MLB Player News

The Athletics transferred Sterner (knee) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

After undergoing right knee surgery Friday, Sterner had already been ruled out for the rest of the season. His move to the 60-day injured list is merely procedural, as it opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver pickup Joe Rock. The 29-year-old Sterner logged a 6.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB over 42.2 innings out of the bullpen before hitting the shelf July 18.

Estevez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen Sunday before being re-evaluated, per MLB.com.

Estevez has been on the injured list since April 1, initially due to a left foot contusion before he suffered a right rotator cuff strain during a rehab outing May 6. The veteran right-hander began a mound progression Aug. 7 and has yet to experience any hiccups. The Royals have struggled mightily to fill the closer role in Estevez's absence this season, with Steven Cruz currently serving as the top option in the ninth inning.

The Cubs optioned Assad to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Assad lost his spot in the rotation in the aftermath of the Aug. 3 trade deadline and shifted to the bullpen, and he'll now end up losing his spot on the roster entirely after the Cubs reinstated Edward Cabrera (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Sunday. Assad is expected to get stretched back out at Triple-A to offer insurance in case injuries test the big club's starting depth down the stretch.

The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Pirates recalled Hunter Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Dotel on the active roster and in the bullpen. Dotel owns a 4.71 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 28.2 innings at the big-league level this season.

The Pirates recalled Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Barco will be up with the Pirates for the fourth time this season and owns a 7.36 ERA and 2.11 WHIP in 14.2 innings over six appearances with the big club. The left-hander most recently tossed a six-inning shutout for Indianapolis last weekend and could be called upon to cover multiple innings of relief during Sunday's game against the Red Sox. Lake Bachar will be making a spot start Sunday, but he's expected to be in line for a restricted workload after making his first four appearances with Pittsburgh as a reliever.

Toronto reinstated Little from the paternity list Sunday.

Little missed the maximum of three days while welcoming the birth of his new child. The 29-year-old will provide a fresh arm to an exhausted Blue Jays staff that utilized seven different pitchers during Saturday's bullpen game. The left-hander will replace Ricky Tiedemann on the active roster.

The Red Sox placed Slaten (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Sunday.

Slaten's placement on the IL is retroactive to Thursday, so he'll be eligible to return as soon as Aug. 28 if he's fully recovered from right elbow inflammation by then. The Red Sox recalled left-hander Raymond Burgos from Triple-A Worcester to take Slaten's spot in the bullpen.

Boston recalled Burgos from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

Burgos will join the big-league club for the second time this season, replacing the injured Justin Slaten (elbow) on the active roster. During his brief stint with Boston earlier this month, Burgos made a pair of relief appearances and gave up two earned runs while striking out four over six innings.

Arizona selected Santana's contract from Triple-A Reno on Sunday.

Just 10 days after signing a minor-league deal with Arizona, Santana will be moved up to the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster. Before joining the Diamondbacks, Santana had spent the season in Pittsburgh's big-league bullpen, posting a 6.05 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB over 41.2 innings. Arizona designated Philip Abner for assignment in order to clear room on the roster for Santana.

The Red Sox are expected to place Slaten on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right elbow inflammation, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Slaten last pitched Wednesday against the Blue Jays, so his move to the IL will be retroactive to Thursday. Per Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, Slaten had been pitching through discomfort in his forearm/elbow for a period of time, and the Red Sox have decided that the righty reliever needed a chance to rest up and recover. The 28-year-old will make his second trip to the IL this season after missing a little over a month at the start of the campaign due to a right oblique strain.