MLB Player News

The Cubs optioned Roberts to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The move is to make room on the 26-man roster for Mark Leiter (forearm), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Roberts made three appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen since being called up from Iowa on June 28, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out three over four scoreless innings. Roberts hasn't allowed an earned run over 13.1 innings in Triple-A this season, and the 27-year-old right-hander should be in line for another call-up this season should the Cubs need help out of their bullpen.

The Reds optioned Zulueta to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

Zulueta was called up by Cincinnati on Monday and will return to the minors after he delivered a scoreless inning against the Rockies. The 26-year-old has pitched well in his first two big-league appearances this season with one earned run allowed and a 4:2 K:BB over four innings.

Winckowski will be available out of the Red Sox bullpen beginning on Wednesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Winckowski was excellent in a long relief outing on June 25 and a start June 30, but he stumbled in a start versus the Yankees over the weekend, allowing three runs over just 3.2 innings. He'll now move to a relief role, which will open up a spot in the rotation on Friday against the Athletics.

Waguespack (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing due to a lower-back issue, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Waguespack has been shelved since May 6 due to inflammation in his right shoulder but was given the green light June 24 to begin a rehab assignment. However, he's picked up a lower-back injury that will require him to be shut down for an unspecified period of time.

Lovelady's (forearm) rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Lovelady made his first rehab appearance Monday with the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate, but he yielded four runs over two-thirds of an inning before being pulled. Still, he'll be bumped up to Durham to continue his rehab from a strained left forearm.

Merryweather (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It will be his first game action in three months, as Merryweather has been shelved with a rib stress fracture. Given his lengthy absence, the reliever will need a handful of rehab appearances before the Cubs are ready to activate him.

The Red Sox designated Uwasawa for assignment Tuesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Uwasawa will yield his spot on the 40-man roster to Trey Wingenter, who was acquired Saturday via trade and is getting called up by Boston. Uwasawa registered a 6.54 ERA in 42.2 innings at Triple-A Worcester this season. Assuming he clears waivers, the 30-year-old should remain in the Red Sox organization.

Bednar (oblique) has been sent to Double-A Altoona to begin a rehab assignment.

Bednar has missed the last two-plus weeks with a left oblique strain but was cleared for rehab games after getting through a bullpen session over the weekend with no issues. It's possible he requires just the one rehab appearance before being activated, although with the All-Star break looming, the Pirates also have the option of taking things a little slower with their closer.

The Rangers transferred Pruitt's (knee) rehab assignment from the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Pruitt will likely stick around at Round Rock throughout the week before potentially returning from the 60-day injured list following the All-Star break. He made three rehab appearances in the ACL over the past two weeks, covering four innings and striking out four while giving up one run on five hits and no walks.

Speier (shoulder) is slated to throw a live batting practice either Tuesday or Wednesday, after which a decision will be made on when he'll begin a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Speier has been in a throwing progression since late June, but the imminent live batting practice session will mark his first time facing hitters since May 29. The southpaw will presumably need to make at least a couple of appearances with a minor-league affiliate due the length of his absence, making a pre-All-Star-break return increasingly unlikely.