MLB Player News

Giants manager Bob Melvin said after Monday's 6-4 exhibition win over the Tigers that Bivens has clinched a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bivens will presumably work in long relief or middle relief, though he earned one save at the end of the 2024 season when closer Ryan Walker wasn't available due to workload. The 30-year-old's big-league career is off to a promising start after he posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 37:11 K:BB over 48.2 frames last season.

The Nationals placed Herz on the 15-day injured list Monday due to an undisclosed injury.

Washington previously optioned Herz to Triple-A Rochester on Friday after he fell short in his bid for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but as a result of his move to the IL, he won't immediately report to the minors. Though the nature of Herz's IL placement isn't known, the lefty dealt with dead arm in spring training, so he could just need more time to build up. Washington will presumably have more details on the nature of the 24-year-old's injury as well as a potential timeline for him to return from the IL in the coming days.

Stowers has been informed that he's made Miami's Opening Day roster, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.

Stowers has been in a battle with Griffin Conine for the starting job in left field during spring training, and while the team has yet to officially announce the starter, Stowers now knows he'll at least make the big-league team out of camp. The club could provide an additional update on the status of the job in left field at some point over the next few days.

Marinaccio was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.

Marinaccio was picked up by the Padres in a January trade, but he didn't show enough in camp to earn a spot on the big-league roster. He posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with a 25:10 K:BB across 23.1 innings last season with the Yankees and will serve as organizational bullpen depth.

Joe was optioned to Triple-A El-Paso on Monday.

Joe appeared to be the odd man out after it was announced earlier in the day that both Yuli Gurriel and Brandon Lockridge had made the Opening Day roster, and the team confirmed this by demoting Joe later in the day. He'll begin the 2025 season at Triple-A but could be seen in the big leagues later in the year.

Vasquez will begin the 2025 season in the Padres' starting rotation, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Vasquez has been competing for a spot near the back end of San Diego's starting rotation throughout spring training, and the team named Vasquez and Kyle Hart the fourth and fifth starters Monday, resulting in the demotion of Stephen Kolek to Triple-A El Paso. Vasquez performed well during camp, posting a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts and one walk over three appearances.

Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Monday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Kolek has been competing for one of the two remaining rotation spots throughout spring training and managed to escape with a decent outing during Monday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over five innings, but it'll be Randy Vasquez and Kyle Hart who round out San Diego's starting rotation to begin the 2025 regular season. However, Kolek will presumably be a candidate for a promotion if either Vasquez or Hart were to struggle to open the campaign.

Hart will open the 2025 season as the fifth starter for the Padres, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hart didn't perform well in his final start of the spring, surrendering six runs over 4.2 innings of work, but he did enough to win a rotation spot over Stephen Kolek. Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso, meaning Randy Vasquez will take over the No. 4 spot and Hart will round out the rotation. He'll tentatively be scheduled to make his regular-season debut March 31 against the Guardians.

Thompson signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Oct. 19.

Thompson spent the 2024 season rehabbing after he underwent surgery to address a partially torn flexor tendon He'll toe the rubber for Atlanta's final exhibition game of the spring Tuesday against the Cubs before presumably being reassigned to the minors. Thompson is likely to open the season in the rotation at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Smith was reassigned to minor league spring training on Monday.

Smith inked a minor-league deal that included an invitation to big-league camp back in January, but he was unable to do enough to earn a bullpen spot. Instead, he'll set his sights on beginning the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he'll serve as organizational depth.