Griffin Conine Diagnosed With Hamstring Tear; Surgery Likely
Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine has a torn left hamstring and will likely require surgery, reports Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The Marlins haven’t yet provided any specific estimates for his recovery but it seems fair to assume Conine will miss significant time. He has been placed on the 10-day injured list with first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos recalled in a corresponding move. It was reported yesterday that De Los Santos would likely be replacing Conine on the roster.
It’s brutal news for Conine, as he was looking to get back on track after an injury-marred 2025 season. He dislocated his shoulder on April 19th last year and ultimately required surgery. That was expected to be a season-ending procedure but he managed to get back to the big league club in late September, getting into four games before the season was done. Now, almost exactly one year after his previous injury, he is once again facing surgery and a significant absence.
More to come.
Tigers Place Parker Meadows On Injured List
The Tigers have placed outfielder Parker Meadows on the 10-day injured list with a concussion and a fractured radius in his left arm. He also received five stitches in his mouth, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Fellow outfielder Wenceel Pérez has been recalled in a corresponding move. Evan Woodbery of MLive reported the moves prior to the official club announcement.
The injury occurred in yesterday’s game against the Twins. Josh Bell hit a ball to left-center field, the perfect spot for the center fielder Meadows and left fielder Riley Greene to get there at the same time. As seen in this video from MLB.com, the two collided. Greene caught the ball and seemed unscathed but Meadows was down for a while and had blood coming out of his mouth. He seemed woozy when getting onto a cart, which took him off the field.
Given what transpired yesterday, it’s not especially surprising that he has suffered a concussion. He also revealed yesterday, per Chris McCosky of Detroit News, that he bit the inside of his mouth on impact. That explains the blood and the stitches. The broken bone in his arm, presumably suffered when he collided with the ground, may be the thing that keeps him out for longer. The Tigers haven’t provided an estimated timeline for his recovery but a broken arm will surely require him to miss weeks, if not months.
There will likely be more information provided in the near future. For now, the Tigers will sub Pérez into their outfield mix. He has been a solid player for them in recent years but he got squeezed off the Opening Day roster by Kevin McGonigle. Detroit decided to break camp with their top prospect and someone had to go. Pérez still has options and he also had a rough spring, slashing .190/.277/.333, so he got sent down.
In ten Triple-A games to start the year, Pérez has a .250/.353/.455 line. That’s a small sample size but is much closer to his big league line of .243/.304/.405, so it seems he has put his rough spring behind him.
Though it was a brief stint in the minors, it was just long enough to impact Pérez’s career. He came into this year with exactly two years of big league service time. There are now only 171 days remaining in the season and a player needs to be in the majors for 172 days to earn a full service year. Even if Pérez stays up for the rest of the season, he can’t get to the three-year line in 2026. That means his path to free agency has been pushed into the future by a year, though he could still qualify for arbitration after this season as a Super Two player.
Pérez will join an outfield mix that includes Greene as a staple in left. The other two spots will likely involve some rotation of Pérez, Kerry Carpenter, Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry, Jahmai Jones and Javier Báez, with the designated hitter spot also fairly open for guys in that group to get more at-bats.
Photo courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn, Imagn Images
Yankees Designate Cade Winquest For Assignment
April 10th: The Yanks have made it officially, announcing that Gil has been recalled and Winquest has been designated for assignment.
April 9th: The Yankees are designating Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest for assignment, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The righty didn’t get into a game during his two weeks in New York’s bullpen.
That’ll evidently be the corresponding move for tomorrow’s recall of Luis Gil. Manager Aaron Boone said over the weekend that the Yankees would bring Gil up this week. He’s listed as the probable starter opposite Steven Matz for Friday’s series opener against the Rays. The 13-pitcher limit meant an arm from the MLB roster had to be squeezed out.
The Yankees had the luxury of running a four-man rotation for the first couple weeks based on their number of available off days. Gil joins Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers in the rotation. They needed to drop from nine to eight in the bullpen. Brent Headrick has pitched too well to be sent down. Jake Bird has been sharp as well aside from one ugly outing against Miami on Sunday. Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval are their only other relievers with minor league options.
