MLB Player News

The Mariners made a mistake last winter in failing to secure starting pitching depth behind their vaunted rotation, but it didn’t wind up hurting them much, as Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans were able to hold their own in their 31 starts. Dunning will add to their alternatives this year after a bumpy 2025 in which he was let go by the Rangers and was limited to 12 relief appearances in the majors. The 31-year-old has a career 4.44 ERA in 102 starts and 34 relief appearances, most of those coming with Texas.

It’s estimated that the 30-year-old will need 4-6 months of recovery time before he’s able to return to live game action. Gasper told reporters that he’s hopeful that he’ll be ready to go by March 1.

The 31-year-old hurler was designated for assignment when the Phillies set their roster for the Wild Card Series against the Braves. After passing through waivers unclaimed, Urquidy opted to hit the open market rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett. He did a decent job in his limited action with the Phillies, posting a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 9/0 K/BB ratio across 7 1/3 innings.

Duran was brought into Game 1 in the seventh inning, allowing three runs over two innings and throwing 27 pitches in a losing effort. He was then held out of action in Game 2 due to soreness after the extended outing in Game 1. If the Phillies have a lead to protect late in the game on Thursday, expect Duran to get the call.

Sosa was removed from Wednesday’s game due to a groin injury that he aggravated while hustling out an infield single. He’ll start at third base and bat seventh for the Phillies on Thursday evening. Bryan De La Cruz will start in left field in place of Brandon Marsh. Here’s the full lineup that the Phillies will use against Braves’ opener Ray Kerr to start Thursday’s game: Trea Turner (SS), Kyle Schwarber (DH), Bryce Harper (RF), Alec Bohm (1B), Bryson Stott (2B), Bryan De La Cruz (LF), Edmundo Sosa (3B), J.T. Realmuto (C) and Justin Crawford (CF).

It’s the first start of the series for Smith, who has appeared as a pinch-hitter and struck out in each of the first two games. Mike Yastrzemski will also return to the starting lineup for Game 3 after sitting in Game 2. Sean Murphy and Ha-Seong Kim will open the game on the bench for the Braves. Here’s the full lineup that the Braves will deploy in a must-win game against Phillies’ right-hander Aaron Nola: Drake Baldwin (C), Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF), Matt Olson (1B), Michael Harris II (CF), Mauricio Dubon (SS), Mike Yastrzemski (LF) Austin Riley (3B), Ozzie Albies (2B) and Dominic Smith (DH)

Curley serves as the player to be named later to complete the deal from August 3 that sent Lars Nootbaar to the Diamondbacks. While the results weren’t great, the 23-year-old hurler did some nice things during his first professional season, posting a 5.28 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and a 130/34 K/BB ratio over 116 innings in 25 appearances (23 starts) between High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo. He’s likely to open the 2027 season at Double-A Springfield where he’ll function as extra rotation depth for the Cardinals.

Cornielle made one appearance for the Yankees during the final weekend of the season. He’ll become a minor league free agent.

Some thought the Diamondbacks would move on from Lovullo if they didn’t make the postseason, but he’s staying on a new deal that will expire alongside GM Mike Hazen’s following the 2028 season. Lovullo is 750-768 in 10 years at the helm for the D-backs. His teams have reached the postseason twice, losing to the Dodgers in the NLDS in his first year in 2017 and falling to the Rangers in the World Series in 2023.

Johnson, 27, went 1-for-16 in 16 games with the Reds this year before finishing the season in the minors. He hit .247/.354/.424 with 11 homers and 15 steals in 73 games while mostly playing second base and left field for Louisville.

Holderman said the wrist has been an issue for him for four years. He was quite good this season anyway, posting a 2.73 ERA in 54 appearances before going down. He’s due about $2.5 million in arbitration, which could make him a trade candidate.