MLB Player News
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Cody Bradford RP | TEX
Rangers' Cody Bradford: Slated for stint on IL
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Bradford (elbow) will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
An MRI on Bradford's left elbow came back negative for structural damage, but he will be shut down for up to 10 days to allow the soreness to subside. The left-hander will need to rebuild his stamina after that, so it's possible he'll require longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are the primary candidates to fill Bradford's slot in Texas' rotation.
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Phil Maton RP | NYM
Cardinals' Phil Maton: Fully built up
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Maton is "fully built up" after working out the last several weeks in Arizona, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Maton was signed to a one-year contract Thursday, just two weeks before Opening Day. However, it sounds like he'll be ready to roll for the Cardinals' March 27 opener against the Twins. Maton will throw a live batting practice session Sunday and should see game action shortly after that. He is projected for a setup role in St. Louis.
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Sean Manaea RP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Begins throwing progression
Manaea was cleared to play catch earlier this week after an MRI on his right oblique was negative, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
With his oblique strain healed, the left-hander has begun his throwing progression. Manaea will need several weeks to get fully stretched out, but he could be ready to make his season debut sometime in April.
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Bailey Horn RP | STL
Cardinals' Bailey Horn: Loses 40-man spot
Horn was designated for assignment by the Cardinals on Thursday.
The 27-year-old southpaw endured a rough spring, allowing four runs on three hits and five walks while striking out one batter over 2.1 innings in the Grapefruit League. Horn will now be subjected to waivers and could attract interest from teams in need of lefty relief help. While he has mostly struggled against big-league competition, Horn put up a 2.15 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 21 appearances with Boston's Triple-A affiliate last season.
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Phil Maton RP | NYM
Phil Maton: Lands in St. Louis
Maton signed a one-year, major-league contract with the Cardinals on Thursday.
Bailey Horn was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Maton, who split last year between the Mets and Rays, posting a 3.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 60:24 K:BB over 64 innings during the regular season. The journeyman has reached double-digit holds in each of the last three seasons and could very well do so again in 2025 since he figures to slot in near the back end of the St. Louis bullpen.
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Robert Suarez RP | SD
Padres' Robert Suarez: Rough spring continues
Suarez allowed four runs on five hits and one walk over one-third of an inning in a Cactus League contest against Colorado on Wednesday.
Suarez entered in the fourth inning and surrendered a single to five of the first six batters he faced to allow the Rockies to plate three runs. The right-hander walked the final batter of his outing to load the bases before being pulled. Suarez has given up eight runs over 3.2 frames across five appearances this spring while posting a 4:4 K:BB, and it's worth noting that Suarez struggled with a 5.24 ERA over the final two months of the regular season last year. However, he's almost certain to open this season as San Diego's closer, with Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada next in line should Suarez's struggles continue beyond the exhibition slate.
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Jose Soriano RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Wild again in fourth spring start
Soriano tossed three innings in a Cactus League contest against the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters.
While Soriano allowed frequent traffic on the basepaths, only one of the batters he put on base came around to score. This was the second straight spring appearance during which Soriano issued three walks in three innings, and he's handed out eight free passes over nine frames through four starts this spring. On the plus side, he's also struck out 13 batters after posting a modest 7.7 K/9 in the majors last season. Soriano is locked into a spot in the middle of the Angels' rotation for the coming campaign.
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Justin Topa RP | MIN
Twins' Justin Topa: Throws bullpen session
Topa (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa left last Wednesday's game due to right shoulder tightness. He said the move was largely precautionary, and he did not require an MRI. Topa expects to throw again Friday. While he's making progress in his recovery, it's not clear if he'll be ready for Opening Day.
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Ryan Pepiot RP | TB
Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Builds up to 72 pitches
Pepiot allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four across four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
Pepiot made only his second spring start, though he's already stretched out to 72 pitches. He hasn't been particularly sharp in his pair of outings, allowing three earned runs across six innings while maintaining a 6:3 K:BB. The Rays have seven potential starters for their rotation, though Pepiot figures to be locked into a starting role throughout the campaign.
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Jacob Lopez RP | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Optioned to Vegas
The Athletics optioned Lopez to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The A's acquired Lopez this winter as part of a trade with the Rays, and in his first spring with his new team, the 27-year-old southpaw racked up four strikeouts in three shutout frames. However, he owns a 4.76 ERA across 22.2 career MLB innings, so the Athletics will opt to give him a few more looks in the minors before admitting him into their big-league staff.