MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Rizzo, who has been out since early August recovering from post-concussion syndrome, will be activated when he’s healthy enough to return. There is no official timetable for his return, but it’s an encouraging sign that he’s progressed to on-field hitting without any issues.

It sounds like the Dodgers are planning to bring Snell along extremely slowly over the next two months as he gradually builds up his pitch count and stamina until he’s ready to make his season debut at some point in May. He’s been working his way back from a shoulder injury that put him behind the rest of the rotation earlier in camp. The same goes for Edman, who is still working his way back from offseason ankle surgery, and didn’t end up appearing in any spring training contests.

The decision leaves Connelly Early and Johan Oviedo as the fifth and sixth options in Boston’s rotation mix. Tolle did almost everything possible to prove he belongs in the big leagues with a strong Grapefruit League showing that included a 2.53 ERA and 13/1 K/BB ratio across 10 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old top pitching prospect would’ve likely been ticketed for a long relief role at the start of the regular season so he’ll instead remain stretched out as a traditional starter on the doorstep of the majors until a more permanent opportunity arises. He’ll be worth rostering in all fantasy formats based on his strikeout upside once he gets a real chance.

Espada added that Spencer Arrighetti will open the season back at Triple-A Sugar Land before being an option once they expand to a six-man rotation. It’ll be Cristian Javier and Tatsuya Imai taking the ball over the weekend against the Angels before Lance McCullers Jr. starts Monday’s series opener against the Red Sox.

Sheehan will follow Opening Day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto with Tyler Glasnow closing out a three-game season-opening series against Arizona. It’ll be Roki Sasaki followed by Shohei Ohtani early next week to kick off a three-game set against the Guardians at Dodger Stadium. There are some reasons for mild concern with Sheehan fantasy-wise after experiencing some diminished velocity this spring but he’s still going to be a viable mixed-league fantasy contributor. It’ll be Justin Wrobleski operating in a piggyback role, most likely with either Sheehan or Sasaki the first time through the rotation.

Bellozo and Brebbia were in Rockies camp this spring as non-roster invitees attempting to make the club’s season-opening relief mix. Bellozo will presumably head to Triple-A Albuquerque to open the year while Brebbia has been cut loose to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

It’s merely a procedural move as Lowe was assured a spot on Cincinnati’s season-opening roster over the weekend when JJ Bleday and Rece Hinds were jettisoned to the minors. The 30-year-old first baseman will serve in a bench role for the Reds but his odds of syphoning at-bats away from Sal Stewart and Spencer Steer on a consistent basis are extremely low.

Greene will be sidelined until at least July after undergoing surgery earlier this month to remove bone chips removed from his right elbow. The dynamic 26-year-old fantasy ace is likely to miss the first half of the upcoming season but should be cleared to start a throwing program by the end of April. He’s worth stashing in all fantasy formats based on his astronomical talent alone.

Pérez winds up making Washington’s season-opening bullpen as a non-roster invitee after spinning six scoreless frames in Grapefruit League action. The 29-year-old southpaw was a key component of Baltimore’s relief mix over the past four seasons, posting a strong 3.72 ERA across 186 1/3 innings over 212 appearances.

Gray was set to open the year back at Triple-A Rochester working his way towards a return to Washington’s rotation for the first time since April, 2024. The 28-year-old right-hander’s once-promising career has been derailed by injuries the past couple seasons after making 58 starts for the Nationals from 2022-2023. He was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball roughly a half-decade ago before being shipped from the Dodgers as part of the Trea Turner and Max Scherzer trade back in 2021.

No word yet regarding how much time Schultz is expected to miss but elbow issues typically result in extended absences. The 28-year-old reliever was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays back in January after posting a serviceable 4.38 ERA across 24 2/3 innings last year at the highest level.