MLB Player News

Green said last week that he doesn't expect to see much use as an opener in 2020 and plans to fill a more traditional relief role, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. "Opening was a little bit out of necessity last year, but we've got some guys that are going to step up and pitch some big innings," Green said.

The Yankees will likely be without James Paxton (back) for at least the first two months of the season, but the offseason addition of staff ace Gerrit Cole along with Jordan Montgomery's return to full strength after missing much of 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery leaves New York's rotation in a better spot compared to a year ago. As a result, Green shouldn't be required to work regularly as an opener, a role he filled 15 times last season. Green wasn't demonstrably better as an opener (3.72 ERA, .333 wOBA in 19.1 innings) than he was while working out of the bullpen (4.35 ERA, .302 wOBA in 49.2 innings), so the organization isn't overly incentivized to go back to using him at the beginning of games.

Quijada was claimed off waivers by the Angels from the Marlins on Monday.

The 24-year-old southpaw's 5.76 ERA in his 29.2-inning debut last season wasn't particularly promising, but the Angels must have liked his 30.6 percent strikeout rate enough to give him a shot. He'll have to cut his 18.1 percent walk rate dramatically if he's to have much of a career in the big leagues, however. Parker Markel was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Mengden underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery Monday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The procedure involved shaving off a small spur in Mengden's olecranon. A timeline for his return has yet to be announced. The righty is out of options and was likely on the roster bubble already after posting an uninspiring 4.83 ERA and a 16.2 percent strikeout rate in 59.2 innings last season.

Loup (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday as a non-roster invitee, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Loup was only able to appear in four games for the Padres last season as he dealt with a left elbow strain, but he'll find a home in the Rays' organization after his contract option was declined by San Diego at the end of October. The southpaw will work alongside the major-league coaching staff during the spring, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him appear in the major-league bullpen sometime in 2020.

Fulmer enters 2020 out of minor-league options, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Fulmer, a 2015 first-round pick, has failed to live up to expectations. As such, the 26-year-old right-hander's career is at crossroads, and the White Sox can't stash him at Triple-A Charlotte without exposing him to waivers. And it's not entirely clear if the White Sox are worried that he'll be snapped up by another team. Fulmer came up through the organization as a starter, but, barring injury, the White Sox's rotation is set. He'll need to win a job in what is a crowded bullpen. His work as a reliever is slightly better than as a starter, but that is faint praise. Fulmer has a career 6.00 ERA out of the 'pen and 7.01 as a starter.

Graterol will remain with the Twins after Minnesota elected to withdraw from the three-team deal that centered around sending Mookie Betts from the Red Sox to the Dodgers, Chris Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The Twins' part of the deal involved them sending Graterol to Boston and receiving Kenta Maeda from Los Angeles. The Red Sox were unhappy with Graterol's medical situation, however, and demanded an additional prospect from the Twins. The Twins elected to simply keep Graterol and now will not be receiving Maeda from the Dodgers as a result.

Pearson received an invitation to big-league camp Friday.

The Blue Jays' chances of competing for a playoff spot this season appear to be fairly slim, so the team may not seriously consider Pearson for an Opening Day roster spot. Even so, the highly rated righty likely won't have to wait too long to make his debut. In 25 starts across the three highest levels of the minors last season (just three of which came at the Triple-A level), Pearson struck out 30.7 percent of opposing batters and walked 7.0 percent en route to a 2.30 ERA.

Smith (elbow) signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers on Friday, freelance baseball writer Robert Murray reports.

Smith is recovering from Tommy John surgery but could be ready to pitch as soon as late March. He signed with the Tigers last offseason as well but was released before throwing a pitch for the team due to the surgery. The 31-year-old has just five innings of big-league experience to his name.

The deal sending Graterol to the Red Sox from the Twins is on hold, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports, citing initial reporting by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The Red Sox might demand additional compensation after reviewing Graterol's medical records. That review led Boston to project the right-hander "more as a reliever than a starter," leading the organization to try and rework the deal in order to secure a more valuable package. Graterol, who made his major-league debut last September, missed multiple months with a shoulder impingement. Rosenthal added the officials involved in the talks are confident the deal will eventually be finalized, but the final components of the deal may be different than originally reported.

Loaisiga is in contention for a temporary role as the Yankees' fifth starter, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The Yankees will need a fifth starter for a month or two with Domingo German (suspension) out until early June and James Paxton (back) out until at least early May. Loaisiga has yet to break out at the big-league level, posting a 4.79 ERA in 56.1 innings. However, scouts like his pitch arsenal and command. Loaisiga has struck out 23.2 percent of batters while walking just 4.7 percent in his minor-league career.