MLB Player News

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Wednesday that Alexander is a candidate to start at second base while Jackson Holliday (hand) is out, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The Orioles acquired Alexander via trade Feb. 5, and the next day Holliday suffered a hamate bone fracture that will result in a stint on the injured list to begin the season. Alexander slashed .230/.323/.383 with seven homers and four steals over 74 games for the Diamondbacks in 2025. Jordan Westburg (oblique) will also be in the mix for reps at second base while Holliday is shelved.

Westburg could miss the first few Grapefruit League games after suffering a strained right oblique in late January, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Oblique injuries have a tendency to linger, so the Orioles will proceed cautiously with the infielder so he doesn't suffer a setback. Westburg is projected to be the team's everyday third baseman this season, though he could fill in at second base while Jackson Holliday (hand) is sidelined to begin the campaign.

Diaz was added to the Mariners' spring training roster as a non-roster invitee.

Diaz was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A in January, when the Mariners acquired Cooper Criswell. The left-hander will likely be a depth option for Seattle's bullpen this season, although he isn't guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster. He made just one big-league appearance in 2025.

Holliday will undergo surgery Thursday for a fractured right hamate bone and will begin the season on the injured list, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

A clearer timetable should become available after the operation, but Holliday will shelved for several weeks in any case. Additionally, it's a procedure that can often result in an initial loss of power for a player upon their return. Blaze Alexander and Jordan Westburg (oblique) are candidates to handle second base while Holliday is out.

Astros manager Joe Espada announced Wednesday that Brown will be the team's Opening Day starter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Most teams don't reveal their Opening Day starters this early in spring training, but Brown was the obvious choice after finishing third in American League Cy Young voting in 2025. The 27-year-old right-hander will go up against the Angels at home on Opening Day.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that De Los Santos has been shut down due to a right knee strain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It's unclear when De Los Santos might be cleared to throw again. The right-hander posted a 4.36 ERA and 62:24 K:BB over 66 innings between Atlanta and Houston in 2025. If healthy, De Los Santos is pegged for a middle relief role in the Astros' bullpen.

Diaz is behind schedule with his running program after suffering a left foot sprain during the Dominican Winter League, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Diaz is participating in other baseball activities and will catch Tatsuya Imai's bullpen session Wednesday, but he's a tad behind with his running. It does not sound like an injury that will sideline Diaz long, but the Astros could hold him out of the first handful of Grapefruit League games just to be safe.

Manager A.J. Hinch announced Wednesday that Skubal will draw the starting nod for the Tigers' Opening Day game March 26 versus the Padres in San Diego, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

While his long-term future in Detroit remains murky, Skubal will once again head into the 2026 campaign as the staff ace coming off back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards. The Tigers may look to manage Skubal's innings during the Grapefruit League after he logged a combined 216 frames between the regular season and playoffs in 2025, but he should be fully ramped up and ready to handle a standard workload by the time Opening Day arrives.

Hader will resume a throwing program Wednesday after being shut down since early February with left bicep inflammation, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It seems the left shoulder strain that sidelined Hader for the final seven-plus weeks of last season is behind him, but now he has a new injury to contend with. The veteran reliever will resume throwing Wednesday and ramp up slowly, and his status for Opening Day is up in the air. If Hader needs some time on the injured list, Bryan Abreu would step in as the Astros' closer.

The Tigers announced Wednesday that Darnell (hip) will be sidelined for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Darnell is still on the mend from left hip labral repair surgery, which he underwent last September. Before being shut down by the injury, the 28-year-old righty made nine appearances out of the Colorado bullpen and logged a 3.86 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 5:7 K:BB across 11.2 innings. After being claimed off waivers by the Tigers in November, Darnell was designated for assignment but then re-signed to a minor-league deal. He's attending camp as a non-roster invitee, but he'll likely need to complete his rehab within the next week or two to have any shot at all of winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.