MLB Player News

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon indicated that will stick to the original plan and have starting pitcher James Paxton (forearm) throw his first bullpen session on Friday, reports MLB.com. 

Rays manager Kevin Cash announced Wednesday starting pitcher Alex Cobb will start the season opener on April 6 against Baltimore.

"There's a lot of things on your short list of career highlights that you can say you've done," Cobb said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "Obvioiusly, with being in the World Series and winning the World Series being at the top. Being an opening day starter falls somewhat shorter than that, but it's right up on that list."

Cash also announced Cobb will be followed in the rotation by Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi. The team will choose a fifth starter this spring.

"He was extremely excited," Cash said of Cobb. "I kind of expected him to say, 'Yeah, OK, whatever,' but he was pumped. And you look back and you're like, 'Man, he's had some good pitchers here that maybe he's had to wait in turn for (James) Shields and (David) Price and those guys. I think he looks at it as being an honor, because there have been some good ones here in the past that have done it."

The Twins have tabbed pitcher Kyle Gibson for the start on Thursday, according to MLB.com.

Gibson is coming off a season in which he posted a 4.47 ERA over 179 1/3 innings. He's expected to open the year in the team's rotation. It's unclear how long Gibson will pitch in the spring opener. 

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale told reporters he's a fan of MLB's new pace of play rules which will be introduced this season, according to ESPN. MLB is also experimenting a 20-second pitch clock, which will be rolled out at spring training along with Triple-A and Double-A games for now.

"I like it; get the ball and throw it," Sale said. "It's pretty simple. This is a culture and generation of right now. People don't feel like sitting through four-hour games. We are not too fond of them either. Anything to pick up the pace and get it going will be good."

Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez, who underwent Tommy John surgery last May, is taking a few days off from throwing as a precaution, according to the Star-Telegram. Perez's off days were established into his throwing program to prevent soreness.

Perez is targeting a mid-season return.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Tuesday starting pitcher James Paxton (forearm) felt great after playing catch Monday, per The Seattle Times. Paxton will long toss Tuesday.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan believes pitcher Kyle Gibson can get to the next level, according to the Star Tribune.

"The guy has too good of stuff not to be more consistent," Ryan said. "I don’t think it’s 'if' he makes another jump. He’s going to make a jump. It’s a matter of how high."

Gibson showed flashes of promise in 2014. While his overall numbers were just average, Gibson was solid during the first half of the year. He posted a 3.92 ERA over 101 innings to start the year, but struggled with a 5.17 ERA in the second half. Gibson said the reason for his success last year had to do with execution.

"The reason for the jump was my focus on executing pitches," Gibson said. "In 2013 I got caught up in all the information and the scouting reports instead of realizing this is the pitch I need to execute so let’s execute it."

Gibson said he's hoping to increase his strikeout rate this season, but wants to make sure he can still retain his strong ground ball rate. The 27-year-old posted a 4.47 ERA over 179 1/3 innings last season. 

The Red Sox and Phillies have not made progress on a deal for pitcher Cole Hamels, according to the Boston Herald. 

The Red Sox have been mentioned as a contender for Hamels in the past, but the club is hesitant to give up their top prospects for the pitcher. Though Phillies' special assistant to the general manager Charley Kerfeld was spotted at Red Sox facilities on Monday, two sources told the Herald that no progress has been made on a deal. 

The Phillies are said to covet either Mookie Betts or Blake Swihart, but Boston has refused to include either player in a deal.

Hamels, 31, posted a 2.46 ERA over 204 2/3 innings last year.

The White Sox have named pitcher Jose Quintana their starter for Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, according to the Chicago Sun Times. 

Brad Penny, Tyler Danish, Nolan Sanburn and Zach Putnam are also slated to pitch in Wednesday's game. In 2014, Quintana went 9-11 and posted a 3.32 ERA. 

Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton (forearm) said Monday he feels great and ready to go after playing catch, per MLB.com. The plan is for Paxton to play catch again Tuesday and throw a bullpen Friday.