MLB Player News

Snow was reassigned to minor league camp Friday.

The right-hander had tossed 3.1 perfect innings in spring training, with four strikeouts and one walk, and comes off a 2.83 ERA in 54 innings (61 strikeouts, 15 walks) combined with Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners system last season. Snow will probably settle in with Triple-A Colorado Springs initially, though that hitter-friendly environment may throw a big obstacle in the way of him posting solid numbers.

Beato was reassigned to minor league camp Friday.

The right-handed reliever rattled off a 2.65 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP with 62 strikeouts for the Orioles' Triple-A Norfolk affiliate last year. Beato may carve out a decent role as a middle reliever or mop-up option for Philadelphia, though he'll have to wait in line to return to the big leagues.

Venditte arrived in Phillies camp on Thursday afternoon, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Venditte was acquired Sunday in a trade with the Mariners. He had been pitching for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. The ambidextrous pitcher is competing for a bullpen spot, but is likely ticketed to open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Blach entered Wednesday's spring training game as a reliever, surrendering four runs on five hits in his two innings of work.

Blach -- who is competing for the Giants' fifth starter spot -- has taken a step back in his last two outings, surrendering six runs and watching his Cactus League ERA rise to 5.56 in 11.1 innings. Matt Cain was considered the favorite to win the job out of camp, and that stance hasn't changed. Even with both pitchers struggling this spring, Blach's primary usage as a reliever tells us how the Giants view his role heading into the season. The lefty still has a good shot to make the Opening Day roster, but it would likely be in a long-relief role.

Ottavino may open the year as the setup man, with Greg Holland potentially opening the year as the closer, the Denver Post's Nick Groke reports.

Groke referred to Holland as "the man to whom the Rockies will probably pin closer status next month," and while there has been no official word from the team or quotes to support this notion, the Rockies beat writer is as plugged in as anyone, so his opinion on the matter carries a lot of weight. Ottavino was dominant last season, but he has just 11 career saves compared to Holland's 145, so inexperience may be working against him here. He is still worth rostering in most deeper formats, given the fact that Holland is coming back from Tommy John surgery and nothing has been officially announced regarding who will close, but he needs to be downgraded significantly following Groke's take on the matter.

Morris was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

The right-hander was touched up for five runs in his only big-league appearance last year, which lasted two-thirds of an inning for the Mets. The 24-year-old put together a fine stretch with Double-Mississippi, though, boasting a 2.27 ERA in 25 appearances, with 50 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. If Morris can work on his control (21 walks in that time), perhaps a bullpen role with Atlanta awaits.

Sims was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

The right-hander has lost his once promising prospect stock, having put together ERAs no lower than 4.20 over his last three combined minor league seasons. At this point the 22-year-old is looking more likely to relieve than start for the Braves, but his fastball/curveball combo could be devastating out of the bullpen if he can display even fringe average command.

Coleman (biceps tendinitis) threw a scoreless inning Tuesday in his spring debut against the Dodgers. He still has a chance to win a spot in the Reds' bullpen, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.

Coleman still has an uphill battle, but the bottom of the Reds' bullpen remains in flux, and that will probably be the case even after Opening Day.

Nelson has thrown four scoreless innings over two appearances with the Brewers this spring.

The spring schedule has limited Nelson to just two official outings, but he has thrown the ball when called upon, allowing just two hits and no earned runs over four innings while posting a 6:0 K:BB and throwing all 27 of his pitches for strikes. Nelson is not a lock to open the season in the Brewers' rotation thanks to his struggles later last year and a multitude of other options in camp, but if he avoids any major struggles over the rest of the spring season he figures to come away with one of the three remaining open spots.

Jansen says he will join the Netherlands for the Championship Round of the World Baseball Classic, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Jansen had stated earlier that he wouldn't participate due to workload concerns, but it appears he's seizing upon the chance to show his stuff on the championship stage. The Netherlands advanced with a 14-1 win over Cuba on Tuesday and its semifinal game is set for next Monday at Dodger Stadium. Jansen is off to a rough start this spring (10.12 ERA over 2.2 innings), but should get a chance to test his stuff on the international level as he prepares to build off his 47-save campaign in 2016.