MLB Player News

Montas (ribs) was placed on the 60-day DL on Sunday, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports.

Montas underwent surgery on Feb. 12 to remove his right rib, and it's expected to sideline him for up to two-to-four months. The Dodgers seemed more convinced that Montas would require the long end of that timetable to recover from the procedure, as the move to the 60-day DL ensures that Montas can't be activated before June 2. Newly signed Cuban prospect Yasiel Sierra will take Montas' place on the Dodgers' 40-man roster.

Finnegan is among a slew of young pitchers contending for a Reds rotation spot to begin the season, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The only two spots accounted for are Raisel Iglesias and Anthony DeSclafani, with Homer Bailey and John Lamb not projected to be ready for the start of the season. Among those that Finnegan will be competing with include Jon Moscot, Michael Lorenzen, Robert Stephenson, Jonathan Sanchez and Tim Melville.

While Reds manager Bryan Price isn't willing to name his Opening Day starter yet, DeSclafani is the leading candidate, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

DeSclafani and Raisel Iglesias are the only two starters locked into the rotation to begin the season. "It's obviously crossed my mind, but I don't want that just handed to me, I want to go out there and have to earn it," DeSclafani said on Saturday. "If I go out there and pitch well in spring training and at the end of the day, they think I've earned it, that's one thing. I don't want to assume anything and that's not how I'm going to go about it because I don't like having things handed to me."

Eickhoff (thumb) said his tentative plan is to throw off a mound within the next week, the PhillyVoice reports.

Eickhoff suffered a small fracture to his right thumb during a bunting drill last week. Manager Pete Mackanin said the injury will set Eickhoff back a little, but the team currently expects him to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Ryu threw a "low intensity" bullpen session on Thursday, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports.

Ryu is still recovering from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. His bullpen session included approxmiately 35 pitches. The Dodgers don't have a timetable for his return yet, but are hoping Ryu will be ready for Opening Day. It is a situation worth monitoring throughout spring training.

Eickhoff suffered a small fracture on his right thumb, but thinks he will be fine to start the season, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports.

Eickhoff had been previously slated to open the season in the rotation, but this could change things. It mostly depends on when Eickhoff can return to the mound in spring training, as the Phillies aren't likely to trot him out without at least a few tune-up starts. Whenever he does return, he'll be trying to show that his 51 innings of 2.65 ERA and 1.039 WHIP in 2015 were no fluke.

Cole (ribs) declined to answer a question regarding whether he will be ready for Opening Day on Friday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The injury is considered to be minor, but it's never good news when a pitcher reveals an injury during the first day of camp. "It's a modified throwing program at this point," Cole said of his injury. "I'm not too far behind everybody else. I feel good. I'm just trying to execute the throwing program right now and will throw off the mound early next week." Cole went on the disabled twice in 2014 with a lat strain and shoulder fatigue but stayed healthy last season.

Cole has been dealing with right rib inflammation and is limited to throwing on flat ground for now, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

It sounds like any missed time will come only during spring training, so worries surrounding Cole should be minor as of now. It will be worth checking on in the future though, considering the possible reward Cole can bring after a breakout year in 2015 with 19 wins and a 2.60 ERA in 208 innings.

Sampson is likely to begin the season in a bullpen role, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Twelve of Sampson's 13 appearances last season came as a starter, but it looks as though the Reds will transition him into a bullpen role after he posted a 6.54 ERA and 1.78 WHIP across 52.1 innings in 2015. Sampson likely isn't locked in as a reliever for the entire season, but the Reds have a handful of other arms battling for rotation spots, so he'd likely have a difficult time working his way into the mix and finding consistent starts.

Martinez (shoulder) threw off a mound for the second time Wednesday, MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports. "I feel strong, and I think my shoulder is good," Martinez said.

With a shoulder injury designation next to his name all offseason, it would be understandable to be wary of the 24-year-old righty, but it sounds like everything is on track for him to be ready to pitch in games during spring training. Coming off an exceptional first full season in the Cardinals rotation, Martinez might have another level to reach in 2016, and can safely be treated as a low-end SP2 or high-end SP3 in mixed league drafts this offseason.