Dodgers' Brandon Morrow: Throws at training facility
Rotowire
Morrow (elbow) spent some time throwing at the Dodgers' spring training facility Friday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Recent reports have indicated that Morrow had been shut down from throwing and isn't expected to pitch this season, so Friday's workout -- which Morrow himself reported on his personal Instagram page -- is a somewhat surprising development. The length and intensity of the right-hander's session are unclear, and it remains doubtful that he'll be able to contribute to the Dodgers' bullpen this season.
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Dodgers' Brandon Morrow: Unlikely to pitch in 2021
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Morrow (elbow) was shut down from throwing and isn't expected to pitch this season, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The 36-year-old was reportedly healthy entering spring training, but his arm hasn't responded well to rehab and he's since been shut down. It's a familiar story for Morrow, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2018 with the Cubs due to multiple arm issues.
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Dodgers' Brandon Morrow: Not likely to pitch in spring games
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Morrow is unlikely to pitch in Cactus League games this spring, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Morrow is healthy to begin spring training after he dealt with elbow injuries over the past two seasons. He's serving as a non-roster invitee with the Dodgers this year, but manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that he's not likely to see game action this spring since he needs to build up arm strength after his lengthy layoff. The right-hander hasn't appeared in a game in 2018 but is expected to be built up as a "leverage reliever" during spring training.
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Dodgers' Brandon Morrow: Healthy entering camp
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Morrow (elbow) is beginning spring training healthy, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The 36-year-old is a non-roster invitee in camp after signing with the Dodgers in December, and manager Dave Roberts said the team plans to build him up as a "leverage reliever." Morrow has been sidelined by multiple arm issues over the past couple years and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2018 with the Cubs. He's been effective when healthy since becoming a full-time reliever in 2016 with a 1.79 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 98 appearances.
Dodgers' Brandon Morrow: Lands invitation to spring training
Rotowire
Morrow (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Morrow didn't play in 2020 after undergoing a minor nerve procedure on his elbow in July. He should be healthy in time for spring training, and he'll get the chance to compete for a role in the Dodgers' talented bullpen as a non-roster invitee. The 36-year-old hasn't pitched in a game in the majors or minors since July of 2018.
Morrow (elbow) relayed Wednesday that he recently underwent a minor nerve procedure, but he expects to be fully healthy at some point later this season and hopes to catch on with another team, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Though Morrow doesn't expect to miss much time after another setback with his right elbow, he wasn't on track to be ready for Opening Day in late July, which likely explains why the Cubs released him from his minor-league deal Wednesday. Set to turn 36 years old later this month and having not pitched in a regular-season game in the majors or minors since July 15, 2018, Morrow's career looks to be hanging by a thread.
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Brandon Morrow: Parting ways with Cubs
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The Cubs are expected to release Morrow (elbow), Robert Murray of TheScore.com reports.
This move comes after Morrow was not included on the Cubs' initial player pool list for the 2020 season. The veteran right-hander has struggled with injuries since joining Chicago in 2018, pitching just 30.2 innings over the past two seasons. Morrow did post a 1.47 ERA during that span, so there's a chance he gets another opportunity elsewhere. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the veteran right-hander would need some time to ramp up from a minor nerve procedure which makes him a difficult proposition for a 60-game season, though he still plans to continue his career in 2021 if he's find another team this season.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Doesn't make initial player list
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Morrow was not included on the Cubs' initial player pool list for the 2020 season.
The Cubs announced a 50-player pool and can still get to 60, so there's a chance Morrow ends up getting added. However, with the amount of injuries the 35-year-old has dealt with the past few seasons, he seems unlikely to have any type of significant role with the team this year, if he even gets added to the roster.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Should benefit from time off
Rotowire
Morrow (elbow/calf) figures to benefit from the MLB hiatus and could fill a bullpen spot for the Cubs when the season is able to begin, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Morrow missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery in November 2018, and he was working his way back in spring training, though a mild calf strain suffered in February slowed him down a little. The 35-year-old is on a minor-league deal and is not a lock to secure a MLB roster spot, but this extra time off could allow him to get fully healthy and possibly make an impact this season, whenever it's able to begin.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Suffers mild calf injury
Rotowire
Morrow (elbow) suffered a mild calf strain after running Thursday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Morrow has been working on his recovery from last August's elbow surgery, but he's dealt with several setbacks along the way. He suffered a chest injury last week which felt good after throwing Thursday, but he'll now be sidelined approximately two weeks as a result of his newest injury. The right-hander hasn't appeared in the majors since July of 2018 due to several injuries, and his recent setbacks could hinder his outlook for an eventual major-league roster spot.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Dealing with chest setback
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Morrow (elbow) is battling an upper right chest muscle strain and won't throw for at least a few days, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Injuries are sadly nothing new for the veteran, though they usually involve his arm. Morrow is in camp on a minor-league deal after missing all of 2019 with arm issues. The latest setback doesn't appear to be particularly significant, though it will affect his ability to get back into shape as he works his way back from his August elbow surgery.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Returning from illness
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Morrow (elbow/illness) is scheduled to throw off a mound Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Morrow has been sidelined for much of the last week with food poisoning, but his return to the mound indicates he's clear of the issue. The 35-year-old is taking a cautious approach in spring training -- throwing from a mound once every four days -- as he attempts to see major-league action for the first time since July 2018. Morrow re-signed with the Cubs on a minor-league deal after being sidelined all of 2019 with the elbow issues.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Sick to start spring
Rotowire
Morrow's (elbow) spring training build-up has been delayed by a bout of food poisoning, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Morrow's scheduled Thursday bullpen session will be pushed back a day, but it's certainly a good sign that the issue isn't with his oft-injured right arm. The veteran returned to the Cubs on a minor-league deal over the offseason after missing the entirety of the 2019 campaign due to arm troubles. If healthy, he's a potential bullpen weapon, but it's hard to put much faith in a 35-year-old who's averaged 26 innings over the last six seasons.
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Cubs' Brandon Morrow: Cautious spring training approach
Rotowire
Morrow (elbow) has thrown four mound sessions already after reporting to the Cubs' camp in Arizona early. He's going to be behind his teammates initially, throwing from a mound once every four days, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
As Bastian further reports, Morrow has a stated goal of being ready by Opening Day, though his workout schedule makes achieving that goal unlikely. Given that he hasn't thrown in the majors since July 15, 2018, anything he can give the Cubs has to be treated as a bonus.
