MLB Player News

Woodruff (shoulder) said Monday he's in a "really, really good spot" but is not sure he'll be ready for Opening Day, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Recovering from October 2023 surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, Woodruff began throwing off a mound in August and had been slated to face hitters in late September, but he wasn't physically ready so the pace of his rehab was slowed. However, the righty appears to have made significant progress since then and is throwing bullpen sessions twice per week. The next steps are for Woodruff to throw simulated innings and then face hitters. Next week, he will travel to the Brewers' pitching lab in Phoenix to get a status report on his stuff. While Woodruff is preparing to be ready by Opening Day, he's not able to say whether he'll reach that goal since he has many things to still check off his rehab to-do list. A clearer picture on the righty's timetable should be available during spring training.

Contreras was designated for assignment by the Reds on Monday, independent journalist Charlie Goldsmith reports.

This move will open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Gavin Lux, who was acquired from the Dodgers earlier in the day. Contreras was claimed by Cincinnati a few weeks ago and would be a candidate to begin the year at Triple-A Louisville if he goes unclaimed.

The Royals re-signed Lorenzen to a one-year, $5.5 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal also includes a $12 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026. Lorenzen, 33, collected a 3.31 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 97:60 K:BB over 130.1 innings between the Rangers and Royals in 2024. He'll presumably begin the 2025 season in Kansas City's rotation, which would leave Alec Marsh and Kris Bubic competing for one spot. Lorenzen had been hoping to be used at designated hitter early in the season with the goal of earning a two-way roster designation, but that appears to be out the window now.

Weathers has lost 20 pounds this offseason, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Weathers has a high insulin resistance but has been able to drop weight over the winter while following a Keto diet. The left-hander missed three months during the 2024 season due to a left index finger strain, but he pitched well when on the mound in collecting a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 80:24 K:BB over 86.2 frames. Weathers ended the season healthy and will have some deep-league fantasy appeal in 2025, although wins could be difficult to come by on the Marlins.

The Orioles signed Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract Friday.

Morton finished the 2024 regular season having gone 8-10 over 30 starts for Atlanta with a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 23.8 percent strikeout rate across 165.1 innings. Despite turning 41 last November, Morton has pitched at least 150 innings in four of the last five seasons and will join an Orioles' rotation that lost Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks in free agency.

Manoah (elbow) hopes to be ready to pitch for the Blue Jays in August, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Manoah underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his right elbow last June. The plan calls for Manoah to throw bullpen sessions in March, face hitters in June and go out on a rehab assignment in July before rejoining the Blue Jays in August. If the righty is able to hit those markers, he could spend most of the final two months of the 2025 campaign in Toronto's rotation.

Jay was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers acquired Grant Anderson from the Rangers, and Jay was DFA'd to clear a place on the 40-man roster. Jay made his big-league debut in 2024 but threw only 7.2 innings at the level.

Luzardo told reporters Monday that he's "100 percent" recovered from the lumbar stress reaction that cost him the final three-plus months of the season, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The left-hander said he's "felt 100 percent the whole offseason" and is going through his normal throwing program. Acquired by the Phillies from the Marlins via trade in December, Luzardo posted a 5.00 ERA while being limited to just 12 starts in 2024 due to a flexor strain and back problem, but the 27-year-old is confident he can bounce back with his new team now that he's healthy. Luzardo held a 3.48 ERA and 28.7 percent strikeout rate from 2022 to 2023.

The Rangers signed Buchanan to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, The Dallas Morning News reports.

Buchanan got into one game with the Reds in 2024, which was his first appearance at the major-league level since 2015. The 35-year-old will give the Rangers some organizational rotation depth.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Giolito (elbow) should be ready to pitch most, if not all, of 2025, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Giolito underwent an internal brace procedure in March but has been throwing for several months now. Additionally, Breslow noted that he's "very, very open" to using a six-man rotation during the 2025 season, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. That would appear especially notable in Giolito's case, as he is arguably sixth in Boston's rotation hierarchy.