MLB Player News

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Bautista (elbow) is not a guarantee to be on the Opening Day roster, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bautista is considered healthy as he comes back from October 2023 Tommy John surgery, but he's still in ramp-up mode and the Orioles could decide he's not ready yet. The righty has made four Grapefruit League appearances, allowing three runs with a 7:1 K:BB. Bautista is throwing on the back fields Thursday and it's not clear when he might make another game appearance. If Bautista isn't included on the Opening Day roster, Seranthony Dominguez and/or Gregory Soto could fill in at closer.

The Yankees reassigned Leibrandt to minor-league camp Thursday.

Leibrandt was making a good case to be part of the Yankees' Opening Day bullpen with a 2.19 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 12.1 innings in spring training. However, the 32-year-old southpaw owns a 5.28 ERA through 15.1 career MLB innings, so the team will likely need to see him continue his hot stretch in the minors before giving him the call to New York.

Smith has been informed he has made the White Sox' Opening Day roster, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Rule 5 pick made the decision easy on the White Sox, posting a 3.38 ERA and 11:4 K:BB over 10.2 innings covering four starts during Cactus League play. Smith could be Chicago's fifth starter, although the team has not yet confirmed what his role will be. His main competition for the White Sox' final rotation spot is Bryse Wilson.

The Cubs optioned Morgan to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Ryan Herrera of JustBaseball.com reports.

Morgan was on the roster for the two-game series versus the Dodgers in Tokyo, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings in the first contest. However, he will not be part of the roster for the Cubs' domestic opener next week. Morgan was acquired from the Guardians via trade over the offseason.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Thursday that Junk will be stretched out in the wake of the injury to Ryan Weathers (forearm), Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.

Connor Gillispie had already seemed likely to take Edward Cabrera's (blister) spot in the rotation, and now Junk might be the favorite to open the season among the team's starting five as well. Junk has made one start and four relief appearances this spring, allowing six runs with a 10:4 K:BB over 10.1 frames. The 29-year-old has made seven starts and eight relief appearances at the big-league level, compiling a 6.75 ERA.

Otanez (shoulder) will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Otanez is just a few days into a 10-day shutdown period with a right shoulder impingement, so it's not a surprise he'll require an IL stint. How long that stint lasts will depend on how Otanez's shoulder responds to rest and a subsequent throwing program.

Diaz sat 93-95 mph with his fastball during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, according to the stadium radar gun, and Statcast has him averaging 95.7 mph with his four-seamer this spring, his lowest mark since 2020, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Stadium guns aren't always reliable, and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says he isn't concerned -- he indicated after Wednesday's outing that the closer had hit 97 mph in a back-field game recently. Still, Diaz's velocity has been on the decline since his 2023 ACL surgery, and he averaged 99 mph the spring prior to that injury. If the 30-year-old right-hander has lost some of his heat, he'll need to compensate with better control -- his 9.3 percent walk rate last season was his highest mark since 2020. Even if he can't regain his elite form or consistent triple-digit fastball, Diaz is still locked in as the Mets' closer.

Fitts allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one over four-plus innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against Detroit.

Fitts was on the bump for his third Grapefruit League start (fifth appearance) and experienced his first bout of adversity. His day ended after giving up a leadoff home run in the fifth inning on his 73rd pitch. Although manager Alex Cora has not yet announced which starter candidates will make up the back end of the rotation, Fitts looks primed to open the season as one of the five starters. He has a 2.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks over 14.2 spring innings. With Brayan Bello (shoulder), Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Kutter Crawford (knee) all expected to open the regular season on the injured list, Fitts could get a few turns in April.

Swanson (forearm) resumed a throwing program Wednesday and "felt good," per Blue Jays manager John Schneider, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

It's the beginning of what will be a deliberate ramp-up as Swanson works his way back from a median nerve entrapment in his right forearm. The right-handed reliever will begin the season on the 15-day injured list and should be expected to miss at least the first month or so of the season.

Pop will begin the season on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pop felt discomfort in his pitching elbow following his last Grapefruit League appearance Monday. While an MRI didn't show any structural damage, he will be shut down for the next 7-to-10 days and will require an IL stint.