MLB Player News

Odorizzi (shoulder) has been throwing off a mound without restrictions and hopes to sign with a team in the coming weeks, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Odorizzi didn't pitch last season, having undergone an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder last April. He appears to be fully recovered, though, and has thrown for scouts from 10-to-12 interested clubs, per Morosi. The 33-year-old posted a 4.40 ERA and 86:35 K:BB over 106.1 innings covering 22 starts with Houston and Atlanta in 2022.

The Dodgers plan to give Yamamoto a start during their two-game season-opening series against the Padres in South Korea on March 20 and 21, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.

If Yamamoto pitches on the 20th or 21st, he could be in line to receive one final tune-up outing in Cactus League play, depending on how the Dodgers want to line up their rotation when they return for their domestic home opener March 28. The Dodgers are expected to use at least a modified version of a six-man rotation, which should make the transition for Yamamoto easier, given that he pitched on five days' rest during his career in Japan.

Cavalli (elbow) isn't expected to see game action this spring or face hitters as the Nationals take a cautious approach to his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The 25-year-old right-hander is almost 12 months removed from the surgery, but the Nats have little reason to push him to get back on a mound as they plan for another rebuilding year. Cavalli is likely to remain in extended spring training after camp breaks, and he could join the big-league rotation in June if everything goes smoothly. He made his big-league debut in 2022 after posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB through 97 innings at Triple-A Rochester, and the 2020 first-round pick remains the organization's top pitching prospect despite the setback with his elbow.

Manoah (shoulder) is expected to head into spring training as the favorite for the Blue Jays' No. 5 starter job, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi are locked into rotation jobs, but the Jays did little this offseason to add competition for the final spot. Yariel Rodriguez could eventually be a factor, but the Cuban hasn't been a regular starter in a few years after pitching out of the bullpen in Japan, and his workload will be monitored in his first North American season. That leaves Manoah fending off the likes of Bowden Francis and Mitch White for a starting spot. Despite a disastrous 2023, Manoah is just two years removed from a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting, and Toronto's counting on the 26-year-old righty to regain something close to that form. If he looks healthy and effective this spring, his draft stock could begin to creep up again.

Bubic (elbow) will throw a bullpen session this week, Jaylon T. Thompson of the Kansas City Star reports.

It will be Bubic's first time throwing off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. The hope is that the left-hander will be ready to join the Royals' rotation sometime around the All-Star break.

Paxton said Sunday that he "has no doubt" he'll be ready for Opening Day, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers wound up lowering the guaranteed amount of Paxton's contract due to an unspecified physical issue, adding in roster bonuses based on the left-hander's availability. The injury concern is considered minor, so it's not a surprise to hear Paxton isn't worried about being ready to roll by the opener. He'll remain a major injury risk, of course, as the 35-year-old has made just 25 combined starts at the big-league level since the start of the 2020 season.

Dodgers manager Dave Robert said Sunday that there's "no hard start date" for Buehler's (elbow) season debut, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers are slow-playing Buehler's throwing progression this spring after he made just one rehab appearance last year following Tommy John surgery. In addition to an undetermined date for his season debut, Buehler will also no doubt be facing workload restrictions during the 2024 campaign. It's a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.

Lowder will participate in the Reds' major-league camp this spring, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lowder was selected by the Reds with the seventh-overall pick in the 2023 Draft but did not pitch in organized ball following the draft, although he did impress in fall instructs, per his draft profile on MLB.com. The move to hold him out of game action could be due to the 120.1 innings the right-hander rung up at Wake Forest during a season in which the Demon Deacons reached the college World Series. The MLB.com profile believes Lowder will be fast mover through the system, noting an advanced feel for pitching and one of the college game's best changeups.

Turnbull agreed Sunday with the Phillies on a one-year, $2 million contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The contract includes up to $2 million in incentives.

Turnbull was non-tendered by the Tigers earlier in the offseason following an ineffective, injury-plagued 2023 campaign, but he'll be added to the Phillies' 40-man roster and should have a chance to compete for a back-end spot in the team's Opening Day rotation. The 31-year-old still has a minor-league option remaining and will most likely begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley if he falls short in his bid for a rotation spot with Philadelphia, but an injury or two could quickly pave the way for him to surface with the big club. Turnbull should at least head into Phillies camp with a clean bill of health, and he has a decent overall track record at the big-league level to fall back on in spite of his struggles in 2023. Over 61 career appearances (60 starts) across 302.1 innings with the Tigers from 2018 through 2023, Turnbull logged a 4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 12.3 K-BB%.

The Angels have included Dana among their 27 players who have been given an invitation to participate in major-league spring training.

Dana is one of the organization's top pitching prospects after posting a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 89:30 K:BB over 68.1 innings across 14 starts between Single-A and High-A last season. The right-handed hurler was selected by the Angels in the 11th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft and enters the 2024 campaign having turned 20 years old in mid-December. Dana isn't likely to see regular-season major-league action until 2025.