MLB Player News

The Angels signed Lucchesi to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

Lucchesi previously spent part of March and April with the big-league club but struggled to a 13.50 ERA, 3.90 WHIP and 4:6 K:BB over 3.1 innings spanning five relief appearances. The southpaw does have ample major-league experience and was much better with San Francisco last season -- posting a 3.76 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB over 38.1 frames while recording six holds -- so the Angels are giving him another look in the minors. Lucchesi will likely need to demonstrate improved results, though, to get another call-up to the big-league club.

The Nationals designated Rutledge for assignment Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Rutledge will end up without a spot on the 40-man roster in order to make room for Max Kranick (elbow), who signed a major-league contract with Washington on Tuesday. Rutledge gave up seven earned runs in just 1.1 innings during his lone MLB appearance this season and owns a 3.38 ERA and 1.53 WHIP through 13.1 frames at Triple-A Rochester.

The Angels released Strickland on Tuesday, Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

Strickland had previously been released by the organization March 21 but returned on a minor-league contract six days later. However, he struggled mightily in 10 games with Triple-A Salt Lake, registering a 13.14 ERA, 2.15 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB across 12.1 innings. Strickland is 37 years of age, but he's had periods of big-league success in the past, so another team may be willing to take a chance on him, probably on another minor-league deal.

The Angels released Zabala on Tuesday, Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

Zabala joined Los Angeles on a minor-league deal in mid-January after spending his previous two seasons in Japan. He didn't break camp with the big-league club and recorded a poor 6.30 ERA, 2.30 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB over 10 innings spanning nine relief appearances with Double-A Rocket City. Zabala has just two games of major-league experience -- he gave up three hits and a walk but no runs across 2.2 frames with Miami back in 2022.

Valdez was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Valdez wasn't exactly having a great time on the mound Tuesday, as he had given up eight runs by the end of the third inning. After giving up another two runs on a pair of solo homers from Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu to lead off the fourth, Valdez hit Trevor Story with a pitch, which caused the benches to clear. No punches were thrown, but Valdez had still been ejected by the time the dust settled. The 32-year-old southpaw will take a 4.57 ERA and 1.41 WHIP into his next start, which may be delayed if he faces additional discipline from Major League Baseball.

The Angels released Perdomo on Tuesday, Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

Perdomo signed a minor-league deal with the Angels last December and didn't break camp with the big-league club. He appeared in 10 games with Triple-A Salt Lake this season, struggling to a 12.00 ERA, 2.75 WHIP and 12:14 K:BB over 12 innings. Given those numbers and his career 5.54 ERA across 56 major-league appearances, Perdomo will likely have to settle for another minor-league deal if he's to continue his career with an MLB organization.

Hernandez (elbow) will kick of a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Hernandez is set for his first game action since undergoing surgery on his left elbow last November. The super-utility man is currently on the 60-day IL and isn't eligible to be activated until May 24, and there seems to be a good chance that he'll be ready to join the big-league Dodgers at that time. In his initial rehab appearance Tuesday, Hernandez is playing third base and batting second for OKC.

Rodriguez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw up to five innings during a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez continues to bump up his workload, as his previous throwing sessions consisted of three and then four simulated innings. The right-hander has yet to make his Angels debut because he landed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation in late March, but the fact that he's now beginning a proper rehab assignment could put him on track for a return from the shelf within the next couple of weeks.

Correa was scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers due to a left ankle injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Correa will miss Tuesday's game after suffering an injury during pregame batting practice. The severity of his injury is still unclear, though the Astros will presumably offer more information after they take a closer look at him. In the meantime, Nick Allen will shift to shortstop to cover for Correa, and Braden Shewmake will enter the lineup to start at third base.

Brash (lat) began playing catch Tuesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

It's the first time Brash has done any kind of throwing since he landed on the injured list Friday with right lat inflammation. A clearer timeline for his return may begin to take shape once he progresses to throwing off a mound.