MLB Player News

The Astros placed Graveman (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Graveman will miss the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. His spot on Houston's 40-man roster will be given to Penn Murfee (elbow), who was claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Wednesday.

The Astros claimed Murfee (elbow) off waivers from Atlanta on Wednesday.

Houston placed Kendall Graveman (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Murfee, who will most likely join Graveman on the 60-day IL the next time the Astros need to open up roster room. Murfee, who signed a one-year deal with Atlanta before being cut earlier in the week, isn't expected to be available to pitch until the second half of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last July.

The White Sox selected Shaw's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Shaw re-signed with the White Sox on a minor-league pact after holding a 4.14 ERA and 40:17 K:BB in 45.2 innings last season. The veteran reliever could even find himself in the late-inning mix as manager Pedro Grifol tries to make sense of a patchwork bullpen.

The White Sox selected Leone's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Leone was in camp as a non-roster invitee but made the team after giving up just two earned runs over eight innings this spring. The veteran reliever could even find himself in high-leverage spots as part of a bullpen that lacks clarity.

The White Sox selected Leasure's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Leasure earned an Opening Day roster spot by permitting just two runs with an 11:4 K:BB over 9.1 Cactus League innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has yet to appear in a major-league game but could find himself in high-leverage relief situations right away.

General manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Rodriguez will be included in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Rodriguez, 26, has made 14 career appearances at the big-league level, pitching to a 7.36 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 14.2 innings. He'll likely be ticketed for lower-leverage work out of the Texas bullpen.

General manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Latz will be included in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Latz, Yerry Rodriguez and non-roster invitee Jose Urena ended up claiming the final three spots in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen. A starting pitcher for most of his minor-league career, the left-handed Latz has made just four appearances for Texas over parts of two seasons in the majors. He's likely to work as a lower-leverage, multi-inning reliever for the Rangers in 2024.

Mayza might be of a closer by committee for the Blue Jays early in the season while Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) are sidelined, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports

Mayza should probably be third in priority for fantasy managers here, but he could be manager John Schneider's pick when the opposition has lefties due up in the ninth. The southpaw is coming off a 2023 season which saw him put up a 1.52 ERA and 53:15 K:BB over 53.1 innings.

Garcia could be part of a closer by committee for the Blue Jays while Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) are out, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

It sounds like manager John Schneider doesn't plan to settle on one guy during what the team hopes is a short absence for Romano and Swanson. Mitchell lists Chad Green at the top of the pecking order, followed by Garcia and Tim Mayza. Garcia collected three saves while compiling a 79:15 K:BB over 66 frames for Toronto in 2023.

The Blue Jays are expected to use a closer by committee while Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) are sidelined, with Green, Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza in the mix, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

For what it's worth, Mitchell lists Green at the top of the pecking order. Green posted a 5.25 ERA and 16:4 K:BB over 12 innings last September after returning from Tommy John surgery. He gave up seven runs in 7.2 innings this spring, although that came with an 11:1 K:BB. Green, Garcia (three saves in 2023) and Mayza (one save in 2023) are all worthy of speculative adds, but with no clear leader in the hierarchy and Romano hopefully back soon, FAAB investments should be relatively modest.