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  • Brent Headrick RP | NYY

    Yankees' Brent Headrick: Healthy for spring training

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Wednesday that Headrick (forearm) is fully healthy for the start of spring training, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

    Headrick closed 2025 on the Yankees' injured list while recovering from a left forearm contusion, but he was able to make seven rehab appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in September and appears to have had a normal offseason. The 28-year-old southpaw will be competing for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen and will likely work in middle relief if he breaks camp with the big club.

  • Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: No restrictions for camp

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Wednesday that Cabrera (ankle) was fully healthy for the start of spring training, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

    Anthony Volpe (shoulder) was the only position player that Boone said would begin camp behind the others while recovering from an injury, so Cabrera will seemingly be operating without any restrictions this spring after fracturing his left ankle May 12 and undergoing season-ending surgery. Cabrera started 30 of the Yankees' first 41 games last year at third base, but with Ryan McMahon currently sitting atop the depth chart at the hot corner, Cabrera will likely be ticketed for a utility role.

  • Angels' Robert Stephenson: One week behind schedule

    Stephenson said Wednesday that he's about a week behind schedule after dealing with a nerve issue and thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms this offseason, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

    Stephenson insists that he feels good now, and with a bullpen session set for later this week he's not worried about missing Opening Day. The veteran reliever missed all of 2024 following UCL reconstruction with an internal brace, and he made only 20 total appearances in 2025 due to more arm problems. It's positive news that Stephenson is currently in a good spot, and he will be among those in the mix to close games for the Angels in 2026 if he can stay healthy. That said, he remains a major health risk.

  • Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Ready to go for spring training

    Rodriguez (elbow) took live batting practice against Mitch Keller on Wednesday and appears to be fully healthy for spring training, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

    Rodriguez closed 2025 on the shelf after undergoing ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow Aug. 12, but he was able to resume a throwing program over the winter. Since he had also been limited to only a handful of rehab games during the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on the same elbow, Rodriguez's long-term future as a catcher is in some doubt, but the Pirates don't appear ready to move him off the position just yet. Henry Davis and Joey Bart remain the frontrunners to open 2026 as the Pirates' top two catchers, but with a strong spring at the plate, Rodriguez could still push his way onto the Opening Day roster as a No. 3 backstop and a backup option at first base.

  • Ben Rice 1B | NYY

    Yankees' Ben Rice: Will still get regular reps vs. LHP

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Rice will play regularly against lefties in addition to righties this season, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

    The Yankees re-signed Paul Goldschmidt last week, giving Rice a potential roadblock to everyday playing time at first base. However, while Goldschmidt will be given starts against lefty hurlers as a short-side platoon option, Rice is still expected to see plenty of action versus southpaws. Boone also noted that Rice could see a little playing time at catcher on days Goldschmidt starts at first base.

  • Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: No restrictions in spring training

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Stanton (elbows) has had a great offseason and will not have any restrictions at the start of spring training, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

    Stanton's 2025 season debut was delayed until mid-June by tennis elbow in both arms. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported last week that the injuries haven't healed and Stanton will need to be monitored closely again in 2026. However, at least at the beginning of camp, Stanton appears to be good to go. The 36-year-old was superb when on the field last season, slashing .273/.350/.594 with 24 home runs across 77 regular-season contests.

  • Gerrit Cole SP | NYY

    Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Could pitch in spring games

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cole (elbow) could pitch in some Grapefruit League games before the end of camp, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

    Cole missed the entirety of the 2025 season following Tommy John with internal bracing surgery last March. He's been throwing since August and will progress to live batting practice session in a couple weeks, with game action a possibility later in March. However, while Cole's rehab has gone as well as could be expected, the Yankees don't expect him to rejoin their rotation until late May or early June.

  • Andrew Nardi RP | MIA

    Marlins' Andrew Nardi: Healthy to kick off spring

    Nardi (back) threw a live bullpen session during Wednesday's workout at spring training, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

    Nardi didn't pitch in 2025 after experiencing lower-back inflammation in spring training and requiring an injection in late April to relieve discomfort. The lefty reliever was able to throw off a mound before the end of the season, and he appears to have turned a corner in his recovery over the offseason. Nardi could resurface as a setup or middle-relief arm for Miami after maintaining a 4.51 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 167:53 K:BB over 121.2 career innings in the big leagues.

  • Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Named closer by manager

    Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Palencia will open the season as the team's closer, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

    Palencia had a breakout 2025 campaign for the Cubs, putting up a 2.91 ERA and 61:16 K:BB over 52.2 regular-season innings while notching 22 saves. He missed time in September with a shoulder injury and, after returning, ceded the closer role to Brad Keller. However, after Keller signed with the Phillies this offseason, Palencia is set to return to the ninth inning. There's some risk that Palencia's control will regress in 2026, as he had a 7.4 percent walk rate in 2025 after walking batters at a 13.8 percent clip his first two seasons. However, the 26-year-old has electric stuff and showed last season he can handle the pressure of the ninth inning.

  • Austin Riley 3B | ATL

    Braves' Austin Riley: Looks healthy for camp

    Riley (core) took live batting practice Wednesday and appears to be facing no restrictions for the start of spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

    Riley appears to be 100 percent healthy after he missed most of the final two months of 2025 with a lower abdominal strain, which he ultimately addressed via core-muscle surgery Aug. 21. Though his reputation as one of baseball's more durable third basemen has taken a hit after two straight injury-shortened seasons, Riley won't turn 29 years old until April, and with some better luck on the health front, he could re-emerge as the consistent 30-homer, 90-RBI producer that he was from 2021 through 2023.

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