MLB Player News

Coulombe (illness) is scheduled to make a relief appearance in Monday's exhibition against the Twins, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

The Red Sox sent Coulombe home from camp Saturday after he fell ill, but the veteran reliever has apparently made a full recovery following a couple days of rest. After signing with Boston just under two weeks ago, Coulombe made just one Grapefruit League appearance, but he should still be on track to make the Red Sox's Opening Day bullpen if he checks out fine following Monday's outing.

The Pirates informed Barco on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Barco has been trending up, making his big-league debut at the end of last season and following that up with a strong spring training. The 25-year-old lefty had a 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB in 9.1 innings in Grapefruit League play. Carmen Mlodzinski won the fifth starter spot, but Barco and Jose Urquidy also made the club in long-relief roles. The Pirates could look to have Barco piggyback another starter during the first turn through the five-man rotation.

Gray allowed two runs on four hits while striking out nine over six innings in Sunday's spring start against the Pirates.

Gray needed a quality effort after a rough stretch to start the Grapefruit League. The right-hander entered his final spring outing having allowed six runs (6.23 ERA) on 10 hits and seven walks over 8.2 innings. Gray responded with his best performance of the spring, which should allay concerns as he prepares to start the second game of the regular season, Saturday on the road against Cincinnati.

The Pirates reassigned Clevinger to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

He was in camp as a non-roster invitee and logged a 5.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB in 14.1 innings this spring. Jose Urquidy beat out Clevinger for the final long-relief spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen.

The Red Sox optioned Eaton to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

The righty-hitting Eaton batted .281 with two steals in 12 Grapefruit League games. Eaton's demotion clears the way for Andruw Monasterio to make the Opening Day roster in a bench role.

Martinez is expected to make the Opening Day roster, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

The Guardians have space for four outfielders with Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter locks. That leaves Martinez among a group of four competing for the final two spots, but it would be a surprise if Cleveland didn't add him to the 26-man roster after his performance this spring. Martinez, who belted a two-run home run in Sunday's spring game against Cincinnati, is batting .350 (14-for-40) with six doubles, one triple, four home runs and six RBI over 16 games. The other three outfielders in the mix are Stuart Fairchild, CJ Kayfus and George Valera (calf), who is expected to open the regular season on the injured list.

Williams allowed one run on five hits and struck out three over five innings in Sunday's spring start against the Reds.

Williams made his final Cactus League tune-up and appears ready for the regular season. He'll follow Opening Day starter Tanner Bibee and pitch Friday against the Mariners. The right-hander had one hiccup this spring but finished on a high note. Williams, who has averaged 4.2 BB/9 over three major-league seasons, walked just two batters over 17.2 innings this spring.

Suarez was slotted fifth in the batting order in the two games since he returned from the World Baseball Classic, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Since Suarez was signed by Cincinnati at the beginning of February, the general consensus was that he'd bat fourth, and that's where he was in four of his first five Cactus League games before departing for the WBC. Reds manager Terry Francona explained the batting-order experiment, indicating the reconfigured lineup (with Sal Stewart batting cleanup) might generate more RBI opportunities for Suarez. However it shakes out, Suarez will be a middle-of-the-order bat for the Reds in 2026.

The Padres reassigned Gillaspie to minor-league camp Sunday.

Gillaspie is likely to open the upcoming season as a swingman at Triple-A El Paso, where he finished the 2025 campaign after being outrighted off the Padres' 40-man roster in July. Prior to losing his roster spot, Gillaspie appeared in three big-league games for San Diego last season, covering seven innings while allowing two earned runs on seven hits and four walks.

Ferguson (oblique) is scheduled for a second MRI on March 25 to determine he's healing well, MLB.com reports.

If doctors feel like Ferguson is making progress, the left-hander could begin a throwing program. He was expected to be unavailable for start of the regular season but is pegged to return at some point in April.