MLB Player News

Alcantara, a non-roster invitee to spring training and promising prospect, has made impressive physical strides over the last year, Jose de Jesus Oritz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "He's a specimen," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "This guy is impressive in how he's developed over the last year. A year ago you just saw a very thin (player who) just still looked kind of like a kid. He looks like a man who has taken the next step. Watching his athleticism, watching the way he moves, watching how he handles just his disposition and his mound disposition as well, there's a lot of things that he's improved on over the last year."

Alcantara firmly remains a developmental project after compiling a 5-11 record over 23 starts between Low-A Peoria and High-A Palm Beach in 2016, but has undeniably eye-opening stuff. The 21-year-old boasts a 100-mph fastball, a changeup that tops out at about 90 mph, a sharp-breaking curve and an effective sinker. That arsenal helped produce 153 whiffs over 122.2 innings last season, although Alcantara offset those impressive numbers with 59 walks, an area in which he clearly has room for improvement. Given his skill set and potential, Alcantara will be one of the more intriguing non-roster invitees to monitor in Cardinals' camp, and could well start the 2017 campaign at the Double-A level with a strong spring training effort.

Wheeler (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday at about 85-to-90 percent effort, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Wheeler threw a little harder than he did in his previous bullpen session Sunday, a sign that he's continuing to make strides in the recovery process from March 2015 Tommy John surgery. The Mets still seem content to proceed slowly with Wheeler throughout the spring, but the right-hander hasn't been ruled out for Opening Day.

The Reds hope to use a four-man closer committee in 2017, one Lorenzen will be a component.

Raisel Iglesias and Drew Storen appear to be the primary alternatives, followed by Lorenzen and Tony Cingrani. "I would really like to see this particular game plan we have in place work out," manager Bryan Price said on Sunday. "We want to look at the end of the year and we see Storen and Iglesias and Lorenzen, in particular, with some saves. That may mean Cingrani as well, if he's the best guy we have for that situation in the ninth inning.

Clemens could still make the Opening Day roster as a reliever if he doesn't earn a rotation spot this spring, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The Padres look to be taking a "best available" approach to their arms this spring, looking to simply fill roles with the best talent they have at their disposal. Clemens did well as a starter last season (3.67 ERA in 12 starts) and he will start the team's Cactus League opener Saturday, but the bullpen is not out of the question for the 29-year-old.

Cole threw two innings of live batting practice Tuesday, a sign that he's finally healthy at the start of a spring training, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "I've learned how to deal with some adversity, so hopefully I'm better for it," Cole said.

He's faced spring training setbacks in both of the last two camps. Cole is coming off his worst professional season -- he compiled a 3.88 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 116 innings -- and landed on the DL three separate occasions.

Cueto, who has been working out in the Dominican Republic while taking care of his ill father, is expected to report to spring training over the weekend after obtaining a visa for his father, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area reports.

Although he was working out in a Giants' facility in the DR, manager Bruce Bochy felt it was getting a little late into spring for his stud pitcher and asked him to report, along with his father. Cueto's status for the World Baseball Classic is still up in the air, with his father's health serving as another possible reason why he wouldn't participate (along with not preparation). Whether or not he'll play for his home country should become more clear once he reports to the Scottsdale.

Corbin is currently listed one of the team's five members of the starting rotation on the D-backs' official site.

Archie Bradley and Braden Shipley are listed behind Corbin, who may be destined for the bullpen depending on how the competition for the final two spots in the rotation plays out. Shelby Miller, who listed as the team's fourth starter, will also have to earn his spot this spring, but the most likely scenarios include Corbin moving to the bullpen and Bradley beginning the season back at Triple-A Reno if the starters atop the depth chart remain healthy between now and Opening Day.

Lugo will get the nod for the Mets on Friday in their Grapefruit League opener against the Red Sox, Newsday reports.

The team plans to hold back their established starters at the beginning of the spring due to the extended time in camp created by the WBC schedule, affording pitchers like Lugo more chances to show they belong. The 27-year-old is fighting with Robert Gsellman for the fifth starter spot on the Opening Day roster, while the Mets wait for Zack Wheeler (elbow) to prove he's ready to take on a full workload.

Cueto, who is still in the Dominican Republic taking care of his ailing father, may not be ready to participate in the World Baseball Classic, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Although there is no doubt Cueto will be ready to start the season, his late start to spring training may hold him back from playing in the World Baseball Classic, which starts March 9th. He is currently working out in the DR, and has thrown live bullpen sessions on schedule with the pitchers actually at camp for the Giants, but he still hasn't had time to prepare under the supervision of pitching coach Dave Righetti, which worries San Francisco. The two are trying to work things out currently, but if Cueto doesn't report to camp shortly, it may not be surprising to see him held out of the WBC.

Clemens will take the hill in the Padres' first Cactus League game on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

With San Diego's pitching staff shaping up to be near the bottom of the league in terms of talent, Clemens will have a great opportunity Saturday to boost his candidacy for a back-end rotation spot. The 29-year-old journeyman made 12 starts for the Padres in 2016, posting a 3.67 ERA in 61.1 innings of work. His effectiveness will likely come down to whether he can demonstrate improved command of his curveball, which has given him issues at times in the past.