MLB Player News

May, Jeurys Familia and Dany Jimenez could all be used in closer situations this season, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday.

"I think we'll start out with the mindset that they're all options," Kotsay said. A closer-by-committee situation on a bad team is a nightmare situation for fantasy managers, although someone could emerge as the preferred option eventually. That someone could be May, who has a $7 million contract and who has mostly been very good the last several seasons. Still, it's not a bullpen worthy of much of an investment in fantasy.

The Orioles reassigned Garrett to minor-league camp Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Garrett, who previously saw big-league action with the Tigers in 2019 and the Nationals in 2022, is expected to serve as organizational relief depth at Triple-A Norfolk as he begins his first season with Baltimore.

The Orioles reassigned Bazardo to minor-league camp Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 27-year-old struck out 11 and held opposing hitters to a .194 average over 8.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, but the strong showing in Florida wasn't enough for him to break camp as a member of the big-league bullpen. Bazardo has fared well over brief stints with the Red Sox in 2021 and 2022, so there's a good chance he surfaces in the big leagues at some point in 2023 even though he doesn't currently possess a spot on the 40-man roster.

Hamilton is expected to remain in the Yankees' organization, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The Yanks have not determined who will be awarded their final spot in the bullpen. It could go to Hamilton, or he might instead be added to the 40-man roster and then optioned. Either way, the non-roster invitee is going to remain in the organization.

Coulombe was acquired by the Orioles from the Twins on Monday for cash considerations, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Coulombe was going to come up short in his bid for a bullpen spot with the Twins, but he's been given a reprieve with the O's trading for him and promptly adding him to their relief corps. The veteran left-hander holds a 2.92 ERA over 41 appearances over the last three seasons.

The Mariners optioned Topa to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Acquired from the Brewers in January, Topa had a so-so performance in his first camp with Seattle. The hard-throwing righty turned in a 2.25 ERA and struck out eight batters over eight frames in Cactus League play, but he issued three walks and allowed a .300 average to opposing batters. So long as he steers clear of the health issues that have derailed him the past two seasons, Topa should stand a decent chance of surfacing in Seattle's bullpen at some point in 2023.

Mayza posted a 1.42 ERA and 7:0 K:BB through 6.1 Grapefruit League innings this spring.

The 31-year-old lefty appeared in only one Grapefruit League game after March 18 as the Blue Jays let their top set-up men get in most of their work on back fields late in camp. Mayza has racked up 52 holds over the last three seasons and figured to be Toronto's top relief option from the port side again in 2023.

Swanson has a 4.05 ERA and 4:2 K:BB through 6.2 innings over seven appearances this spring.

Curiously, the right-hander has appeared in only one Grapefruit League game since March 17, but there's been no indication from the Blue Jays he's battling an injury and he's presumably been getting his work in during minor-league contests. Swanson came over from Seattle this winter in the Teoscar Hernandez trade, and after posting a 1.68 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 70:10 K:BB and career-high 14 holds in 57 appearances for the M's, he's expected to be one of Toronto's main set-up men ahead of closer Jordan Romano.

Pop appears set to open the season in the big-league bullpen with Mitch White battling elbow soreness, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

White was expected to begin the season as a long reliever if he lost out on the fifth starter role to Yusei Kikuchi, but instead he now appears headed for the injured list. Pop pitched well this spring, posting a 9:1 K:BB through six innings, and he'll likely be used in middle relief in the majors.

The Rays optioned Kelley to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With the Rays shaving down their roster ahead of the 2023 season, Kelley was the latest member of the team's spring roster to be optioned. The right-hander appeared in nine games during spring training, surrendering just one run over 7.2 innings while striking out six batters. Kelley signed a minor-league deal with the Rays' organization in January after struggling to a 6.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 23 punchouts over 23.2 innings with the Brewers in 2022. The 29-year-old has already earned himself a 40-man roster spot and if he can continue to produce like he did this spring, Kelley will likely earn a call-up this summer.