MLB Player News

Johnson did not make the 30-man roster but will remain stretched out at the alternate training site, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

With Eduardo Rodriguez out indefinitely due to complications in his recovery from COVID-19, the Red Sox enter the season with very few established big-league starters. Johnson could join the rotation sometime soon, but the plan is for the team to use an opener as the fourth starter and one of Matt Hall or Jeffrey Springs as the fifth starter.

Thielbar did not make Minnesota's 30-man Opening Day roster, but is included on the three-man taxi squad that will travel with the team for the first series at the White Sox.

Thielbar has thrown all 98.2 of his major-league innings for the Twins, though none of those have come since 2015. He's since spent time in independent ball and in the minor-league systems of the Padres, Tigers and Braves. He'll likely be a frequent option on the taxi squad since he can be shuffled to and from the 40-man roster without the Twins fearing he'll be claimed by another team.

Alcala did not make Minnesota's 30-man Opening Day roster, but he is included on the three-man taxi squad that will travel with the team for the first series at the White Sox.

Alcala can be activated in an emergency from the taxi squad. While he's not likely to be used in the majors in the near term, this shows he's likely the next pitcher to be called up if there's an opening in the bullpen.

The Angels selected Milner's contract Thursday.

Milner will provide the Angels with another left-handed option in the team's season-opening 10-man bullpen. The 29-year-old has made 55 career big-league appearances, posting a 3.40 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.

Smeltzer has made Minnesota's 30-man Opening Day roster, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

With Homer Bailey winning the fifth starter role, Randy Dobnak, Smeltzer and Lewis Thorpe will serve as long relievers to begin the season.

The Red Sox selected Covey's contract Wednesday.

Covey had been attending summer camp with Tampa Bay as a non-roster invitee, but he'll now get a spot on the 40-man roster and 30-man Opening Day roster two days after Boston acquired him in a trade. The Red Sox have yet to clarify his role, but Covey looks like a logical fit in a thin rotation lacking in any healthy, established options beyond Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez. If Boston decides to go with other alternatives at the back end of the rotation, Covey would likely work as a long man out of the bullpen.

Hatch made Toronto's 30-man roster.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, as Hatch has never pitched above Double-A. The 25-year-old righty logged a 2.80 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 34:2 K:BB in 35.1 innings (six starts) at Double-A after getting traded to the Blue Jays from the Cubs in last year's deadline deal that sent David Phelps to Chicago. He had a 51.1 percent groundball rate over that stretch, which was easily a career best, due to an increase in cutter and changeup usage. The Jays could deploy Hatch in multi-inning relief stints if they intend to continue developing him as a long-term starter.

Kay is included on the Blue Jays' season-opening 30-man roster and is expected to serve as the team's fifth starter, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

With Chase Anderson (oblique) opening the season on the 10-day injured list, Kay, Nate Pearson and Ryan Borucki had been viewed as the top candidates to replace the right-hander in the rotation. Toronto has since moved Pearson to the taxi squad, while Borucki was optioned to the team's alternate training site, leaving Kay as the last man standing in the job battle. Pearson is still expected to get added to the roster July 29 so that the Blue Jays can secure an extra year of service time, so Kay won't necessarily have much longevity in the Toronto rotation.

The Blue Jays optioned Borucki to their taxi squad Thursday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Though Borucki missed out on the 30-man Opening Day roster, he'll be on the short-list for a call-up after receiving a spot on the taxi squad, which currently includes two other players (pitcher Nate Pearson and catcher Caleb Joseph). Anthony Kay was able to beat out Pearson and Borucki for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, where he'll replace the injured Chase Anderson (oblique).

The Athletics activated Mengden (elbow) from the 45-day injured list Wednesday.

Mengden was first placed on the 60-day IL in mid-February after requiring arthroscopic right elbow surgery, but he made a full recovery from the procedure while MLB was on hiatus for four months. After satisfying the Oakland coaching staff with his performance during summer camp, Mengden will open the season as the Athletics' fifth starter, taking the spot that was opened by A.J. Puk's (shoulder) move to the 10-day IL.