MLB Player News
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Frankie Montas RP | NYM
Mets' Frankie Montas: Faces 6-to-8-week shutdown
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Monday that Montas has been diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain and won't throw for the next 6-to-8 weeks, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Mets over the winter, will leave camp and head to New York to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to treat the injury. For now, he appears set to avoid surgery, but since he's not projected to resume throwing until early April at the soonest and will need to complete his own version of spring training before being activated from the injured list, Montas looks poised to miss at least the first month of the season. With Montas sidelined, the Mets could have starting spots available for two of Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn (back) in their projected six-man rotation.
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Frankie Montas RP | NYM
Mets' Frankie Montas: Shut down with lat injury
Montas was diagnosed Monday with a lat injury and is without a timeline to resume pitching, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Details regarding the severity of Montas' injury remain unknown, but the 31-year-old righty hadn't been throwing in spring training and will remain shut down for "a significant stretch," per Heyman. A firmer timeline for Montas' return should be available once he undergoes further testing, but he looks on track to open the season on the injured list. Montas' injury could improve the odds of both Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill breaking camp as members of the Mets' six-man rotation.
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Seth Martinez RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Seth Martinez: Booted from 40-man roster
The Diamondbacks designated Martinez for assignment Monday.
Martinez was cast off the 40-man roster with the Diamondbacks needing to clear a spot for newly signed right-hander Kendall Graveman (shoulder). The Diamondbacks had previously claimed Martinez off waivers earlier this offseason after he held a 3.59 ERA and 36:18 K:BB across 52.2 frames for Houston in 2024.
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Justin Lawrence RP | COL
Rockies' Justin Lawrence: Adjusting grip on sweeper
Lawrence changed the grip on his sweeper this offseason, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Lawrence entered 2024 as one of Colorado's better relievers, but he struggled to a 6.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP across 59.2 innings and quickly lost his role as closer. He consulted with pitching experts at Rapsodo Baseball this offseason, who determined that Lawrence was releasing the ball off of his index finger rather than his middle finger when throwing a sweeper. With the adjustment, Lawrence is hoping to regain his 2023 form that resulted in 11 saves and 11 holds.
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Dauri Moreta RP | PIT
Pirates' Dauri Moreta: Placed on 60-day IL
Moreta (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Moreta is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in March of 2024. The right-hander will now be forced to miss the first two months of the 2025 season while on the 60-day IL. The transaction opened a spot on the 40-man roster for newly-signed outfielder Tommy Pham.
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Buck Farmer RP | CIN
Braves' Buck Farmer: Invited to camp with Atlanta
Farmer has joined Atlanta's spring training camp as a non-roster invitee, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Farmer appeared in 61 games, including one start, with the Reds in 2024, posting a 3.04 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 70 strikeouts over 71.0 innings. He'll now get a chance to prove himself with Atlanta ahead of the 2025 season.
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Drew Smith RP | NYM
Mets' Drew Smith: Placed on 60-day IL
The Mets placed Smith (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Smith signed a one-year deal with the Mets on Wednesday that includes a club option for 2026. However, he isn't expected to pitch until very late in the season, if at all, after undergoing a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure in July, so New York will move him to the 60-day IL to conserve a spot on its 40-man roster.
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Grant Holmes RP | ATL
Braves' Grant Holmes: Viewed as likely No. 5 starter
Holmes is seen as the early favorite to retain a spot in the rotation once Spencer Strider (elbow) is healthy, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Holmes and Ian Anderson are both out of minor-league options and are expected to round out the Opening Day rotation behind Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, but one of the duo will get bumped once Strider is cleared to make his return from an internal brace procedure on his elbow performed last April. General manager Alex Anthopoulos views Holmes as ahead of Anderson in that battle. "Look, I mention him -- because of the way he pitched last year for us and so on, he'd be the front-runner for that spot," Anthopoulos said Friday. "We think Grant's got significant upside. He's got a plus curveball, plus slider, throws strikes." On the other hand, Anthopoulos also suggested Holmes could move to the bullpen at some point, and Holmes has a lot more experience in that role -- 65 of his 68 appearances at Triple-A Gwinnett over the last two seasons have come in relief, while Anderson has been exclusively a starter throughout his career.
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Mason Thompson RP | WAS
Nationals' Mason Thompson: Chance to be ready for Opening Day
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Thompson (elbow) has a chance to be ready in time for Opening Day, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Thompson underwent Tommy John surgery in early March of last year, so he's less than a year removed from the operation. However, because he's a reliever, Martinez is giving him a shot to ramp up in time for the start of the season. That said, Thompson has yet to throw off a mound and might not do so until early March, so it's going to be a push to prep him for Opening Day.
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Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: One month from throwing
Graterol (shoulder) said Friday that he's about a month away from beginning a throwing program, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Graterol underwent surgery in November to repair his labrum and a ligament in his right shoulder, and he said Friday he feels like he has "a new arm." It's difficult to get any gauge on when he might be ready to pitch until he ramps up his throwing, but the right-handed reliever is confident he can be a contributor in the second half.