MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Smith (ankle) is unlikely to make his Cactus League debut until next week, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

The Dodgers will kick off their spring slate Thursday, but Smith looks like he'll be out for at least the team's first four games of the exhibition schedule while he manages an ankle issue. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the injury affects Smith only while running, so the veteran backstop has still been able to catch bullpen sessions and take live batting practice thus far during camp. Assuming he completes his running progression in the coming days without issue, Smith should clear up any concern about his availability for the Dodgers' season-opening two-game series versus the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.

Taillon, who saw his average fastball velocity dip as the 2024 season went on, is hoping improved health helps him dial the pitch up some in 2025, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Taillon saw his four-seam fastball drop from an average of 93.2 mph in April last year to 92.2 mph in September, giving him a career-low mark of 92.4 mph overall. Along with the reduced velocity, the veteran also generated a career-low 6.8 K/9. The righty said back issues he dealt with during the season may have played a part, though he still managed to log a respectable 165.1 innings and turn in a 3.27 ERA, his best mark since his 2018 campaign with the Pirates. If Taillon stays healthy and regains a little zip on his fastball, he could be primed for a jump in strikeouts and another productive season in 2025.

Busch could form a platoon with the newly signed Justin Turner at first base in 2025, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Busch, a left-handed hitter, would presumably be on the strong side of a platoon with Turner, who bats from the right side and would likely be deployed against southpaws. The veteran Turner is also an option to see time at DH. While Busch still appears to be locked into a fairly sizeable role, Turner represents an option with an extensive and successful body of work at the MLB level. If Busch gets off to a slow start, Turner could see his role grow at his teammate's expense.

Imanaga will start March 18 against the Dodgers in the Cubs' season-opening series in Tokyo.

Manager Craig Counsell had said previously that Imanaga would take the ball in one of the two contests in Japan, and now it's been confirmed that the lefty will start the opener. He's expected to be opposed by fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although the Dodgers have not yet confirmed that. Imanaga held a 2.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 174 strikeouts over 173.1 innings in 2024, his first season with the Cubs.

Frelick added 25 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Frelick clubbed only two home runs over 524 regular-season plate appearances last season and his 83.4 mph average exit velocity was the lowest in baseball. The 24-year-old stole 18 bases in 2024 and his elite glove should keep him in the lineup, but his appeal in fantasy leagues will remain limited unless he can add some thump, which he hopes the strength he added will help him accomplish.

Stallings will receive the bulk of the starts at catcher for the Rockies this season, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

Stallings put together the best offensive season of his career in 2024 in his first season in Colorado, slashing .263/.357/.453 with nine homers over 82 games. He then re-signed with the Rockies over the offseason and will enter 2025 atop the catching depth chart, with Drew Romo, Hunter Goodman and Austin Nola competing for the backup job.

Wood was held out of outfield drills Tuesday due to left quad tendinitis, Andrew Golden of The Washington Postreports.

Wood took batting practice Tuesday and also ran the bases a bit, so this doesn't look to be anything to be overly concerned about. It's possible the Nationals will hold Wood out of their first few Grapefruit League games or limit him to designated-hitter duty just to be safe. Wood is slated to be the Nationals' everyday left fielder in 2025.

Nicolas (side) faced off against Andrew McCutchen during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Nicolas appears to have entered spring training with a clean bill of health after he finished last season on the injured list due to a left side injury. Before being shut down, Nicolas had turned in a 3.95 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB while collecting two wins and seven holds over 54.2 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. He'll likely be ticketed for a middle-relief role to begin the 2025 campaign.

Glasnow (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Glasnow finished his first season in Los Angeles on the injured list due to a right elbow sprain, but he didn't require offseason surgery and said in November that he had fully healed from the injury. The Dodgers' decision to let him face hitters in the second week of spring training supports the notion that Glasnow is back to full health, putting him on track to be available when Los Angeles opens its regular season March 18 versus the Cubs in Tokyo. Despite concluding the 2024 campaign on the shelf, the oft-injured Glasnow was still able to establish career highs in starts (22) and innings (134) while going 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 168:35 K:BB. In an effort to help preserve Glasnow and the team's other starting pitchers throughout the long season, the Dodgers are once again expected to utilize a six-man rotation in 2025. The arrangement will suppress Glasnow's counting statistics relative to other starting pitchers coming off the board around his range in fantasy drafts, but the 6-foot-8 right-hander should remain one of the top performing starters on a per-inning basis.

Fitzgerald will be held out of workouts for a few days due to a lower-back injury, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The Giants appear confident that it won't be a lingering problem for Fitzgerald, but at this stage of spring training there's little reason to push him. Fitzgerald slashed .280/.334/.497 with 15 home runs and 17 stolen bases over just 96 games for San Francisco last season and is slated to serve as its everyday second baseman in 2025.