MLB Player News

Red Sox starting pitcher prospect Matt Barnes is not yet ready to return from a sore shoulder. The right-handed pitcher is not on the team's spring pitching schedule this week, per The Boston Globe.

The Twins made a slew of roster moves Sunday. The team announced pitchers Logan Darnell, Edgar Ibarra, Brooks Raley and Trevor May were optioned to Triple-A Rochester. 

The Twins also announced first baseman Kennys Vargas was optioned to Double-A New Britain, while infielder Jorge Polanco  and outfielder Max Kepler  were optioned to Class A Ft. Myers.

The Twins also reassigned pitchers Alex Meyer, Lester Oliveros and Yohan Pino, catchers Kyle Knudson, Matt Koch  and Stuart Turner, outfielders Byron Buxton  and Chris Rahl  and infielder Miguel Sano to minor-league camp.

Rays pitcher Matt Moore was roughed up on Saturday, as he suffered the loss in a Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Moore surrendered a run-scoring single to Russell Martin, a two-run double to Gaby Sanchez, a run-scoring single to Jose Tabata and a run-scoring single to Starling Marte all in the opening frame. He allowed six runs -- four earned -- on five hits and one walk while striking out one over just two-thirds of an inning. He has allowed four earned runs over 2 1/3 innings this spring.

The Rays optioned pitchers Alex Colome, Mike Montgomery and Enny Romero down to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

The Rays announced their first round of cuts on Saturday, reassigning pitchers Matt Andriese, Victor Mateo and Merrill Kelly to minor-league camp, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Athletics pitcher Fernando Rodriguez threw a simulated game Friday without any issues as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, according to the Bay Area News Group on Saturday. However, it remains unlikely he'll get in any live games this spring, according to the report.

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago dominated the Cubs in his team's 3-2 loss Friday, allowing just one hit in four scoreless innings while striking out five.

"Obviously, I'm going to be facing better hitters [during the regular season], but they're still professional players and they're in there swinging the bat," Santiago told MLB.com. "I didn't even think about who I'm facing. I don't know who's in there, and I never do. I block everybody out and just try to attack the zone. If I make my pitches, I feel like no matter who it is, I'm going to get them out."

Santiago has struck out eight batters while surrendering just an unearned run on two hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings over his first two spring appearances. He's looking to build on a 2013 campaign in which he went 4-9 with a 3.56 ERA and 137:72 K:BB ratio in 149 innings with the White Sox.

Athletics right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez continued to work toward securing a roster spot Friday with four innings of one-hit, shutout ball against Arizona. He has yet to yield a run in 8 2/3 innings this spring.

Chavez is coming off a decent 2013 season in which he surrendered 50 hits and struck out 57 1/3 innings and managed a 3.92 ERA.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney will make his spring debut Thursday, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Rodney was supposed to debut Wednesday, but wasn't used during the game. Manager Lloyd McClendon didn't seem concerned about Rodney's lack of work, saying closers don't need that many innings to get ready for the season. Rodney posted a 3.38 ERA in 66 2/3 innings last year.

Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes is hoping to play catch Thursday, according to the Boston Globe. 

Barnes has been dealing with a sore shoulder, but said he feels fine now. The injury wasn't considered serious, and Barnes could move quickly if he's able to get through throwing sessions without any setbacks.