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 03/24/2015 MLB Note - Washington Nationals Werth, Jayson
OF Jayson Werth (arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in January
2015) played the outfield in a minor league game for five innings
March 23. "We are optimistic he will be ready for the beginning of
the season. If not Opening Day then soon thereafter," GM Mike Rizzo
said March 23.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Storen, Drew
RHP Drew Storen (left hamate bone surgery in March 2015) underwent
the procedure on his non-throwing hand March 13. He threw batting
practice March 21. He was expected to return to Grapefruit League
action during the week of March 23-29.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Rendon, Anthony
INF Anthony Rendon (sprained left medial collateral ligament) was
injured when he dived for a ball March 9. He was still experiencing
soreness as of March 23 and had yet to return to Grapefruit League
action. "He is making progress," GM Mike Rizzo said March 23, though
he did not add whether Rendon would be ready for Opening Day.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Brown, Domonic
RF Domonic Brown is questionable for the April 6 opener against the
Red Sox because of tendinitis in his left Achilles. Brown has been
sidelined since being injured March 19 in the third inning of an
exhibition game against the Yankees. An MRI taken the next morning
was negative and the Phillies are hopeful he will be able to start
running by the weekend, though they aren't certain. Brown, for his
part, is staying optimistic. "I'm feeling better, much better," he
said March 24.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Colon, Bartolo
RHP Bartolo Colon will draw the Opening Day start for the Mets on
April 6, manager Terry Collins announced on March 23. The
41-year-old Colon, the second-oldest player in the majors, will be
the oldest Opening Day starter in Mets history and the oldest
Opening Day starter, period, since 2006, when 43-year-old Jamie
Moyer and 42-year-old Randy Johnson started for the Seattle Mariners
and New York Yankees, respectively. Colon will be followed in the
rotation by RHP Jacob deGrom, the 2014 National League Rookie of the
Year, and Matt Harvey, who started for the National League in the
2013 All-Star Game.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Wheeler, Zack
RHP Zack Wheeler's season will officially end before it starts on
March 25, when he undergoes Tommy John surgery in New York City.
Wheeler underwent an MRI on March 14 that revealed a tear of his
ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He hopes to be back by
midseason 2016.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Cuddyer, Michael
OF Michael Cuddyer continued his hot Grapefruit League hitting on
March 23, when he laced a solo homer in the Mets' 12-3 win over the
Marlins. The round-tripper was the third homer in four games for
Cuddyer, who leads the Mets with five homers in just 12 games
overall. Cuddyer signed a two-year, $21 million deal with the Mets
on Nov. 10.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Gwynn Jr., Tony
OF Tony Gwynn, Jr. has played well since signing with the Nationals
as a free agent March 2. He hit .152 in 105 at-bats last year with
the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit .364 in his first 33 at-bats this
spring with the Nationals. "I'm happy with where I'm at," he said.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Billingsley, Chad
RHP Chad Billingsley is scheduled to pitch two innings March 26 in a
minor league exhibition game after working one inning March 21. He
has not pitched in a major league game since 2013 with the Los
Angeles Dodgers and has undergone two elbow surgeries in the
interim. The Phillies signed Billingsley as a free agent in the
offseason and are hopeful he will be ready to join their rotation by
May 1.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Nola, Aaron
RHP Aaron Nola will make a spot start March 27 against the Yankees
in an exhibition game. Nola, who was the Phillies' first-round draft
pick last year, is slated to open the season at Double-A Reading,
but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. wants to expose him to major league hitters
in order to gauge when he might be ready to help in Philadelphia.
Nola was a combined 4-3 with a 2.93 ERA last season in 12 games with
high Class A Clearwater and Reading.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Ruf, Darin
1B/OF Darin Ruf helped his chances of winning a job as the
right-handed half of a platoon in right field (with OF Grady
Sizemore) by going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run March 24 in
an exhibition game against the Braves. Ruf, 28, entered the day
hitting just .189. Also working against him is that he still has a
minor league option left.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Hollands, Mario
LHP Mario Hollands (strained common flexor tendon in left elbow) did
not pitch March 21-24. He is likely to begin the season the disabled
list. He has an 11.81 ERA in five relief appearances this spring.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Fister, Doug
RHP Doug Fister allowed seven hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings on
March 23 against the New York Yankees. He gave up a three-run homer
to Brian McCann in the third inning.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Scherzer, Max
RHP Max Scherzer won the Cy Young Award in 2013 with the Detroit
Tigers but was not the Opening Day starter in 2014. But he will get
the ball on Opening Day for the Nationals on April 6 against the New
York Mets. "He understands that we have great confidence in him,"
manager Matt Williams said.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Taylor, Michael A.
