MLB Player News

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that Munoz (foot) has been out of a walking boot for the past two weeks and has started a throwing program, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Munoz underwent foot surgery after a breakout 2022 campaign in which the hard-throwing reliever post eda 2.49 ERA with four saves and 22 holds across 64 appearances. The 24-year-old should report to spring training with few limitations, if any, and while he may not see the majority of save chances with Seattle to begin the season, his ability to miss bats makes him relevant in several fantasy formats.

Rangers GM Chris Young said Saturday that Hernandez "could be a closer" for the club in 2023, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Jose Leclerc, who finished 2022 as Texas' closer, is likely the current frontrunner for the job and was the first of many names mentioned by Young, but Hernandez was the next man brought up by the new GM. Hernandez returned from a lengthy absence last season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and had a 2.97 ERA with four saves across 30.1 innings, but he struggled with his command at times and had a 13.0 percent walk rate. The right-hander may not open 2023 as the Rangers' primary closer, but Hernandez should have a high-leverage role and is likely to receive some save chances at some point.

Leclerc appears to be the frontrunner to open the season as closer for the Rangers, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

As Weaver notes, Leclerc finished the 2022 season on a high note after returning from Tommy John surgery with a 2.83 ERA, 54:21 K:BB and seven saves. While he should be considered the favorite, Rangers general manager Chris Young mentioned several options as potential stoppers, including Jonathan Hernandez, Ian Kennedy and Joe Barlow. Leclerc will need to perform well in the Cactus League, but right now, he seems like the Texas reliever to target in fantasy for those searching for saves.

Gage was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Gage is cleared off the 40-man roster to make room for Chad Green, who signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal Tuesday. The southpaw hurler was effective with a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings in 11 appearances with Toronto, and posted a 2.34 ERA in Triple-A Buffalo in his 41 games in the minors. It would not be a surprise at all if he saw interest on the waiver wire or via trade.

Bukauskas was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Tuesday.

The move clears a spot on the roster after the Mariners claimed Tayler Saucedo off waivers from the Mets. Bukauskas had a short stay on the Mariners' 40-man roster, as he was claimed by Seattle off waivers from Arizona on Jan. 17. The right-hander posted a 2.79 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP over 19.1 frames with Triple-A Reno in 2022. If unclaimed, he likely will report to Triple-A Tacoma to provide organizational depth for the 2023 season.

Saucedo was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Tuesday.

Saucedo had been designated for assignment by the Mets last week following the completion of a free-agent agreement with outfielder Tommy Pham. The 29-year-old left-hander allowed four earned runs in just 2.2 major-league innings last season with the Blue Jays, who cut him loose in November.

Green (elbow) signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says the second year of the deal will be a player option should the Jays elect to decline a three-year team option. If both sides decline, Toronto would get a two-year club option. Green underwent Tommy John surgery in June of 2022 and won't pitch again at least until late 2023, hence the unique structure of the deal. It's a contract that should pay off for the Jays if Green can come close to his pre-surgery form, as the 31-year-old boasts a career 3.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 494:96 K:BB over 383.2 innings of work.

German was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Monday.

It clears room on the 40-man roster for Richard Bleier after Bleier was acquired from Miami in the Matt Barnes trade. The right-hander allowed eight runs in four appearances with Boston in the 2022 campaign with a 4:4 K:BB over his four innings of work, but did pitch well with Triple-A Worcester in the second half of the season. There could be interest in German on the waiver wire.

The White Sox claimed Alexy off waivers from the Twins on Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Alexy was booted off the Twins' 40-man roster last week after Minnesota acquired outfielder Michael Taylor. The right-hander appeared in five games for the Rangers in 2022 while allowing nine runs in seven innings. The White Sox may look to continue developing the 24-year-old as a starter, but the bullpen likely represents his most realistic path to seeing big-league action in 2023.

Burke and the Rangers discussed a return to the rotation earlier in the offseason, and he's now being considered for the closer spot as well, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

While the Rangers seemingly aren't certain how they'll use Burke next season, it's clear they like him quite a bit. It's easy to see why, as he recorded a 1.97 ERA last season in 82.1 innings of relief, backing that number up with a 27.4 percent strikeout rate and 7.3 percent walk rate. He was a starter in the minors and regularly threw multiple innings last season, so it could make sense for the Rangers to stretch him out and have him ready as the top fill-in should any of their starters' long injury histories get even longer. Given his success in relief, however, it could make sense for the Rangers to keep him in the bullpen, where he'll compete with Jose Leclerc, Jonathan Hernandez and potentially others for saves.