MLB Player News

The White Sox designated Toussaint for assignment Sunday.

Toussaint's removal from the 40-man roster opens up a spot for outfielder Kevin Pillar, who was re-signed Sunday to a one-year deal. Perhaps more significantly, the roster move also opens up a spot in the rotation for rookie Nick Nastrini, who now looks in position to replace Toussaint as the White Sox's No. 5 starter to begin the season. Toussaint made bats miss at a solid clip upon joining the White Sox last June as a waiver-wire pickup from the Guardians, but command remained a concern for the right-hander, which has been a familiar refrain throughout his career. It was especially true during spring training, as Toussaint had posted a 12.91 ERA, 2.74 WHIP and an ugly 2:11 K:BB across 7.2 frames during Cactus League play.

Gray (hamstring) is scheduled to pitch in another minor-league game Thursday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals recently announced Gray will begin the season on the injured list, but he'll continue ramping up his throwing in minor-league action. The veteran right-hander could join St. Louis when first eligible during the second week of April.

The Rockies placed Marquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Marquez's move to the 60-day IL to begin the season wasn't unexpected, as the veteran right-hander is completing his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery and is unlikely to be available until the second half of the 2024 campaign. The Rockies were able to open up a 40-man roster spot for newly acquired outfielder Jake Cave by placing Marquez on the 60-day IL.

The Red Sox placed Giolito (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

The transaction is merely a procedural move, as Giolito is already set to miss the entire 2024 season while he recovers from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow earlier this month. The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Chase Anderson, who is projected to serve as a long man out of the bullpen after Chris Murphy also recently suffered an elbow injury that's expected to require season-ending surgery. Signed by Boston this past offseason, Giolito will pocket $18 million in 2024 before likely exercising his $19 million player option for 2025 this coming winter.

Bello allowed one run on five hits and three walks while striking out seven over 5.1 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Pirates.

Bello hit the 91-pitch mark and finished his spring with a pair of strong outings following a shaky start. His spring ERA was at 6.75 after three starts, but Bello allowed two runs while striking out 12 over his final 10.1 innings. Next up for the 24-year-old righty is an Opening Day start, which will take place Thursday on the road in Seattle.

Eovaldi allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three over four scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against Kansas City.

Eovaldi wrapped up spring with Saturday's effort and now turns his focus to Thursday's Opening Day start at home against the Cubs. He recorded a 2.63 ERA with 13 strikeouts and six walks over 13.2 spring innings (four starts).

Taijuan Walker's shoulder injury could push Turnbull into the Phillies' rotation to begin the season, Todd Zolecki of MLB.comreports.

Turnbull joined Philadelphia on a one-year, $2 million contract in February and was set to begin the season as a long reliever or at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but Walker experienced shoulder discomfort Saturday and may be headed to the injured list. Turnbull returned from Tommy John surgery last season and struggled to a 7.26 ERA in seven starts for Detroit, but he pitched well in 2021 prior to the elbow injury with a 2.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 50 innings.

Gallen allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings in Saturday's spring start against the Guardians.

Gallen finished off spring training with Saturday's start and is ready to take the ball Opening Day, Thursday, at home against the Rockies. The right-hander posted a 5.54 ERA with nine strikeouts and seven walks over four Cactus League starts. Gallen is coming off a career-high 243.2 innings (including postseason) in 2023, and the Diamondbacks made sure to manage his spring workload. In addition to the increase in innings last season, Gallen experienced jumps in average exit velocity (91.5 mph, third percentile) and hard-hit percentage (46.2, fifth).

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said last week that Cole (elbow) is a candidate for the 60-day injured list if the team needs to clear space on the 40-man roster, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

This news is far from surprising given that Cole isn't expected to be able to start throwing until at least mid-April and would presumably need considerable time to build back up even if he doesn't encounter any setbacks along the way. The right-hander was diagnosed with nerve inflammation in his right elbow in mid-March and was originally estimated to be sidelined for 1-to-2 months, though Cashman's comments suggest the ace hurler is unlikely to make it back near the early end of that timeframe. It's logical to expect New York to avoid rushing Cole back into action considering the investment it made in him when it signed the former Astro to a nine-year, $324 million contract before the 2020 campaign.

Walker reported shoulder discomfort while getting loose for a bullpen session Saturday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Phillies sent Walker in for an MRI upon learning of his discomfort, and more information should be available Sunday after results come back. Should Walker have to begin the season on the injured list, Spencer Turnbull would claim the open spot in Philadelphia's rotation.