MLB Player News

Veen has been sidelined since March 9 due to a right knee contusion.

Veen injured himself sliding while trying to make a catch in the outfield. He had been slashing .250/.375/.550 with a pair of homers and four RBI through 24 plate appearances in the Cactus League, but his extended absence could be a sign that he won't be available for Opening Day.

The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

Austin underwent a patellar tendon debridement procedure on his right knee in February. He remains without a return timeline, but his move to the 60-day IL ensures he'll remain out until at least late May. His spot on the 40-man roster will be handed to Dylan Carlson, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move.

The Cubs selected Carlson's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Carlson joined the Cubs as a non-roster invitee to spring camp and played his way into a roster spot by slashing .298/.421/.404 across 57 plate appearances. He'll provide Chicago with extra depth in the outfield while Seiya Suzuki works his way back from a knee injury, but Carlson likely won't have a path to regular playing time unless another one of the Cubs' outfielders gets hurt. Tyler Austin (knee) was placed on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Carlson was informed Tuesday that he will make Chicago's Opening Day roster, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

With Seiya Suzuki (knee) set to begin the year on the injured list, the Cubs are bolstering their outfield depth with Carlson and fellow veteran Michael Conforto. Carlson was in camp as a non-roster invitee after stumbling to a .203/.278/.336 line across 83 games with the Orioles last season. He'll likely serve in a depth role with limited fantasy utility, though he does have a path to increased playing time if any other Chicago outfielders go down with injuries. Carlson will ultimately make the team over Kevin Alcantara, who has options available and will begin the season with Triple-A Iowa.

Lodolo (finger) will begin the regular season on the injured list, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo began playing catch Tuesday -- his first time throwing since leaving his start Sunday with a finger blister -- but the Reds have officially concluded that the 28-year-old is better off beginning the season on the IL. The move will give him all the time he needs to recover fully; meanwhile, Brandon Williamson will step in to fill the void in Cincinnati's rotation.

The Giants optioned Seymour to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Although he finished the Cactus League with a strong 2.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 12.1 innings, Seymour will come up short in the race for a spot in San Francisco's bullpen. The 27-year-old righty may reclaim a middle-relief role with the Giants if he continues to cruise on the mound to begin the Triple-A season.

The Giants optioned McDonald to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

McDonald got off to a fast start this spring and looked to have a real chance at making the Giants' Opening Day bullpen as a long reliever. However, after finishing the Cactus League with a 6.94 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 11.2 frames, he'll head to Sacramento to get back on track. The 25-year-old righty has looked good during his limited MLB opportunities (1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP through 18 IP), so the Giants may still be willing to add him to their rotation if injuries begin to arise among their starters.

The Giants optioned Gilbert to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Gilbert's battle for an Opening Day roster spot lasted until the final day of spring training, but he'll officially head back to Triple-A to begin 2026 after turning in a .648 OPS through 37 Cactus League plate appearances.

The Giants optioned Brennan to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Brennan's .325/.386/.500 slash line through 44 plate appearances in the Cactus League made a strong case for him to break camp with the big club, but he'll ultimately head back to the minors to begin the year. The 28-year-old outfielder has routinely batted above .300 at the Triple-A level and could earn a spot on the Giants' bench if he continues to swing a hot bat.

The Giants optioned Bivens to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bivens logged a 4.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 81 innings last year while spending the entire year with San Francisco, but he'll be sent back to Triple-A to kick off the 2026 campaign. The 31-year-old boasts a 3.68 ERA in his MLB career and allowed just four earned runs in 10.1 Cactus League innings, so he'll likely be one of the first relievers called up whenever the Giants need a fresh bullpen arm.