MLB Player News

Hernandez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Along with Hernandez, fellow rehabbing reliever Jose Leclerc (elbow) also threw a side session as the two work their way back from the Tommy John surgeries they underwent last spring. As relievers, Hernandez and Leclerc should both have slightly shorter recovery timelines than a starting pitcher rehabbing from Tommy John, but the two are still likely to open the campaign on the 60-day injured list.

Leclerc (elbow) completed a bullpen session Wednesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Fellow reliever Jonathan Hernandez (elbow) also got back on the mound Wednesday, as the two relievers are at similar spots in their respective recoveries from the Tommy John surgeries they underwent last spring. Leclerc and Hernandez entered 2021 as two of the Rangers' top candidates to close games, but neither will likely factor into the ninth-inning mix right away upon gaining clearance to make their season debuts at some point in the second half of the upcoming season. Joe Barlow hasn't been officially named Texas' closer heading into Opening Day, but he's the odds-on favorite for the gig after converting 11 of 12 save chances late last season.

Iglesias (personal) arrived at the Angels' big-league camp Wednesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Iglesias wasn't able to report to camp immediately after the lockout ended while he tended to a family matter, but his arrival Wednesday gives him plenty of time to continue his buildup program in advance of Opening Day. After re-upping with the Angels this offseason on a four-year, $58 million deal, Iglesias looks to be one of the closers with the very high job security, He completed his first season in Anaheim with a 2.57 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a 103:12 K:BB in 70 innings while scooping up seven wins and going 34-for-39 in save opportunities.

Chafin signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Tigers on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Chafin put together the best season of his career while pitching for the Cubs and Athletics last year, as he converted five of eight save opportunities with 22 holds while posting a 1.83 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 68.2 innings across 71 appearances. He'll be rewarded with a pay raise in Detroit and should factor into the team's late-inning mix, even though Gregory Soto has already been named the Tigers' closer heading into the season.

The Athletics acquired Snead and fellow minor-league prospects Kevin Smith, Gunnar Hoglund and Zach Logue from the Blue Jays on Wednesday in exchange for third baseman Matt Chapman, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Oakland has been in full-on tear-down mode since the lockout ended last week, with the team having now moved Chapman, first baseman Matt Olson and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt in trades over the past few days. Snead is just one of a number of incoming prospects into the Oakland system, and he projects as one of the more MLB-ready new arrivals. The 27-year-old lefty got the chance to make his big-league debut with the Blue Jays late last season and impressed over seven relief appearances, as he struck out seven and allowed two runs over 7.2 innings. He should have a decent chance at breaking camp with the Athletics as a middle-relief option.

Logue was traded from the Blue Jays to the Athletics on Wednesday along with Kevin Smith, Gunnar Hoglund and Kirby Snead in exchange for Matt Chapman, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Smith and Hoglund are the headliners in this return package. Logue, who turns 26 in April, is a lefty with a good changeup and a chance to pitch at the back of a rotation in the near future. He posted a 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 93:20 K:BB in 89.1 innings at Triple-A last season.

Lakins (elbow) threw two innings in a simulated game Wednesday and is scheduled to cover two more frames Friday in the Orioles' exhibition opener versus the Blue Jays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Lakins reported to spring training at full strength after he was sidelined from late June onward last season following surgery to address an olecranon stress fracture in his right elbow. The 27-year-old right-hander is attending camp as a non-roster invitee and appears to be getting the chance to compete for a rotation spot with the big club, but he should still be viewed as a long shot to make the Opening Day roster.

Jax will move to the bullpen and work in a relief role this season, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Jax will get ready for one-to-three-inning assignments, two or three times a week, according to manager Rocco Baldelli.

Jax finished his first big-league season with a 6.37 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 65:29 K:BB across 82 innings. He was a starter in 14 of 18 outings. He'll try to win a role in middle relief. Jax and Lewis Thorpe moving to the bullpen could be a sign the Twins are set to bring in more veteran starting pitchers or are ready to have younger talent contend for rotation roles.

Smeltzer (elbow) reported to the Twins' big-league camp Sunday as a non-roster invitee, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

After being outrighted off the Twins' 40-man roster in November, Smeltzer joined Minnesota's minor-league camp before the lockout ended, according to Park. The 26-year-old right-hander is healthy again after he didn't pitch after April of last year due to nerve irritation in his left elbow. Smeltzer has 19 MLB appearances (seven starts) to his name, but he's not a serious contender for a spot in Minnesota's Opening Day rotation.

The Tigers are still looking to add starting pitchers before the season starts, which could push Alexander out of a rotation spot, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Alexander is tentatively set as the team's fifth starter, but the lefty has proven himself capable as a long reliever in the past as well. Eduardo Rodriguez, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning should all be locked in as starters, and the Tigers also added veteran Chase Anderson on a minor-league deal Monday as a potential rotation option. Alexander could have a little fantasy value if he's starting, though he seems likely to shift to the bullpen at some point this season.