MLB Player News

Buehler threw a side session Wednesday, the first day of spring training, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Buehler got off to a fast start with his new team, as the right-hander attempts to shed a reputation as a late starter. The 30-year-old is coming off a three-year stretch limited by injury. After a second Tommy John elbow surgery wiped out 2023, he battled hip inflammation in 2024 and finished with a 5.38 ERA and 16 home runs allowed over 75.1 regular-season innings. Buehler redeemed himself in the postseason with two strong starts and the save in the clincher. The Red Sox are kicking around the idea of a six-man rotation and could roll with that early, when they play 19 games in the first 20 days of the season.

Pivetta signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Pivetta declined a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Red Sox earlier in the offseason, opting to pursue a multi-year deal with a lower AAV instead. That is exactly what he'll get from the Padres, who gain a much-needed boost to their rotation depth. The 31-year-old righty turned in a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 145.2 innings last season alongside a 172:36 K:BB. He's developed a reputation for living in the strike zone and thus racking up high strikeout totals, but he has yet to finish a season with a sub-4.00 ERA over his eight-year career.

Waldron said Wednesday that he is planning to throw his knuckleball more frequently during the upcoming season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The knuckler was Waldron's most-used pitch last year, as he threw it 38.2 percent of the time, per Statcast. The right-hander registered a 27.5 percent whiff rate on the offering, and opponents had a .227 xBA against it, rendering it a relatively effective pitch, especially in comparison to his four-seamer (19.1 percent usage rate, 22.4 percent whiff rate, .247 xBA) and his sinker (14.3 percent usage rate, 6.7 percent whiff rate, .316 xBA). Waldron is battling for a spot at the back of San Diego's rotation, and how he -- and his knuckleball -- perform during Cactus League play could go a long way toward determining what his role will be at the start of the season.

Manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Cavalli (elbow) is healthy, but the Nationals plan to manage the right-hander's workload this season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. "He had a good winter," Martinez said of Cavalli. "He looks great. We know he's going to be limited in how many innings he pitches this year, so we want to make sure when he does get out there, we do have him the whole season."

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023, Cavalli missed that entire season and was limited to just three minor-league rehab appearances in 2024, with none coming after June. He came down with a bout of the flu and then dealt with a dead-arm phase for a large chunk of the second half of last season, but he was at least able to ramp his throwing back up in September. Cavalli seems to have emerged from his offseason throwing program free of setbacks, so he should be facing relatively few restrictions this spring, aside from the Nationals managing how many live innings he throws. Martinez left the door open for Cavalli to compete for a roster spot with the big club, but given the extended time he missed in addition to his limited MLB experience (he made one start for the Nationals in 2022), the 26-year-old is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Rochester.

The Brewers placed Gasser (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

A 40-man roster spot needed to be freed up for Tyler Alexander, who inked a one-year deal Wednesday. Gasser had Tommy John surgery last July, and manager Pat Murphy said that the Brewers aren't anticipating the southpaw making his 2025 debut until late August or early September, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Iriarte will be used as a starting pitcher this spring, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

All six of Iriarte's appearances with the White Sox last season came in relief, and it's possible a lack of command will eventually force him to move to the bullpen on a full-time basis. However, the 23-year-old has primarily been a starter in the minors and the White Sox aren't ready to give up on him in that capacity. One of the primary pieces acquired from the Padres in last spring's Dylan Cease trade, Iriarte collected a 3.71 ERA and 122:57 K:BB over 126 innings last season with Double-A Birmingham.

Harrison said Wednesday that he's rediscovered his velocity this spring after fixing issues with his delivery, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Harrison averaged 92.5 mph with his four-seamer in 2024 and just 91.2 mph in his final start of the season before he was shut down with left shoulder inflammation. That's after the pitch came in at 93.5 mph on average in 2023. Harrison believes the shoulder injury and an earlier ankle problem contributed to his delivery getting out of whack, but he's healthy now and is throwing harder. The left-hander is competing for the final spot in the Giants' rotation this spring and has some bounce-back potential if his velocity holds.

The Marlins placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Cal Quantrill, who signed a one-year contract with the Marlins in a corresponding move. Garrett underwent UCL revision surgery with an internal brace on his left elbow in December and will be sidelined for the entire 2025 season.

The Marlins signed Quantrill to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Wednesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Quantrill was non-tendered by the Rockies earlier this offseason after posting a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 110:69 K:BB over 148.1 innings covering 29 starts in 2024. The 30-year-old did have a solid stretch with the Guardians from 2021 to 2022, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 336 regular-season innings, although his 4.10 FIP during that span was more indicative of how he pitched. Quantrill should slide into a Marlins rotation that lacks established options at the back end.

McClanahan (elbow) confirmed Wednesday prior to throwing his first bullpen session of the spring that he's 100 percent and will face no restrictions in spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

The Rays are still expected to cap McClanahan at around 150 innings in 2025 after he missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from August 2023 Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be entering the spring on a normal throwing progression that mirrors Tampa Bay's other healthy rotation candidates. According to Bass, McClanahan's fastball sat at around 94-to-95 mph during Wednesday's throwing session, just a tick or two behind his average velocity from the 2023 season. McClanahan made his second consecutive All-Star appearance that season and turned in a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121:41 K:BB over 115 innings before requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career.