MLB Player News

Rodriguez (elbow) was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Rodriguez will be eligible to return for the series finale against Oakland on April 5. The right-hander has been dealing with right elbow inflammation for the past few weeks and will need a little more time to recover. There's a chance that Rodriguez will head down to Triple-A Round Rock once he's healthy.

Norris is expected to make his first start April 3 against the Royals after Thursday's season opener versus the Pirates was rained out, forcing the team to tweak its pitching schedule, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Since Friday was initially slated to be an off day in Detroit's schedule before the postponement pushed the season opener back a day, there was some thought that the Tigers might wait until April 4 -- when a fifth starter would first be needed --- to turn to Norris. However, with the postponement ensuring the Tigers play seven games in as many days to begin the season, Norris now looks locked in for the second game of Detroit's series with Kansas City.

The Blue Jays optioned Mayza to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Non-roster invitees Tyler Clippard and John Axford beat Mayza out for the final two spots in the Toronto bullpen. The left-handed Mayza had a rough go of things in his first exposure to the big leagues in 2017 with a 6.88 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 17 innings, though a 27:4 K:BB, .501 BABIP and 60 percent strand rate all point to him being highly unlucky.

The Blue Jays designated Moll for assignment Thursday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

It's the fourth time since November that Moll has been dropped from a team's 40-man roster, as the Athletics, Pirates and Mariners had previously exposed the left-hander to waivers. Unless the Blue Jays are able to execute a trade, Moll will likely hit the waiver wire again, though it's unclear if another team will have interest in scooping him up and adding him to the 40-man roster after he was lit up for six runs (five earned) and posted a 0:3 K:BB in 4.1 innings during spring training.

The Blue Jays selected Axford's contract from the minors Thursday, indicating he has cracked the team's Opening Day roster.

Axford impressed manager John Gibbons and Toronto's front office during spring training and will be utilized in a low-leverage relief role for the team this season. During 22 games with Oakland last year, Axford logged a 6.43 ERA and 2.10 WHIP over 21 innings.

Cash signed a minor-league deal with the Angels on Wednesday, William Boor of MLB.com reports.

Cash spent all of the 2017 season at Double-A, posting a combined 4.96 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 65:20 K:BB across 49 innings of work. The 25-year-old will report to either Triple-A Salt Lake or Double-A Mobile to begin the 2018 season and serve as organizational pitching depth.

Saupold has made the Tigers' Opening Day roster.

As expected, Saupold will open the season in the big-league bullpen with fellow reliever Johnny Barbato (forearm) set to open the season on the disabled list. The 28-year-old, who posted a 4.88 ERA across 62.2 innings with the Tigers in 2017, is expected to fill a long-relief role.

Thielbar has been reassigned to minor-league camp.

Thielbar will serve as organizational pitching depth for the Tigers this season after failing to secure a spot in the team's Opening Day bullpen. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2015, spending the previous two seasons with the Saint Paul Knights of the Independent League (2.18 ERA across 91 innings).

Fulmer is slated to start the Tigers' second game of the season on Saturday against the Pirates at home.

It was widely assumed that Fulmer would get the nod on Opening Day, but manager Ron Gardenhire turned to veteran Jordan Zimmermann instead. Regardless, Fulmer is clearly the most talented starter on Detroit's staff, and after posting a 2.12 ERA this spring, he looks ready to be a strong fantasy contributor this season.

Lawrence had his contract selected by the Mariners on Wednesday, TJ Cotterill of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Lawrence earned a spot in the Mariners' Opening Day bullpen after compiling a 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 15 Cactus League frames. He's expected to operate as a long reliever, and seeing as the Mariners haven't named a fifth at this point, he could step up and claim that role if he impresses out of the bullpen early in the season.