MLB Player News

Chavez signed a split contract with the Rangers on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.

Chavez will make $1.5 million if he makes the major-league roster. He spent 2017 with the Angels, struggling to a 5.35 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 138 innings split between the rotation and bullpen. The 34-year-old should compete for a spot in the Rangers' starting rotation during camp, but given he couldn't hold down a rotation spot with the pitching-starved Angels last season, he could spend the year in the major-league bullpen or as organizational pitching depth in the minors.

Castro still has a chance to crack the Orioles' rotation even after the signings of Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

The tall right-hander spent the last three seasons as a reliever, but the Orioles want to see what he can do as a starter given their lack of depth at the position. Castro had a decent campaign with the Orioles last season, producing a 3.53 ERA in 38 relief appearances and one start, but his peripherals raise many concerns. He hasn't struck out many batters in the majors (6.2 K/9 over the last three seasons) and he walks too many hitters (3.9 BB/9 in that span), with his FIP last season coming in nearly a run and a half higher than his ERA. Gabriel Ynoa and Mike Wright will also be vying for a rotation spot this spring.

Kelly is fine after taking a ball off his shin Wednesday morning, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Kelly was struck by a batted ball during live batting practice. He appeared fine immediately after the incident, walking off under his own power. X-rays have confirmed that there is no issue.

Torres agreed to a minor-league deal with Cleveland on Wednesday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

Torres will look to latch on in the Indians' bullpen after posting a 4.21 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 67 appearances with Milwaukee last season. Though he fared much better in 2016, he will likely begin the upcoming campaign at the Triple-A level unless he's able to impress the organization this spring.

Moore (knee) was able to toss a batting practice session Wednesday, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Moore has been dealing with some soreness behind his right knee which kept him sidelined during the team's fielding practice this past weekend. On a positive note, he has been able to continue throwing, completing a bullpen earlier in the week, in addition to the batting practice session Wednesday. It doesn't seem as though there should be any real concern over Moore's status moving forward, but more should be known within the next few days as Cactus League action commences.

Kelly was struck in the shin by a batted ball during live batting practice and is receiving precautionary X-rays, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Kelly walked off under his own power, and the Red Sox believe he's uninjured. More details should be known once the X-ray results are in. It doesn't sound serious, but if there does turn out to be a fracture, Kelly would presumably miss time at the start of the season.

Banda was traded to the Rays on Tuesday as part of a three-team deal, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

According to Piecoro, Banda is joining Yankees prospect Nick Solak in Tampa, while the Diamondbacks are getting Steven Souza from the Rays and sending Brandon Drury to New York. Banda, one of the Diamondbacks' top prospects, struggled mightily in 2017, posting a 5.39 ERA across 122 innings (22 starts) with Triple-A Reno while putting together a similarly poor 5.96 ERA across 25.2 innings in his first taste of the majors. Right now he projects as a No. 5 starter or high-leverage reliever, though that could change if his secondary offerings improve. The 24-year-old should have a chance to earn a rotation spot with the Rays if he impresses during camp.

Norris missed the Tigers' first full-squad workout of the spring Monday in order to receive a checkup in Philadelphia for the groin injury that hampered him for much of the 2017 season, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports. The left-hander received a clean bill of health and was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday.

Despite missing a large portion of the second half with a strained groin, Norris finished the season on the field and stressed that he didn't have any renewed pain this offseason, suggesting his doctor visit Monday was merely precautionary. Norris added that he went through a training program to strengthen his groin during the offseason, which he hopes will help him avoid the disabled list and result in more start-to-start consistency. The 24-year-old looks to have an early line on one of the openings at the back of the Tigers' rotation but will probably need to produce during the regular season before he can be rostered with any confidence in most mixed leagues.

May (elbow) threw 30 fastballs during a bullpen session Monday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

As expected, the Twins officially placed May, who is recovering from March 2017 Tommy John surgery, on the 60-day disabled list Tuesday when the signing of Anibal Sanchez became official, according to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. It's believed that May is targeting a return from the DL in late May or early June, though a clearer timeline likely won't become available until after the Twins see how he performs in an extended rehab assignment. May could be ready to begin an assignment shortly after the start of the season if he resumes facing hitters before spring training ends.

Duffey will compete for a spot in the Twins rotation this spring, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Duffey's chances of claiming a starting gig to open the season looked more promising when pitchers and catchers reported to spring camp last week, but after the club acquired Jake Odorizzi from the Rays on Saturday, it appears only one rotation spot is truly up for grabs at this point. Though all 56 of Duffey's appearances came in relief last season, he was often called upon to record more than three outs and made 36 starts the prior two seasons for the Twins, so building up stamina to work more innings shouldn't be an issue for the right-hander. In addition to Duffey, free-agent pickup Anibal Sanchez and a healthy Phil Hughes look like the top candidates for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, with the pitchers' performances in spring likely to dictate whom receives the nod. Duffey's surface numbers over the past two seasons (5.91 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 204 innings) aren't impressive, but his 4.38 FIP, .334 BABIP and low 62.3 percent strand rate over that span suggest bad luck may explain some of his struggles.