MLB Player News

Kershaw indicated Sunday that he does not plan to retire following the 2021 season, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw's contract runs only through the current campaign, but the left-hander said he has plenty left in the tank and that he hopes to continue with the Dodgers next year and beyond. Though Kershaw has already compiled enough accolades to be a surefire future Hall of Famer, he is only 32 years old and is coming off a campaign in which he posted a 2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 62:8 K:BB over 58.1 innings in addition to claiming his first World Series championship. It's hard to imagine the lifelong Dodger in any other uniform, especially given the deep pockets possessed by the organization.

Buehler hasn't had a recurrence of his blister problem since October, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Of course, the young right-hander has been in offseason mode since the Dodgers won the World Series last fall, so the fact that the blister hasn't re-formed doesn't necessarily mean that the issue is a thing of the past. Buehler acknowledged as much, saying that the problem is "always gonna be a wait-and-see thing." If the 26-year-old is able to stay healthy throughout the campaign, he has the tools to be one of the league's top starters and a top-10 fantasy option at the position.

Paddack has been focusing on the mechanics of his delivery in an attempt to improve his fastball command, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After a strong rookie campaign in 2019, Paddack struggled with a 4.73 ERA in 2020 due largely to a four-seamer that opponents combined to hit .308 against. By contrast, hitters batted only .187 against Paddack's changeup, so improving his fastball command could be the key to a return to form for the 25-year-old. The right-hander is also working on his curveball and cutter, which he threw only 10.8 percent of the time combined last season. Paddack should open the campaign in the Padres' rotation, but he'll likely need to show more effectiveness than he did last season to remain in that role given the number of available starting options lined up behind him.

Peterson may not begin the season in the rotation due to workload concerns and the Mets' offseason additions, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Peterson was excellent in the 2020 campaign, pitching primarily as a starter and posting a 3.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 40:24 K:BB across 49.2 innings. However, his relatively low workload could convince the Mets to start him in the bullpen or minor leagues. While his workload will be monitored regardless of his role with the club, Peterson will have the chance to compete with Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yamamoto, Jerad Eickhoff and Sean Reid-Foley for a spot in the rotation.

Rockies bullpen coach Darryl Scott said that Gray (shoulder) has been a full go at spring training, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Gray was shut down in September and spent the offseason in a maintenance program for the shoulder injury. Scott noted that Gray's shoulder "feels great" and that he is throwing all of his pitches. After posting a 6.69 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 39 innings in 2020, Gray will look to bounce back with full health once again.

Lucchesi went to Driveline during the offseason in an effort to smooth his delivery and better his mechanics, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Lucchesi said the focus of his sessions at Driveline included work on his lead, his front side and shoulder mobility. He's coming off a disappointing 2020 season, when he threw only 5.2 innings and was regularly placed at the alternate site. Though he's not a lock for the rotation, Lucchesi should have a chance for an increased role with the Mets this season and will look to regain his 2019 form, when he posted a 4.18 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 163.2 frames.

Syndergaard (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Friday.

The move means Syndergaard won't be returning to a big-league mound until the start of June at the earliest, though that was always the expectation as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent last March. He'll vacate his spot on the 40-man roster, clearing space for new signing Taijuan Walker.

Gallen led the majors last season in the percentage of pitches landing on the edges of the strike zone, David Adler of MLB.com reports.

Gallen's stuff isn't overpowering, but his ability to skirt the edges of the zone, particularly early in the count, enabled him to be effective. Former pitching great Orel Hershiser, who is a color analyst for the Dodgers, likened his ability to command the edges to that of another pitching great, Greg Maddux, during an outing in which Gallen was shutting down the Dodgers. The ability to get to two strikes early sets up put-away pitches, which are typically outside the zone but not far enough for batters to take. Gallen posted a 2.75 ERA and 1.11 WHIP while fanning 10.2 per nine innings with stuff that Hershiser described as "nothing overwhelming, but fantastic edgy pitching." He or Madison Bumgarner are the leading candidates to be the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter.

Oviedo is considered a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation as spring training opens, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

The towering right-hander has already drawn some praise since arriving at spring training following a somewhat uneven first taste of the big leagues late last season. Oviedo made five starts from Aug. 19 to Sept. 16, posting an 0-3 record, 5.47 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 24.2 innings. Oviedo is arguably the longest-shot candidate of an array of contenders for the No. 5 spot that includes more accomplished hands Carlos Martinez, Daniel Ponce de Leon and Alex Reyes; the fact he'd never pitched about the Double-A level -- and struggled there -- before the 2020 minor-league season was suspended supports the notion he's more likely to begin the season at an affiliate as opposed to the big-league club.

Strasburg (hand) threw off a mound Friday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Strasburg is on track for a normal spring after missing most of the 2020 season due to a hand injury that eventually required surgery. Manager Dave Martinez said that the right-hander looked good and didn't have any issues following his throwing session Friday. Strasburg is in "preparation mode, not rehabilitation mode" to begin spring training, and he'll attempt to remain healthy ahead of the regular season.