MLB Player News

The Blue Jays optioned Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Estrada will finish the Grapefruit League with a 4.76 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 11.1 innings. Those numbers are improvements from the 5.73 ERA and 1.45 WHIP he posted in 97.1 Triple-A frames last year, but the Blue Jays will send him back to the minors to continue developing.

The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Graceffo didn't allow an earned run through three innings in the Grapefruit League. However, he posted a 6.28 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 43 innings with the Cardinals last season, so they'll wait to see more from him in the minors before admitting him back into their big-league bullpen.

Lockridge will be included on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The writing was on the wall that Lockridge had won a bench spot when the Brewers optioned Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville on Friday, but the decision is now official. Lockridge did an excellent job separating himself from the competition during Cactus League play, slashing .316/.435/.684 with four homers, nine RBI, 13 runs scored and three stolen bases across 13 contests. As long as he can continue to produce on offense, the 29-year-old outfielder will likely fill in for either Sal Frelick or Garrett Mitchell whenever the Brewers encounter a left-handed starter.

Manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Sproat will be included on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Sproat has allowed five earned runs in nine innings this spring while striking out 10 batters and walking two. Despite his difficulties with run prevention, he'll officially be a part of Milwaukee's Opening Day pitching staff, and injuries to Brandon Woodruff (lat), Quinn Priester (wrist) and Kyle Harrison (finger) make it likely that he'll begin the year in the rotation. Once the Brewers' injured starters begin to return, Sproat could be relegated to the bullpen or sent down to Triple-A Nashville.

The Diamondbacks will place Kelly (back) on the 15-day injured list to begin the regular season, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Kelly was expected to have a delayed start to the year while he continues to work his way back from a back injury, and he will officially spend the start of the season on the IL. If he is able to return after a minimum-length stay, he'd be lined up to make his season debut April 7 versus the White Sox.

Manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that Vilade will be on the Rays' Opening Day roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Vilade didn't have a particularly impressive spring, slashing .225/.319/.350 across 47 plate appearances, but he's earned a spot on the Rays' bench as a utility player. The 27-year-old is just 9-for-64 (.141) at the plate in his MLB career and shouldn't be viewed as someone who will make much of an impact in Tampa.

Burrows was removed from his Grapefruit League start against the Mets on Saturday after getting hit by a comebacker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Burrows was immediately taken out of the game after taking a 92-mph groundball off his lower left leg in the sixth inning. His removal may have been precautionary -- especially since he had already thrown 77 pitches -- though the Astros should provide more details on his status in the near future.

The Rangers granted Brasier his release Saturday.

Brasier struggled to establish himself this spring, allowing six earned runs over 7.1 innings in the Cactus League. Because his chances of starting the season in Texas' bullpen were looking poor, he'll exercise his right to opt out of his contract and seek another opportunity on the free-agent market.

Adam (quadriceps) pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout against Colorado in a Cactus League appearance Friday.

Adam entered in the sixth inning and retired the Rockies in order on 12 pitches. It was the first time the righty reliever has appeared in a game this spring, as he's still working to get fully ramped up following the surgery he underwent early last September to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon. According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Adam will aim to make another exhibition appearance Monday, and if that goes well, there's still a chance he could make the Padres' Opening Day roster.

Yamamoto tossed five scoreless innings against the Padres in a Cactus League start Friday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out seven batters.

Yamamoto took the mound for the Dodgers for the first time since returning from his tenure with Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic. Though it should be noted that San Diego fielded a split-squad lineup, the right-handed hurler looked sharp, tossing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes and racking up seven punchouts. Yamamoto's next trip to the mound will be for Los Angeles' Opening Day matchup versus Arizona next Thursday.