MLB Player News

The Mariners optioned Speier to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Speier made one appearance with the Mariners after being recalled Aug. 23, pitching a scoreless frame against the Giants while striking out two batters. He'll now give up his spot on the active roster to Luis Urias, as the Mariners opt to add another bat to their bench.

The Rangers selected Anderson's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Anderson signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Aug. 5, and although he has since allowed nine earned runs in just 11.2 innings, he'll join the big-league squad to provide Texas with a multi-inning relief option. Dane Dunning was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Athletics claimed Junk off waivers from the Astros on Saturday.

Junk never appeared in a game for the Astros, and he was designated for assignment Thursday after posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 14.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land. He'll now presumably return to the majors as he switches organizations, though Junk will likely operate as a low-leverage arm out of the Oakland bullpen. The Athletics moved Miguel Andujar (abdomen) to the 60-day IL to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Junk.

The Rays recalled Sulser from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

With Colin Poche (shoulder) headed for the IL and Erasmo Ramirez now off the 40-man roster, Sulser and Hunter Bigge will come up to plug the gaps in Tampa Bay's bullpen. Sulser hasn't found much success in the majors this season, giving up five earned runs over 5.2 innings between the Rays and Mets, though he's posted a 2.25 ERA and 0.75 WHIP across 12 frames since reporting to Durham in July.

The Rays recalled Bigge from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

Bigge will come up from the minors alongside Cole Sulser in order to replace Colin Poche (shoulder) and Erasmo Ramirez in the bullpen. The 26-year-old Bigge has given up just one run in 7.1 MLB innings this season and owns a 2.25 ERA in Triple-A, though he figures to work in middle relief while with the Rays.

The Rays designated Ramirez for assignment Saturday.

Just five days after joining the active roster, Ramirez will now lose his spot on the 40-man after allowing two runs and striking out six batters while walking four in 4.2 innings. The 34-year-old cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A when he was DFA'd by Tampa Bay in May, though he may be claimed by another bullpen-needy team this time around.

The Rays placed Poche on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left shoulder inflammation.

Poche has allowed five earned runs over 6.1 innings since the start of August, and he hasn't pitched in a game since Tuesday. He'll now be shelved until at least mid-September, and the Rays will promote Hunter Bigge and Cole Sulser from Triple-A Durham to help make up for the loss to their bullpen.

Hamilton (lat) was scratched from his scheduled rehab appearance at Double-A Somerset on Friday due to back spasms, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Hamilton has been on the injured list since mid-June due to a right lat strain and would have likely been making his final minor-league appearance before rejoining the Yankees' bullpen. Instead, his activation will almost certainly be delayed, and there's no telling how far away he is from a return.

Kahnle earned a hold against St. Louis on Friday, retiring the only batter he faced on three pitches.

Kahnle was brought in to face Brendan Donovan one batter after Jake Cousins served up a solo homer to reduce New York's advantage to one run. Kahnle did his job, getting Donovan to ground out. The brief outing marked the 18th in a row in which Kahnle did not allow an earned run. Over that stretch, the veteran reliever has hurled 16.1 innings, allowing six hits and posting a 15:7 K:BB.

Alexander (shoulder) threw approximately 20 pitches in the bullpen before Friday's game against the Rangers and looked good, the Associated Press reports.

The veteran southpaw was throwing to manager Mark Kotsay, who served as a stand-in for a left-handed hitter and therefore had a first-hand look at how Alexander performed. Kotsay said after the session that he and the training staff would evaluate Alexander's recovery from the activity over the weekend to determine the left-hander's next steps. Given his experience and the fact he's a reliever, Alexander could conceivably return from the injured list without the need for a rehab assignment.