MLB Player News

Hill is likely battling for one of three remaining bullpen spots in Detroit along with Tyler Holton, Chasen Shreve, Trey Wingenter and Beau Brieske, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Holton and Shreve are both lefties, so the Tigers will likely want to keep one or both of them as situational options. Hill may still make the team as a long reliever, as he made eight starts last season as a rookie. The righty held his own with a 4.03 ERA, though he only had 40 strikeouts across 60.1 innings, so he seems unlikely to dominate batters out of the bullpen.

Davidson and Griffin Canning are battling for a role as the Angels' sixth starter, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.

The two hurlers have been battling it out throughout the spring, and Canning has put up better numbers, posting a 1.32 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 13.2 innings versus Davidson's 5.19 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB across 17.1 frames. One thing working in Davidson's favor, however, is that he is out of minor-league options while Canning is not. Whichever pitcher wins the competition may not see action in a starting role right away, as Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Tuesday that the team is "going to take it day by day, but there's a possibility that sixth spot maybe we don't use it right off the bat ... and if we don't use him right off the bat, he's in the bullpen and provides length there," per Garro.

Joyce will open the year with Double-A Rocket City due to the way the altitude in Salt Lake impacts pitching development, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

For a pitcher who was the talk of the Angels' bullpen during spring training and didn't get reassigned until this past weekend, it would have seemed likely for Joyce to open the year at Triple-A. As Blum notes, Chase Silseth was held at Double-A last year before getting promoted to the majors, so this is a tactic the Angels like to use with young pitchers given the alternative of sending them to the Pacific Coast League. Joyce is a strong candidate to pitch his way to the majors if he stays healthy and could be the Angels' long-term closer.

Rodriguez (oblique) has no official timetable in place for his return, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Recent reports have said Rodriguez is already beginning to feel better after suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain on March 18, but he should still miss a good chunk of April. He will almost certainly be placed on the 10-day IL to start the year, which would open up a spot for Raimel Tapia to make the Opening Day roster as a backup outfielder.

Blanco has won the final bullpen spot for the Astros and will make the Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Blanco will be the multi-inning option for the Astros after being stretched out to throw 40-to-50 pitches over the spring. The 29-year-old earned his spot with a 0.64 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB in 14 innings during Grapefruit League play.

Mayers was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Royals on Tuesday.

Mayers allowed eight earned runs through 14.1 innings this spring and will likely begin the season with Triple-A Omaha. The 31-year-old reliever recorded a 6.27 ERA and 1.42 in the minors last season.

Wittgren was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Royals camp.

Wittgren was in major-league camp this spring as a non-roster invitee. The 31-year-old reliever struggled to a 5.90 ERA and 17:10 K:BB in 29 innings with the Cardinals last season.

Cordero will be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said last week that Cordero was "in a good spot" to break camp with the club, and that's now been made official. The right-handed hurler has impressed this spring, posting a 4.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB over nine innings. He'll likely begin the campaign working in low-leverage situations.

The Royals optioned Snider to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Snider had a solid spring, allowing three earned runs and striking out 10 batters over 7.2 innings, but he will need to prove he can maintain similar levels of success before rejoining the Royals. The 27-year-old reliever put up a 6.55 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 34.1 innings in the majors last season.

The Yankees reassigned Hamilton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Hamilton did not make the Opening Day roster, but he has an opt-out and the Yanks could add him to the 40-man roster and option him in order to keep him around. The 27-year-old was unscored upon in seven appearances this spring.