MLB Player News

Otto allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one over 2.2 innings in Monday's spring training start against the Mariners.

Otto made his second Cactus League start, and it was slightly better than the first but not good enough to stake a claim to a spot in the rotation. The 26-year-old right-hander has given up six runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks over 4.1 spring innings. Texas manager Chris Woodward said earlier this spring that Otto might benefit from more time in Triple-A, and the results seem to confirm that notion.

Hall was optioned to Double-A Bowie on Monday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Hall made just one appearance in spring training prior to his demotion, striking out a pair of batters in one scoreless inning of relief work. He'll begin the season at Double-A, where he posted a 3.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP to go along with a 56:16 K:BB across 31.2 innings a year ago. Although he'll begin 2022 with the Baysox, reports emerged earlier in the spring that the southpaw could progress through Baltimore's farm system quickly with the possibility of making his big-league debut at some point during the upcoming campaign.

Bolanos was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Bolanos came up short in his pursuit of the Opening Day roster and will head to Triple-A, where he posted a 6.34 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with a 34:27 K:BB over 38.1 frames a season ago. He'll be a candidate for a midseason promotion should the Royals need bullpen help.

With the Tigers sending down a few relievers Monday, Foley now appears more likely to make the Opening Day roster, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Bryan Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Toledo, while Jacob Barnes, Miguel Diaz and Wily Peralta were all optioned to minor-league camp Monday. Foley is on the 40-man roster, which helps his chances of sticking around as the roster is trimmed down further. The 26-year-old would likely slot in as a low-leverage reliever for the Tigers with limited fantasy appeal.

Fairbanks (lat) is expected to be shut down from throwing for the next six weeks after undergoing an MRI on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

This isn't what the Rays wanted to hear after Fairbanks left Sunday's exhibition with lat tightness. He tossed five pitches before exiting in discomfort. Topkin notes that it may be reasonable to expect midseason as a target for the right-hander's return, as he'll likely need ample time to build back up before returning to game action. While Fairbanks recovers, J.P. Feyereisen should be next in line for an increase in high-leverage opportunities, and he could even get the occasional save chance if Andrew Kittredge needs a night off.

Wells was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Wells debuted last season and threw 42.2 innings at the highest level, but he won't get the chance to break camp in the majors this year. It's hard to say he deserves a spot, as he struggled to a 6.75 ERA while striking out just 13.2 percent of opposing batters last season.

The Blue Jays reassigned Lawrence to their minor-league camp Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Lawrence is expected to report to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2022 campaign. The 34-year-old last saw action in the majors with the Mariners in 2018, covering 23.1 innings over 11 relief appearances while posting a 7.33 ERA and 1.63 WHIP.

The Blue Jays optioned Danner to their minor-league camp Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

The 23-year-old was viewed as a potential two-way prospect when Toronto drafted him in the second round of the 2017 first-year player draft, but he's since made the full-time switch to pitching after enduring injuries and struggling to keep his strikeouts in check while playing catcher over his first three years in the minors. Danner turned heads while operating as a reliever at High-A Vancouver in 2021, holding opposing batters to a .171 average while registering a 2.02 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB in 35.2 innings. The right-hander will likely open the 2022 campaign at Double-A New Hampshire or Triple-A Buffalo.

The Blue Jays optioned Francis to their minor-league camp Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Francis has yet to reach the majors, but the Blue Jays thought highly enough of the 25-year-old right-hander's potential to protect him from Rule 5 draft this winter by adding him to the 40-man roster. After being acquired from the Brewers last July, Francis made 14 appearances (13 starts) for Triple-A Buffalo, recording a 4.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 71:31 K:BB across 73 innings.

The Blue Jays optioned Hatch to their minor-league camp Monday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Hatch was one of 15 players sent to minor-league camp Monday in the Jays' latest round of roster cuts. The 27-year-old right-hander been stretching out as a starter this spring and is expected to slot into the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo. He made three appearances (two starts) for the big club in 2021, working 9.1 innings while giving up seven earned runs on 11 hits and six walks.