MLB Player News

Joyce will open the year with Double-A Rocket City due to the way the altitude in Salt Lake impacts pitching development, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

For a pitcher who was the talk of the Angels' bullpen during spring training and didn't get reassigned until this past weekend, it would have seemed likely for Joyce to open the year at Triple-A. As Blum notes, Chase Silseth was held at Double-A last year before getting promoted to the majors, so this is a tactic the Angels like to use with young pitchers given the alternative of sending them to the Pacific Coast League. Joyce is a strong candidate to pitch his way to the majors if he stays healthy and could be the Angels' long-term closer.

Rodriguez (oblique) has no official timetable in place for his return, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Recent reports have said Rodriguez is already beginning to feel better after suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain on March 18, but he should still miss a good chunk of April. He will almost certainly be placed on the 10-day IL to start the year, which would open up a spot for Raimel Tapia to make the Opening Day roster as a backup outfielder.

Blanco has won the final bullpen spot for the Astros and will make the Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Blanco will be the multi-inning option for the Astros after being stretched out to throw 40-to-50 pitches over the spring. The 29-year-old earned his spot with a 0.64 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB in 14 innings during Grapefruit League play.

Mayers was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Royals on Tuesday.

Mayers allowed eight earned runs through 14.1 innings this spring and will likely begin the season with Triple-A Omaha. The 31-year-old reliever recorded a 6.27 ERA and 1.42 in the minors last season.

Wittgren was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Royals camp.

Wittgren was in major-league camp this spring as a non-roster invitee. The 31-year-old reliever struggled to a 5.90 ERA and 17:10 K:BB in 29 innings with the Cardinals last season.

Cordero will be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said last week that Cordero was "in a good spot" to break camp with the club, and that's now been made official. The right-handed hurler has impressed this spring, posting a 4.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB over nine innings. He'll likely begin the campaign working in low-leverage situations.

The Royals optioned Snider to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Snider had a solid spring, allowing three earned runs and striking out 10 batters over 7.2 innings, but he will need to prove he can maintain similar levels of success before rejoining the Royals. The 27-year-old reliever put up a 6.55 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 34.1 innings in the majors last season.

The Yankees reassigned Hamilton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Hamilton did not make the Opening Day roster, but he has an opt-out and the Yanks could add him to the 40-man roster and option him in order to keep him around. The 27-year-old was unscored upon in seven appearances this spring.

The Yankees optioned Weissert to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

The 28-year-old was one of the last cuts as he came up just shy of making the Opening Day bullpen. Weissert doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors and could be the first reliever summoned when one is needed.

Curry is expected to make the Guardians' Opening Day bullpen, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

He'll take the spot of Hunter Gaddis, who is moving into the rotation to replace Triston McKenzie (shoulder). Curry is a starter by trade but will be able to provide some length in Cleveland's bullpen.