MLB Player News

Basso has been shut down after being diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

There's no timetable for when Basso might be ready to return, but it is likely to be a lengthy absence for the left-hander. Basso -- who has thrown 4.1 scoreless and hitless innings this spring -- likely was going to start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas but will now be rehabbing the injury for the foreseeable future.

Priester might open the season in Boston's rotation if Brayan Bello (shoulder) needs time on the injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

It would likely be either Priester or Richard Fitts filling in for Bello, who is working his way back from a shoulder issue. Priester will make his third start this spring Tuesday after allowing one run with a 1:3 K:BB over four frames covering his first two outings. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Pirates at last year's trade deadline in the deal that sent Nick Yorke to Pittsburgh.

Fried tossed 2.1 innings in a Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh on Monday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two batters.

Fried's stat line in his first appearance in a Yankees uniform wasn't spectacular, though both runs that were charged to him crossed the plate after his third-inning exit. The southpaw threw 31 of his 49 pitches for strikes, with 29 of his offerings being four-seam fastballs and sinkers. Fried is penciled in to join Gerrit Cole atop the Yankees' rotation after signing an eight-year contract with New York during the offseason.

Skubal breezed through three scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. He allowed one hit and struck out three.

Through five innings this spring, Skubal has allowed only two singles and no walks to go along with four strikeouts. The lefty ace looks ready for the regular season, and he'll start the Tigers' Opening Day game March 27 against the Dodgers to kick things off. Skubal was the unanimous American League Cy Young Award winner in 2024 and should be one of the top pitchers in fantasy in 2025.

With Andrew Chafin joining the Tigers on a minor-league deal last month, Hurter's roster spot could be in jeopardy coming out of camp, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The lefty Hurter pitched well last year during his MLB debut, compiling a 2.58 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 45.1 regular-season innings. However, the 34-year-old Chafin has a lot more MLB experience, which could lead the Tigers to choose him as a southpaw for their bullpen to complement the likes of Tyler Holton and Sean Guenther. Hurter still probably has a leg up in the competition, though he'd likely feel more secure if he strung together some strong outings to wrap up the spring slate.

The Blue Jays optioned Macko (knee) to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Macko will get a late start to the minor-league season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last month to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. He's without a clear timeline to make his 2025 debut, but if Macko ends up being sidelined at least two months into the season, Toronto could recall him from Triple-A and place him on their 60-day injured list to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for another player.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Gil has been diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain and will not throw for at least six weeks, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Gil will basically be starting from scratch once he's ready to be built back up, so this is going to be a lengthy absence which seems likely to keep the right-hander sidelined for at least the first couple months of the season. Marcus Stroman is the obvious candidate to take Gil's spot in the Yankees' rotation, but Will Warren has impressed during spring training and also appears to be in the mix.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that deGrom will begin the season at "the back end" of the rotation, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

He's expected to make his first regular season start either March 30 versus the Cubs or March 31 against the Reds. DeGrom is considered healthy, but the Rangers are simply allowing the two-time Cy Young Award winner ample time to build up after he missed most of the last two seasons while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The 36-year-old will make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Rockies and will be built up to five innings by his final spring outing.

Scherzer struck out four without walking a batter over 3.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

The right-hander gave up a solo homer to Kody Clemens in the second inning, but it was the only baserunner Scherzer allowed. The 40-year-old has had a dominant start to camp, posting an 8:0 K:BB through 5.2 innings in two starts, and he seems intent on proving he still has something left in the tank after he was able to work only 43.1 innings for the Rangers in 2024 due to multiple injuries.

Buchanan (ankle) is scheduled to pitch in relief Monday in the Rangers' Cactus League game against the Royals, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Buchanan will be making his Cactus League debut, after he was delayed earlier in camp when he sprained his left ankle during one of the Rangers' first workouts of the spring. The 35-year-old right-hander worked primarily as a starter last season at the Triple-A level between stints in the Phillies and Reds organization, but a relief role likely represents his most realistic path to a spot on Texas' Opening Day roster. Buchanan is still viewed as a longshot to break camp with the big club and will most likely be ticketed for Triple-A Round Rock.