OF Michael A. Taylor, who made his major league debut in August, hit
two homers on March 22 against Justin Verlander and the Detroit
Tigers. "He has performed remarkably. He runs the ball down, he has
power at the plate. He is going to be a good player for us for a
long time," said general manager Mike Rizzo.
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MLB Note - No MLB Team Free Agents Bell, Heath
RHP Heath Bell was released by the Nationals on March 23. Bell, 37,
was 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA last season. On March 24, he announced he is
retiring.
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MLB Note - Minnesota Twins Dozier, Brian
2B Brian Dozier signed a four-year, $20 million contract extension
with the Twins on March 24. Dozier, 27, is now signed through 2018.
He batted .242 last season with 23 home runs, 33 doubles, 71 RBIs
and 21 stolen bases. He was named to the All-Star team and
participated in the Home Run Derby at Target Field.
The contract calls for a $2 million salary in 2015 and $3 million in
2016 before spiking to $8 million and $9 million in the final two
seasons.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Ryu, Hyun-Jin
LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will rest his injured shoulder for two to three
weeks and start the season on the disabled list.
Ryu returned to Los Angeles from spring training for an examination
on March 23 that determined there was no structural damage to the
shoulder. He experienced renewed shoulder inflammation March 22
while trying to throw, and the Dodgers decided to take precautionary
measures.
Ryu woke up with a sore shoulder March 14 after a Cactus League
start. Diagnosed with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, Ryu
received an injection but was still experiencing discomfort four
days later when he tried throwing.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Bedard, Erik
LHP Erik Bedard underwent an MRI exam March 23, and he was diagnosed
with a strained teres major muscle. He is out four to six weeks,
ending his bid to make the Dodgers' Opening Day pitching staff after
entering camp as a non-roster player. He went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in
three Cactus League outings.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Butler, Dan
C Dan Butler was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and INF Wilmer Difo
was optioned to Single-A Potomac on March 19.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Grace, Matt
P Matt Grace were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on March 19.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Difo, Wilmer
INF Wilmer Difo was optioned to Class A Potomac on March 19.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Jordan, Taylor
RHP Taylor Jordan was sent to Triple-A Syracuse on March 23.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Meek, Evan
RHP Evan Meek was sent to minor league camp on March 23.
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MLB Note - Los Angeles Dodgers Olivera, Hector
2B Hector Olivera signed a six-year, $62.5 million deal with the
Dodgers, his agent confirmed March 24. The agreement, which the team
had yet to confirm, includes a $28 million signing bonus, said agent
Greg Genske. Among the teams pursuing Olivera were the New York
Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants and San
Diego Padres. Olivera, who turns 30 in April, also has the ability
to play third base. He impressed scouts last month during workouts
in the Dominican Republic with his power and raw ability. There are
concerns that Olivera might have a serious elbow injury, but his
representatives denied there are any issues with his health. It's
not yet known when the Dodgers will deem the 6-foot-2, 220-pound
Olivera ready for the major leagues.
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MLB Note - Retired Player Bell, Heath
RHP Heath Bell, released by the Nationals on March 23, told MLB.com
the next day that he is retiring. "My kids wanted me home," said
Bell, who has four children ranging in age from 16 to 5. "What's
more important: my kids or the big leagues? I've already
accomplished more than I ever dreamed of. Now it's time to help them
accomplish their dreams." The 37-year-old veteran was released by
the Tampa Bay Rays last May after posting a 7.28 ERA in 13 games.
