MLB Player News

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander might throw batting practice Monday, according to mlive.com.

Verlander was able to get through a 60 pitch bullpen session Friday. He came into camp recovering from offseason season muscle surgery, but appears to be inching closer to a return.

Verlander posted a 3.46 ERA in 218 1/3 innings last year.

Athletics starter Sonny Gray is encouraged with the progress of his changeup, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Gray tossed batting practice Friday, and got some good feedback from hitters on his changeup. He was primarily a two-pitch guy last season, relying on his fastball and curve. Adding an effective third pitch would go a long way toward establishing Gray as a top line starter. Gray used the changeup just 5.1% of the time last season.

Gray posted a 2.67 ERA in 64 innings. He's expected to open the year in the team's rotation.

The lucrative contract signed by Reds right-hander Homer Bailey might have sealed the fate of Indians ace Justin Masterson, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The two have recorded similar stats in recent years.

Bailey signed a six-year deal worth $105 million. Masterson avoided arbitration by accepting a one-year agreement for $9.76 million, but discussions on a long-term contract have not yielded success. He would seem to be destined for free agency after the 2014 season. The Indians are unlikely to match the years or money the Reds gave Bailey.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus is undecided on who will start opening day, according to MLB.com.

Justin Verlander has been the team's opening day starter in the past, but faces competition from both Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez. Ausmus mentioned all three members of his rotation will be considered for the opening day start. "You really have three legitimate Opening Day starter type pitchers on the roster," Ausmus said. 

Verlander is likely the favorite considering his track record, but he's expected to take it easy early in camp. If he can't ramp up his activities as the season nears, Sanchez or Scherzer could sneak in and take the role.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander felt good after throwing 54 pitches in his bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

"He felt good," manager Brad Ausmus said. "[Pitching coach] Jeff Jones said he looked good."

Verlander didn't face live hitters Tuesday with the rest of the Tiger pitchers, but he may get the chance to do so later in the week. His first spring-training start will also be delayed as he continues to recover from offseason muscle surgery.

Apparently, Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish is a jokester. Darvish released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying he was joking earlier in the day when he said he felt the Yankees overpaid for fellow Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.

"I am sorry if anyone took my comment seriously about Masahiro Tanaka at the press conference today," Darvish said in a press release. "I assumed by the reaction in the room that everyone knew I was joking."

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish was asked Tuesday about fellow Japanese hurler Masahiro Tanaka, who signed a seven-year, $155 million contract with the Yankees in January. Interestingly enough, Darvish didn't shy away from commenting about Tanaka's contract.

"I don't know too much about the new posting system, but I think the Yankees gave him too much," Darvish said, per MLB.com. "I think (Hiroki) Kuroda, (Hisashi) Iwakuma and I really helped him as far how the scouts and teams evaluated him."

The Indians have avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Justin Masterson by agreeing to a one-year deal, according to MLB.com. The deal is reportedly worth $9.76 million, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is not throwing live batting practice Tuesday, according to mlive.com.

Verlander is recoving from offseason muscle surgery, but has progressed well during spring training. The fact that he's not being used for live batting practice shouldn't be seen as a set-back. The team probably doesn't want him performing unnecessary work at this time. Verlander is still on track to toss a 45 to 50 pitch bullpen session Tuesday. His progress will be monitored closely during the spring, but he still been optimistic about his chances for opening day.

Verlander posted a 3.46 ERA in 218 1/3 innings last season.

Twins pitchers Samuel Deduno, Scott Diamond and Vance Worley are all out of options and are fighting for the final spot in the rotation. The Twins will have some tough choices to make, but Minnesota is open to the idea of keeping two of the pitchers on the roster -- one in the rotation and one in the bullpen.

"Anything is possible," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said, per The Star Tribune. "We’re going to try to take our best guys, and you don’t want to lose guys who you think can help you but that happens sometimes. They have to pitch themselves on to the team. They have to earn it."