MLB Player News
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Joe Jimenez RP | ATL
Braves' Joe Jimenez: Availability uncertain for 2026
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss acknowledged Wednesday that he's uncertain if Jimenez (knee) will be available to pitch at any point in 2026, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Jimenez won't participate in spring training after he required a cleanup procedure on his left knee in November. The reliever previously had surgery to address cartilage damage in the same knee in November 2024, resulting in him missing the entire 2025 season. Weiss described Jimenez's more recent setback with the knee as a "very complex injury," prompting Atlanta to take a cautious approach with his recovery. After being placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jimenez won't be available for the first two months of the season, and given Weiss' pessimistic comments, the 31-year-old righty seems likely to be sidelined through at least the All-Star break.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Slated for hamate bone surgery
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Lindor will undergo right hamate bone surgery Wednesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
President of baseball operations David Stearns noted Tuesday that surgery for Lindor was a possibility, and it's now confirmed that the shortstop will be going under the knife. Rehab is expected to take six weeks, and while the Mets are optimistic Lindor will be ready for Opening Day, it's hardly a sure thing. If Lindor needs to miss time, the Mets could shift Bo Bichette over to shortstop and install Brett Baty at third base.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Begins throwing next week
Houck (elbow) will begin a throwing program next week, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck underwent a hybrid reconstruction of his UCL plus a flexor tendon repair in his right elbow last August. The right-hander hopes to contribute to the Red Sox in September, but the club won't really be counting on him again until 2027.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Booted off 40-man roster
The Dodgers designated Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday.
Rortvedt will be removed from the Dodgers' 40-man roster for the second time this offseason after previously being designated for assignment in November. The team will hope to keep him around as catching depth at Triple-A if he clears waivers this time around.
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Evan Phillips RP | LAD
Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Re-ups with Dodgers
The Dodgers re-signed Phillips (elbow) to a one-year, $6.5 million contract Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Phillips was non-tendered earlier this offseason after having Tommy John surgery last May. It seems likely he will miss at least the first half of the season, but the $6.5 million investment suggests the Dodgers expect Phillips to contribute for a significant chunk of 2026. Phillips boasts a 2.22 ERA and 221:52 K:BB over 195 regular-season frames for the Dodgers.
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Ben Joyce RP | LAA
Angels' Ben Joyce: Cleared for mound work
Joyce (shoulder) is slated to throw a bullpen session off a half mound Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce is beginning spring training slightly behind the Angels' healthy pitchers, but working off a mound this early in camp is a promising sign. That said, manager Kurt Suzuki wouldn't guarantee Tuesday that Joyce would be ready to go for Opening Day, as the Angels plan to take a day-by-day approach with the flame-throwing righty reliever. The 25-year-old missed the final five months of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery in May to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.
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Prelander Berroa RP | CHW
White Sox's Prelander Berroa: Has thrown off mound three times
Berroa (elbow) has thrown off a mound three times so far as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Berroa missed all of 2025 after having the operation last March. He will begin the 2026 season on the injured list but should rejoin the White Sox' bullpen during the first half if all continues to go well with his rehab.
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Marc Church P | TEX
Rangers' Marc Church: Nursing lat strain
Church will be behind schedule to begin spring training while he recovers from a right lat strain, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Church dealt with lat issues for a large portion of the 2025 campaign, as well. The expectation is that he will be ready to throw off a mound again sometime in March, but Church's status for Opening Day is uncertain. Church has some of the best upside out of anyone in the Rangers' shaky bullpen, but he'll have to get healthy first.
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Alexis Diaz RP | TEX
Rangers' Alexis Diaz: Has chance at closer job
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Wednesday that Diaz has a chance to see saves for the club this season, but the manager wants to see how the former Reds closer looks in spring training games first, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Schumaker listed Robert Garcia and Chris Martin as the initial favorites to close games, but he left the door open for Diaz. The 29-year-old righty notched 75 saves for Cincinnati from 2022-24, but he fell apart in 2025, posting an 8.15 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 17.2 innings between three different teams. It's a good opportunity for Diaz to re-establish himself on a team lacking bullpen clarity, but he has a lot to prove before fantasy managers can trust him again.
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Chris Martin RP | TEX
Rangers' Chris Martin: Could see save opportunities
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Wednesday that Robert Garcia and Martin are the favorites to see save chances for the team this season, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
After mulling retirement, Martin re-signed with the Rangers in December on a one-year, $4 million contract. He'll turn 40 in June but has remained highly effective, having logged a 2.98 ERA and 43:8 K:BB over 42.1 frames in 2025 while notching two saves. Martin finished last season on the injured list with an undisclosed injury but enters spring training without limitations.