MLB Player News

Jansen (back) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Assuming he bounces back well, the closer is expected to be available to pitch in Thursday's series finale against the Blue Jays. Jansen hasn't made an appearance since Saturday due to back tightness.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Kahnle (biceps) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Kahnle will throw another bullpen session Thursday, which could be the last step before he reports to a minor-league affiliate. He's expected to require 4-to-6 rehab appearances before being activated, setting him up to return in late May or early June if all goes well.

Baltimore designated Krehbiel for assignment Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The move clears room on the 40-man roster for Luis Torrens, whom the Orioles acquired from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Krehbiel was relatively effective out of the Baltimore bullpen in 2022 with a 3.90 ERA over 57.2 innings over 56 appearances, but he wasn't a part of the Opening Day roster. He's posted a 2.00 ERA over nine innings with Triple-A Norfolk, and a team in need of bullpen help could show interest in the right-hander on the waiver wire or via trade.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Crochet (elbow) will be stretched out to handle multiple innings on his rehab assignment, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Crochet was lit up for three earned runs while recording only one out in his second rehab appearance Tuesday with Double-A Birmingham, though he did toss a perfect frame in his rehab debut Sunday. The 23-year-old left-hander is on the road back from Tommy John surgery and will apparently return as a multi-inning relief option for the White Sox whenever he's deemed fit to do so.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Hendriks (illness) will need four or five minor-league rehab appearances prior to being activated from the 15-day injured list, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Hendriks is scheduled to head down to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday and will begin appearing in games with the affiliate over the weekend. Having mapped out a pitching schedule that will eventually include appearances on back-to-back days, the veteran closer appears on track to be activated by the White Sox around the middle of May. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma over the winter and completed his final round of chemotherapy in April.

An MRI and CT scan taken of Fleming's left foot Wednesday came back negative, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The MRI and CT results confirm that Fleming escaped with merely a bruise when he had to leave an appearance Tuesday against the Pirates after being hit by a liner. He will try to play catch Thursday as a gauge for whether he'll be ready for his next turn through the rotation. At this stage, Fleming appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list.

The Royals selected Cox's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Cox will be making his MLB debut the first time he makes an appearance out of the Kansas City bullpen. The 26-year-old left-hander had posted a 2.21 ERA and 22:11 K:BB through 20.1 innings (four starts, one relief appearance) this season at Omaha.

Cuas was optioned Wednesday to Triple-A Omaha.

Austin Cox will join the Royals' bullpen in a corresponding 26-man roster move. Cuas, 28, allowed two earned runs over 1.1 innings of relief in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles, raising his season ERA to 5.65 over 14.1 total frames.

Tampa Bay designated Burdi for assignment Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Chase Anderson, whom Tampa Bay acquired in a trade with Cincinnati earlier Wednesday. Burdi didn't allow a run in his two appearances with the Rays before being optioned back to Triple-A Durham last week. He'll stick around at Durham unless another team puts in a waiver claim for him.

The Rays placed Fairbanks (finger) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Fairbanks didn't come on for a save chance in Tuesday's win over the Pirates and hadn't pitched since Friday due to what the Rays had attributed to finger numbness stemming from Raynaud's Syndrome, but the forearm issue is what will end up forcing him to the shelf. The right-hander had yet to allow a run in eight appearances this season and had emerged as the Rays' primary closer, but Jason Adam looks to be first in line to headline what could be a committee approach to save situations while Fairbanks is on the shelf. If he's able to resume throwing within the next few days, Fairbanks would have a chance at being ready to pitch when first eligible around the middle of the month.