Rather than option a more trusted reliever in Bird, the Yankees move on from Winquest. The 25-year-old didn’t have a great spring, allowing nine runs (eight earned) with eight strikeouts and four walks across 10 innings. It was a surprise that he broke camp at all.
The Yankees clearly liked some of what they saw but didn’t find a scenario where Boone felt comfortable bringing him into a regular season game. Teams generally use Rule 5 picks as low-leverage relievers, especially early in the season before they’ve gained a manager’s trust. All four of New York’s losses have been by one run, games in which they could certainly have come back. They’ve had three blowout wins, but two came behind long outings from Fried and one followed an off day so the rest of the bullpen was fresh.
They’ll have five days to trade Winquest or place him on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be offered back to the Cardinals. The former eighth-round pick had previously spent his entire career in the St. Louis organization. He has worked as a minor league starting pitcher and combined for a 3.99 ERA across 106 innings between High-A and Double-A last year. Unless another team is willing to keep him on the MLB roster, he’ll head back to his original club without requiring a spot on the 40-man roster for St. Louis.
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Cubs To Activate Seiya Suzuki, Designate Dylan Carlson For Assignment
Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is back from the injured list after missing the first two weeks of the season with a knee sprain, according to multiple reports. Dylan Carlson was designated for assignment to clear space for Suzuki’s return. Chicago is also placing Phil Maton on the IL with a knee injury. Ethan Roberts is expected to be recalled to take his spot.
Suzuki banged up his knee while playing with Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He opened the regular season on the IL, but it wasn’t expected to be an extended absence. Suzuki ultimately needed just five rehab games at Double-A to get up to speed. He hit .429 with a pair of doubles with Knoxville.
Manager Craig Counsell told reporters, including Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, that Suzuki will not play every day once he rejoins the team. The veteran figures to be a fixture in the lineup once he’s reacclimated to the big-league schedule.
Matt Shaw has handled the majority of right field reps in Suzuki’s stead. It’s his first time playing the outfield as a professional. Shaw has held his own with the glove so far, recording 1 Defensive Run Saved over 81 innings. He’s posted a 108 wRC+ with two home runs in 39 plate appearances. Shaw will likely shift to more of a utility role with Suzuki back.
The Cubs added Carlson on a minor league deal in late January. He slashed .298/.421/.404 in 20 MLB Spring Training games to land a big-league roster spot. The former Cardinal appeared in just three games with Chicago. He went hitless in four at-bats.
Carlson has bounced around since his time in St. Louis came to an end. The Cardinals sent him to the Rays at the 2024 trade deadline for right-hander Shawn Armstrong. He landed with the Orioles last season, earning part-time work. Carlson struggled to a 74 wRC+ with Baltimore. The former top prospect has a .683 OPS in his MLB career.
Maton was the top acquisition in a bullpen overhaul that also included the additions of Hunter Harvey, Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb. He signed a two-year, $14.5MM deal with the club. Maton opened his Chicago tenure with two scoreless outings, but struggled in recent appearances. The right-hander gave up two earned runs in each of his last three games.
Maton’s final outing before hitting the IL was a low-leverage spot against the Rays. He entered in the eighth inning of a game the Cubs were leading 7-0. Three hits and an HBP plated a pair of runs, requiring Counsell to go to Thielbar to secure the final out of the frame.
Roberts came up over the weekend as the 27th man for the doubleheader against the Guardians. He appeared in the second game, allowing an inherited runner to score before recording the last two outs of the eighth inning. The righty has now pitched in parts of four seasons with Chicago. Roberts has a 4.91 ERA across 44 innings as a big leaguer.
Patrick Mooney of The Athletic was first to report Suzuki’s activation and Carlson’s designation. Levine was first on Maton’s IL placement. Jesse Rogers of ESPN first reported Roberts’ recall.
Photo courtesy of Matt Marton, Imagn Images
Mets Notes: Polanco, Peterson, Minter
Mets infielder Jorge Polanco was not in the lineup on Thursday as he continues to deal with an Achilles injury. New York has not ruled out an IL stint for the veteran, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Polanco was brought in to be the club’s primary first baseman after Pete Alonso signed with the Orioles. He started the first two games of the season at the position, but has been limited to DH since then. Polanco said the pain in his Achilles “comes and goes,” relayed by Chelsea Janes of SNY. His absence on Thursday ended a streak of four straight starts.
Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Jared Young have all spent time at first base this season. The Juan Soto injury opened up right field reps for Baty, so Vientos has taken over regular work at the cold corner recently. The former prospect has made the most of the increased playing time, slashing .323/.353/.484 across 34 plate appearances. Baty hasn’t done a ton with his chances, but the injuries have allowed the Mets to get a longer look at both players.
While the defensive lineup has shifted around plenty, Mendoza does not plan to adjust the pitching rotation, at least not yet. The skipper was asked specifically about David Peterson after the lefty allowed five earned runs for the second straight start. “As I’m sitting here right now, no,” Mendoza said regarding a pitching staff change, relayed by Janes.
The Diamondbacks jumped all over Peterson on Wednesday, scoring once in the first inning and four more times in the second inning. Peterson settled in over his final three frames, but the Mets’ offense managed just two runs against Ryne Nelson and company. The southpaw’s ERA sits over 6.00 through 14 2/3 innings. It’s a continuation of Peterson’s second-half swoon in 2025. After earning an All-Star selection, Peterson stumbled to a 7.74 ERA over 10 starts from August on.
The Mets don’t have an obvious replacement lined up to take over Peterson’s spot. Sean Manaea opened the year in the bullpen after working primarily as a starter the past two years. His fastball remains under 90 mph, continuing a concerning trend from the spring. Mendoza said the club does not plan to add Manaea back to the rotation right now.
As Janes pointed out, pitching prospects Christian Scott and Jonah Tong have struggled to begin the minor league season. Scott’s been tagged for six earned runs over 8 1/3 innings through two Triple-A starts. The strikeouts have been there for Tong, but he has an ERA over 5.00 across three outings with Syracuse.
On the positive side, left-hander A.J. Minter tossed a scoreless frame at Single-A on Thursday. The reliever is working his way back from a lat injury. He underwent surgery in May and began the 2026 campaign on the injured list. The outing with St. Lucie was his first game action in nearly a year.
Early estimates had Minter returning in May, but he could be back with the Mets before the end of the month. “We started the clock, the rehab process now,” Mendoza told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “It’ll be one of those where if we have to use every single day, we will. But the fact that he’s in real competition is a good sign.”
Minter is in the final season of a two-year, $22MM deal. He was off to a tremendous start in 2025 before the injury. The lefty gave up a pair of runs against the Marlins in his second appearance, then ripped off 11 straight scoreless outings. Minter pushed his strikeout rate to 31.8%, his best mark since 2022.
The Mets have relied on Brooks Raley and Richard Lovelady as their left-handed bullpen options with Minter out. Raley is tied for the club lead with two holds. He’s punched out seven hitters in five appearances. Lovelady has been scored upon in three of his five games.
Photo courtesy of D. Ross Cameron, Imagn Images
Mike Ford Joins Rays Front Office
The Rays have hired former big-league first baseman Mike Ford to a front office role. The 33-year-old spent parts of six MLB seasons with a half dozen teams. Ford’s specific position is unclear, but Kristie Ackert of the Associated Press reports that the veteran will be working with minor leaguers as part of the gig. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported in February that Ford would be joining the Rays in a player development role.
Ford was in camp with the Twins last season. After falling short of a roster spot, he landed in NPB for 25 games with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. The front office job would suggest Ford is hanging up his spikes. If so, he’ll finish his MLB career with 37 home runs in 252 games.
Ford became a cult hero in New York for his tremendous finish to the 2019 season. The first baseman briefly debuted in April that year, but failed to stick on the roster after hitting .167 in limited opportunities. Ford was recalled in early August after Edwin Encarnacion broke his wrist. He put together a torrid two-month stretch to close the campaign, posting a .953 OPS with 11 home runs over 39 games. The Yankees won 103 games and captured the AL East title for the first time since 2012. With Encarnacion healthy, Ford was left off the playoff roster.
The shortened 2020 season was unkind to Ford, as he slashed .135/.226/.270 across 84 plate appearances. He did make his postseason debut that year, going hitless in two at-bats. Ford was dealt to the Rays for cash in 2021. He wouldn’t stick with any organization for too long following his time in New York. Ford appeared in big-league games with four different teams in 2022. The first baseman hit a career-high 16 home runs with the Mariners in 2023, though it came with a 32.3% strikeout rate. Ford last appeared in the majors with the Reds in 2024.
