MLB Player News

The Braves intend to have Hamels on the Opening Day roster but will proceed cautiously with the starter, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters Wednesday that Hamels should be on the roster for the July 23/24 opener. However, Anthopolous' statement comes with some caveats. O'Brien says that the team will be cautious with Hamels, and Mark Bowman of MLB.com notes that Hamels and the rest of the Braves starters will likely only go 3-to-4 innings in their first start or two of the regular season. Rosters will be expanded early on and the extra relievers will help make up the difference until workload restrictions are eased.

Hamels (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of the 2020 season, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

After inking a one-year, $18 million deal with Atlanta, Hamels "irritated" his throwing shoulder during an offseason workout. That took the original Opening Day off the table, but GM Alex Anthopoulos said Wednesday that Hamels is feeling good after the extended layoff and will get back onto a mound later this week to begin ramping up for the "new" July 23/24 Opening Day. The 36-year-old Hamels missed a sizable chunk of last year with an oblique issue but showed that he can still perform at a high level when healthy.

Taillon (elbow) completed a bullpen session at PNC Park on Tuesday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Now 10 months into his recovery from his second Tommy John surgery, Taillon looks to be progressing as expected now that he's taken another important step forward by getting back on the mound. The right-hander has already been ruled out for the 2020 season, but he'll likely to continue to stick around in Pittsburgh to have his rehab program monitored by the Pirates' medical staff. Taillon could be cleared to face hitters before the season ends, which would bode well for his chances of entering spring training without any major restrictions.

Anderson (knee) is back to full health and isn't expected to face any limitations when the Giants resume training, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Had the 2020 season started in late March as originally scheduled, Anderson likely would have been headed for the injured list, but MLB's three-plus-month layoff has afforded him ample recovery time from the knee surgery he required last June. The southpaw made all but two of his 73 career appearances with the Rockies as a starter, but he'll likely have to settle for a long-relief role if the Giants include him as part of their expanded roster when the season restarts.

Mikolas (forearm) has been among the players attending small informal workouts at Busch Stadium in recent weeks, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

That the veteran right-hander has been present and working out in some form bodes well for his chances of being available right from the start of any shortened 2020 season. Despite the regimented nature of the workouts -- assigned time slots, daily temperature checks, strict social distancing and no shower availability at the facility -- Mikolas understands the need for the protocols given the current health situation.

Wainwright, who was leaning toward making the 2020 season his last, is now much likelier to return in 2021 due to current circumstances, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

In his response to a reader question about the veteran right-hander's future beyond this year, Hummel notes Wainwright has recently been talking about the possibility of playing next year during the current shutdown. The chances of a return probably go up exponentially if the 2020 season is wiped out altogether, but even in the event of a 55-to-60-game campaign this year, the physical toll on Wainwright's arm will naturally be a fraction of what it would have been under normal circumstances. However, the 38-year-old is slated for unrestricted free agency next offseason, so it remains to be seen if Wainwright's perception of his value will align with that of the Cardinals or the open market overall.

Wainwright was one of several players to attend a workout at Busch Stadium on Wednesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "It was fun to be out there competing again," Wainwright said. "I had a blast working counts against those two really good players. I was just out there playing chess. Pitching is still so fun."

Wainwright and fellow hurler Kwang-Hyun Kim were on hand for the first opportunity to face live hitters in over two months, with the pair of pitchers throwing batting practice to Kolten Wong and Paul DeJong. The veteran right-hander has kept his arm in shape during the shutdown by playing catch with Kim regularly, and recent reports had the duo throwing from 300 feet out. The fact Wainwright now has access to the amenities at Busch Stadium should help in his quest to continue maintaining his condition ahead of a possible 2020 season.

Oviedo, who posted a 3.18 ERA and recorded seven strikeouts over 5.2 Grapefruit League innings before spring training was suspended, is believed capable of thriving as either a late-inning reliever or starter, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Oviedo's spring performance turned heads, and it was particularly encouraging considering his first taste of Double-A Springfield last season was somewhat of a mixed bag. The stocky 22-year-old pitched to an elevated 5.65 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 113.0 innings, but his 10.0 K/9 over his two minor-league stops led the organization. Oviedo also placed an emphasis on diet and nutrition this offseason, leading to a 10.0 percent drop in body fat and increased stamina. Oviedo has been projected by many as a good middle-of-the-rotation prospect due to an arsenal that includes a 98-mph fastball, but Goold notes that power could also make him a late-inning relief candidate as early as this season, given expanded rosters and likely need for extra arms.

Liberatore is considered a potential future ace by multiple scouts in the Cardinals organization, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 20-year-old southpaw already impressed at two different stops in the minors with the Rays organization, and Goold says the Cardinals' consensus seems to be Liberatore is a front-of-the-rotation talent. Liberatore has already been labeled as the safest prep pitching prospect in recent years by Baseball America, with his four-pitch arsenal, command and delivery affording him considerable upside. Like many around baseball, Liberatore, who was likely ticketed for Double-A Springfield this year, will see his overall development temporarily hampered by the likely lack of a 2020 minor-league season; however, the 2018 first-round pick would presumably be a part of any baseball activities the Cardinals may organize for their minor leaguers.

Castillo was able to work out individually at Great American Ballpark on Wednesday for the first time since the facilities closed due to the COVID-19 crisis, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Both Great American Ballpark and the Reds facilities in Arizona have partially re-opened, without coaches and only for players that are in town. It's not much, but it's a start for some players.