MLB Player News

Sborz is among of four relievers being considered as high-leverage bullpen option, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Sborz joins Jose Leclerc, David Robertson and Kirby Yates among the relievers manager Bruce Bochy plans to use in high-leverage situations. Bochy stopped short of naming a closer and refused to place them in any order early in camp. "We've got some high-leverage guys down there that can help each other out and help give guys days off," Bochy said. "I'm not going to get into exactly what the pecking order is, because they're all really good relievers with really good resumes." Sborz had an inflated 5.50 ERA in 2023, but a 3.35 xERA suggests he pitched better than the standard ERA indicates. His 36.9 strikeout percentage and 66:17 K:BB were also encouraging. Health will be a factor for Sborz, who has spent five stints on the injured list over the last two seasons.

The Orioles acquired Ort from the Phillies on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

Ort had been designated for assignment by Philadelphia earlier in the day but quickly found a new home. He'll compete for a spot in the Orioles' bullpen but does have options remaining.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Paddack is scheduled to start the Twins' spring opener Friday versus the University of Minnesota, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Paddack threw approximately 55 pitches Sunday in a live session and is expected to work about two innings in the exhibition contest. After making a full recovery from his May 2022 Tommy John surgery, Paddack returned to action for the Twins in late September and struck out eight while allowing three earned runs across five innings between his two relief appearances during the regular season, then struck out six over 3.2 scoreless frames during Minnesota's postseason run. Now nearly two years removed from elbow surgery and entering the second season of a three-year, $12.5 million deal, Paddack will be vying for a spot in Minnesota's Opening Day rotation this spring.

Tate (forearm) threw live batting practice Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Tate made just 13 rehab appearances last season because of a right forearm issue but is coming into Orioles camp without restrictions. He'll be in line for high-leverage appearances out of the Baltimore bullpen in 2024 if he can stay healthy.

Pearson is attempting to add a split-finger fastball to his arsenal, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

"We're still working on it, but he threw some really good ones today that could be really effective at the major-league level," pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday. Injuries and control issues have prevented Pearson from reaching his ceiling, but the 27-year-old right-hander still features premium fastball velocity (96th percentile last season) and is trying to find himself as a high-leverage reliever. Toronto's bullpen picture is crowded and Pearson still has a minor-league option left, however, so he might need to dominate this spring to make the Opening Day roster.

White sat 94-95 mph with his fastball during his first bullpen session this spring, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider described the 29-year-old right-hander as "electric", but a February bullpen session is still a long way from big-league success. White has struggled in the majors since being acquired from the Dodgers in August 2022, stumbling to a 7.60 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 55.2 innings, but he did finish last year with an impressive run at Triple-A Buffalo that saw him post a 1.89 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 43:14 K:BB over his last 33.1 innings (seven starts). White is out of minor-league options, which would seem to lock him into a long relief spot on the Opening Day roster.

Jansen (lat) did some flat-ground throwing Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Jansen is a tad behind schedule after coming into came with a bit of general right lat soreness. However, that he's already progressed to flat-ground work is a good sign. Assuming he's healthy and not traded, Jansen is slated to open the 2024 campaign as Boston's closer.

Mariners manager Scott Servais said Monday that Santos (lat) is progressing and will begin ramping up his throwing program in the coming days, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Seattle isn't yet ruling Santos out for Opening Day as he works through right lat soreness, but he'll likely need to navigate his upcoming throwing program without setbacks in order to guarantee that he avoids a stint on the injured list to begin his inaugural campaign with the Mariners. Santos was acquired from the White Sox earlier this month with the expectation that he would be a dependable part of the bridge to projected closer Andres Munoz, coming off a 2023 campaign in which he compiled a 3.39 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 66:17 K:BB in 66.1 innings.

The Tigers announced Monday that White is dealing with posterior right elbow discomfort and will complete a short period of rest before restarting his throwing program, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Though the Tigers seem optimistic that White's elbow soreness will be remedied by a few days of rest, the missed time during camp certainly isn't ideal for a reliever who is far from a lock to win a spot on Detroit's Opening Day roster. As a rookie in 2023, White made 33 appearances (two starts) for the big club, pitching to a 5.09 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB in 40.2 innings.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday that "there is no pecking order" between Leclerc and the other members of the team's bullpen, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Bochy did indicate, however, that he hopes a closer will emerge during spring training and "we will have a guy who will get closing opportunities" come Opening Day. Leclerc rebounded from a sluggish start last season to finish with a 2.68 ERA and 67:28 K:BB over 57 innings. He notched four saves during the Rangers' postseason run and was unscored upon in three World Series appearances. The other prime candidate beyond Leclerc is David Robertson, whose 2023 season was basically the opposite of Leclerc's in that he started strong with the Mets (2.05 ERA, 14 saves) before struggling with the Marlins (5.06 ERA, four saves). Robertson has by far the most closing experience in the bullpen with 175 career saves, but he'll also turn 39 in April. Josh Sborz and Kirby Yates could also potentially be in the mix.