't think that's an issue. It's mainly the body.

White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon is feeling strong and cofident after making his first start of spring training Friday, reports MLB.com.

"If it's up to me, I feel like I'm ready," Rodon said. "It's a decision they have to make. It doesn't matter what I think sometimes."

Rodon, who struck out four in two shutout innings Friday, feels that he benefited from going to college instead of coming to the league straight out of high school.

"I've talked about this with a lot of people," Rodon said. "A guy is coming out of high school, he needs three to five years to develop. College guys have more makeup, understand what he needs to do himself, how to keep his composure. We are going to be more ready, that's a good way to put that, than a high school guy."