MLB Player News

Mata is out of minor-league options, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

As such, the Red Sox will need to trade the right-hander or designate him for assignment if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. Mata has thrown only 110 minor-league innings across the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2021. He opened 2023 as a member of the rotation at Triple-A Worcester before further injuries set in. Upon his return in September, he moved to the bullpen. That's a role the organization feels might be a better fit for Mata, who will need to improve his control to win a big-league job this spring. Justin Slaten, a Rule 5 selection, also needs to be kept on the major-league roster all season, and the Red Sox may not have room for both.

Karinchak is behind schedule due to right shoulder fatigue, MLB.com reports.

Karinchak came into camp with the issue and will be held out of workouts for a few days. His availability for Opening Day doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, however.

The Yankees placed Trivino (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim McKinley Moore. Trivino will be out until around midseason as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.

The Yankees claimed Moore off waivers from the Phillies on Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Moore struggled in his brief time with the Phillies and has always had poor control, but he also boasts a 33 percent strikeout rate during his time in the minors. The 25-year-old is likely headed to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start 2024.

McMillon (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

McMillon made four appearances in August for the Royals before getting shut down a forearm strain, but he was throwing off a mound by the end of the season. It seems likely the 26-year-old will be able to go through a normal spring. He allowed one run on a home run and struck out eight over his first four major-league innings last season and could contend for a high-leverage role in 2024.

The Blue Jays are building up Francis to serve as a starter, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The vast majority of Francis' minor-league appearances have come as a starter, though he has yet to begin a game on the mound through 21 MLB appearances. Francis holds an impressive 1.70 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through 37 career big-league frames, but even if he has a solid spring as a starter, he would need some attrition ahead of him to earn a spot at the back of Toronto's rotation.

Santos is dealing with soreness in his right lat/teres major area, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Santos ended last season with right elbow soreness, but now he's got a new injury which cropped up following a bullpen session this spring. It's not clear at this juncture whether the setback might be significant enough to delay his start to the season. Santos was acquired via trade from the White Sox earlier this month and, if healthy, is slated to serve as a setup man.

Zimmermann could be in the mix for a rotation spot with John Means (elbow) and Kyle Bradish (elbow) likely to miss the start of the season, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Zimmermann covered 13.1 major-league innings last season, posting a 4.73 ERA and 14:0 K:BB. With Triple-A Norfolk, he featured as a starter, but ended up with middling results -- a 4-7 record, 4.42 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 110:39 K:BB through 99.2 innings across 21 starts. Zimmermann will need a strong spring to secure a spot in the rotation -- Cole Irvin and Tyler Wells will likely be favored to fill out that group if the Orioles begin the year with a five-man rotation. Zimmermann could ultimately find himself in a swingman role.

White is projected to break camp on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster by Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star.

The 29-year-old right-hander has struggled during his time in Toronto after being acquired from the Dodgers in August 2022 and even lost his spot on the 40-man roster for a couple months this offseason, but he's out of minor-league options and the Jays can't afford to lose him on waivers given their lack of rotation depth. Should White open the season in the majors, he would likely be penciled into a long-relief role.

Tarnok (hip) is a bit behind schedule at the beginning of Athletics camp, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Tarnok needed surgery on his right hip last August and will be eased into things this spring. The 25-year-old will be in the mix for a spot in Oakland's rotation once he's ready to roll, although a trip back to Triple-A Las Vegas to knock some rust off at the start of 2024 seems likely.