MLB Player News

The Phillies requested Castellanos not to report to spring training this week as the club ramps up efforts to trade him, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Philadelphia has been looking to trade the 33-year-old outfielder all offseason, but his $20 million salary for 2026 -- which is the final year of his contract -- plus his poor defense and .694 OPS during the regular season last year have made that difficult. According to Gelb, the Phillies could release Castellanos if a trade is unable to be reached by the end of the week. Adolis Garcia is poised to take over in right field for Philadelphia after signing a one-year, $10 million contract in December.

The Nationals placed Herz (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The move clears a spot on Washington's 40-man roster for Miles Mikolas, who signed a one-year deal with the club Wednesday. It's unclear how close Herz is to beginning a throwing program after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, but he's likely to be sidelined for at least most of the season's first half.

Hentges (shoulder/knee) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, per MLB.com.

Hentges missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing left shoulder surgery in September 2024. He also had arthroscopic right knee surgery last August before signing a one-year deal with San Francisco in November. The left-hander is expected to be ready during spring training and will look to return to form following his lengthy absence. Over 25 relief appearances for Cleveland in 2024, he posted a 3.04 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB across 23.2 innings.

Schmitt (wrist) will continue his hitting progression for one more week and is then expected to be cleared for all baseball activities, per MLB.com.

Schmitt underwent surgery in early December to remove the carpal boss in his left wrist but is expected to be ready before Opening Day. The 26-year-old infielder slashed .237/.305/.401 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 34 runs scored across 348 plate appearances in 95 games last season. He's expected to play a utility role in 2026 after the Giants signed Luis Arraez during the offseason.

Strickland (shoulder) tossed a bullpen session Wednesday during the Angels' first workout of spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Strickland didn't make any appearances in the majors or minors after July 6 last season due to a right shoulder strain, but he looks to be fully healthy as spring training gets underway. The veteran right-hander is attending camp as a non-roster invitee and will need to perform well during the Cactus League to clinch a spot in the Angels' Opening Day bullpen. Strickland made 19 appearances for the Halos last season, notching one save and two holds while posting a 3.27 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 22 innings.

Gelof (shoulder) said Wednesday that he's "feeling healthy, feeling ready to go" and expects to be a full participant when he reports to spring training later this week, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

After posting 14 home runs and 14 steals in just 69 games as a rookie in 2023, Gelof looked to be a central figure in the Athletics' rebuilding effort, but injuries and an ability to make consistent contact against big-league pitching have left his future murky. He didn't make his 2025 big-league debut until early July while recovering from a fractured bone in his right wrist and a stress reaction in his ribs, then slashed just .174/.230/.272 with a 45.5 percent strikeout rate over 101 plate appearances between two stints with the Athletics before he was shut down in late September due to a dislocated left shoulder. He appears to be healthy again following surgery on the shoulder, but Gelof may need a strong showing at the plate during Cactus League play to make a compelling case for a spot on the Athletics' Opening Day roster.

The Nationals signed Mikolas to a one-year contract Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal reports.

Mikolas held a 4.84 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 100:37 K:BB across 156.1 innings covering 31 starts for the Cardinals in 2025. The veteran right-hander has a pedestrian 4.51 ERA over the last four seasons, but he's made 30-plus starts every year during that stretch, so the 37-year-old gives an unproven Nationals rotation some experience and durability.

Falter (biceps) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Falter spent the final five weeks of the 2025 season on the shelf due to a left biceps contusion, but he made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Omaha in late September and looks to have had a normal offseason. The veteran southpaw will likely get stretched out as a starter during spring training, but he's probably on the outside looking in for a rotation spot and could be ticketed for a long-relief role.

Lauer will earn $4.4 million in 2026 after losing his arbitration hearing with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Lauer had filed for a $5.75 million salary, coming off a 2025 campaign in which he delivered a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 102:26 K:BB in 104.2 innings. The veteran lefty brought some stability to the back end of the Toronto rotation for much of the summer before he transitioned into a relief role once the Blue Jays regained some health with the returns of Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer from injuries. Scherzer is now a free agent, but with Toronto retaining Bieber, trading for Dylan Cease and preparing breakout postseason star Trey Yesavage for a full-time rotation spot in 2026, Lauer could see a larger share of his appearances out of the bullpen during the upcoming season.

Bubic (shoulder) will earn $6.15 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Royals on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The Royals had filed at $5.15 million, but the three-person arbitration panel chose the figure Bubic submitted. Bubic experienced a breakout 2025 season, posting a 2.55 ERA and 116:39 K:BB over 116.1 innings covering 20 starts before going down with a left shoulder strain. Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Bubic threw a bullpen session Wednesday and doesn't appear to be operating with any restrictions this spring, but the Royals will keep a close eye on him after he missed nearly the entire second half last season.