MLB Player News

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday that Crick could miss all of spring training with a calf strain, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Crick is in Mets camp as a non-roster invitee, but his bid for a roster spot could come to an end before it begins. The veteran reliever didn't pitch anywhere in 2023 after opting out of his minor-league contract with the Rays last spring.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz on Monday didn't rule out Crochet beginning the season in the major-league rotation, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Getz added that he expects Crochet to be on the Opening Day roster in some fashion, whether that's in the rotation or perhaps in a long relief role as he gets stretched back out to start. All 84 of Crochet's appearances in pro ball to this point have come in relief, so getting his stamina built up at the big-league level will be tricky.

Adams (ankle) cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse by the Mets on Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Adams signed a one-year deal with the Mets in late November but was designated for assignment last week in order to make room for Jake Diekman. Adams has been given a non-roster invitation to spring training, and he'll be at camp. He appeared in 24 games for the Diamondbacks in 2023 and finished with a 5.71 ERA, 22 strikeouts and eight walks over 17.1 innings.

The Twins acquired Okert from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for utility player Nick Gordon, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Okert spent the last three seasons in Miami, most recently compiling a 4.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 73 strikeouts over 58.2 innings in 64 appearances, including two starts, in 2023. The southpaw will now look to carve out a late-inning role with the Twins heading into his seventh major-league campaign.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Sunday that Jacob (elbow) has no lingering health concerns as spring training gets underway, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Jacob has reported to the Padres' camp and looks as though he'll face no restrictions after he ended the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Before being shut down shortly after the All-Star break, Jacob made the first three appearances of his MLB career out of the San Diego bullpen, allowing no runs or hits over three innings while striking out five and walking one. The 25-year-old righty will be given a fair chance to compete for an Opening Day roster spot, though the fact that he has three minor-league options remaining and doesn't have a long track record at the big-league level may work against him.

Smith, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Royals in December, is viewed as the leading candidate to serve as the team's closer to begin the season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Though he sacrificed more save chances to Aroldis Chapman, Jose Leclerc and Josh Sborz toward the end of the 2023 campaign, Smith still converted 22 of his 27 save opportunities over 60 appearances with Texas during the regular season and turned in solid peripherals (3.28 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, 16.8 K-BB%) over his 57.1 innings. Smith's left-handedness has occasionally worked against him at various points in his career of capturing a full-time closing role, but he should have a clearer path to the ninth-inning gig while he's part of a Kansas City bullpen that's lacking in much established talent. James McArthur and Nick Anderson probably represent the top threats to challenge him for the closing gig, but Smith's strong track record as well as his bigger contract than the other two helps his case for holding down the fort at the back end of the bullpen. Royals manager Matt Quatraro will likely shed more light on his plans at closer as spring training unfolds, but for now, fantasy players should draft Smith as the presumptive favorite to see the bulk of the save chances.

Luetge announced Saturday via social media that he agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox.

Luetge didn't disclose the details of his contract, but it presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training. The 36-year-old made 12 appearances at the big-league level for Atlanta in 2023, posting a 7.24 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 13.2 innings. He was pushed off the 40-man roster on two occasions and ended up closing the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, with whom he compiled a 3.75 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 24 innings.

Schreiber arrived at Fenway South in Fort Myers (Fla.) early and has been working out since Jan. 11, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Schreiber missed nearly two months last season with a shoulder strain and is motivated to get the arm in shape for the regular season. "I feel great," he said. "I'm fully healthy. I wanted to get down here early and get started building up." The right-hander earned the trust of Boston manager Alex Cora during the 2022 season (2.22 ERA, eight saves) and was leaned upon for high-leverage situations when healthy last season.

The Mariners traded McCaughan to the Marlins on Friday in exchange for cash, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

McCaughan cleared waivers Wednesday after being designated for assignment, but he'll reclaim a 40-man roster spot as he transitions to Miami. The 27-year-old righty made three appearances last season with the Mariners, allowing three earned runs in five innings while striking out 10 batters and walking three. Peyton Burdick was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

Bautista underwent a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The first part of the operation cleaned up scar tissue in the elbow, while the second moved the nerve to free it up from compression. While not routine, follow-up procedures are sometimes needed for pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bautista's recovery is going well and the Orioles do not expect his readiness for the 2025 campaign to be affected.