Bell spent the remainder of the season pitching for the Triple-A
affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees. A
three-time All-Star, Bell signed a minor league deal with Washington
in December that would have paid him $1 million if he had made the
Opening Day roster. However, he struggled in camp with the
Nationals, compiling a 5.68 ERA in seven appearances.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Cook, Ryan
RHP Ryan Cook was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on March 24. Cook,
who was expected to be a key late-inning reliever for the A's, gave
up five hits and three earned runs over two innings March 23, hiking
his spring ERA to 16.88. "Cookie has been an instrumental piece in
our success the past few years, an All-Star in 2012, anything from a
seventh-inning guy to a ninth-inning guy for us," manager Bob Melvin
said. "We just feel like he needed a break from this. Sometimes
something like that can rejuvenate you."
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Skole, Matt
INF Matt Skole was sent to minor league camp on March 23.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Cole, A.J.
RHP A.J. Cole was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on March 18. He was
summoned to the big league club on March 22 to start for the
Nationals in place of Stephen Strasburg, who sprained his left ankle
in conditioning drills March 20.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Kobernus, Jeff
OF/INF Jeff Kobernus was released March 17.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Ozuna, Marcell
CF Marcell Ozuna, 24, hit 23 homers and drove in 85 runs last
season, and he also ranked 15th in the majors with 11 defensive runs
saved. Ozuna combined with LF Christian Yelich, who had 10 runs
saved and won a Gold Glove, and RF Giancarlo Stanton (seven runs
saved) to lead the National League defensively. The Marlins'
outfielders, including backups, saved 31 runs, which ranked third in
the majors. Ozuna is the leader of the group by virtue of his status
as the center fielder. Yet, Ozuna is grossly underpaid at $540,000,
relatively speaking. He will be eligible for arbitration next
spring, so the emerging star is one good year away from becoming a
multi-millionaire.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins Suzuki, Ichiro
OF Ichiro Suzuki, 41, figures to be the Marlins' fourth outfielder
this year, and manager Mike Redmond has said he is not afraid to use
him at any spot. Suzuki played most of his career as a right fielder
-- 1,824 games. Last year with the New York Yankees, he made 86
starts in right, six in left and two in center. In all, he has made
just 15 starts in center over the past three years.
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MLB Note - Miami Marlins McKirahan, Andrew
LHP Andrew McKirahan is bidding to make the Marlins as a lefty
reliever. McKirahan, a Rule 5 pick-up from the Cubs, has never
pitched above Double-A. If he doesn't make the team and spend the
entire year with the Marlins, he must be returned to the Cubs. So
far, he has shown a 90-94 mph fastball and good control. In four
minor league seasons, he averaged 3.65 strikeouts for every walk.
With the Marlins, he is trying to join Mike Dunn as the team's lefty
relievers. But Brad Hand, who can also start and pitch in long
relief, is also left-handed, and he is out of options. So the
Marlins would risk losing Hand to another team if they try to send
him to the minors.
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MLB Note - No MLB Team Free Agents Veras, Jose
RHP Jose Veras was released March 19 as the Braves began whittling
down their bullpen candidates. A non-roster invitee, the veteran had
an 11.81 ERA with seven walks to four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Veras, with Houston and Detroit last season, twice had to be pulled
during an inning.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Bethancourt, Christian
C Christian Bethancourt was sent home from the ballpark with
flu-like symptoms on March 19 and was being held out of the lineup
until March 26 as he built back his strength. Before the illness,
Bethancourt had shown he was ready to take over as the regular
behind the plate by hitting .360 in nine spring games with six
doubles among his nine hits. The 23-year-old from Panama was 3-for-4
with a pair of doubles and two RBIs against Boston in his last game
on March 17.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Simmons, Andrelton
SS Andrelton Simmons was hit on the left elbow by a pitch March 23,
but returned the next day to slug a two-run homer against
Philadelphia. Simmons didn't play in a game until March 12 because
of a strained left oblique, but was hitting .467 (14-for-30) with
two homers and 12 RBIs in 10 games. The Gold Glove winner adjusted
his stroke at the plate while working with new hitting coach Kevin
Seitzer.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Fultynewicz, Mike
RHP Mike Fultynewicz, bidding for a spot in the rotation, had his
third shaky outing in four spring starts as he allowed homers on
back-to-back pitches to the Phillies' Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf on
March 24. The rookie, acquired from Houston in the Evan Gattis
trade, also walked two in his 2 2/3 innings, including the pitcher.
