MLB Spring Training Buzz: Astros Closer Josh Hader Suffers ‘Biceps Inflammation’

It’s time to dust off those ball bags: MLB spring training has begun. Pitchers and catchers begin reporting to Arizona and Florida for all 30 teams with Opening Day on March 25. Rosters are being finalized and each team’s new off-season additions are receiving their representatives – not to mention the highly anticipated World Baseball Classic which will see the world’s best players compete on the international stage. Here are all the notable news and trades as teams prepare for Opening Day: February 11 Josh Hader’s status is uncertain. The Houston Astros star experienced “arm pain,” with footage revealing Hader has “bicep inflammation,” putting his Opening Day status in jeopardy, according to The Athletic. Last season, Hader, a six-time All-Star, posted a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, 2.3 wins above replacement and finished 28 of 29 in save situations over 52.2 innings pitched. His 2025 campaign, however, ended in August due to a shoulder injury. February 10 Kris Bryant on 60 Days IL; Rockies sign Tomoyuki Sugano The Rockies will continue to be without one of their often-injured big-time rookies for at least two months. Colorado placed infielder/flyer Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list due to degenerative lumbar disc (lower back) disease. The slugger has played just 170 games with the Rockies since agreeing to a seven-year, $182 million contract in March 2022. In addition to playing Bryant on the IL, the Rockies added Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to their rotation on Tuesday, agreeing to a one-year, $5.1 million deal with the right-hander. Sugano, 36, went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 30 starts with Baltimore last year. He pitched in Japan before agreeing to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Orioles in December 2024. Sugano played for the Yomiuri Giants for 12 seasons, winning three MVP awards in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. Juan Soto changes positions Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Juan Soto will move from right field to left field next season. Soto has extensive experience at both corner outfield positions, but has primarily started in right field the past two years. Last season was Soto’s first with the Mets and saw him total -7 defensive runs saved in right field. At the same time, the six-time Silver Slugger totaled a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, a National League-high 38 stolen bases and 6.2 wins above replacement, while posting a .263/.396/.525 slash line. Francisco Lindor May Need Surgery Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns revealed that Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone and may need surgery. If the four-time Silver Slugger does indeed need surgery, it could keep the shortstop off the field for about six weeks. Lindor, 32, underwent elbow surgery in October. Last season, Lindor, a five-time All-Star, totaled 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and 5.9 wins above replacement while posting a .267/.346/.466 slash line. Tigers sign RHP Justin Verlander It comes full circle as the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer returns to the club where he became a star. Three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander signed a one-year deal for $13 million. Verlander has 266 wins, tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton with 3,574. Verlander now bolsters an already loaded rotation that includes two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who also signed with Detroit in free agency. Verlander was traded to Houston in August 2017 and helped the Astros win the World Series that same year and again in 2022. He now has the opportunity to win a third championship with the Tigers, who are seeking the franchise’s first title since 1984. On February 9, the Phillies desperately tried to trade the outfielder to Philadelphia. Castellanos. Castellanos, 33, is entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract and is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-low -0.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line. He also recorded -11 defensive runs saved in right field (138 starts/143 appearances). Ketel Martel: ‘Happy’ to stay with D-Backs Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said he remains happy to stay with Arizona despite an offseason of speculation that the All-Star could be traded. “We talked a lot and discussed some things, we talked about all of that and everything is good,” Marte said before reporting early to spring training. “[GM] Microphone [Hazen] knows I love the D-backs, I love my teammates. Everyone knows what type of player I am, and I’m just happy that everything went well and [that] I’m here.” Hazen said he listened to offers but a potential deal “never ended up being that close.” “I felt like I had to do my job just to listen to what people had to say. He’s a superstar player for us, and has been for a long time, and he will continue to be,” Hazen said. In his nine seasons with the Diamondbacks, Marte has made three All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger Awards, finished third (2024) and fourth (’19) in voting for the NL MVP Award, in addition to being named MVP of the 2023 NL Championship Series. Marte will participate in the World Baseball Classic for Dominican Republic Saalfrank to miss 2026 season Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Andrew Saalfrank will miss the season after shoulder surgery, the team confirmed Monday. The 28-year-old was expected to be an important part of the bullpen after accumulating a 1.24 ERA in 28 appearances last season for the pitching staff, which is already without a bullpen. AJ Puk and Justin Martinez, along with starting ace Corbin Burnes, for the first few months of the season All three are recovering from elbow surgery and hope to be back this summer Saalfrank called the surgery a “tough pill to swallow” on social media, adding that “baseball can be brutal, but it’s also given me some of the best times of my life, and I don’t expect that to change in the future.”