MLB Player News

Clevinger, who remains under MLB investigation after being accused of domestic violence in January, is eligible to participate in spring training, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

With the White Sox having not placed Clevinger on administrative leave, he looks on track to report to spring training this week as he begins preparations for the 2023 season. The 32-year-old, who signed with Chicago this offseason, could be available to pitch until the league completes its investigation.

Faedo (hip) told Evan Woodbery of MLive.com on Tuesday that he feels great and is ready to compete for an Opening Day roster spot.

Faedo pitched brilliantly over his first seven major-league starts last season and then got hammered in the next five. He ultimately posted a 5.53 ERA in 53.2 innings (12 starts) with the Tigers before undergoing surgery in late July to repair a torn labrum and torn capsule in his right hip. The 27-year-old is hoping to challenge for a starting job this spring, but he might wind up in long relief or in the rotation at Triple-A Toledo.

Canning (back) is a full-go at Angels camp this spring, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Canning did not pitch at any level in 2022 because of a stress fracture in his lower back, but he enjoyed a fairly normal offseason and already has several bullpen sessions under his belt. If his health cooperates, the 26-year-old right-hander should again emerge as an option for the Angels' six-man rotation here in 2023. He holds a 4.73 ERA and 214:81 K:BB through 209.1 career major-league innings.

Lugo is expected to open the season as part of the Padres' six-man rotation, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Lugo signed with the Padres with the intent of joining the rotation and that evidently won't change even after the club added Michael Wacha. The former Met hasn't started a game since 2020 and hasn't been a full-time starter since 2017, so it makes sense to ease him into things as part of a six-man rotation. Nick Martinez -- who made 37 relief appearances and 10 starts last season -- will also open 2023 in the rotation. The Padres could eventually go back to a traditional five-man setup, but initially each starter will get extra rest in between outings.

Sale (wrist) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Abraham notes that this will be the first "normal spring" for Sale in the last 3-4 years. The left-hander missed the first half of the 2022 season due to a stress fracture in his ribcage and then suffered a broken wrist in a bicycle accident in August, ultimately logging just two total appearances for Boston. But both of those injuries are now in the rearview and he'll be looking to return to top-flight form in 2023.

Paxton (lat) is a full participant at the beginning of Red Sox camp, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Paxton signed with the Red Sox last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he's yet to debut for them after suffering a Grade 2 left lat strain in August. The left-hander doesn't have any restrictions right now, so Boston is planning for him to be part of its Opening Day rotation. Paxton's upside is undeniable, but he's made just six major-league starts and one rehab start since 2020.

Wacha is in agreement on a contract with the Padres, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Rosenthal reports the deal can earn him $24 million over four years, but that it's a complicated structure that includes player and teams options. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com notes that with the addition of Wacha, the Padres are likely to implement a six-man rotation at least at the beginning of the season. It would help to ease the burden on Nick Martinez -- who split time between starting and relieving in 2022 -- and Seth Lugo -- who hasn't been used as a regular starter since 2017. Wacha is coming off a nice 2022 season that saw him post a 3.32 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 104:31 K:BB in 127.1 innings across 23 starts.

Freeland's agency announced Monday that he has been named to the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Freeland is the replacement for Nestor Cortes, who will miss the World Baseball Classic because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The left-hander could be in line to make starts for USA coming off a 2022 campaign where he recorded a 4.53 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 131:53 K:BB in 174.2 innings over 31 starts with the Rockies. He's expected to pitch near the top of the Colorado rotation in 2023 after competing in the WBC.

Cortes won't pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic after he revealed Monday that he sustaining a low Grade 2 right hamstring strain, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Cortes' absence during the World Baseball Classic is a significant hit for Team USA, as he was expected to serve as one of the Americans' top starting options. The southpaw noted that he expects to be behind the Yankees' other healthy pitchers for at least a couple weeks as a result of the injury, but he remains hopeful to be ready to go for the start of the regular season, according to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Cortes' progress over the next month and a half.

Bush is currently dealing with an oblique injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Fletcher reports that the injury is "minor," but the Angels decided not to have the left-hander appear in MLB spring training as he recovers. Bush is one of the top pitching prospects in the Angels' system, and the 23-year-old finished 2022 with a 3.67 ERA and 101:29 K:BB in his 103 innings over 21 starts. He has a good chance to make starts for the Halos before the end of 2023.