MLB Player News

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki indicated Tuesday that Rodriguez (elbow) will have to prove he's healthy and earn his place in the starting rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was acquired from the Orioles in November, but the Angels won't immediately guarantee him a spot in the starting rotation. Rodriguez was sidelined all of 2025 due to lat and elbow injuries and has had his fair share of health issues throughout his career. The 26-year-old seems likely to make the rotation if he can stay healthy, but that's hardly a given for the former top prospect.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday that Lindor (elbow) is being evaluated for a possible stress reaction in his left hamate bone and could require surgery, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

If an operation is needed, Lindor would need six weeks to recover. In that instance, Stearns said it's possible Lindor would be ready in time for Opening Day, but it would be a tight window given that the Mets' opener is just over six weeks away. Lindor is also coming back from a right elbow debridement procedure that he had last October, one from which he seems to be fully recovered. If Lindor gets a late start to the season, the Mets could slide Bo Bichette over to shortstop and install Brett Baty at third base.

Manager Kurt Suzuki said Joyce (shoulder) is playing catch, but it remains to be seen if the right-hander will be ready by Opening Day, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old made just five appearances in 2025 due to shoulder issues, which necessitated surgery to repair a torn labrum in May. It's encouraging that Joyce has started up a throwing program, but he'll require a significant ramp-up period while coming back from major surgery. Once healthy, he could be part of the closer mix for the Angels, along with Robert Stephenson and Kirby Yates.

Verlander agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander spent the 2025 campaign in San Francisco, finishing the season with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 137:52 K:BB across 152 innings. Verlander is now coming back to Detroit, where he won Rookie of the Year, an MVP and a Cy Young Award across the first 13 seasons of his big-league career. He'll turn 43 years old on Feb. 20 and will help round out a Tigers rotation headlined by Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez.

The Mets placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

The transaction frees up a 40-man roster spot for the addition of Bryan Hudson. Garrett underwent UCL reconstruction surgery in October and will miss the entire 2026 season.

The Diamondbacks placed Saalfrank (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

A spot on the 40-man roster was needed for the addition of Carlos Santana. Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery Monday to repair the left labrum in his shoulder. It's unclear whether he will be ready for the beginning of the 2027 campaign.

The Rockies placed Bryant (back) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Tomoyuki Sugano, who inked a one-year contract with Colorado. Bryant is still not 100 percent as he deals with a lumbar degenerative disc disease, and there is no timetable for his return. The 33-year-old has played in 170 games over his four seasons with the Rockies since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract in March of 2022.

The Mets acquired Hudson from the White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Hudson had been designated for assignment last week. The big left-hander spent much of 2025 in the minors and posted a 4.80 ERA and 19:13 K:BB over 15 frames during his time at the big-league level. However, he held a 1.73 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in 2024, so the Mets will try to coax that level of performance out of Hudson again.

Ginkel (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Ginkel missed most of the final two months of the 2025 regular season with a right shoulder sprain, but it appears he's come to camp without restrictions given that he's throwing off a mound on the first day pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. The veteran reliever is among those who should be in the mix to serve as closer as part of an unsettled Diamondbacks bullpen. Ginkel was limited to 29 appearances due to injury in 2025, finishing with a 7.36 ERA and 29:13 K:BB over 25.2 innings. From 2023-2024, Ginkel held a 2.86 ERA and 147:38 K:BB across 135.1 regular-season frames.

Manager Alex Cora announced Tuesday that Crochet will start Opening Day against the Reds on March 26, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.

It's hardly a surprise the left-hander will be taking the mound first for Boston, and Cora wasted no time making it official. Crochet entrenched himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball last year, posting a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 255:46 K:BB across 205.1 innings during the regular season.