MLB Player News

Lauer will earn $4.4 million in 2026 after losing his arbitration hearing with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Lauer had filed for a $5.75 million salary, coming off a 2025 campaign in which he delivered a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 102:26 K:BB in 104.2 innings. The veteran lefty brought some stability to the back end of the Toronto rotation for much of the summer before he transitioned into a relief role once the Blue Jays regained some health with the returns of Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer from injuries. Scherzer is now a free agent, but with Toronto retaining Bieber, trading for Dylan Cease and preparing breakout postseason star Trey Yesavage for a full-time rotation spot in 2026, Lauer could see a larger share of his appearances out of the bullpen during the upcoming season.

Bubic (shoulder) will earn $6.15 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Royals on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The Royals had filed at $5.15 million, but the three-person arbitration panel chose the figure Bubic submitted. Bubic experienced a breakout 2025 season, posting a 2.55 ERA and 116:39 K:BB over 116.1 innings covering 20 starts before going down with a left shoulder strain. Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Bubic threw a bullpen session Wednesday and doesn't appear to be operating with any restrictions this spring, but the Royals will keep a close eye on him after he missed nearly the entire second half last season.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Woodruff (lat) "is in a good spot" physically and has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff appears to have steered clear of any setbacks in his recovery from a moderate-grade right lat strain that surfaced late in the regular season and kept him out for the Brewers' playoff run last fall, but Murphy implied that the veteran right-hander will be slow played during spring training nonetheless. Murphy cited Woodruff's injury history as a reason for exercising some caution in his ramp-up program; the 33-year-old missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing capsule repair surgery on his shoulder, and he endured multiple setbacks during the rehab process last season before finally making his 2025 debut in July. Despite showing diminished velocity upon his return, Woodruff was excellent for Milwaukee before succumbing to the lat strain, posting a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 83:14 K:BB in 64.2 innings. Assuming he's ready to go for the start of the season, Woodruff should be the favorite to receive the Brewers' Opening Day starting nod after Milwaukee traded staff ace Freddy Peralta away to the Mets in January.

Padres manager Craig Stammen confirmed Wednesday that Miller will serve as the team's closer in 2026, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The announcement was merely a formality, as Miller always appeared likely to open the season as the Padres' closer once Stammen confirmed in December that the 27-year-old righty would remain in the bullpen in 2026 and after Robert Suarez bolted for Atlanta in free agency. After being acquired from the Athletics last July in a stunning deadline deal, Miller turned in a 0.77 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 45 strikeouts to go along with two saves in 23.1 innings to close out the Padres' regular season. Now that he's in line to receive the overwhelming majority of save chances in San Diego to go along with his typically pristine ratios, Miller has a strong argument for being the first closer off the board in fantasy drafts.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Priester will be brought along slowly at the start of camp, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Priester is recovered from the wrist injury he dealt with late last season, but Murphy said that the right-hander has "had a couple things that have kept him from progressing." The manager added that Priester hasn't been shut down and has thrown bullpen sessions, so the Brewers are seemingly just being extra cautious with him. Priester went 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA and 132:50 K:BB over 157.1 frames with Milwaukee during the regular season.

Gore (ankle) was seen throwing a bullpen session Wednesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Gore wasn't expected to be entering spring training with any restrictions after a minor right ankle impingement kept him out of action for the final week of the 2025 season, but his ability to throw a side session on the second day of camp confirms he's healthy. Acquired in a January deal that sent five prospects to Washington, Gore is likely penciled in as the Rangers' No. 3 starter behind Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi (core).

Teodo will be about 2-to-3 weeks behind schedule in spring training after dealing with a back injury last season, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Teodo missed more than two months of action during the middle of the 2025 minor-league season because of a back problem. He finished the season healthy, but the Rangers don't want to push him early on in camp. Teodo made a full-time move to a relief role in 2025, posting a 9.00 ERA and 23:17 K:BB over 18 innings during his time with Triple-A Round Rock.

Rodriguez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and doesn't appear to be facing any restrictions to begin spring training, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

Per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki noted Tuesday that Rodriguez will have to prove he's healthy during spring training to secure his spot in the Opening Day rotation, but the 26-year-old righty is off to a good start. Health was a major concern for Rodriguez through three seasons with Baltimore, but he displayed plenty of promise when available, pitching to a 4.11 ERA (3.98 xERA) and 18.0 K%-BB% over 238.2 innings. However, after he had his entire 2025 campaign wiped out due to lat and elbow injuries, including a debridement procedure in August to remove a bone spur, expect Rodriguez's workload to be monitored carefully in his first season with Anaheim.

Williamson (elbow) faced hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The left-hander has no restrictions to begin camp after he missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Williamson will get the chance to compete for a spot in the Reds' Opening Day rotation this spring, but he still has two minor-league options remaining and seems more likely to begin the season at Triple-A Louisville.

Kikuchi (forearm) faced live hitters Wednesday in his first throwing session of spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Kikuchi exited his final start of 2025 on Sept. 24 due to what the Angels called a left forearm cramp. The veteran southpaw looks to have had a normal offseason and appears to be ahead of most of the rest of the pitching staff, as Kikuchi is set to leave the team in the coming days to join Team Japan ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Per Bollinger, first-year manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Kikuchi is one of three pitchers locked into rotation spots, and the 34-year-old could get the nod for Opening Day versus the Astros.