MLB Player News

Honeywell (elbow) is expected to start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It will be the 25-year-old's first action against another team since September of 2017, since he's been sidelined by numerous arm injuries. Due to the absence, Honeywell figures to open the season at Triple-A and likely will need to prove his health and effectiveness before receiving a shot in the majors.

Romano has a 2.25 ERA and dominant 9:1 K:BB through four Grapefruit League innings.

The right-hander was enjoying a breakout 2020 before suffering a finger injury, but Romano is healthy again this spring and appears to have picked up where he left off. With Kirby Yates in town, Romano will begin the season in a setup role, but if he can replicate his 36.8 percent strikeout rate over a longer stretch, he'll still have deep-league fantasy value even in formats that don't reward holds.

Stanek allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over one inning in Saturday's spring game against St. Louis.

Stanek has made three spring appearances, giving up one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over three innings. He had a minor role in the Marlins' bullpen in 2020 and is projected to be part of the Astros' bullpen this season, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Beyond closer Ryan Pressly, the pecking order in the bullpen has not received much press and is not well defined. Joe Smith could serve as a setup man while perceived high-leverage options Josh James (hip) and Pedro Baez (not injury related) have not pitched yet this spring.

Naughton (elbow) is slated for a bullpen session Saturday and has been playing catch at 150 feet, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.comreports.

Naughton has been sidelined with a Grade 1 flexor pronator strain in his left elbow since late February, but he has been throwing for over a week and will take the next step in his recovery with Saturday's bullpen. The left-hander is expected to open the campaign in the minors.

Taylor is one of six healthy relievers considered as locks to serve in Astros' bullpen come Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Taylor was a useful piece in the bullpen last season for Houston, pitching to a 2.18 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 20.2 innings. He's made just three appearances this spring, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over three innings. Two of those appearances have come in the sixth inning and the other one in the seventh, which normally aren't the spots managers deploy high-leverage relievers in early-to-mid spring training contests. He's one of two left-handers projected to make the roster -- Brooks Raley being the other -- which puts him in line for any late-game opportunities that may require a southpaw.

Thornton struck out four over two perfect innings in his first Grapefruit League action of the year Friday against the Tigers.

He threw 20 of his 27 pitches for strikes. Thornton had a delayed start to camp as he recovered from September surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow, so he may not have time to get stretched out for a rotation role despite the team's need in that area, but he could still provide valuable innings right away as the Jays look to cover for the absence of Nate Pearson (groin).

Yates will make his second appearance of the spring Saturday against the Phillies, and Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker described the ninth inning as "his job to lose," Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The team has held off naming one of its big offseason acquisitions as the closer, but with Yates looking healthy in his first spring action, an official announcement should come before camp breaks. The right-hander, who turns 34 next week, is looking to bounce back from a 2020 season cut short by bone spurs in his elbow, but Yates at his best is among the best relievers in baseball, as he racked up 53 saves with a 1.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 191:30 K:BB over 123.2 innings for the Padres in 2018-19.

Sandlin has been informed that he won't make Cleveland's Opening Day roster, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Sandlin will remain in major-league camp for developmental purposes, but he'll begin the 2021 campaign in the minors. The right-hander has made three relief appearances this spring and has allowed one run and two walks while striking out five over 2.2 scoreless innings.

Hatch has been diagnosed with mild right elbow inflammation, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Hatch underwent an MRI after leaving Wednesday's spring game against the Yankees with a right elbow issue. The Blue Jays are still gathering information on his injury, and the right-hander doesn't yet have a timetable for his return.

Texans manager Chris Woodward is not yet ready to name Leclerc the team's closer, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Leclerc, who gave up three hits in 1.1 innings Thursday, has experienced a drop in fastball velocity as he works his way back from a shoulder injury in 2020. Woodward mentioned Matt Bush and Ian Kennedy as possible closers if Leclerc is unable to lock in the job.