MLB Player News

Rodney resolved his visa issues and arrived in Diamondbacks camp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The veteran closer is still behind the other pitchers, as he only threw his second bullpen session Sunday. However, manager Torey Lovullo was pleased with what he saw from Rodney, making it seem that the delay won't be much of an issue moving forward.

Voth gave up a hit in a shutout inning of work during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

The 24-year-old is the primary competition for A.J. Cole in the battle to be the Nats' sixth starter this season, but the fact that Voth was the last pitcher out of the 'pen Sunday, while Cole got the start, suggests he's far behind in that battle. Voth should begin the season at Triple-A, but as injuries crop up in the big league rotation, he stands a good chance of making his MLB debut some time in 2017.

Mayers (1-0) fired a pair of shutout innings in Sunday's 7-4 Grapefruit League victory over the Marlins. He also recorded a strikeout.

The 25-year-old righty had a disastrous cup of coffee with the Cardinals late last season, giving up 16 earned runs on 16 hits in just 5.2 innings. However, he's put together a decent body of work over his four minor league seasons, and generated a respectable 3.73 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 89.1 innings at Triple-A Memphis last season. The right-hander is vying for a bullpen spot this spring, and Sunday's effort certainly was good initial step in that direction.

Manager Bruce Bochy said that Smith (elbow) is a day or two away from throwing off flat ground, CSN Bay Area reports.

Smith was experiencing elbow inflammation last week, but the MRI results came back negative and the Giants appear to be playing it safe with their left-handed setup man. The club has already set a plan for him to throw six times during this WBC-extended spring training, so barring any setbacks, Smith should be ready for Opening Day.

Kontos pitched a clean sixth inning and picked up the win in Saturday's spring training win over the Cubs.

The Giants brought Kontos back on a one-year deal to serve as a middle reliever in 2017. He has posted ERAs of 2.33 and 2.53 in 2015 and 2016 respectively, but his strikeout rate has been under 6.0 K/9 in both seasons, which isn't desirable for a ratio-boosting middle reliever in even deep formats.

Coleman is dealing with right biceps tendinitis and will take a few days off from throwing, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The ailment isn't considered to be serious at this point. Coleman signed a minor league contract with the Reds this offseason after amassing a 4.69 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 48 innings with the Dodgers last year. Consider him day-to-day unless anything changes.

Pivetta will leave camp in about a week to join Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Pivetta made his spring debut Friday and looked good in two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out three and walking one. He will return to Triple-A Lehigh Valley at the start of the season after going 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA in five starts with the IronPigs late last year following a promotion from Double-A Reading. He could be an option to join the Phillies' rotation later this season.

Strop signed an extension with the Cubs, earning $5.85 million in 2018, with a club option of $6.25 million or a $500,000 buyout for 2019, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reports.

Strop hasn't delivered an ERA above 2.91 or a K/9 below 10.48 in the last three seasons, and he posted a career-best 2.85 BB/9 last year. The right-hander carries closer stuff but ranks third at best on the Cubs' depth chart for saves behind Wade Davis and Hector Rondon. However, the 31-year-old still carries fantasy value for occasional strikeout help, along with a significant boost in leagues that count holds.

Gsellman is not being considered for a bullpen spot to begin the season if he doesn't win the fifth starter job, as the Mets want to keep him stretched out, The New York Daily News reports.

If Gsellman isn't able to beat out Seth Lugo for the opening in the rotation to begin the season, he'll head back to Triple-A instead. That does make him a slightly riskier fantasy pick in leagues drafting early in the spring, but Gsellman's impressive 2016 performance makes him the favorite to win the battle with Lugo, and given the difficulty the rest of the Mets' rotation had staying healthy last season, any demotion might be very temporary.

Hudson will serve as Pittsburgh's closer on days Tony Watson is unable to close, CBS Pittsburgh reports.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington announced the team's pecking order for saves, listing Watson first and then Hudson and Felipe Rivero. Huntington typically doesn't permit his relievers to pitch three straight days, giving Hudson the chance to potentially close after Watson has thrown in back-to-back calendar days. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Pirates move Watson (who will become a free agent after 2017) at the trade deadline, freeing up Hudson to close in the second half of the season.