MLB Player News

Clase is scheduled to make his first Cactus League appearance Monday versus the Mariners, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Clase's delayed addition to the Guardians' spring pitching schedule isn't due to an injury; instead, the coaching staff is likely prioritizing getting innings for rotation candidates as well as pitchers who are competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Despite coming off a rough postseason in which he converted two of three save chances and gave up eight earned runs over eight innings, Clase is locked in as Cleveland's closer and is solidified as an upper-tier fantasy option coming off three straight seasons of least 40 saves. For what he lacks his elite strikeout stuff (career 24.8 K%), Clase makes up for it by limiting walks (career 4.8 BB%) and leaning heavily on his cutter and slider to induce plenty of weak contact (career 60.7 percent groundball rate).

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Dominguez could see save opportunities early on in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista won't pitch back-to-back days or throw more than one inning at a time initially in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. That opens the door to save chances for others, with Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge (knee) being named along with Dominguez by Hyde in what will be a "mix and match" situation. Dominguez served as the Orioles' primary closer down the stretch last season, going 10-for-11 in regular-season save chances after being acquired at the trade deadline.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde named Soto as an option to see save chance early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista will not be allowed to appear in back-to-back games or pitch more than one inning at a time for a while as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, and Hyde said he'll "mix and match" at closer those days. The skipper named Andrew Kittredge (knee) and Seranthony Dominguez in addition to Soto as relievers who could see save opportunities when Bautista is off limits.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Kittredge (knee) is an option to see save chances early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista's usage will be limited in the first half as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, as he won't pitch back-to-back days or go more than one inning. Hyde also listed Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez as fill-in closer options in what he expects to be a "mix and match" situation. Kittredge is still getting treatment as he recovers from left knee soreness, but he's not expected to be out long.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Bautista (elbow) -- who will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox -- won't pitch back-to-back days or cover more than one inning early on in the season, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista projects to open the season as the Orioles' closer, barring any setbacks during his appearances in the spring as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in October 2023. However, for occasions in which Bautista is unavailable, Hyde said he would "mix and match" at closer those days, with the manager naming Andrew Kittredge (knee), Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez as options to fill in. Hyde noted that he'll apply the cautious usage of Bautista "especially in the first half." The Orioles don't seem to have a hard deadline for when the restrictions on Bautista will be lifted, as it likely just depends on how the pitcher looks and is bouncing back from outings.

Martin struck out one over a scoreless fourth inning in Sunday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Martin, who missed time earlier in camp due to the flu, made his Cactus League debut Sunday. Setting down the side in order on 15 pitches (nine strikes), Martin has been mentioned as a top candidate for the team's closer role, although Texas manager Bruce Bochy said that he may not "have a defined closer," Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports. However the manager chooses to close out games, Martin is expected to be one of the trusted arms Bochy turns to in the ninth inning.

Kowar (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March, and it's not a major surprise he'll be unavailable for at least the first two months of the 2025 season. Kowar has been throwing bullpen sessions and could be ready to face live batters before the end of spring training.

The Mariners claimed Martinez off waivers from the Marlins on Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Seattle will be Martinez's fourth team of the offseason after he finished the 2024 campaign with Houston. The 30-year-old made 44 regular-season appearances for the Astros last season and had a 3.59 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB across 52.2 innings.

Martin (illness) is listed as one of the relievers scheduled to pitch for the Rangers in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The veteran right-hander will be making his spring debut after a bout with the flu earlier in camp put him behind schedule compared to the club's other healthy bullpen options. Martin will likely need only a handful of tuneup outings during the Cactus League to prepare himself for the beginning of the season. He'll be a candidate to factor into the Rangers' unsettled closing picture after he turned in a 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 50:3 K:BB in 44.1 innings with Boston in 2024.

The Angels optioned Mederos to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Mederos is entering his third season as a member of the Angels' 40-man roster, but he made just seven total appearances at the big-league level between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns and was facing an uphill battle to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. All seven of his big-league outings have come in relief, but the 23-year-old righty will likely work out of the rotation at Salt Lake to begin the upcoming season.