MLB Player News

Morris (shoulder) joined the Guardians' taxi squad Wednesday and is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Morris has resided on Cleveland's 60-day injured list all season after suffering a right shoulder strain in spring training, but he's been healthy for quite some time. After resuming game action in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League in mid-July, Morris shifted his rehab assignment to Triple-A Columbus earlier this month. The 25-year-old right-hander is being developed as a starter, but he'll likely work as a multi-inning arm out of the Cleveland bullpen in September after recording no more than 10 outs in any of his six rehab outings with Columbus. He's been dominant across his 15.1 innings at Triple-A, allowing only 11 baserunners while striking out a whopping 30 batters.

The Orioles reinstated Lakins (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

Lakins is healthy again after building up to three innings in his most recent rehab appearance for Norfolk on Sunday, but the Orioles didn't have a spot for him in their bullpen or on their 40-man roster. After clearing waivers following his activation, Lakins will stick around in the organization as relief depth at Norfolk. He turned in a 9.58 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in 10.1 innings with the big club before landing on the IL in late May with right elbow inflammation.

The White Sox optioned Banks to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.

He'll cede his spot on the active roster to right-hander Lance Lynn (personal), who was reinstated from the bereavement list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Royals. During his week-long stay with the White Sox, Banks appeared in three games out of the bullpen and allowed two earned runs while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

The Yankees promoted Gomez from High-A Hudson Valley to Double-A Somerset on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his debut for Somerset on Thursday. After missing the first two months of the season while recovering from elbow surgery, Gomez was lights-out upon joining Hudson Valley in mid-June. Over 10 starts at High-A, Gomez turned in a 1.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB in 28 innings.

Faucher was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun

Faucher made 14 relief appearances for the Rays earlier in the season and posted a 7.11 ERA and 2.05 WHIP in 12.2 innings. The right-hander spent the last month and a half in the minors and should serve mainly as a middle reliever now that he's back with the major-league club.

Cuas (3-2) walked one and struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Tuesday over the White Sox.

Cuas completed the fifth inning after Brady Singer allowed five straight hits, including a three-run home run to Gavin Sheets in the middle. Cuas inherited runners on the corners with two outs and got Josh Harrison on a groundout before handling the sixth inning without trouble. The righty reliever owns a shaky 5.63 ERA through eight innings in August, picking up a save, two holds and a 1-1 record in 10 appearances. For the season, he's been a bit better with a 3.82 ERA, though his 1.63 WHIP and 26:19 K:BB through 30.2 innings are mostly uninspiring. With both Taylor Clarke (oblique) and Josh Staumont (biceps) out, Cuas and Dylan Coleman have served as high-leverage options preceding closer Scott Barlow.

Rodriguez signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is back in affiliated ball for the first time since the 2015 campaign, when he made seven relief appearances for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 32-year-old right-hander will rejoin that same affiliate seven years later, attempting to pitch well enough to earn a late-season cup of coffee with the Yankees for what would be his first big-league action since 2014, when he appeared in two games for the Royals. Rodriguez most recently pitched in the Mexican League, earning an All-Star nod while producing a 2.01 ERA and 73:13 K:BB in 44.2 innings for Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos.

The Orioles designated Reyes for assignment Wednesday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

He'll lose out on a 40-man spot with the Orioles selecting the contract of top prospect Gunnar Henderson ahead of Wednesday's game against the Guardians. Reyes, who hasn't surfaced in the big leagues since being optioned to the minors June 5, owns a 7.50 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across 42 innings at Triple-A Norfolk this season.

Duffey and the Yankees agreed Wednesday on a contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Duffey will join his third organization of the season after his long run with the Twins came to an end earlier this month before he joined the Rangers for a brief pit stop, only to opt out of his minor-league deal with Texas just over two weeks later. The 31-year-old righty had turned in an unremarkable 4.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 44 innings in the majors with Minnesota earlier this season, but he delivered a 2.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 21.6 K-BB% across 144 frames from 2019 through 2021. Duffey is initially expected to report to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could be in the mix for a promotion to the big-league bullpen in the final month of the regular season.

Neris pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the save in a 4-2 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday.

Neris was called in to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning, and he shut the door with two strikeouts on 15 pitches. Neris has been excellent lately and now has three consecutive scoreless appearances with six strikeouts over the past week to lower his WHIP to 0.96 on the season. Neris has joined Rafael Montero in the mix for saves primary closer Ryan Pressly is sidelined with neck spasms.