MLB Player News

Alvarez has made the Rangers' Opening Day roster, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez has dazzled in Cactus League play this spring, allowing just one run over 11.1 innings and adding 11 strikeouts. The veteran left-hander split time between the majors and Triple-A Round Rock after being acquired from the Braves last season, but appears poised for a larger role in the bullpen as spring camp comes to a close. Expect him to receive plenty of middle-relief opportunities in the early going.

Reed (back) will miss multiple weeks, LaVelle Neal of the Star Tribune reports.

The 24-year-old righty left his outing Friday with what has been diagnosed as a lat strain. The Twins will shut him down until at least mid-April before getting him back on a throwing program. Once healthy, Reed should slot into the bullpen at Triple-A Rochester.

Covey officially earned a spot on the Opening Day roster Saturday and could be an option for a spot start while Carlos Rodon (biceps) is sidelined, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Rodon is dealing with bursitis in his biceps, which could cost him a couple of turns in the rotation. With that in mind, manager Rick Renteria will likely use Covey and potentially Anthony Swarzak as spot starters early in the season. Covey has never pitched above Double-A and allowed 11 earned runs over 12.2 innings with the White Sox this spring.

Webb has been returned to the Yankees and assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Webb was a Rule 5 pick but he lost out on a spot in the Pirates' bullpen Friday and thus returns to his original team. The lefty posted a 3.59 ERA and an 82:23 K:BB ratio in 36 appearances for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, so there certainly is potential for a bullpen call-up later this season.

Coulombe gave up an earned run on one hit over one inning in Thursday's 3-0 Cactus League win over the Giants. He also recorded a strikeout.

Coulombe was saddled with his third loss of the spring as he continues to battle for a bullpen spot. The veteran southpaw had fired three scoreless innings Monday, so while Thursday's effort was somewhat of a setback, he may have already done enough to earn his place on the 25-man roster.

Manaea fired four perfect innings in Thursday's 3-0 Cactus League victory over the Giants, striking out two.

After surrendering six runs (five earned) on five hits and five walks over three innings against the Reds last Saturday, Manaea cruised through the 12 batters he faced Thursday. Despite his rough outing last time out, Alex Espinoza and Chris Haft of MLB.com report that the 25-year-old southpaw feels he accomplished everything he wanted to in spring training. "Came into spring and I just wanted to be more consistent with everything -- mechanics, changeup, slider," Manaea said. "I felt like I definitely accomplished that. It was a little rough at the beginning, but the past two or three starts have been right where I wanted to be. Today, everything just came together."

Kiekhefer was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday.

Despite some injuries in the Mariners bullpen, Kiekhefer will not break camp with the big-league club. He fanned nine batters over 9.1 innings this spring and allowed four earned runs. He'll likely slot into the bullpen at Triple-A Tacoma when the season begins.

Covey is expected to open the year in the White Sox's rotation, Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald reports.

With Carlos Rodon (biceps) headed to the DL, the door is open for Covey to step in for his major-league debut during the first week of the regular season. He figures to start either April 8 or 9 against Minnesota. The Rule 5 pick has made just six starts above High-A, and the results this spring (7.82 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 6:4 K:BB) suggest there will be growing pains for the 25-year-old right-hander.

Whalen (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.

The Mariners made their final round of roster moves Friday to trim their roster down to 25 active men and were able to do so by placing six different players on the DL, including Whalen. The 23-year-old has battled a calf injury this spring and he's now experiencing some inflammation in his throwing shoulder. It's unclear when exactly he'll be ready to come off the disabled list, but Friday's announcement guarantees he'll miss at least the first week and a half of the season.

Zych (biceps) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.

Although Zych was recently able to get back on the mound after undergoing biceps tendon transfer surgery, he's still not quite ready to pitch at the big-league level. Zych figures to start the season in the minors.