MLB Player News

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Manoah will have to earn his place in the starting rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old joined the Halos on a one-year, $1.95 million contract in December, but he was never likely to have much in the form of guaranteed playing time after spending most of 2025 rehabbing from UCL surgery. Manoah should still be the favorite to win a job at the back end of Anaheim's rotation, given the club's other starting options.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki indicated Tuesday that Rodriguez (elbow) will have to prove he's healthy and earn his place in the starting rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was acquired from the Orioles in November, but the Angels won't immediately guarantee him a spot in the starting rotation. Rodriguez was sidelined all of 2025 due to lat and elbow injuries and has had his fair share of health issues throughout his career. The 26-year-old seems likely to make the rotation if he can stay healthy, but that's hardly a given for the former top prospect.

Verlander agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander spent the 2025 campaign in San Francisco, finishing the season with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 137:52 K:BB across 152 innings. Verlander is now coming back to Detroit, where he won Rookie of the Year, an MVP and a Cy Young Award across the first 13 seasons of his big-league career. He'll turn 43 years old on Feb. 20 and will help round out a Tigers rotation headlined by Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez.

The Rockies signed Sugano to a one-year contract Tuesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Sugano posted a 4.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 106:36 K:BB over 157 innings covering 30 starts for the Orioles in 2025 in his first year in the majors. He had just a 15.7 percent strikeout rate and served up 33 home runs, which is a bad combination for a pitcher who will now have to tame Coors Field in his home starts.

The Red Sox placed Houck (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The right-hander underwent a hybrid reconstruction of the UCL in his right elbow, plus a flexor tendon repair, in August, so his move to the 60-day IL was always a matter of time. Houck is targeting late 2026 to rejoin the Red Sox, but it wouldn't be surprising if he's unable to rejoin the major-league roster until 2027.

Cornelio will be in the mix for a spot on the 26-man roster this spring, either in the bullpen or at the back of the rotation, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The Nationals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025 began the campaign at High-A Wilmington and finished the year with eight starts for Triple-A Rochester, posting a 38:13 K:BB in 35.1 innings. Cornelio saw a big spike in his fastball velocity last season, touching 97-98 mph but having difficulty sustaining that heat deeper into games, and his slider has flashed plus. The 25-year-old right-hander got added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, and he could follow the same path that Brad Lord did in 2025, beginning the season in short relief before getting stretched out for a rotation or swingman role. Given the Nats' muddled closer picture, Cornelio could also work his way into a high-leverage role if his fastball plays up in shorter bursts and his slider becomes more consistent.

Civale agreed to a one-year $6 million contract with the A's on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 30-year-old right-hander split the 2025 campaign between the Brewers, White Sox and Cubs, finishing the regular season with a 4.85 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 88:33 K:BB across 102 innings. Civale started in 18 of those 23 appearances last year and is a safe bet to work out of the Athletics' rotation, providing another veteran presence in a unit that's unsettled at the back end.

Burnes (elbow) expects to throw off a mound by the end of spring training, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.

Burnes also reiterated his goal of making his season debut around the All-Star break. The veteran right-hander is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he had last June. A midseason return would appear to be a best-case scenario for Burnes, who is entering the second year of a six-year, $210 million contract.

Ober worked with a specialist much of the offseason after dealing with a nagging hip issue in 2025 and has noticed a "big difference," Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Ober posted a 5.10 ERA over 27 starts last season and saw his average four-seamer velocity tumble from 91.7 mph to 90.3 mph year-over-year. The 30-year-old also lost the command he had been known for, but he is now fully healthy and seems optimistic about a bounce-back season in 2026. Prior to 2025, Ober had a career 3.76 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 25.6 percent strikeout rate and 5.4 percent walk rate.

Rea will likely work in a bullpen role to begin the season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Chicago's key offseason pitching addition was Edward Cabrera, and he will likely slot in near the top of the rotation. The Cubs will also start the year with Cade Horton, who made a splash in the majors after he debuted last May. Justin Steele (elbow) should return at some point as well. The deeper pitching staff figures to push Rea into more of a swing role, at least early in the season. The veteran righty appeared in 32 games for Chicago last year, making 27 starts, and posted a 3.95 ERA and 127 strikeouts across 159.1 innings. Rea is a serviceable starter when given the opportunity, but his fantasy value takes a hit in long relief.