MLB Player News

Zimmermann was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Monday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

Zimmermann has been competing for a spot in the Orioles' rotation but always seemed to be on the periphery. The left-hander does figure to make some starts with the big club this season but for now will head to Norfolk.

Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Monday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Vespi is just now returning from sports hernia surgery that he underwent in January, and the southpaw will need more time to get ready for the regular season. The 27-year-old will likely be an up-and-down option for Baltimore throughout the 2023 campaign.

Hall (back) being used as a reliever at the start of the season was not ruled out by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde on Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The plan prior to Hall suffering a back injury had been to stretch the left-hander out as a starter. That could still happen at Triple-A Norfolk, but now keeping him in the majors as a member of the bullpen is also being considered. Hall made his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Phillies, striking out four but allowing three runs -- one earned -- over 1.2 innings of work.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Rodriguez has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Cora declined to provide a timetable for the reliever when asked about the matter, but Rodriguez will most likely be sidelined for multiple weeks, if not more than a month. Ryan Sherriff and Oddanier Mosqueda are expected to challenge for a left-handed reliever role with Boston while Rodriguez recuperates.

The Mariners reassigned Rodriguez to minor-league camp Monday.

Rodriguez submitted three scoreless relief appearances during Cactus League play, but the 27-year-old right-hander never merited serious consideration for a spot in Seattle's Opening Day bullpen after having toiled in the minors over both of the past two seasons. He spent the 2022 campaign in the Mets organization, pitching to a 4.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 68:36 K:BB across 76.1 innings.

The Mariners reassigned Bukauskas to minor-league camp Monday.

The right-hander held an 8.31 ERA over five Cactus League appearances. Bukauskas was a waiver pickup in January before Seattle removed him from its 40-man roster in February.

Foster has been shut down due to a right forearm strain, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox don't currently have a timetable for the reliever but hope to have one by the end of camp. That would seem to suggest Foster might be sidelined for a while, but it sounds like there should be more clarity by the end of next week. Foster held a 4.40 ERA over 48 appearances with the big club in 2022.

Alexy (oblique) made his spring debut in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers in Cactus League play, retiring two batters while allowing two runs on three hits and two walks.

Though Alexy appears to have moved past the left oblique issue that first popped up earlier in this month, his poor showing in his debut won't help his chances of breaking camp as a member of Chicago's Opening Day roster. Alexy still has a minor-league option remaining, and if demoted to Triple-A Charlotte to begin the season, he could fill a spot in the affiliate's rotation.

Garcia gave up a hit in a scoreless eighth inning during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The right-hander didn't allow a run in two innings while pitching for the Dominican Republic during the WBC, and he's also delivered three clean innings for the Jays in Grapefruit League play. Garcia's combined 2:0 K:BB over that time isn't exactly dominant, but he's still set to be one of the primary setup men for closer Jordan Romano in 2023, and he recorded a career-high 22 holds in that role last year.

The Angels announced Monday that Marte was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right elbow and will be shut down for at least four weeks, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Marte had yet to make his Cactus League debut due to what manager Phil Nevin and Angels director of sports medicine Mike Frostad termed as "soreness," but the right-handed reliever is evidently dealing with a more significant issue than the team initially led on. Given that he won't be able to resume throwing until late April or early May, Marte will essentially have to complete his own version of spring training before being ready to contribute out of the Angels bullpen. Bollinger suggests that Marte is a likely candidate to move to the 60-day injured list if the Angels need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for another player.