MLB Player News

Manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Steele is lined up to start March 19 against the Dodgers in the second of two games in Tokyo, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Steele is expected to oppose Roki Sasaki, although the Dodgers have not yet made that official. Steele, 29, was limited to 24 starts last season due to hamstring and forearm injuries, but he pitched well when on the bump, collecting a 3.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 135:37 K:BB across 134.2 innings.

Rojas (sports hernia) took live batting practice against Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki during Wednesday's full-squad workout, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

In addition, Rojas took part in defensive drills Wednesday, per DodgersNation.com. Rojas disclosed Feb. 1 that he underwent sports hernia surgery early in the offseason and developed an infection that lengthened his recovery timeline, but he said he was "pretty close to 100 percent" heading into spring training, according to MLB.com. His ability to take part in live hitting and fielding work Wednesday backs up that assessment, though it's unclear whether Rojas will immediately play in Cactus League games when the Dodgers open their exhibition schedule Thursday. In any case, Rojas doesn't look to be in any danger of missing the Dodgers' season-opening series versus the Cubs in Tokyo, which begins March 18.

Ramos (hamstring/foot) took part in live batting practice against right-hander Justin Verlander during Wednesday's full-squad workout, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ramos provided one of the highlights of the day during his round of BP, hitting a long home run that struck the scoreboard at Scottsdale Stadium. Though he impressed in his first full big-league campaign in 2024 with a .269/.322/.469 slash line to go with 22 home runs and six steals over 121 games, Ramos disclosed after the season that he had been dealing with a tight hamstring and plantar fasciitis down the stretch. Neither issue presented any reported complications during his offseason training program, and Ramos doesn't appear to be facing any restrictions during spring training. He's poised to handle an everyday role for the Giants in 2025 and will likely slot somewhere in the middle of the lineup against both right- and left-handed pitchers.

Frasso (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com reports.

For the second spring training in a row, Frasso is part of the Dodgers' 40-man roster, but he's participating in big-league camp this time around after he was held out of action for all of 2024 while recovering from November 2023 surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder as well as the cleanup procedure he required a few months later on his hip labrum. The 26-year-old righty wasn't cleared to play in the Arizona Fall League as hoped, but he doesn't appear to be operating with any restrictions during spring training. Frasso has two minor-league options remaining and will likely be part of the Triple-A Oklahoma City rotation to begin the 2025 season.

Gore will start Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Astros, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Manager Dave Martinez hasn't yet tipped his hand regarding his Opening Day starter, but Gore remains the most likely candidate, with Jake Irvin also an option. Gore will look to take another step forward in 2025 after the 25-year-old southpaw posted a career-best 3.90 ERA last season, along with a 1.42 WHIP and 181:65 K:BB over 166.1 innings.

Frazier (thumb) took live batting practice against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller during Wednesday's full-squad workout, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Frazier will begin his second stint in Pittsburgh in 2025 after he signed a one-year, $1.525 million contract with the Pirates in January. He's projected to serve as a utility man for the Pirates, with his playing time likely to be contingent on the health of Pittsburgh's everyday players. During his time with the Royals last season, Frazier produced a career-low .576 OPS and struck out at a career-high 20.1 percent clip over 294 plate appearances.

The Rockies designated Schunk for assignment Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Scott Alexander, who was signed Wednesday. Schunk managed just a .595 OPS in 39 games with the Rockies in 2024, but he can play all over the infield and has minor-league options, so he could draw interest via trade or waivers.

The Rockies signed Alexander to a one-year, $2 million contract Wednesday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Alexander, 35, collected a 2.56 ERA and 31:15 K:BB over 38.2 innings while inducing groundballs at a 58.9 percent clip with the Athletics in 2024. The sinkerballer will give manager Bud Black another left-handed option in the bullpen.

Murphy believes the oblique injury he suffered Opening Day last season prevented him from ever getting comfortable with his swing, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "It was a combination of a bunch of things," Murphy said this week. "Missing that much time at the beginning, that's not how I wanted to begin the season. I'm not sure my swing ever felt correct coming off the oblique, not that I was in any pain or hurt. Some things just fell off, and I never caught up and found a way to adjust."

The 30-year-old backstop roared out to an .843 OPS with 21 homers and 68 RBI -- all career highs -- over 108 games in his first season for Atlanta in 2023, but Murphy's production cratered in 2024 through 72 contests after he returned from the oblique strain. The team seems confident that the poor performance was an aberration, however, as Travis d'Arnaud was allowed to leave in free agency, leaving only Chadwick Tromp, Curt Casali and prospect Drake Baldwin competing for the backup job in camp. Murphy still has four more seasons left on the six-year, $73 million contract he signed in 2022, with Atlanta holding a $15 million club option for 2029, so he will be given every chance to regain his previous offensive form.

Manager Dave Martinez said earlier this week that Ferrer remains a candidate to save games for the Nationals along with Jorge Lopez, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. "As I said earlier, Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez said. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it."

The back end of the Washington bullpen is in flux heading into Opening Day, after the Nationals elected to non-tender Kyle Finnegan in November coming off a 38-save season. Washington brought in Lopez over the winter on a one-year, $3 million deal, and based on Martinez's comments, Lopez -- who saved 23 games in 2022 between stops with the Orioles and Twins -- looks to be the preferred option in what could be a two-pronged approach at closer. Ferrer, meanwhile, has just one career save to his name, but he was one of Washington's top relievers in 2024 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB in 32 innings. As the southpaw option of the two relievers, Ferrer could be the choice over Lopez for save situations that arise when the Nationals face lefty-heavy lineups in the ninth inning.