MLB Player News

Scott (elbow) said Wednesday that he's about a month away from beginning a throwing program, SNY.tv reports.

Scott is nearly five months removed from a hybrid Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure on his right elbow. He will miss the entire 2025 campaign, but assuming all goes well with his rehab, should be ready to go for the start of the 2026 season.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated in a recent interview that he does not expect Woodruff (shoulder) to be ready by Opening Day, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff underwent surgery in October of 2023 to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. His rehab had to be paused in August when he wasn't progressing as hoped, and while things have gone well with his recovery since then, he will be behind at the start of camp. A clearer timetable for when Woodruff will be ready for his season debut could be available at some point during spring training.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said recently that he doesn't expect Yelich (back) to be 100 percent at the start of spring training, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Yelich underwent a microdiscectomy procedure in August to address a herniated disc in his lower back. His recovery has come along well and there doesn't seem to be any concern about his availability for Opening Day, but he will be brought along slowly in camp. Yelich was terrific last season before being shut down, slashing .315/.406/.504 with 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases over 73 contests.

Phillips recorded a 2.49 ERA while striking out 24 over 21.2 innings in his last five starts in 2024.

Phillips, who made his major-league debut in 2023, was rocked at Triple-A Louisville last year. The Reds sent him to the Arizona Complex League in late June after 14 starts with a 10.11 ERA, 7.9 BB/9 and 2.4 HR/9 with the top affiliate. After a two-month reset in the desert, the 23-year-old right-hander returned to Louisville, where he finished strong. Phillips then pitched in the Arizona Fall League and, apart from one clunker, was effective. He needs to find the strike zone with more consistency -- he walked 14 batters in 19.1 innings in the AFL -- but he made adjustments and is trending in a positive direction again following the lowest point of his professional career.

The Cubs designated Zastryzny for assignment Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The 32-year-old lefty will end up as the odd man out of a 40-man roster spot in order to make room for Ryan Brasier, who was acquired from the Dodgers on Tuesday. Zastryzny appeared in nine games for the Brewers last year, surrendering just one earned run in 7.2 innings before elbow tendinitis cut his season short in late July. He also finished the Triple-A season with a 3.03 ERA across 29.2 frames, so teams looking for bullpen help may be willing to take a flier on him.

The Dodgers traded Brasier to the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Dodgers will also send cash to Chicago to help pay some of the $4.5 million Brasier is owed in 2025. The veteran reliever was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on Thursday to make room for Kirby Yates. However, he has a good chance to handle high-leverage innings with his new squad after posting a 1.89 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over 66.2 frames during his time with the Dodgers.

Brantly signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Brantly spent all of last season in the Rays organization, slashing .250/.316/.394 with 19 RBI across 177 plate appearances. The 35-year-old backstop has only played in 12 MLB games dating back to 2019, however, so there's little hope for him to serve as more than minor-league depth.

While Kilian figures to compete for a starting job in spring training, he currently projects to fall short of earning a spot in the Cubs' rotation, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Holdovers Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all seem positioned for rotation spots. The same is true for veteran addition Matthew Boyd. That would leave Kilian, who is out of minor-league options, looking at a long-relief role if he sticks with the team. Assad is the least experienced of those starters and could get pushed in camp, but he pitched well enough in 2024 across 29 starts and figures to have the inside track at this point. Kilian won't have a ton of fantasy value if he's stuck in Chicago's bullpen.

Grichuk agreed to a one year, $5 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Grichuk can earn up to $5.5 million through incentives in the deal. The 33-year-old declined his mutual option with Arizona at the end of October, but he now returns after appearing in 106 games during 2024. Grichuk generated an impressive .876 OPS across 279 plate appearances last season, just shy of the career-best .877 he posted in 2015 for St. Louis. The right-handed veteran balances a lineup that skews lefty and should fill a short-side platoon role at designated hitter in 2025, considering his .319 average and .914 OPS over 184 plate appearances versus southpaws a season ago. Depending on how well Pavin Smith and others handle right-handed pitching as part of a DH platoon, there could be additional opportunities for Grichuk.

Cook will enter spring training with a chance to win the right field job for the Pirates, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates acquired Cook just before the trade deadline in 2024, a move that offered him a clearer path to playing time. Right field is currently unresolved in Pittsburgh, with Nick Yorke, Cook and Joshua Palacios looking like the leading candidates to take the role. In particular, Cook's defensive strength contrasts with Yorke, who is inexperienced in the outfield but would likely have more upside with the bat. This situation will likely remain unresolved for much ofspring training and could be fluid throughout the season.