MLB Player News

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto is willing to negotiate a new contract until opening day. It seems the Reds are on the same page with Cueto, with hopes of locking the right-hander up to a long-term extension.

The Boston Globe reports that reaching a new deal with Cueto is the goal for Cincinnati. However, if the Reds are unable to do so, it's possible the Reds look to trade Cueto by the July 31 deadline.

Cueto is entering the final year of a five-year, $36.2 million deal. He recorded a 2.25 ERA and 242:65 K:BB ratio over 243 2/3 innings in 2014.

Although Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro would not reveal the four teams that made an offer for pitcher Cole Hamels, the Red Sox were reportedly one of the teams, a source told The Boston Globe. 

The Phillies are targeting minor-league prospects for Hamels, with reports indicating the Red Sox are unwilling to trade their top prospects. Hamels went 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA in 2014 and is due $96 million over the next four seasons.

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha threw his fifth bullpen session of the spring Friday and first since he arrived at the team's spring complex in Florida, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“I definitely wanted to come into spring training ready to go,” Wacha said. “Obviously, I’m not going full-out bullpen right there. I was real happy with the way the ball was coming out. The way the pitches were looking and coming along. There’s still a bunch of work left. It’s definitely making good progress.

“The ball is coming out right, and I’m happy with that. I want to continue to get stronger during spring training, getting all of those pitches back, getting the command down. I felt good. I feel strong when I’m on the mound. The arm has been bouncing back, well, something that I’m really happy with at this point. Everything has been going well.”

Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward has been an early participant in spring workouts this week at the team's spring training complex in Florida, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

"For me, right now, it’s good to get a sweat, get workouts in, come in on a daily basis, get in our routine and the groove of things so everything naturally jells together before spring training starts," Heyward said Thursday.

Heyward is one of a handful of players in Jupiter who were on the practice field Thursday for an informal Cardinals workout. Among the other St. Louis players reporting to camp early are veterans Adam Wainwright, catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Matt Holliday.

The Phillies have received four "real" offers for pitcher Cole Hamels, according to CSN.

Eight teams have kicked the tires on Hamels, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., but the team has only received four real offers for the pitcher. Amaro did not reveal which teams have made a run at the 31-year-old pitcher.

It was reported early on Wednesday that the Padres attempted to deal for Hamels prior to signing James Shields, but it's unclear if Amaro considered their offer to be legitimate. Amaro did say that he would consider a deal for Hamels if he thought it was fair. "If there was an offer commensurate to what we believe is [Hamels’] value we would strongly consider it."

Hamels is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.46 ERA over 204 2/3 innings. He's owed $96 million over the next four seasons. 

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is ready for the added pressure that will come after his strong rookie season, according to the New York Daily News.

"I try not to put that pressure on me," deGrom said. He did, however, admit that there will likely be more expectations from external sources. "Yeah, I try not to think about it. But I think there’ll be a little more and I’m sure I’ll put a little more pressure on myself," he added. "But I’m going to try not to."

The 26-year-old posted a 2.69 ERA over 140 1/3 innings last year. His performance earned him the NL Rookie of the Year award. 

Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin is playing catch from 105 feet, according to MLB.com.

Corbin is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and is already in Arizona at the team's spring training facility. He was actually able to play catch at the end of last season, but decided to take two months off during the offseason. He started throwing again in January. 

"When I first started throwing, it wasn't feeling the best, there was just different things in there," Corbin said. "But after I took those two months off, when I started up again, everything felt great. Now when I throw, it feels good."

The typical recovery from Tommy John is about 12 months, but the Diamondbacks will take things slower after seeing pitcher Daniel Hudson re-tear his UCL after trying to return too quickly from the surgery. 

Corbin will continue to participate in a throwing program until he's able to comfortably throw from 150 feet. At that point, he'll be able to start throwing flat ground bullpen sessions. Corbin said he's probably looking at a June return, but could push to move quickly once he gets back on a mound. "Everybody is telling me that they're going to take it slow and it will be somewhere around June," he said. "We'll just see how it starts going when I actually get back on a mound."

Pirates starting pitcher Vance Worley won his arbitration case and will earn a $2.45 million salary in 2015, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. The Pirates had proposed a $2 million salary.

After overcoming some injury issues that plagued him in 2013 with the Twins, Worley bounced back in a big way in 2014 -- his first season with the Pirates. He went 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 18 outings (17 starts).

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. expects to have pitcher Cole Hamels in camp, according to ESPN.

Hamels has been subject to trade rumors all offseason, but it appears he'll start camp with the Phillies. "I would expect him to be in spring training with the Phillies," Amaro said. "And I would expect him to be our opening day starter." Amaro added that his prediction could change based on a phone call or two, but expects Hamels to be in Phillies camp for now. 

Amaro admitted to talking to teams about Hamels, but said they haven't settled on the right deal yet. "There are teams interested -- and should be -- in a guy like Cole. But clearly, we haven't gotten to the finish line with those teams," Amaro added.

Part of the issue might be Hamels' contract. The 31-year-old is set to earn $96 million over the next four years. The Phillies reportedly don't want to pay much of that out, but that could lead to them receiving lesser offers for Hamels. Hamels also has a partial no-trade clause, allowing him to block a deal to eight different clubs. 

Hamels is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.46 ERA over 204 2/3 innings. 

Padres manager Bud Black laid out his approach for second-year pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne in 2015 to MLB.com Thursday.

"I think we're going to try to firm up the changeup, which is rare to add, and work on the consistency of his breaking pitch," Black said. "There's not a lot he needs to do other than understand fastball command and locate the ball."

Despaigne may have a spot in the team's 2015 rotation regardless of whether the Padres bring in one more quality starting pitcher. He excelled at Petco Park in 2014, posting a 1.83 ERA in 54 innings over eight starts, but struggled on the road, where he delivered a 5.31 ERA in 42 1/3 innings.