MLB Player News

Bowman had his contract selected by the Orioles on Sunday.

Bowman will make the Opening Day roster after signing a minor-league contract with Baltimore in December. The right-hander has appeared in eight games this spring, including one start, surrendering six runs (five earned) on 12 hits and two walks while striking out 12 batters over 8.2 innings. Bowman will likely operate as a middle-relief option out of the Orioles' bullpen to open the year.

Berroa (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The right-hander was diagnosed with a UCL strain that required Tommy John surgery in early March, so his move to the 60-day IL was inevitable. Berroa will be sidelined until midseason of 2026 as he goes through his recovery from the procedure.

Hjelle was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Hjelle will open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A after compiling a 6.75 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 12.0 innings in seven appearances with the Giants this spring. The right-hander appeared in 58 games with San Francisco in 2024, producing a 3.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 75 strikeouts over 80.2 frames, and he'll likely join the major-league roster relatively soon.

The Mariners released Hahn on Sunday.

Hahn joined the Mariners on a minor-league deal in late January but won't stick with the organization for the start of the season. He surrendered nine runs in seven spring appearances and last pitched in the majors in 2021.

The Mariners optioned Legumina to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.

The right-hander was acquired from the Reds for cash considerations in February but was unable to earn a spot on the Mariners' Opening Day roster. Legumina has a 6.95 ERA in 17 big-league appearances during his career, and he'll likely fill a low-leverage role if called up by Seattle.

The Blue Jays granted Yarbrough his release Sunday.

The left-hander exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract Friday, forcing Toronto to decide whether or not to add him to the big-league roster. Yarbrough made 44 appearances during the regular season between the Blue Jays and Dodgers last year, and he pitched well with a 3.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 65:32 K:BB over 98.2 innings.

The Phillies claimed Hernandez off waivers from the Royals on Sunday.

The right-hander was put on outright waivers after missing out on Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen Saturday, and it didn't take long for him to be scooped up by another team. Hernandez had a 3.30 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB over 30 innings during the regular season last year, but he struggled in spring training with eight runs allowed and an 8:5 K:BB over 10.1 innings.

Barlow, who has pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB over eight innings this spring, could be an option to close games after Alexis Diaz (hamstring) was ruled out for the start of the 2025 season. "I don't think it's necessary that we name a closer," manager Terry Francona told Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday.

Francona said he hadn't "given it a ton of thought yet" and didn't seem in a hurry to settle on one arm in the ninth inning, saying, "We'll just see how we get there, and we'll do it the best way we can." Barlow has racked up 58 career saves to date, including a career-high 24 saves in 2022, but Taylor Rogers and Emilio Pagan also have past closing experience. Graham Ashcraft is also moving to the bullpen and has expressed to the club a desire to work toward the closer role. The club still wants Diaz "to be that guy," Francona said, but a strong performance by someone else in the meantime could change the equation.

The White Sox optioned Varland to Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday.

Varland entered camp looking like a key piece of Chicago's Opening Day bullpen, but he struggled with his control during the exhibition slate, walking six batters over 7.1 innings while posting a 9.82 ERA, 2.18 WHIP and eight strikeouts. The righty reliever will look to get right in the minors, and there is a good chance he'll make it back up to the big-league bullpen at some point during the campaign.

Diaz was diagnosed with hamstring inflammation Sunday and will begin the season on the injured list, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The right-hander had struggles with his command throughout spring training with five walks and two hit batters in four appearances, and he'll now be unavailable due to the hamstring issue. It's unclear how long Diaz is expected to be sidelined, with Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers and Graham Ashcraft the likely candidates to fill in at closer for the Reds.