MLB Player News

Jungmann, the 12th overall pick in 2011, had been off to a brutal start to his 2013 campaign at Double-A Huntsville, posting a 7.89 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 16/14 K/BB ratio over 21 2/3 innings. The injury provides some context for his early struggles. The organization hopes that being proactive in prescribing rest and treatment will alleviate the symptoms before the issue becomes more serious.

It’s short for Collin Joseph, in case you were wondering. Kayfus will likely battle for playing time in right field and at DH this spring as he enters what he hopes is his first full big-league season.

It was thought Fedde might give Korea another try after a rough 2025, but he’s instead returning to the White Sox team that originally brought him back to the U.S. in 2024. Fedde had a 5.49 ERA and an 83/67 K/BB in 141 innings for the Cardinals, Braves and Brewers last season. Assuming that Shane Smith, Anthony Kay and Davis Martin are safe, the White Sox could have Sean Newcomb, Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon and Fedde battle for two spots in the rotation.

Bush underwent Tommy John surgery almost exactly a year ago. There hasn’t been word yet on how he’s recovering, but if everything is going as hoped, perhaps he could begin pitching in the minors in May and contribute to the White Sox in the second half of the season.

Francis missed the final 3 1/2 months of last season, but that was due to a shoulder impingement. He’s turning 30 in April, so this is obvious a giant setback to his career. Francis was a huge surprise down the stretch for the Jays in 2024, posting a 1.33 ERA and a 49/6 K/BB in his final eight starts that year. However, he struggled to a 6.08 ERA in 14 starts before getting hurt last year, and he wasn’t in the Jays’ immediate plans for 2026.

It’s certainly become clear why Bieber stunningly exercised his $16 million player option over the winter. It sounds like Bieber won’t be in the mix for the Opening Day rotation, which means José Berríos is essentially a lock for the rotation. Eric Lauer would be next in line.

It’s labrum surgery. The Jays had indicated that Santander would be healthy this year after last year’s shoulder issues, but obviously things didn’t respond as hoped after he resumed baseball activities. This opens things back up with a Blue Jays lineup that had seemed set with Kazuma Okamoto essentially replacing Bo Bichette as the one real change from last year. As things stand now, they’ll probably go back to using a Nathan Lukes/Davis Schneider platoon in left field, though maybe Joey Loperfido could enter the mix. Santander would probably return around the All-Star break in a best-case scenario.

Cushing, a 22nd-round pick in 2019, had spent his entire career in the Athletics’ minor league system and had a 6.67 ERA in 79 2/3 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas last year, though he managed to go 11-2 anyway. His chances of getting a cup of coffee in the majors probably aren’t improved by the move to Toronto.

Kirby Yates, Robert Stephenson and Jordan Romano seem best positioned entering spring training. Ben Joyce, who is returning from shoulder surgery, also hasn’t been ruled out for Opening Day just yet. “We definitely have options,” Suzuki said. “We have guys that have done it before at a high level. And I think the benefit for us is we have options and we can be flexible. But in that ninth inning, I wouldn’t put a name out there to be our closer right now.”

With Fernando Tatis Jr. in right, Soto is already set to play left field for the Dominican Republic in the WBC, and the Mets believe it makes sense to simply keep him there. Soto came up as a left fielder and it’s been his primary position in three of his eight big-league seasons, so it’s not much of a change for him. For the Mets, it just means that Carson Benge and Brett Baty are now battling for the starting job in right, rather than left. Maybe it helps Benge a bit, since he has the stronger arm of the two.

That Detmers was returning to starting was clear, but it’s still interesting that he’s not even going to have to win a job this spring. Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, Jack Kochanowicz, Mitch Farris and Caden Dana are currently in the mix for the last two spots, with Rodriguez clearly in line to secure a place if he shows he’s healthy. Chase Silseth, who is out of options, is expected to be limited to relief work.