Fultynewics was charged with three runs on five hits and has a 7.04
ERA. He has 16 appearances with the Astros last year, all in relief.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Crisp, Coco
LF Coco Crisp (sore right elbow) was scratched from the lineup
March 24. He was expected to be sidelined for at least a few days,
but the team remained optimistic he would be set for Opening Day.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Johnson, Chris
3B Chris Johnson went back to holding his hands high at the plate
after struggling with the new lower setup he had worked on early in
camp with hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. Johnson missed a few games
with a sore left wrist and was 4-for-30 before going 2-for-2 with a
pair of walks against Houston on March 23, then singling as a pinch
hitter the next day against the Philadelphia. After finishing second
in the National League batting race in 2013, he struggled last
season and could find himself in a platoon with Alberto Callaspo.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Markakis, Nick
RF Nick Markakis, who had neck surgery in December, finally made
his Braves debut and should get enough at-bats over the final two
weeks of spring training to be ready for Opening Day in Miami on
April 6. "He's right on schedule," president of baseball operations
John Hart said. Markakis was 2-for-3 with a double as the designated
hitter against Houston on March 23, then was 0-for-3 with a
strikeout the next day while playing six innings in the outfield
against Philadelphia. "I feel better than I thought I would right
now, but I've still got some work left," Markakis said. The
long-time member of the Baltimore Orioles signed a four-year deal
worth $44 million as a free agent to replace the traded Jason
Heyward.
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MLB Note - Atlanta Braves Rodriguez, Wandy
LHP Wandy Rodriguez will be the Braves No. 4 starter at least until
Mike Minor returns from shoulder inflammation in May and then could
slide into the fifth spot, which is still up for grabs. The veteran
left-hander, who was able to make just 18 starts the past two
seasons with Pittsburgh because of injuries, has locked up a
rotation spot with an impressive spring and now the issue is keeping
him healthy. Rodriguez threw five hitless innings against Miami on
March 20 to run his scoreless streak to 12 frames. He struck out
seven, including Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton twice, and walked
three in an 80-pitch outing. "The way he's pitched, he's earned a
shot in this rotation," manager Fredi Gonzalez. "I mean, who else?"
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MLB Note - New York Mets Parnell, Bobby
RHP Bobby Parnell (Tommy John surgery in April 2014) pitched in a
minor league intrasquad game March 21, when he threw 20 pitches. It
was the first game action for Parnell since March 31, 2014, when he
was injured in his lone major league appearance of the season. He
will open the season on the disabled list but expects to return to
the Mets in April.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Black, Vic
RHP Vic Black (right shoulder tendinitis) resumed throwing March
24, two days after he finished taking anti-inflammatory medicine.
Black hadn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 9, and
he felt soreness after throwing from flat ground March 17. GM Sandy
Alderson said March 24 that he wasn't sure if Black would be
available on Opening Day. Black pitched just twice after Aug. 23
last season due to neck and shoulder woes.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Flores, Wilmer
SS Wilmer Flores (bruised left foot) survived a major injury scare
March 22, when he fouled a ball off his foot during a Grapefruit
League game. Flores was placed in a walking boot afterward, but
X-rays revealed nothing more than a deep bruise, and he shed the
boot a day later. He was expected to miss a few days of exhibition
action but should be fine for Opening Day.
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MLB Note - New York Mets Murphy, Daniel
2B Daniel Murphy (strained right hamstring) was injured during a
March 19 Grapefruit League game. The Mets estimated he would miss a
week or two. The back end of that timetable would likely force him
to begin the season on the 15-day disabled list, but GM Sandy
Alderson said March 24 he was confident Murphy would be healthy for
Opening Day.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Escobar, Yunel
2B Yunel Escobar (oblique sprain) played in his first spring
training game on March 23 and had one hit in two at-bats. He made a
throwing error on his first fielding attempt of the game, in which
he played three innings.
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