MLB Player News

Hence will enter spring training without limitations after he threw just 79.2 innings in 2024 due to back and right lat discomfort, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hence had to be pulled early from a couple starts in June and then missed nearly a month around midseason due to the injury. He also exited his final outing of the season with another injury, although it's unclear if the same back/lat issue was the culprit. Durability is the only real negative with Hence's outlook, as he also missed time in 2023 with tightness in his chest and neck area. The 22-year-old was superb in 2024 when on the mound, posting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames with Double-A Springfield. Hence was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason and should begin 2025 in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis.

Pressly will waive his no-trade clause and is set to be traded by the Astros to the Cubs in exchange for Juan Bello, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Astros will also be sending money to help cover some of Pressly's $14 million salary, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The trade is pending Pressly passing his physical, but the expectation is that the 36-year-old right-hander will be the Cubs' closer for the 2025 campaign. Bob Nightengale of USA Today relays that the move also opens the door for the Astros to bring Alex Bregman back. Pressly appeared in 59 regular-season games for Houston in 2024, registering 25 saves with a 3.49 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB across 56.2 innings.

The Diamondbacks activated Jarvis (elbow) off the 60-day injured list in November.

Jarvis sustained an elbow sprain in August that ended his 2024 season. He'll join the mix of pitchers this spring looking to land a spot in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. A former starter in the minors, Jarvis started last season as a reliever and pitched to a 3.19 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 44 appearances (59.1 innings). His 33 walks are a red flag.

Nimmo is still battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot but said Saturday that he plans on being ready for the start of the regular season, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.

Nimmo dealt with plantar fasciitis for most of the 2024 campaign, which may have played a factor in him finishing with a career-worst .726 OPS across 663 plate appearances. He's been able to resume jogging and hasn't stopped working in the batting cages, but progress in his foot has been slow over the offseason. The Mets plan on holding him out of the first several Grapefruit League games -- which isn't unusual for the 31-year-old outfielder -- but both he and the team are optimistic about his chances of being ready to go by Opening Day.

The Mets signed Alzolay to a two-year minor-league contract Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Alzolay underwent Tommy John surgery in late August and was non-tendered by the Cubs in November. He's expected to miss the entire 2025 season while rehabbing, but the 29-year-old right-hander will have an opportunity to earn a spot in the Mets' bullpen for the 2026 campaign if he makes a full recovery. Alzolay appeared in 18 games for the Cubs during the 2024 regular season and posted a 4.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 17.1 innings with four saves and a hold.

The Nationals designated La Sorsa for assignment Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The move creates space on the 40-man roster for the addition of Shinnosuke Ogasawara. La Sorsa, 26, sports a 4.47 ERA and 42:12 K:BB over 50.1 innings covering parts of two seasons at the major-league level. The lefty reliever has a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.

The Rockies have extended Dollander an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Kyle Newman of the Denver Post reports.

Dollander had an excellent first professional season in 2024, posting a 2.59 ERA and 169:47 K:BB over 118 innings covering 23 starts between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford. The 23-year-old has a good chance to be part of the Rockies' rotation at some point in 2025.

The Nationals signed Ogasawara to a two-year contract Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The financial details of the deal are not yet known. Ogasawara, 27, posted a 3.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 82:22 K:BB over 144.1 innings in his most recent of nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan. The left-hander figures to be given an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Nationals' rotation but could ultimately settle into a relief role.

The Padres acquired Marinaccio from the White Sox on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.

Marinaccio went from the Yankees to the White Sox via waivers back in September and is now on the move to the Padres. The 29-year-old has posted a 3.22 ERA and 137:61 K:BB over 114.2 relief innings at the big-league level and could fill a middle relief role in San Diego.

Kelenic is slated to compete for playing time in right field until Ronald Acuna (knee) returns, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Newly signed Jurickson Profar is slated for everyday playing time in left field, which leaves Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz in a likely platoon in right field for the first month or so of the season while Acuna is out. Once Acuna returns, Kelenic could be pegged for a fourth outfielder role. The former top prospect slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs over 131 games during the regular season in his first year with Atlanta, sagging to a .595 OPS in the second half.