MLB Player News

Heasley was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Heasley could have made the Opening Day bullpen, but the Royals want him to stretch out as a starter in the minors. The 25-year-old made three major-league starts last season but spent the bulk of the year with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he recorded a 3.33 ERA and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate.

The Rangers optioned Alexy to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

Alexy's demotion was expected after the Rangers informed Spencer Howard that he will open the season as the team's No. 5 starter. In the meantime, Alexy will continue to pick up regular starts for Round Rock in anticipation of a spot in the big-league rotation opening up at some point.

Mayza gave up one hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Not that it means a lot to work the ninth inning in a spring game, but Mayza did get credit for a save as he faced a handful of Yankees minor-leaguers plus journeyman depth catcher David Freitas. After posting a career-high 18 holds, a 0.98 WHIP and a solid 27.1 percent strikeout rate in 53 innings for the Blue Jays last season in his return from Tommy John surgery, Mayza figures to be the team's top left-handed option out of the bullpen in 2022.

The Twins announced Monday that Duran will be included on the Opening Day roster.

Duran was limited to just 16 innings in 2021 -- all at Triple-A St. Paul -- due to an elbow issue, but he made enough of an impression in spring training to push his way on to the Opening Day roster. During Grapefruit League play, Duran has turned in six scoreless innings while striking out eight batters and reaching triple digits with his fastball. He could easily be sent to Triple-A with a slow start to the season, but he could also quickly find a high-leverage role in the bullpen.

The Twins selected Coulombe's contract Monday and added him to their Opening Day roster.

The veteran lefty was attending MLB camp as a non-roster invitee and pitched his way into the Minnesota bullpen this spring, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with two hits and two walks while striking out six in five appearances. Coulombe previously spent the 2021 campaign with the Twins, compiling a 3.67 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 34.1 innings.

Munoz is a candidate to see even more work in later innings early in the season as a result of Ken Giles' finger injury, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The flamethrowing right-hander already has the arsenal of a potential late-inning ace, and with the Mariners down an experienced hand in Giles for at least the first month of the season, it seems Munoz will be a beneficiary. The 23-year-old has fired three scoreless innings across three appearances this spring, allowing two hits and recording a pair of strikeouts along the way.

Puk was mentioned by manager Mark Kotsay as still being a candidate for the starting rotation in the wake of Sean Manaea's trade to the Padres on Sunday, Scott Bordow of MLB.com reports.

Puk seemed destined to start the season in the bullpen prior to Sunday, but with Oakland's projected No. 2 starter now off the roster, it seems the big left-hander will at least be given a chance to benefit from the domino effect of the move. However, Puk, who's posted a 7.27 ERA over 8.2 innings across five appearances this spring, will have plenty of competition, considering Paul Blackburn and Adam Oller are also in the mix for back-end spots and James Kaprielian (shoulder) is expected to return by the end of April, Gallegos separately reports.

Jimenez was informed Sunday that he's made the Athletics' Opening Day roster, Scott Bordow of MLB.com reports.

Jimenez made two relief appearances for the Giants in 2020 but spent the entire 2021 campaign at Triple-A Buffalo and posted a 2.22 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 44.2 innings across 39 appearances (one start). After tossing 4.1 scoreless innings across five Cactus League outings this spring, the right-hander will pitch out of the major-league bullpen to begin the year.

Lopez could be a candidate for save chances along with Dillon Tate and Paul Fry after the trade of Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser to Miami, MASN Sports reports.

Lopez was stretched out early in spring to move into the starting rotation, but it sounds like he'll instead work in the bullpen. Tate appears to be the leading candidate to close, but the bullpen is in flux after the trade. Lopez has given up five runs in 6.1 innings with four strikeouts and three walks this spring.

Tate (illness) looks be the leading candidate to take over Baltimore's closer role after the Orioles traded Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser to Miami on Sunday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Tate will likely miss the next couple days of workouts while he contends with a sore throat, but he's expected to be ready to go for the start of the regular season. Baltimore's bullpen is in flux after the trade, but Tate appears to be the most likely candidate for save chances. Of course, the 52-110 Orioles had just 26 saves as a team last season, so save opportunities may not be plentiful. Paul Fry and Jorge Lopez are other candidates to factor into the mix for saves, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.