MLB Player News

Rodriguez has earned a bullpen spot on the Opening Day roster, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

Rodriguez had been in competition for one of the final roster spots, and will ultimately make the team as a lefty specialist in middle relief.

Treinen's durability could give him an edge on Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover in the battle to be named the Nationals' closer, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

Nats manager Dusty Baker has talked about "resiliency" in camp as a key quality for his closer, which would seem to decidedly favor Treinen over the oft-injured Kelley, while Glover ended last season dealing with a torn labrum in his hip. The team still hasn't made an official announcement regarding its ninth-inning plans, but fantasy owners who have yet to hold their draft or auction may want to bump Treinen ahead of the other two on cheat sheets.

Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

Garcia posted a 5.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP this spring, which wasn't enough for him to crack the Opening Day roster over the likes of Adam Morgan and Joely Rodriguez.

Montero was mentioned by manager Terry Collins as a potential fill-in option for Steven Matz (elbow), who figures to start the season on the disabled list, the New York Post's Mike Puma reports.

Seth Lugo remains the favorite to land the fifth spot in the rotation out of camp, but Montero has been excellent this spring, and at the very least he will open the year in the bullpen. Montero has a 1.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 18.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, but his career 5.50 FIP in 59.2 innings as a big league starter is a bit more telling.

Gott was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, MLB.com's Jamal Collier reports.

Gott has yet to establish himself as a trusted bullpen arm at the major-league level, so he likely needed an impressive spring in order to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster. Alas, after the 24-year-old was blown up for four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, the Nationals determined he needed more seasoning in the minors.

Murray left Tuesday's spring training game with what appeared to be a lower-back injury, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

It was a tough day for Murray, who was also told he would not earn a roster spot with the Phillies. He will join the bullpen at Triple-A Lehigh Valley once healthy.

Fields was optioned to minor-league camp Tuesday, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Acquired at the 2016 trade deadline from the Astros, Fields posted a 2.79 ERA over 19.1 innings out of the Dodgers bullpen last season. He was expected to rejoin the team's Opening Day roster in 2017, but a rough spring camp in which he posted a 9.72 ERA over 8.1 innings ultimately led the Dodgers to option him to the minor leagues. The 31-year-old will likely open the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Stephenson has made the Reds' Opening Day roster as a reliever, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Despite a rough spring performance in which he posted a 5.63 ERA over 16 innings pitched, the Reds saw enough in Stephenson to add him to the 25-man roster. The 24-year-old will likely operate in a low-leverage relief role with the opportunity to work his way into the rotation as the season progresses.

Montero has made the Mets' Opening Day roster as a reliever, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.

Montero pitched better than just about anybody at Mets camp this spring, posting a 1.96 ERA over 18.1 innings. He'll likely serve in low-leverage situations to begin the 2017 campaign.

Venditte was informed that he did not earn a roster spot with the Phillies, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Venditte will remain in camp until Friday to give the Phillies some innings as they close out their Grapefruit League schedule. He will open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and could see time in the majors later this season.