MLB Player News

Manaea posted a 14.09 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and .378 BAA across 7.2 innings over three Cactus League appearances before spring training was suspended.

The unsightly numbers over the small sample belie the fact Manaea actually got some productive work in before play was paused. Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports the left-hander diligently worked on developing his slider with the help of the legendary Randy Johnson, and he did manage to record 10 strikeouts despite also pitching to plenty of contact at times. The refining of a pitch always carries the potential of generating some ugly spring lines, so the southpaw's struggles could at least be partly attributed to his attempt to augment his arsenal.

GM Jerry Dipoto said Saturday that Adams (knee) may be healthy when play begins for 2020, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old resumed throwing in March the same day spring training was suspended, and he's continued his rehab from knee surgery away from the Mariners' spring facility. Adams has also been running at 100 percent in 30-yard sprints, so it appears he's mostly rebuilding his endurance for once the season resumes. The right-hander appeared in 30 games between Washington and Seattle last season, posting a 3.94 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 53:16 K:BB with 10 holds over 32 innings.

Fairbanks logged five scoreless innings and a 10:3 K:BB across five Grapefruit League appearances before spring training was suspended.

Juan Toribio of MLB.com notes Fairbanks flashed a fastball that touched as high as 100 mph and an effective complementary breaking pitch during his stellar spring showing. With MLB expanding active rosters to 26 players for the coming season, Toribio notes Fairbanks already had a fighting chance at the 13th and final spot on the staff. However, the combination of his Grapefruit League performance and the possibility rosters are now expanded further would seemingly strengthen Fairbanks' odds of opening 2020 at the big-league level.

Yarbrough was in line to operate as a traditional starter on occasion in 2020 when spring training was suspended, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Yarbrough certainly inspired confidence with his body of work during Grapefruit League play, allowing just one unearned run across six innings over three spring appearances. The southpaw filled a number of roles for manager Kevin Cash last season, making 14 starts in his 26 appearances while also serving as a bulk reliever following an opener. Topkin notes Yarbrough could certainly see time in the latter capacity this coming season, but adds the Rays may also use an opener less frequently in 2020 than in the past two campaigns.

Santiago could make the Tigers' roster as a long reliever whenever the regular season is able to begin, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Santiago looked like an odd man out at the start of spring training, but if MLB teams get to use expanded rosters when the season is able to start, the lefty could find his way into an expanded bullpen. His ability to work as a starter or pitch multiple innings in relief could be beneficial, as teams will likely have fewer off days and more doubleheaders, so bullpens could be taxed.

Adams (knee) had just resumed throwing the day that commissioner Rob Manfred suspended spring training, Eno Sarris of The Athletic reports.

Adams has continued throwing on his own as he makes his comeback from October ACL surgery. The 28-year-old has been assisted by some wearable technology, as he's donning a Motus sleeve that tracks stress on the elbow and provides data that Adams has been transmitting to Mariners coaches so they can monitor his daily workload. Adams has been solid during three separate big-league stints with the Nationals and Mariners over the last three seasons. His most extensive stretch in the majors came in 2019, when he logged a career-high 30 appearances in Seattle and produced a 3.94 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and stellar 40.8 percent strikeout rate across 32 innings.

Beeks was on track to potentially serve as a sixth starter on occasion this season in addition to his relief duties when spring training was suspended, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The young southpaw put together a strong body of work during Grapefruit League play, posting a 1.93 ERA and .100 BAA across 9.1 innings over six appearances. Beeks was deployed as a starter in just three of the 33 appearances he made for the Rays in 2019, but he operated in that capacity on a full-time basis in five of seven minor-league stops across four-plus seasons in the Red Sox's organizational ranks. However, it remains to be seen if what will almost certainly be an abbreviated 2020 regular season largely negates the need for the Rays to manage their set starting rotation as carefully as they'd initially planned to.

The Blue Jays optioned Hatch to Triple-A Buffalo on March 10.

After moving to the 40-man roster over the winter, Hatch could get the chance to make his big-league debut in 2020 if the Blue Jays should require a spot starter or long man out of the bullpen at any point during the season. The 25-year-old compiled a 4.12 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 135.1 innings between two Double-A affiliates in 2019.

The Blue Jays optioned Merryweather to Triple-A Buffalo on March 9.

Merryweather has covered just six total innings in affiliated ball the past two seasons, missing the majority of both of those years while rehabbing from March 2018 Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old will provide organizational starting depth at Triple-A.

Ramirez, who posted a 12.27 ERA across four Cactus League appearances, was still in contention for a bullpen spot when spring training was suspended, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

The 24-year-old right-hander was a Rule 5 pick from the Astros organization in December, and his rights will revert to Houston if the Mariners ultimately opt to leave him off the Opening Day roster. Ramirez didn't exactly make a strong case for himself this spring, but he's shown plenty of promise at multiple stops during his minor-league career. Given the consequences that would surround his release, it's possible the Mariners use one of three potential extra roster spots to open the season on Ramirez in order to buy more time with which to evaluate him.