MLB Player News

McGough is projected for one of eight bullpen spots on Arizona's Opening Day roster, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

McGough was an important piece of the bullpen to start the 2023 season and was a regular at the end of games, but it all fell apart in the second half, when he posted an 8.63 ERA over 23 appearances. Once Paul Sewald was acquired at the trade deadline, McGough didn't sniff a ninth-inning save opportunity. After a scoreless inning Saturday, McGough has given up two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over two Cactus League appearances.

Sewald allowed two hits over a scoreless inning in Saturday's spring game against the Angels.

Sewald made his Cactus League debut, entering to start the third inning, and came away unscathed with the help of a baserunner getting thrown out at third base. The reliever, who enters spring training as the Diamondbacks' closer, trotted out a new changeup Saturday, per Jesus Cano of MLB.com. The righty used it twice during the at-bat that closed out his one inning. "We're going to see how it goes," Sewald said. "If the results are good enough that we think it's a quality pitch, then I'll take it in the season, but just something to try to work on." The 33-year-old veteran understands pitchers need to evolve to be effective over long careers. Sewald recorded 34 combined saves between Seattle and Arizona in 2023.

Martinez was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas by the Athletics on Saturday.

Martinez received a quick cut from camp after yielding four runs over 1.1 innings in his two Cactus League outings. The 27-year-old could be used as a starter or reliever at Las Vegas.

Reynolds was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the Padres on Saturday.

Reynolds struck out four and didn't allow a hit over two scoreless Cactus League innings but is nonetheless an early cut. The 25-year-old really struggled at El Paso down the stretch last season after being acquired from the Marlins in the Garrett Cooper trade. A better start in 2024 will help him push for his first big-league appearance.

Lopez has yielded just one run with a 3:1 K:BB over his first five innings of Grapefruit League action as he bids for the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation, including three scoreless frames Saturday against the Blue Jays.

The word from Mark Bowman of MLB.com heading into camp was that Lopez might have the edge on winning the No. 5 spot in the rotation, and he's done nothing to jeopardize that so far. His competition for the open rotation job hasn't fared as well to begin the spring -- Bryce Elder has permitted five runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batter through his first 4.1 innings during Grapefruit League play, while AJ Smith-Shawver gave up three runs over two innings in his first start.

Covey reported tightness in his right shoulder Saturday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The news of Covey's injury comes a day after the 32-year-old reliever surrendered two earned runs and three walks without recording an out against the Marlins on Friday. The severity of Covey's injury is unclear, but the Phillies will likely give him at least a few days to recover before putting him back in a game.

The Mariners reassigned Poppen to minor-league camp Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Poppen appeared in two games for the Mariners this spring, surrendering just one hit while striking out three batters, but he will be removed from big-league camp nonetheless. Poppen logged a 6.33 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over 58.1 innings in Triple-A last season and will presumably begin the season in Tacoma.

The Mariners reassigned Hembree to minor-league camp Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Hembree threw a perfect inning during his lone appearance of the spring, but his chances to make the team were always slim. The 35-year-old righty will head to Triple-A Tacoma to provide the Mariners with organizational depth in the bullpen.

The Mariners reassigned Abbott to minor-league camp Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Abbott surrendered two runs over one inning during his lone spring appearance with Seattle, and he'll officially drop out of the race for the Opening Day roster as the Mariners make their first round of cuts. Abbott will likely begin 2024 in Triple-A, where he posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 56 innings last season.

Thompson allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three without walking a batter in Saturday's Grapefruit league start versus the Astros.

Thompson and Matthew Liberatore are in the Cardinals' biggest battle for the last starting spot in the rotation. Thompson pitched for 2.2 innings Saturday before giving up back-to-back doubles. With Steven Matz coming along slowly after an injury-plagued 2023, there could be room for both Thompson and Liberatore in the Cardinals' projected early season six-man rotation, but both of them have shown some inconsistency early in the spring.