MLB Player News

The White Sox Sox" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" data-league-abbreviation="MLB" data-team-abbreviation="CHW">White Sox optioned White to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

A late entry into the competition for a spot on the White Sox's Opening Day pitching staff after he was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Feb. 17, White made just one appearance in Cactus League play before getting sent back to minor-league camp. Though White has made all five of his career appearances in the majors as a reliever, he worked as a swingman at Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers organization in 2024 and could get a look in the Charlotte rotation to begin the upcoming season.

Uceta threw 1.2 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Sunday and now has a 2.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through four Grapefruit League appearances.

The right-hander struck out the side in his spring debut back on Feb. 25. Overall, he has held opponents to a .143 BAA during this year's exhibition slate. Uceta had one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball in the second half last year at nearly 40 percent, and he looks like the top candidate for saves in Tampa Bay behind primary closer Pete Fairbanks entering the 2025 regular season.

Smith struck out five batters and walked none while allowing one hit over three innings in his Cactus League start against the Dodgers on Saturday.

The first pick of the 2024 Rule 5 draft, Smith was left unprotected by Milwaukee but has impressed thus far in White Sox camp. The 24-year-old righty averaged 96.8 mph on his four-seam fastball (touching 98.4 mph) and threw the pitch 55 percent of the time Saturday. He mixed in his three secondary offerings, but it was Smith's fastball that shut down a stacked Dodgers lineup, including two Ks against Shohei Ohtani plus one apiece against Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. With Drew Thorpe (elbow) likely to open the year on the shelf, Smith could win the final spot in Chicago's rotation. He has certainly pitched well enough this spring (nine Ks, 0.75 WHIP in 6.2 innings) that the White Sox won't be returning Smith to the Brewers.

Mata (lat) is scheduled to pitch in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

While battling hamstring, lat, shoulder and elbow issues, Mata spent the entire 2024 season on the Red Sox's injured list. He was able to make 13 rehab appearances across four different affiliates last season, but he was never cleared to make his MLB debut before Boston non-tendered him in November. Mata re-signed with Boston on a minor-league deal and finally looks to be healthy again as he prepares to make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, but the 25-year-old right-hander won't be in contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster. He's instead expected to open the season at Triple-A Worcester, where he could end up making a full-time move to relief due to injuries having sidetracked his development as a starter.

Ort (oblique) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Ort has taken a step forward in his throwing progression after he had previously been limited to playing catch off flat ground. The 33-year-old right-hander tweaked an oblique early in camp and has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut, but since he'll be deployed as a one- or two-inning reliever once healthy, Ort could still have a shot at being ready to go for Opening Day.

Fairbanks has thrown 1.2 innings across two appearances in the Grapefruit League.

Fairbanks ended the 2024 season on the injured list with a lat injury, so the fact that he's had a healthy spring is positive. While he hasn't seen much game action, he's projected to serve as the Rays' primary closer once the regular season kicks off.

The Mariners reassigned Castillo to minor-league camp Monday.

After spending the past two seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, Castillo returned stateside over the winter, joining the Mariners on a minor-league deal that included an invitation to spring training. The 30-year-old didn't mount much of a case for a spot in Seattle's Opening Day bullpen, giving up three earned runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings across his three Cactus League appearances. Castillo is expected to report to Triple-A Tacoma to begin the 2025 season.

The Mariners reassigned Diaz to minor-league camp Monday.

Diaz has been getting stretched out as a starter during spring training, but he wasn't in contention for a spot in Seattle's Opening Day rotation, even with the Mariners set to begin the campaign without George Kirby (shoulder). Emerson Hancock is expected to get the first crack at replacing Kirby, but Diaz could be among the next pitchers in line to make spot starts if the Mariners lose another rotation member to an injury. Diaz will continue to make regular turns through the rotation at Triple-A Tacoma until he might be needed by the big club.

The Mariners reassigned Medina to minor-league camp Monday.

Medina will likely open the 2025 season as a reliever at Triple-A Tacoma. The 28-year-old righty hasn't appeared in the big leagues since the 2022 season, when he made 14 relief appearances for the Mets.

The Mariners optioned Bolton to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.

Bolton has allowed just one unearned run over 3.2 Cactus League innings but also has a 2:3 K:BB over that stretch. He'll start the season at Tacoma as relief depth.