MLB Player News

Ohtani has made the Angels' 25-man roster and will make his first start as a pitcher Sunday against the Athletics, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Although Ohtani had a rough spring training with a 27.00 ERA and a 3-for-28 showing at the plate, he'll begin the season in the majors. He threw more than 80 pitches in an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday and apparently made enough of an impression to earn his spot in the rotation. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Ohtani "should be able to get over 90 [pitches]" Sunday, but the rookie's poor spring may prompt fantasy owners to take a wait-and-see approach before activating him. It's not clear when Ohtani will make his first start as designated hitter, but Luis Valbuena will likely see the bulk of the reps at that spot early on in the season.

Canha, who's battling for a reserve outfield and designated hitter role, pushed his spring average to .362 by going 4-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and a run-scoring single in Monday's Cactus League win over the Giants.

He also crossed the plate twice overall in a performance that eradicated a 2-for-12 slump in spectacular fashion. It was a particularly timely effort, considering Canha is locked into a heated competition with Jake Smolinski for a spot as a right-handed reserve option in the outfield, although Canha also offers the added benefit of being first base-capable. His perfect night at the plate certainly caught the eye of the most important member of his audience, Jerry McDonald of The Mercury News reports. "He had a great game," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's versatile, playing first base and the outfield. We've seen when he gets lots of at-bats he's productive."

Vargas was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

After bouncing back and forth between the Reds and Twins, Vargas will indeed open the season back at Rochester after passing through waivers untouched. He will serve as organizational depth. While the 27-year-old possesses some serious pop, he's failed to get things going in brief major-league stints over the previous four seasons, hitting a combined .252/.311/.437 with 35 homers in 236 games.

Cabrera went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a walk in Sunday's Grapefruit League win over the Braves.

Cabrera now has three home runs this spring, and he's slashing a robust .352/.383/.593 in 54 at-bats. The 34-year-old posted the worst statistical output of his storied career last season, but if he's able to carry his spring training success forward, he could be in line for a bounceback campaign in 2018.

Vogelbach was informed Sunday that he will be included on the Mariners' Opening Day roster, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The writing was on the wall for Vogelbach to break camp with the Mariners after the team returned Rule 5 pick Mike Ford to the Yankees on Saturday, thinning the competition at first base and designated hitter. With Ryon Healy and Nelson Cruz both ready to go for the start of the season after being limited by injuries for large portions of spring training, Vogelbach may only receive a couple starts per week to go along with occasional pinch-hitting opportunities.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Brantley (ankle) will open the season on the 10-day disabled list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Francona stressed that Brantley hasn't suffered any setbacks with his surgically repaired right ankle during spring training, but the club isn't confident that the outfielder is ready to handle a "full load" just yet. Brantley will likely remain at extended spring training to pick up extended at-bats in simulated games while the Tribe prepares for the start of the season. With Brantley out of the mix for Opening Day, Tyler Naquin has secured a spot on the 25-man roster.

Ford was returned to the Yankees on Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Ford, who was a Rule 5 pick, will report to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate after passing through waivers untouched. The 25-year-old hit .266/.383/.543 across 25 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, and he'll likely spend most -- if not all -- of the year with the RailRiders once again in 2018.

Vargas was claimed off waivers by the Twins on Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Vargas's merry-go-round continues with the first baseman heading back to the Twins. The first baseman was designated for assignment by the team last weekend and then scooped up by the Reds on Thursday. It seems unlikely that he will be able to find much playing time with Joe Mauer and Logan Morrison ahead of him on the depth chart, but expect Vargas to secure a reserve role off the bench as a pinch hitter for the club's Opening Day roster.

Carpenter, who laced a two-run single, walked and scored in two plate appearances during Thursday's 8-2 Grapefruit League win over the Braves, adjusted his swing this offseason in an attempt to revert back to his prior level of efficiency, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports. "I'm not going to let myself hit .240 again," Carpenter said. "I look at my season as a huge disappointment. I wasn't happy about the kind of year I had at all."

A commitment to putting the ball in the air more often beginning in 2015 led to a progressive increase in Carpenter's launch angle, which was up to an average of 21 degrees during a 2017 campaign in which his average dipped to its lowest figure (.241) since his initial seven-game cup of coffee with the Cards in 2011. That number put him in the same class as sluggers like Mike Napoli and Joey Gallo, hitters whose style in the batter's box is the antithesis of what Carpenter's has been for the majority of his career. In all, Carpenter sacrificed a total of 77 points in his batting average from the career-high .318 he hit in 2013 with his revamped approach, and his offseason tweaks were done with the intention of returning to the potent all-fields hitter he used to be. The usual caveat about spring numbers aside, Carpenter's .500 average over 19 plate appearances serves as a cautiously optimistic endorsement of his old-is-new-again swing as the regular season approaches.

Ozuna, who went 1-for-2 with four RBI from a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Thursday's 8-2 Grapefruit League win over the Braves, is now 11-for-22 after notching only four hits and 13 strikeouts in his first 28 spring at-bats, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Manager Mike Matheny attributed the ragged start to his offseason acquisition trying too hard to make a solid first impression. He noted that Ozuna "wanted to come in here with a bang and bounce a ball over that roof", in reference to the administration building of his old Miami Marlins squad that sits behind the left-field wall of Roger Dean Stadium. Ozuna has subsequently relaxed at the plate and thrived as a result, acknowledging that he was trying hard to prove himself early on. Given his breakout 2017 in Miami last season and body of work in the latter half of spring, the 27-year-old could be primed for another 30-homer, 100-RBI campaign.