MLB Player News

An MRI and CT scan taken of Fleming's left foot Wednesday came back negative, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The MRI and CT results confirm that Fleming escaped with merely a bruise when he had to leave an appearance Tuesday against the Pirates after being hit by a liner. He will try to play catch Thursday as a gauge for whether he'll be ready for his next turn through the rotation. At this stage, Fleming appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list.

The Royals selected Cox's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Cox will be making his MLB debut the first time he makes an appearance out of the Kansas City bullpen. The 26-year-old left-hander had posted a 2.21 ERA and 22:11 K:BB through 20.1 innings (four starts, one relief appearance) this season at Omaha.

Nelson (hamstring) made the fourth appearance of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Reading, tossing five innings and striking out four while allowing an unearned run on six hits and no walks.

Nelson has made all but four of his 69 career MLB appearances as a reliever, but the Phillies have been getting him stretched out a starter since he began his rehab assignment April 18. He's scheduled to make another rehab start Sunday, likely with either Reading or Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies don't have a rotation spot available for him at the moment, so Nelson will likely be optioned to Triple-A once his 30-day rehab window closes and he's officially activated from the 15-day injured list.

Cuas was optioned Wednesday to Triple-A Omaha.

Austin Cox will join the Royals' bullpen in a corresponding 26-man roster move. Cuas, 28, allowed two earned runs over 1.1 innings of relief in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles, raising his season ERA to 5.65 over 14.1 total frames.

Bellatti (triceps) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson relayed that Bellatti looked good while throwing around 25 pitches Tuesday. Bellatti is in line to head to the Phillies' spring training complex in Lakeland, Fla. for two throwing sessions over the weekend before he begins a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley next week.

Tampa Bay designated Burdi for assignment Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Chase Anderson, whom Tampa Bay acquired in a trade with Cincinnati earlier Wednesday. Burdi didn't allow a run in his two appearances with the Rays before being optioned back to Triple-A Durham last week. He'll stick around at Durham unless another team puts in a waiver claim for him.

The Rays placed Fairbanks (finger) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Fairbanks didn't come on for a save chance in Tuesday's win over the Pirates and hadn't pitched since Friday due to what the Rays had attributed to finger numbness stemming from Raynaud's Syndrome, but the forearm issue is what will end up forcing him to the shelf. The right-hander had yet to allow a run in eight appearances this season and had emerged as the Rays' primary closer, but Jason Adam looks to be first in line to headline what could be a committee approach to save situations while Fairbanks is on the shelf. If he's able to resume throwing within the next few days, Fairbanks would have a chance at being ready to pitch when first eligible around the middle of the month.

The Marlins selected Smeltzer from Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami designated Smeltzer for assignment Friday and outrighted him to Triple-A on Tuesday, but he'll be back with the big club after the Marlins placed first baseman Garrett Cooper (ear) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The lefty has a brutal 6.75 ERA in 12 innings this season, but he has held opponents scoreless over his last pair of appearances.

The Marlins designated Quezada for assignment Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Quezada vacates the 40-man roster after a woeful performance Tuesday in which he walked five and allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning in a loss to Atlanta. The appearance marked Quezada's first big-league action since 2020, when he pitched in three games for the Marlins.

The Diamondbacks released Biddle on Tuesday.

Biddle has seen big-league action in parts of four seasons, but he hasn't surfaced in the majors since the 2021 campaign. Over his eight relief appearances at Triple-A Reno in 2023, Biddle was charged with nine earned runs allowed on nine hits and 13 walks over 5.2 innings.