MLB Player News

The Phillies signed Luzardo to a five-year, $135 million contract extension Monday, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Per Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the deal also includes a $32.5 million club option for 2032. Luzardo had been set to reach free agency after the upcoming season, but he's now locked in with the Phillies at least through the end of the 2031 campaign. The left-hander finished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting in his first season in Philadelphia after posting a 3.92 ERA and 216:57 K:BB over 183.2 innings covering 32 starts.

Skubal said Monday that he will return to Tigers camp rather than make another start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Skubal permitted one run over three innings against Team Great Britain on Saturday. He was mulling whether to remain with Team USA to make another start, but Skubal will instead rejoin the Tigers after the lone WBC outing, which was his original intention. Skubal threw 41 pitches in his start for Team USA and will continue to build his stamina with the Tigers before taking the ball for them Opening Day on March 26 versus the Padres.

The Twins optioned Klein to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.

Klein was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 23-year-old righty to the 40-man roster this offseason after he accrued a 3.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 128:37 K:BB across 106.1 innings between St. Paul and Double-A Wichita in 2025. Klein made 15 of his 31 appearances out of the bullpen last season, but he's been building up as a starter during spring training and is expected to handle a full-time role in the St. Paul rotation in 2026.

The Twins optioned Morris to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.

Morris was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 24-year-old righty to the 40-man roster this offseason after he accrued a 4.09 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 89:28 K:BB across 94.2 innings with St. Paul in 2025. Morris will slot into a rotation spot with St. Paul to begin the upcoming season and could be in line to make his MLB debut at some point later this summer.

The Twins optioned Prielipp to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.

Prielipp was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 25-year-old southpaw to the 40-man roster this offseason after he accrued a 4.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 98:31 K:BB across 82.2 innings between stops with St. Paul and Double-A Wichita.

The Cardinals reassigned Mathews to minor-league camp Monday.

Mathews showed encouraging signs in his last Grapefruit League appearance in racking up seven strikeouts over 2.2 innings, but he was always destined to open the season in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis. The southpaw will be seeking a bounce-back year after he stumbled in 2025 with a 3.93 ERA and 107:74 K:BB over 94 innings with Memphis.

The Twins optioned Rojas to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.

Rojas was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 23-year-old southpaw to the 40-man roster this offseason after he impressed across four levels between his time in the Blue Jays and Twins organizations in 2025, finishing with a 4.70 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 90:32 K:BB in 69 innings.

The Cardinals optioned Mautz to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

The Cardinals previously hadn't dismissed the possibility of Mautz making the team as a reliever, but he will begin the season in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis. Mautz posted a 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 134:33 K:BB over 114.2 innings at Double-A Springfield in 2025.

The Phillies optioned McFarlane to Double-A Reading on Sunday.

McFarlane was awarded a spot on the Phillies' 40-man roster over the winter after turning in a 4.84 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 82:43 K:BB over 80 innings between Reading and High-A Jersey Shore in his first season back in action following his September 2023 Tommy John surgery.The 24-year-old righty is regarded as one of the more exciting young arms in the Philadelphia system, but he's likely at least a year away from contributing for the big club.

The Cardinals optioned Hjerpe (elbow) to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Hjerpe just recent resumed throwing from the mound following last April's Tommy John surgery. A former first-round pick, Hjerpe is aiming to make his season debut around midseason.