MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss acknowledged Wednesday that he's uncertain if Jimenez (knee) will be available to pitch at any point in 2026, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Jimenez won't participate in spring training after he required a cleanup procedure on his left knee in November. The reliever previously had surgery to address cartilage damage in the same knee in November 2024, resulting in him missing the entire 2025 season. Weiss described Jimenez's more recent setback with the knee as a "very complex injury," prompting Atlanta to take a cautious approach with his recovery. After being placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jimenez won't be available for the first two months of the season, and given Weiss' pessimistic comments, the 31-year-old righty seems likely to be sidelined through at least the All-Star break.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Lindor will undergo right hamate bone surgery Wednesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

President of baseball operations David Stearns noted Tuesday that surgery for Lindor was a possibility, and it's now confirmed that the shortstop will be going under the knife. Rehab is expected to take six weeks, and while the Mets are optimistic Lindor will be ready for Opening Day, it's hardly a sure thing. If Lindor needs to miss time, the Mets could shift Bo Bichette over to shortstop and install Brett Baty at third base.

The Dodgers designated Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday.

Rortvedt will be removed from the Dodgers' 40-man roster for the second time this offseason after previously being designated for assignment in November. The team will hope to keep him around as catching depth at Triple-A if he clears waivers this time around.

The Dodgers re-signed Phillips (elbow) to a one-year, $6.5 million contract Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Phillips was non-tendered earlier this offseason after having Tommy John surgery last May. It seems likely he will miss at least the first half of the season, but the $6.5 million investment suggests the Dodgers expect Phillips to contribute for a significant chunk of 2026. Phillips boasts a 2.22 ERA and 221:52 K:BB over 195 regular-season frames for the Dodgers.

Rodriguez (elbow) took live batting practice against Mitch Keller on Wednesday and appears to be fully healthy for spring training, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Rodriguez closed 2025 on the shelf after undergoing ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow Aug. 12, but he was able to resume a throwing program over the winter. Since he had also been limited to only a handful of rehab games during the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on the same elbow, Rodriguez's long-term future as a catcher is in some doubt, but the Pirates don't appear ready to move him off the position just yet. Henry Davis and Joey Bart remain the frontrunners to open 2026 as the Pirates' top two catchers, but with a strong spring at the plate, Rodriguez could still push his way onto the Opening Day roster as a No. 3 backstop and a backup option at first base.

Nardi (back) threw a live bullpen session during Wednesday's workout at spring training, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Nardi didn't pitch in 2025 after experiencing lower-back inflammation in spring training and requiring an injection in late April to relieve discomfort. The lefty reliever was able to throw off a mound before the end of the season, and he appears to have turned a corner in his recovery over the offseason. Nardi could resurface as a setup or middle-relief arm for Miami after maintaining a 4.51 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 167:53 K:BB over 121.2 career innings in the big leagues.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Palencia will open the season as the team's closer, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Palencia had a breakout 2025 campaign for the Cubs, putting up a 2.91 ERA and 61:16 K:BB over 52.2 regular-season innings while notching 22 saves. He missed time in September with a shoulder injury and, after returning, ceded the closer role to Brad Keller. However, after Keller signed with the Phillies this offseason, Palencia is set to return to the ninth inning. There's some risk that Palencia's control will regress in 2026, as he had a 7.4 percent walk rate in 2025 after walking batters at a 13.8 percent clip his first two seasons. However, the 26-year-old has electric stuff and showed last season he can handle the pressure of the ninth inning.

Riley (core) took live batting practice Wednesday and appears to be facing no restrictions for the start of spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Riley appears to be 100 percent healthy after he missed most of the final two months of 2025 with a lower abdominal strain, which he ultimately addressed via core-muscle surgery Aug. 21. Though his reputation as one of baseball's more durable third basemen has taken a hit after two straight injury-shortened seasons, Riley won't turn 29 years old until April, and with some better luck on the health front, he could re-emerge as the consistent 30-homer, 90-RBI producer that he was from 2021 through 2023.

Alvarado (forearm) was seen throwing a bullpen session Wednesday during the Phillies' first workout of spring training, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Alvarado's ability to complete a side session would seem to suggest that he's made a full recovery from the left forearm strain that landed him on the injured list Sept. 12. The southpaw served an 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs to begin last season, but he was one of manager Rob Thomson's more trusted bullpen arms when available, logging a 3.81 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 32:7 K:BB in 26 innings. After having his $9 million club option for 2026 picked up over the winter, Alvarado should slot in as one of the top setup men in front of closer Jhoan Duran.

Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand during a live batting practice session Tuesday and is slated to undergo surgery Wednesday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The Diamondbacks likely won't provide a recovery timeline for Carroll until surgery is completed, but the procedure on his non-dominant hand will cost him significant time this spring and prevent him from competing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. The 25-year-old outfielder's availability for the Diamondbacks' March 26 season opener versus the Dodgers is also firmly in question.