Photo courtesy of Albert Cesare, Imagn Images
The Opener: Rooker, Meadows, Corbin
Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Rooker to undergo imaging:
The A’s suffered a worrisome injury yesterday when slugger Brent Rooker exited in the first inning of their game against the Yankees. Martin Gallegos of MLB.com writes that Rooker was diagnosed with “right flank discomfort” and that manager Mark Kotsay told reporters they’d have a more detailed update on the veteran’s status today once he’s undergone imaging. Losing Rooker would be a big blow to the A’s. He hasn’t hit much so far this year but has been one of the team’s most reliable sluggers for years now with 99 homers between 2023 and ’25. If Rooker winds up missing time, perhaps the A’s could look to use the DH slot to rest some of their regulars or improve their outfield defense by moving Tyler Soderstrom out of left field temporarily.
2. Meadows being evaluated following collision:
Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows faced a major scare yesterday when he collided in the outfield with Riley Greene. Chris McCosky of The Detroit News notes that Meadows was held overnight at a local hospital after exiting the game. It’s unknown at this point exactly how much time Meadows should be expected to miss, but a trip to the injured list seems likely and the Tigers are already planning for that eventuality. Jason Beck of MLB.com reports that outfielder Wenceel Perez was left out of last night’s lineup for Triple-A Toledo, and as the clear next man up on the Tigers’ outfield depth chart it seems likely he’s already en route to Minneapolis. The switch-hitter turned in league average numbers in 100 games last year and should be a solid stopgap while Meadows recovers.
3. Corbin to make season debut:
Veteran southpaw Patrick Corbin is in line to kick off the 14th MLB season of his career today as he suits up for the Blue Jays for the first time. After turning in a decent season with the Rangers last year where he pitched to a 4.40 ERA with a 4.25 FIP, Corbin will kick off his age-36 season by taking on Simeon Woods Richardson and the Twins in Toronto. A former Jays farmhand, Woods Richardson posted a 4.04 ERA in 111 1/3 innings of work last year. So far this season, he’s turned in 11 2/3 innings of three-run ball but surrendered two homers and struck out just 13.0% of his opponents. Tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:07pm ET in Toronto.
Kansas City Officials Propose Royals’ Stadium Plan
The Royals have spent a few years trying to secure public funding towards a new stadium. Those efforts seem closer to reality. Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas announced this afternoon that his office has proposed an ordinance towards a $1.9 billion investment plan for a new stadium and surrounding infrastructure in the Washington Square Park area in downtown Kansas City. Sam McDowell and Kacen Bayless of The Kansas City Star first reported the news in a column which those in the area will want to read in full.
The proposal would authorize roughly $600MM in city funding towards the project. That’s independent of whatever money would come from the state. Last summer, Missouri passed a law that allows the state to fund up to 50% of major stadium construction projects.
That was geared not only towards the Royals but also the NFL’s Chiefs, who have sought a move out of Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs ultimately found what they consider a better deal with Kansas lawmakers. They announced in December they’ll proceed with plans to move over the state border in 2031 on a $3 billion domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.
Today’s news makes it seem there’s a decent chance the Royals will remain in Kansas City, Missouri. However, this is not any kind of binding arrangement. It’d still need approval from the City Council, to say nothing of an agreement from the Royals themselves.
The idea would be for the Royals to commit to a 30-year lease beginning in 2030. The team’s lease at Kauffman Stadium runs through 2030, but the mayor’s office evidently hopes to have the new stadium ready for play a year in advance. He told reporters this evening the hope is for construction to begin early in 2027.
The team has not formally weighed in on the terms. Owner John Sherman has generally voiced support for a downtown ballpark. The mayor tells The K.C. Star that this proposal was the result of “hours and hours of extensive discussion” with the team. Even if the Royals are on board with the city’s plans, the state’s contributions would still need to be sorted out. Notably, this proposal does not include plans for a public vote. In April 2024, Jackson County voters shot down a sales tax measure to fund Royals/Chiefs stadium projects via referendum.
The Royals have played at Kauffman Stadium since 1973. It’s the fifth-oldest active venue in MLB behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and Angel Stadium.