MLB Player News

With Zebby Matthews sent to the minors, Bradley solidified his spot in the rotation and will likely make his first start March 28 at Baltimore, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Bradley did enough this spring to win a spot with a 19:5 K:BB in 14 innings and a 4.50 ERA. He was set to play in the World Baseball Classic but stayed in spring training with the Twins to win a rotation spot. Bradley has above-average velocity (96.3 mph average fastball in 2025) but issues with walks (9.3 BB% last season) have limited his effectiveness.

Woods Richardson gave up two runs over five innings with three strikeouts and one walk in Friday's Grapefruit League loss to Toronto. He has a 5.85 ERA this spring with a 16:5 K:BB in 20 innings. With Zebby Matthews sent to the minors, Woods Richardson solidified his spot in the rotation and will likely make his first start April 1 at Kansas City, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Woods Richardson gave up five runs in his first spring outing and has given up 20 hits -- including nine Friday -- in 20 innings but showed enough to begin the season in the Twins' rotation. Woods Richardson had a 3.52 ERA and 11.3 K/9 over his final six starts last season which could point to a significant improvement in 2026.

Festa (shoulder impingement) threw Thursday at 60 feet and Friday at 75 feet, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Festa was shut down in late February due to a shoulder impingement and received an injection to address the injury. He's expected to be placed on the injured list to begin the season. He's coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome after being diagnosed in September, so the Twins may be cautious with his return.

The Astros optioned Whitcomb to minor-league camp Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Whitcomb has slashed .280/.369/.520 over the past two seasons at Triple-A Sugar Land but owns just a .491 OPS in 78 career plate appearances in the majors. He'll officially return to the minors to begin 2026 after posting a .649 OPS in the Grapefruit League, but his defensive versatility will keep the door open for a return to the big leagues sometime this year.

The Royals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Cruz has performed well in the Cactus League, allowing just one earned run while striking out seven batters in 5.2 frames, but he will come up short in the race for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The 26-year-old owns a 3.66 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 64 career innings with the Royals, so it is likely a matter of time before he returns to Kansas City.

The Royals optioned Avila to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

Avila entered spring training as a candidate to make the Royals' Opening Day bullpen after giving up just two earned runs in 14 innings toward the end of last season. He continued to find success on the mound in the Cactus League, allowing one run in four frames, but he will officially head back to Triple-A to open the new campaign. The Royals may wait until the 24-year-old righty is stretched out as a starter before giving him another trial in the majors.

Pallette has been informed that he made the Opening Day roster, SI.com reports.

A Rule 5 pick, Pallette turned heads during spring training, throwing six scoreless innings while posting an 11:3 K:BB. The 24-year-old was a second-round pick in 2022 by the White Sox and posted a 4.36 ERA across 43.1 innings at Triple-A in 2025.

Kelenic was informed Friday that he wouldn't be part of the White Sox' Opening Day roster, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Kelenic will remain in big-league camp, but won't be part of the 26-man roster when Opening Day rolls around. The veteran was brought on as a non-roster invitee after a disappointing 2025 season with Atlanta and couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, going 7-for-39 (.179) in spring training before the decision was made to leave him off the roster.

The Yankees optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

The Yankees continue to trim down their roster, and De Los Santos will not be part of the big-league club to open 2026. The 28-year-old appeared in 25 regular-season games with the Yankees last season and threw 6.1 scoreless innings this spring.

The Yankees optioned Castro to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Castro was added to the 40-man roster late in the 2025 campaign but didn't appear in any big-league games. The 27-year-old was in contention to land a spot in the bullpen for the upcoming season, but despite posting a 2.70 ERA and picking up two saves and two holds across 10 innings this spring, he'll start the year at Triple-A. If the Yankees' bullpen struggles our deals with injuries, Castro could be one of the first options to be recalled.