MLB Player News

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.

Iglesias (elbow) will open the season with the Reds, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Iglesias tossed a side bullpen session with no issues Tuesday, ultimately clearing the way for him to break camp with the Reds. Barring any setbacks in the minor-league exhibition game he is scheduled to pitch in this week, it seems that Iglesias will have a good chance to be ready for Opening Day.

Law -- despite having a 6.32 ERA this spring -- is still a candidate to serve as the Giants' setup man.

Manager Bruce Bochy has remained mum on how he plans on setting up his bullpen outside of Mark Melancon serving as the club's closer. Law had a breakout campaign in 2016, posting a 2.13 ERA over 55 innings and finishing the year as a part of a closer committee. Both he and Hunter Strickland figure to see the majority of seventh- and eighth-inning opportunities, but whoever acts as the team's primary setup man will be the better target for accruing holds.

Luetge was reassigned to the Reds' minor-league camp Tuesday.

It looked as though Luetge might have a shot at winning an Opening Day spot in the Reds bullpen as a second left-hander, but the organization evidently had Wandy Peralta earmarked for those duties. Look for Luetge to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin 2017 after he turned in a 4.85 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 55.2 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake in the Angels organization last season.