MLB Player News

Perez and Bryan Baker might see save chances if Felix Bautista (shoulder/knee) has to miss time, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bautista is being worked into things slowly in camp and Dillon Tate (elbow) is slated to miss at least the first month of the season, which could open up some late-inning opportunities in the Orioles' bullpen. Perez certainly deserves to be under consideration after holding a 1.40 ERA and 55:21 K:BB over 57.2 innings for the O's last season.

Baker and Cionel Perez could get chances to close games if Felix Bautista (shoulder/knee) needs to miss time, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The O's hope that Bautista will ready in time for Opening Day as he eases into things this spring following last year's shoulder and knee injuries. If he's not, though, it sounds like Baker and Perez would get ninth-inning looks. Baker picked up one save for Baltimore in 2022 while posting a 3.49 ERA and 76:26 K:BB over 69.2 frames.

Kittredge (elbow) being placed on the 60-day injured list has been rescinded, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

It had been the corresponding move to Trevor Kelley having his contract selected, but that transaction isn't allowed until March 15. Kittredge will officially be put on the 60-day IL next month.

Kelley having his contract selected by the Rays has been rescinded, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network.

This was just an error on the Rays' part, as players on non-roster invitee deals aren't eligible to have their contracts selected until March 15. Kelley is expected to be added to the 40-man roster at that time.

Graveman said Thursday that he's open to filling any bullpen role for the White Sox this season, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

"To rack up saves or holds, it doesn't matter to me," Graveman said. "I just want to get this team to the playoffs." The 32-year-old looks to be the frontrunner for the closer role on the South Side of Chicago with Liam Hendriks out indefinitely following a January diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

The Rays selected Kelley's contract on Thursday.

Kelley inked a minor-league contract with the Rays in January and now has a clearer path to a spot in their Opening Day bullpen. The 30-year-old right-hander posted a 6.08 ERA in 23.2 innings last season with the Brewers, but he had some bad flyball luck and tallied 23 strikeouts along the way.

Kittredge was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Kittredge underwent the reconstructive elbow procedure last June and will miss at least the first half of the 2023 season. This is a paperwork move to get Trevor Kelley on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster.

Daniel was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Angels on Thursday due to a right shoulder strain, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for left-hander Matt Moore, whose one-year, $7.55 million deal with the Angels is now official. Daniel posted a 4.49 ERA and 83:32 K:BB over 102.1 innings last season at Triple-A Salt Lake and won't be much of a factor in the early part of the 2023 campaign.

Rodriguez (shoulder) acknowledged Thursday that he is still in recovery mode, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

"We're getting there," said Rodriguez. "You know, there's still a process to this. So I'll leave that to the higher ups but right now we're feeling really good and everybody's really happy with where we're at." The 24-year-old right-hander did not pitch at any level in 2022 following November 2021 surgery to repair the capsule in his throwing shoulder, and it sounds like he will not be available at the beginning of the 2023 campaign.

White revealed Thursday to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com that he suffered a right shoulder impingement over the offseason, though he's currently healthy.

White is thankfully over it by now and believes he can make a strong claim this spring for the No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays' rotation to open the season. Yusei Kikuchi is his primary competition for that role. The odd man out will likely wind up in long relief.