MLB Player News

The Blue Jays signed Kloffenstein (shoulder) to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Kloffenstein missed the final two months of the 2024 season with a right shoulder injury and was non-tendered by the Cardinals even though he was not yet eligible for arbitration. It's not clear what his health status is, but the Blue Jays felt good enough about the righty to invite him to camp. Kloffenstein was dealt from Toronto to St. Louis at the 2023 trade deadline as part of the return for Jordan Hicks.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday on the Baseball Isn't Boring Podcast that Kopech (forearm) is going through his normal offseason throwing program and "feeling pretty good."

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier this month that Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation that he pitched through during the postseason. However, Gomes indicated that the reliever is in the same boat as the team's other pitchers in that he'll be monitored this spring; however, at this juncture, a late start to the season is not anticipated. Assuming he's healthy, Kopech will be used in high-leverage situations by the Dodgers.

Sasaki was given a recommendation to undergo Tommy John surgery by a doctor prior to his first season with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Sasaki decided against having the operation and eventually discovered the issue was shoulder-related, with a nerve problem leading to discomfort in his elbow. The 23-year-old had durability issues throughout his career in Japan, most recently being limited by arm an oblique injuries over the last two seasons. Sasaki topped out at 129.1 innings with Chiba Lotte in 2022 and tossed 111 frames in 2024. While there don't appear to be any current health-related concerns with the righty, the Dodgers undoubtedly will be careful with his workload. Sasaki is expected to be part of a six-man rotation in 2025, and it's likely additional rest will be built in for him whenever feasible.

Gray (elbow) began a throwing program Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Gray did some casual tossing on flat ground in what was his first time throwing since he underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure in July. He's got a long road to recovery ahead of him but is hoping to be available to pitch for the Nationals by the end of the 2025 season.

Hence will enter spring training without limitations after he threw just 79.2 innings in 2024 due to back and right lat discomfort, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hence had to be pulled early from a couple starts in June and then missed nearly a month around midseason due to the injury. He also exited his final outing of the season with another injury, although it's unclear if the same back/lat issue was the culprit. Durability is the only real negative with Hence's outlook, as he also missed time in 2023 with tightness in his chest and neck area. The 22-year-old was superb in 2024 when on the mound, posting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames with Double-A Springfield. Hence was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason and should begin 2025 in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis.

Ryan had an MRI in November that showed a "complete resolution" of the shoulder strain that ended his 2024 season in August, Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. He's thrown three bullpen sessions this winter.

Ryan suffered a Grade 2 teres major strain during a start Aug. 9 and missed the rest of the regular season. With a clean bill of health in the offseason, he is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. He'll return to work at the top of the Minnesota rotation after going 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA and 9.8 K/9 in 23 starts last season.

Javier (elbow) said during an Astros FanFest event Saturday that he's targeting to return from the injured list after the All-Star break, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

It's not exactly new information as GM Dana Brown provided a similar timeline, but it's notable that he remains on track nearly four months later. Javier underwent Tommy John surgery last June, so it would be a relatively quick recovery if he's able to return in July.

General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that McCullers (forearm) will not be ready for the start of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers recently returned to throwing off a mound and still hopes to return early in the year, but it now appears that he will begin the season on the injured list for the third time in a row. The 31-year-old righty hasn't appeared in an MLB game since the 2022 World Series after undergoing surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.

General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that Garcia (elbow) will not be ready for Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Garcia missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, and he was pulled off a rehab assignment twice due to multiple instances of elbow soreness. He managed to resume throwing live batting practice by the end of the season and hasn't experienced any problems since then, but it seems the Astros are going to be extremely cautious in getting him ready for the 2025 campaign. It's unclear exactly how far the 28-year-old's absence will extend into the regular season.

Thorpe said Friday that he received a cortisone shot in his right elbow and could miss the beginning of spring training, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Thorpe successfully underwent a procedure in early September to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. Merkin reported in mid-December that the 24-year-old right-hander was fully recovered from the surgery, and while an MRI from early January didn't reveal any structural damage, Thorpe has been dealing with soreness since then. as a result, the expectation is that he will miss the early portion of spring training. Thorpe finished the 2024 regular season with a 3-3 record across nine big-league starts with a 5.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 25:21 K:BB in 44.1 innings.