MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora believes that Rodriguez (torso) will likely begin the season on the injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Cora said that Rodriguez will undergo imaging in the coming days, but that it's highly likely the left-hander will start the year on the shelf. The southpaw left Saturday's Grapefruit League game with right torso pain, and multiple reporters noted that he appeared to be in considerable pain. With Rodriguez out, Cora mentioned Ryan Sherriff and Oddanier Mosqueda as possibilities to open the season with Boston as southpaw bullpen options.

Bautista will pitch Monday against the Phillies in a Grapefruit League game, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bautista will follow starter Kyle Bradish at some point in the contest. The right-hander got off to a late start in spring action because of shoulder and knee troubles, but he showed off his impressive fastball in his spring debut earlier in the week and looks ready to roll for the start of the season.

Megill was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Megill made 39 appearances out of the bullpen for Minnesota last season and had a 4.80 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 49:17 K:BB across 45 innings, but he won't make the Opening Day roster after he allowed eight earned runs in 6.2 frames this spring. The 29-year-old should join the big-league club at some point this season but is likely to be limited to low-leverage work.

Munoz (foot) pitched in a B game against the Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex's back fields Thursday as planned, but he's yet to make his Cactus League debut.

Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports Munoz threw 18 pitches and had his fastball sitting at 97-98 mph during his outing against San Diego. However, Munoz also conceded he has some adjustments to make, noting he was "thinking too much about the pitch clock", which caused him to rush his delivery a bit. Most important, there were no reported setbacks with Munoz's surgically repaired ankle, and his next opportunity to make his official Cactus League debut comes Sunday in split-squad action against either the Rangers or White Sox.

Trivino (elbow) began throwing again Monday, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports.

Trivino suffered a right elbow ligament strain early in spring and will begin the season on the injured list. Though he's started throwing again, the right-handed reliever is expected to be out until at least late April.

Wantz remains the favorite for the final bullpen spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

There are seven relievers -- Carlos Estevez, Jimmy Herget, Jaime Barria, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Jose Quijada and Matt Moore -- who are seen as locks to break camp with the club, potentially leaving just one more bullpen spot available. Wantz appears to be the favorite for the opening, and he hasn't done anything to hurt his chances this spring, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings during which he's allowed three hits and posted a 4:2 K:BB. The biggest threat to Wantz's opportunity could be hard-throwing youngster Ben Joyce, who has opened eyes with a strong spring and a fastball that has reached 104 mph. While Joyce is the flashier pitcher, he's not currently on the 40-man roster and has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, while Wantz has two big-league seasons under his belt and was effective for the Angels in 2022, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 50.1 innings while picking up eight holds.

Joyce's final pitch in Friday's Cactus League appearance against Kansas City clocked in at 104 mph, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Joyce was the 89th pick in last year's first-year player draft and was clocked as high as 105 mph with his fastball while with Tennessee. The right-hander has turned heads not only with his velocity this spring, but also with his results, as he's pitched five scoreless innings during which he has allowed just two hits while striking out six batters. About the only knock on his work thus far has been his control -- he's walked four batters in the five frames. Joyce wasn't initially expected to vie for a role on the Opening Day roster, but given his performance thus far, he's in contention to do so, per Bollinger.

Herget could begin the season as the Angels' closer with offseason signee Carlos Estevez struggling in Cactus League play, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Estevez signed with the Angels in December and was tabbed as the team's potential closer by general manager Perry Minasian early in camp, but the veteran reliever has struggled with a 19.64 ERA and 10 walks over 3.2 innings this spring. Estevez and the Angels have indicated a lack of concern about his Cactus League struggles, but if the team ultimately decides to go in a different direction for ninth-inning work to start the season, Herget would be the logical choice to assume the role. The right-hander was effective as part of a closer committee after Raisel Iglesias was traded last season, tallying eight saves, a 1.10 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP over 32.2 innings. However, Herget hadn't saved any MLB games prior to 2022, so his sample size of success as a closer is relatively small.

Fairbanks has not given up a run in his two Grapefruit League appearances.

Fairbanks has allowed just one hit so far in his two games, and he's struck out two while not issuing a walk, although he did put a runner on via a hit-by-pitch. The right-hander signed a three-year extension with the Rays in January after registering a 1.13 ERA and 38:3 K:BB over 24 innings, and he has a chance to see a good share of the save opportunities for Tampa Bay during the 2023 season.

Duran has thrown five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks this spring. He reached 101.1 mph with his fastball in his last outing Thursday.

Duran has already been in mid-season form with his velocity and looks ready for the regular season. He'll be a primary weapon in the Minnesota bullpen, but manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't tipped his hand about his plan for the closer role this spring. While Duran may be the best reliever, Baldelli usually runs his bullpen with disregard to the save statistic. Duran may be used in high-leverage matchups with Jorge Lopez pitching the ninth inning, for example. However, Duran's elite velocity and prior success are traits that could lead Baldelli to break with tradition and use him as the primary closer if he opts to abandon the committee approach.