MLB Baseball 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 17, 2026, 11:30 PM ET
Pitching Returns & Setbacks
The American League circuit saw some movement on the transaction wire as veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle agreed to terms with the Boston Red Sox on a minor league contract following the recent offseason. Meanwhile, the injury ledger proved harsh for the Chicago White Sox, as right-hander Mike Vasil will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after experiencing elbow soreness during a Saturday spring training start. This necessary procedure removes the prospect from the mound for the entirety of the upcoming campaign, illustrating the volatility of high-leverage arms in the league reports indicate.
In brighter news for marquee arms, both reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani and reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole are slated for their initial spring training mound appearances this week Ohtani is scheduled. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani will face the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday in his first live pitching session since undergoing a procedure last year, while New York Yankees ace Cole follows suit, marking his first competitive outing since his own elbow ligament reconstruction surgery Cole is set.