MLB Player News

Gearrin was designated for assignment by the Twins on Thursday.

Gearrin made just one appearance for the Twins before being cast off their 40-man roster. He'll likely report to the team's alternate camp site if he clears waivers untouched.

Littell (hamstring) was activated from the injured list Thursday.

As expected, Littell has been cleared to return after a brief stay on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Prior to landing on the shelf, the right-hander allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in three innings. Cody Stashak (back) was sent to the IL in a corresponding move.

Trivino, who sports an elevated 7.50 ERA over his first five appearances this season, has nevertheless impressed manager Bob Melvin with how he's looked in his last pair of outings, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "Sometimes the league catches up to you and has a really good idea what you're going to throw and when you're going to throw it, and I think that was the case at times last year with Lou," Melvin said. "I think incorporating at least three pitches in his repertoire, one a little bit slower than the fastball and the cutter is going to be beneficial for him."

Trivino struggled to a career-worst 5.25 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 2019 over 61 appearances, and due to having allowed multiple earned runs in two outings this season, he once again sports an unappealing ERA. Nevertheless, Melvin sees a more effective pitcher thus far this season, noting the right-hander's fastball is showing "good life" and that Trivino's decision to mix in more off-speed pitches is one that's paying off. The 28-year-old boasts three scoreless one-inning efforts in his other two appearances, and his 8:2 K:BB over six innings underscores that he's exhibiting better control early than during a 2019 campaign when he generated a bloated 4.7 BB/9.

Manager Ron Roenicke said Taylor (not injury related) "has a chance" to return this weekend in New York, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Taylor has been building up at the team's alternate training site after missing most of summer camp due to a positive COVID-19 test. Once he's cleared to return, the lefty -- who posted a 3.04 ERA and 62:16 K:BB in 47.1 innings last season -- should settle into the back end of Boston's bullpen.

Honeywell (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Honeywell fired 15 pitches in what was his first time throwing against hitters since April 2019. While this is an encouraging step for the right-hander, he remains without a concrete timetable for his return. Seeing as Honeywell has undergone three different operations on his throwing elbow since last appearing in a game back in September 2017, the Rays figure to handle him with care once he's ready to go.

The Rays recalled Banda from their taxi squad Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Banda will tentatively slot into the bullpen as a replacement for Aaron Slegers, who was optioned to the taxi squad in a corresponding move. However, with both Yonny Chirinos (triceps) and Charlie Morton (shoulder) on the injured list, the Rays will have two vacancies in the rotation Friday and Saturday against the Blue Jays, so Banda could be a candidate to fill either opening if he isn't needed in Thursday's series finale with the Red Sox. Banda missed most of the 2019 campaign while completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but he made three appearances for the Rays in September, giving up three earned runs over four innings.

Robles struck out all three batters he faced in Wednesday's loss to Oakland.

After struggling mightily to begin the campaign, Robles has been dominant of late, hurling three straight scoreless one-inning outings with seven of his nine outs coming by way of strikeout during that span. His fastball is touching 96-97 mph again, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, and two of the three batters he whiffed Wednesday went down swinging. Ty Buttrey has yet to allow a run since taking over as the top ninth-inning option Aug. 4, but should he falter, it stands to reason that Robles could eventually return to the closer role.

Swanson (0-1) was tagged with the loss and a blown save Wednesday against the Rangers after giving up five runs on three hits while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. He also hit two batters.

Swanson was all over the place Wednesday and gave the game away in the bottom of the eighth -- the Mariners had a 4-2 lead when Swanson entered the contest and were down 6-4 when he left. He kicked things off striking out Nick Solak, but then Swanson allowed four straight batters to reach base with a single, a double, a hit by pitch and an RBI single. He was able to record the second out on a sac fly from Shin-Soo Choo that scored Elvis Andrus, and Swanson also hit Isiah Kiner-Falefa before departing the contest. This is an outing the 26-year-old right-hander will try to forget as soon as possible.

Hernandez (3-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Mariners. He pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Hernandez has gone six straight appearances without allowing a run, and he has posted an 11:2 K:BB in 8.0 innings (six games) during that stretch. He has been very effective this season and, in fact, has posted scoreless appearances in all but one of his outings so far. He owns a 1.64 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP -- as well as a 12.3 K/9 -- in 11.0 innings (nine games) to date.

Montero got the save Wednesday against the Mariners after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.

Another appearance, another scoreless outing for Montero. The 29-year-old is 4-for-4 in save chances and is yet to allow a run or a walk in his four appearances, striking out four. He has been lights out as the team's closer since stepping in for Jose Leclerc (shoulder) and should remain a reliable late-inning arm out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future.