MLB Player News

Manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Baumann will be used as a traditional reliever moving forward, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Baumann had been in competition for a rotation spot, but he has struggled significantly with five walks and eight earned runs allowed across eight frames this spring. He worked in relief in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays and turned in a clean inning with one strikeout. Baumann should not be expected to work in a high-leverage role to begin the season.

Brentz (elbow) signed a two-year deal with the Royals on Thursday.

Brentz underwent Tommy John surgery in the middle of July, so he's likely to miss the entire 2023 season. Prior to going down with the arm issue in 2022, he made only a few appearances with the Royals and allowed 14 earned runs across 5.1 innings with nine strikeouts and 10 walks.

Hall (back) is throwing a two-inning simulated game Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Hall is probably not going to be an option for the Orioles at the beginning of the 2023 regular season as he recovers from a lower-back injury, but he continues to work through his rehab program without issue. The 24-year-old left-hander could make his Grapefruit League debut sometime next week and will get stretched out from there.

Baker is a virtual lock to break camp with the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Baker was viewed as an option to close earlier in spring training, but with Felix Bautista on track to avoid the injured list, that is now unlikely. The 28-year-old Baker hasn't exactly done himself any favors, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings through five Grapefruit League appearances. He was an effective middle reliever in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 76:26 K:BB over 69.2 innings, though he could see more setup work this year with Dillon Tate (elbow) out for the first month of the campaign.

Yarbrough (groin) will pitch in a minor-league game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

He had been slated to pitch in a game on the back fields Wednesday before that was washed out by rain. Yarbrough hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since late February because of a groin injury, but the Royals don't anticipate it affecting his readiness for Opening Day.

Manager Scott Servais said Thursday that Berroa will be part of the rotation at Double-A Arkansas to begin the season, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Berroa impressed this spring to the point that Servais also said he expects the hard-throwing right-hander to help the major-league club in 2023. That could be as a reliever, but Berroa will continue to develop as a starter for the time being.

Munoz (foot) will make an appearance in a B game Thursday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

The plan has been for Munoz to make his Cactus League debut Friday and that presumably will still happen. Munoz has been brought along slowly in camp following October foot surgery, but he's healthy and this point and just needs to knock some rust off. He and Paul Sewald and Munoz look like 1A and 1B at closer, respectively, for Seattle this season.

Kowar's role moving forward has yet to be determined by the Royals, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Kowar was part of the Royals' camp cuts Wednesday and the team is still deciding whether to deploy him as a starter or reliever. The first-round pick will stay stretched out this spring, but it's possible the organization ultimately determines he's best suited as a reliever. Kowar, 26, has struggled in both roles in the majors so far with a 9.16 ERA as a reliever and an even uglier 11.85 mark as a starter.

Chapman had his next scheduled Cactus League appearance pushed from Wednesday to Thursday due to wet conditions, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Rainstorms blew threw Arizona on Wednesday afternoon and the Royals didn't want to risk an on-field mishap with their new high-leverage reliever. Chapman, signed to a one-year, $3.75 million contract in January, has recorded eight strikeouts through four innings this spring.

The Royals optioned Castillo to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Castillo had been struggling mightily in Cactus League action this spring and can now be ruled out for an Opening Day roster spot in Kansas City. He'll presumably work out of the rotation at Omaha.