MLB Player News

Varland earned the save Thursday against Atlanta, striking out one and allowing no hits or walks over 1.1 scoreless innings.

He was called upon with two outs in the eighth inning and a one-run lead after Braydon Fisher allowed a run earlier in the frame. Varland the retired Ozzie Albies to escape the inning before Toronto's offense erupted for four runs in the ninth, giving him some breathing room. Varland then worked a clean 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure his ninth save in as many opportunities this season. The right-hander has been nearly untouchable in 2026, holding opponents without an earned run in 28 of his 29 appearances, with him currently carrying a 16-game streak. He now owns a microscopic 0.28 ERA alongside a 0.99 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB across 32.1 innings.

Sborz signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Sborz was released by the Rangers on Monday after putting up an 8.16 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 14.1 innings at Triple-A Round Rock. The 32-year-old righty will now return to the organization after testing the free-agent market, but he'll need to turn things around dramatically to have any chance at returning to the majors for the first time since 2024.

The White Sox reinstated Gilbert from the family medical emergency list Thursday.

Gilbert will rejoin the active roster after spending a few days away from the team to tend to a family emergency. He's given up four runs over 2.2 innings in the majors this season but owns a 2.12 ERA and 0.65 WHIP at Triple-A Charlotte since being sent down to the minors in mid-April. Chris Murphy was optioned to Charlotte in a corresponding move.

The Pirates traded La Sorsa to the Red Sox on Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

La Sorsa will be active Friday for the Red Sox while they are in New York playing the Yankees. The southpaw exercised his upward-mobility clause at the end of May, and he'll now get a look in the majors with Boston. The Pirates are receiving cash considerations in return, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Garcia's (elbow) next rehab outing will be Saturday with Single-A Dunedin, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Garcia began his rehab assignment Wednesday with Single-A Dunedin. He was able to toss a scoreless inning on no hits with a strikeout and walk across 14 pitches.

Bednar secured the save Thursday against the Guardians, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. He did not record a strikeout.

Bednar made quick work of the Cleveland batters Thursday, firing eight of his 12 pitches for strikes. The 31-year-old right-hander has submitted four consecutive scoreless outings, strengthening his hold on New York's closer role for the time being. Through 25 innings, Bednar still has a shaky 4.32 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB while converting 13 of his 15 save chances.

The Blue Jays designated Andrews for assignment Thursday.

Andrews turned in a pair of scoreless outings after being selected to the active roster last week but was optioned back to Triple-A shortly thereafter. He'll now end up as the odd man out of a 40-man spot to make room for Chad Dallas, who was selected to the big-league roster in a corresponding move. Andrews owns a 1.29 ERA through 21 innings at Buffalo, which could draw interest on the waiver wire from teams in search of bullpen help.

The Blue Jays optioned Juenger to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

Juenger appeared in two games for Toronto after being recalled from Triple-A on Saturday, giving up three earned runs on two hits and two walks across two innings. He'll now head back to the minors to make room for Chad Dallas, who was selected to the active roster in a corresponding move.

The Orioles designated Nunez for assignment Thursday.

Nunez was just acquired via trade from the Athletics in May, but the Orioles will now clear him off the 40-man roster to make room for a new trade acquisition in Kyle Nicolas. The 26-year-old Nunez has posted a 7.13 ERA and 21:19 K:BB across 17.2 frames in the minors this season.

The Orioles acquired Nicolas from the Reds on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.

Nicolas had been designated for assignment and is now on the move to his third organization since March. The hard-throwing reliever has spent most of his time this season at Triple-A Louisville, where he held a 5.17 ERA and 20:17 K:BB over 15.2 innings. He will report to Triple-A Norfolk.