MLB Player News

Richards (neck) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Facing live hitters is likely the final hurdle that Richards needs to clear before the Blue Jays send him out for a minor-league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old right-hander had supplied a 6.59 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 28.2 innings out of the Toronto bullpen this season before landing on the 15-day injured list June 18 with a strained neck. According to Mitch Bannon of SI.com, Richards said he was shut down from throwing for only a few days due to the injury, and he expects to be ready to come off the IL when first eligible July 3.

Jackson secured his 13th hold in a win over the Royals on Sunday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.

A day after picking up his second win, Jackson came back to throw a laborious 21-pitch inning that netted him a hold for the fifth time in the last six appearances. Jackson has had a handful of stumbles this season, but he boasts a 12.7 K/9 and 2.82 FIP across 29.2 innings over 32 appearances.

The Angels designated Barraclough for assignment Monday.

He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster to outfielder Dillon Thomas, whom the Angels claimed off waivers from the Astros on Monday. Before he was demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on May 30, the 32-year-old reliever made eight appearances for the Angels and gave up three earned runs on seven hits and four walks over nine innings.

The Royals designated Bolanos for assignment Monday.

Bolanos was already off the 26-man active roster after being optioned to Triple-A Omaha on June 4, but his removal from the 40-man roster clears a spot for top prospect Vinnie Pasquantino, who was promoted from Omaha and will take over as Kansas City's everyday first baseman following Monday's trade of Carlos Santana to Seattle. Before he was demoted to Triple-A, Bolanos made eight appearances spanning 18.1 innings out of the Royals bullpen and posted a 4.42 ERA and 1.75 WHIP.

The Royals acquired Mills and minor-league right-hander William Fleming from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana and cash considerations.

Mills will take Santana's spot on the 40-man roster, but he won't be added to the Royals' 26-man active roster, as top prospect Vinnie Pasquantino will instead get a call-up from Triple-A Omaha to fill the opening at first base. Though he had made eight relief appearances for Seattle, Mills has spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Tacoma. In 19.2 innings with the affiliate, the right-handed reliever submitted a 1.83 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.

Chapman (Achilles) struck out one over a perfect inning Sunday for Double-A Somerset in his second minor-league rehab appearance.

Chapman needed only 11 pitches to retire the side, with his fastball hovering in the 93-to-94 mile-per-hour range and topping out at 98, according to Greg Johnson of The Trentonian. After a pair of clean innings at Somerset over the weekend, Chapman looks like he'll be ready to rejoin the Yankees for their three-game home series with the Athletics that begins Monday. Since Chapman pitched Sunday and the Yankees may not want to make him available on back-to-back days just yet, the club could wait until Tuesday to activate him from the 15-day injured list. Manager Aaron Boone's previous comments have suggested that Chapman will recapture primary closing duties for the Yankees once reinstated, though Clay Holmes could also receive more usage in higher-leverage situations than he had prior to Chapman landing on the shelf.

Duran picked up the save Sunday against the Rockies, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out two and walking none over one inning.

Duran threw 13 of 18 pitches for strikes Sunday, earning his fifth save of the season. It was his first save since May 24, though he has picked up five holds in the meantime. The righty has been lights out in June, allowing two runs across 10.2 innings for a 1.69 ERA. Duran now has a 2.18 ERA for the season and may have earned some more save opportunities after another stellar performance.

Texas manager Chris Woodward said Sunday that Howard could eventually slot into the major-league rotation, but not immediately, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

After the Rangers optioned Taylor Hearn to Triple-A Round Rock, where he'll transition from starter to a multi-inning bullpen role, Texas seeks a solution for the back end of the rotation. The club can get back with four starters until July 5. Howard has been the best of breed at Round Rock, hitting his stride over the last five starts with a 3.24 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25 innings. He's yet to throw more than five innings, but Howard could be serviceable by early July.

Hearn will work out of the bullpen at Triple-A Round Rock and is expected to return to the majors as a multi-inning reliever, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. "When we bring him back, and he'll be back, the biggest thing is to put him in a multi-inning reliever role," Texas manager Chris Woodward said. "We just want to see the power and velocity come back."

Woodward announced prior to three-game series with Washington over the weekend that Hearn would no longer start. The left-hander, who has a 6.25 ERA over 13 starts, then threw four scoreless innings Saturday as a reliever before being optioned to Round Rock. He should be back with Texas post All-Star break. Hearn's removal from the rotation opens an opportunity, but there's no obvious choice in the minors. Both A.J. Alexy (7.03 ERA) and Cole Winn (5.43) have not shown much for the Express over the first few months. Spencer Howard, who opened the season in the majors before being optioned when MLB rosters were trimmed at the end of April, has pitched well of late.

Trivino picked up the save Sunday against Kansas City, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one and walking none over one inning.

Just a day after earning a two-out save, Trivino was able to pick up another one Sunday. The righty entered with a two-run cushion, but did allow two runners to get into scoring position before inducing a pop up and a strike out to get out of the jam. This was Trivino's fourth save of the season. The outing lowered his ERA to 7.17.