MLB Player News

Criswell was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rays on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Criswell pitched exceptionally well in the Grapefruit League with a 0.79 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over six appearances and 11.1 innings, but he falls victim to the depth of pitching in the Tampa Bay system. He's likely to be up at some point in a middle-innings role for the Rays in 2023.

Pacheco was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Tigers on Monday with a right elbow sprain, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Pacheco was dealing with an elbow injury when the Tigers claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals earlier this month and now he'll miss at least the first couple months of the season. The specifics on the 24-year-old's injury aren't clear at this time.

Jimenez, Trevor May and Jeurys Familia could all be used in closer situations this season, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday.

JImenez led the team with 11 saves last season, but his year ended with a shoulder injury and he's had velocity issues this spring. The 29-year-old could emerge as the team's best option if he's able to regain his velocity, but for now he's a mediocre reliever in a committee situation on a bad team.

May, Jeurys Familia and Dany Jimenez could all be used in closer situations this season, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday.

"I think we'll start out with the mindset that they're all options," Kotsay said. A closer-by-committee situation on a bad team is a nightmare situation for fantasy managers, although someone could emerge as the preferred option eventually. That someone could be May, who has a $7 million contract and who has mostly been very good the last several seasons. Still, it's not a bullpen worthy of much of an investment in fantasy.

The Orioles reassigned Garrett to minor-league camp Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Garrett, who previously saw big-league action with the Tigers in 2019 and the Nationals in 2022, is expected to serve as organizational relief depth at Triple-A Norfolk as he begins his first season with Baltimore.

The Orioles reassigned Bazardo to minor-league camp Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 27-year-old struck out 11 and held opposing hitters to a .194 average over 8.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, but the strong showing in Florida wasn't enough for him to break camp as a member of the big-league bullpen. Bazardo has fared well over brief stints with the Red Sox in 2021 and 2022, so there's a good chance he surfaces in the big leagues at some point in 2023 even though he doesn't currently possess a spot on the 40-man roster.

Hamilton is expected to remain in the Yankees' organization, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The Yanks have not determined who will be awarded their final spot in the bullpen. It could go to Hamilton, or he might instead be added to the 40-man roster and then optioned. Either way, the non-roster invitee is going to remain in the organization.

Coulombe was acquired by the Orioles from the Twins on Monday for cash considerations, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Coulombe was going to come up short in his bid for a bullpen spot with the Twins, but he's been given a reprieve with the O's trading for him and promptly adding him to their relief corps. The veteran left-hander holds a 2.92 ERA over 41 appearances over the last three seasons.

The Mariners optioned Topa to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Acquired from the Brewers in January, Topa had a so-so performance in his first camp with Seattle. The hard-throwing righty turned in a 2.25 ERA and struck out eight batters over eight frames in Cactus League play, but he issued three walks and allowed a .300 average to opposing batters. So long as he steers clear of the health issues that have derailed him the past two seasons, Topa should stand a decent chance of surfacing in Seattle's bullpen at some point in 2023.

Mayza posted a 1.42 ERA and 7:0 K:BB through 6.1 Grapefruit League innings this spring.

The 31-year-old lefty appeared in only one Grapefruit League game after March 18 as the Blue Jays let their top set-up men get in most of their work on back fields late in camp. Mayza has racked up 52 holds over the last three seasons and figured to be Toronto's top relief option from the port side again in 2023.