MLB Player News

With Alex Cobb (hip) likely out for about a month, Maeda could be at least a temporary option to slide into the starting rotation, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Cobb's injury figures to prevent him from being able to ramp up properly for Opening Day, so the Tigers will have to fill his rotation spot for at least a turn or two. Detroit has Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Jack Flaherty locked in as starters, and the team could turn to the likes of Maeda, Jackson Jobe and Casey Mize to round things out. Maeda is a veteran option with plenty of MLB starts under his belt, so he could probably make the transition fairly quickly after pitching in relief to wrap up last season. The righty struggled in 2024, posting a career-worst 6.09 ERA, which ultimately prompted the move out of the rotation. If Maeda starts early in 2025, fantasy managers may want to take a wait-and-see approach given his rough performance a year ago.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Wells won't make his Grapefruit League debut until March 1 due to the catcher's heavy workload last season, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Wells played 129 games last season between the regular season and playoffs, so it makes sense for the Yankees to slow play the 25-year-old's entry into the spring lineup. The catcher has been taking live at-bats but has not yet swung the bat early on in camp. Given the uncertainty the Yankees have behind him on the catcher depth chart, Wells could see an even heavier workload in 2025.

The Rangers signed Jackson to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Monday.

It's a homecoming of sorts for Jackson, who was drafted by the Rangers and reached the majors for the first time with them. The 33-year-old posted a 5.09 ERA over 52 regular-season appearances with San Francisco and Atlanta in 2024 but did strike out 59 over 53 innings. Jackson should fill a middle relief role.

The Rangers placed Sborz (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Luke Jackson, whom the club signed to a one-year deal. Sborz underwent surgery on his right shoulder in mid-November and had already been expected to miss the first couple of months of the 2025 season, so his move to the 60-day IL won't alter his timeline for a return.

The White Sox placed Bush (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Owen White, who has been claimed off waivers. Bush underwent Tommy John surgery last week and will miss the entire 2025 season.

The White Sox Sox" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" data-league-abbreviation="MLB" data-team-abbreviation="CHW">White Sox claimed White off waivers from the Yankees on Monday.

White will join his fourth organization since December after he turned in a 5.64 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 99 innings with Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers organization last season. The 25-year-old has certainly landed in an organization ripe with opportunity given its lack of talent, but White still seems likely to open the season at Triple-A Charlotte.

The Athletics placed Medina (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

Medina was moved to the 60-day injured list to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Luis Urias, who signed a one-year deal with the club. The transaction won't have any affect on Medina's timeline for a return, as the right-hander is likely to miss most or all of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last August.

The Blue Jays signed Barnes to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Barnes spent the 2024 campaign with the Nationals, holding a 4.36 ERA and 55:20 K:BB over 66 innings. The 34-year-old will compete for a spot in the Toronto bullpen but will likely begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo.

Castillo (hamstring) tossed a bullpen session Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Castillo finished last season on the injured list after sustaining a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during his final start Sept. 8, but he appears to be facing no restrictions in the early stages of spring training. The Mariners will once again be looking to Castillo to serve as a workhorse at the top of the rotation after he made at least 30 starts in both of his first two full seasons in Seattle. Before he was shut down with the hamstring injury, Castillo went 11-12 and turned in a 3.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 175:47 K:BB across 175.1 innings.

Rodriguez's camp participation will be delayed a week or two after he sprained his left ankle last week, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Rodriguez appears to be fully recovered from the right thumb surgery he had last November, but now he has another injury to deal with. Durability has been, unfortunately, a constant concern for Rodriguez, who has yet to play 100 games in any pro season. The soon-to-be 22-year-old has been superb when on the field, having slashed .280/.459/.567 in 2024 even as he was playing through the thumb injury for much of the year.