MLB Player News

Topa gave up four earned runs on four hits, including a home run, with two strikeouts Sunday to increase his spring ERA to 30.38. He's given up nine earned runs in 2.2 innings.

Topa does have a 5:3 K:BB in 2.2 innings, so he's at least striking out batters. It's still early in the spring and Topa as a veteran may be focusing on some aspects of his arsenal. However, this isn't inspiring for his chances to earn saves in the unsettled Twins closer competition.

Hader (biceps) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Hader will take the mound for the first time since he developed left biceps inflammation prior to reporting to Astros camp. While he hasn't yet been officially ruled out for Opening Day, Hader is unlikely to avoid a stint on the injured list. Bryan Abreu appears to be in line to serve as the Astros' closer at the beginning of the season.

Nunez was optioned to the Orioles' minor-league camp Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Nunez appeared in five games with Baltimore during spring training, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six batters over five innings. The right-handed pitcher will now likely open the season with Triple-A Norfolk, and he'll look to impress in an attempt to get a shot with the major-league roster this season.

De Los Santos (knee) is expected to complete one more bullpen session before facing hitters in live batting practice Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The upcoming live BP session will represent the final checkpoint De Los Santos will need to hit in his recovery from a right knee strain before gaining clearance to make his Grapefruit League debut. De Los Santos worked mainly in middle relief between stops with Atlanta and Houston last season, picking up six wins and six holds and submitting a 4.36 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 62:24 K:BB across 66 innings.

The Rays optioned Cook to minor-league camp Sunday.

The 24-year-old was added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster in November but was always a longshot to crack the Opening Day roster. Cook missed some time in 2025 due to injuries but pitched well for Double-A Montgomery when available, finishing with a 2.30 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 15.2 innings.

Ort (elbow) struck out one batter in a perfect inning of relief Thursday in the Angels' 16-11 loss to the Athletics in Cactus League play.

While he was a member of the Astros last season, Ort didn't make any appearances after Sept. 4 due to right elbow inflammation. The right-hander was briefly a member of the Yankees' 40-man roster over the offseason before being claimed off waivers in late January, and New York outrighted him just over a week later. Ort is attending big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee and will look to string together a few more quality relief appearances in the Cactus League to make his case for a spot in the Angels' Opening Day bullpen.

The Mariners optioned Loutos to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.

Scooped up off waivers from the Nationals earlier in the offseason, Loutos will begin his time in the Mariners organization at the Triple-A level after he was unable to secure a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The right-hander took himself out of consideration after yielding seven runs (six earned) on seven hits over three innings in four appearances during Cactus League play.

The White Sox announced Sunday that Smith will start their March 26 season opener in Milwaukee.

Coming off a rookie season in which he earned an All-Star nod while pitching to a 3.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 29 starts, Smith was the obvious choice to take the hill for the Opening Day game. The 25-year-old righty will be facing off against the organization that drafted him in 2021 before he joined the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft following the 2024 season.

Latz allowed three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.1 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Giants.

Latz's third Cactus League start was a grind. After an efficient 1-2-3 first inning, the left-hander needed 18 pitches for the second frame. The walks also drove up his pitch count, and by the time he started the fourth inning, Latz's velocity diminished. Per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers have been concerned about Latz's ability to maintain velocity throughout a game and work as a viable starter. He's currently competing with Kumar Rocker for the final spot in the rotation, with Cal Quantrill and Austin Gomber also options if neither favorite is deemed able to handle the assignment.

Sandlin (elbow) threw a live batting practice session Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's the first time Sandlin has faced live batters this spring, as he continues to work his way back from an arthroscopic elbow procedure he underwent in the fall. It's still unclear how far away he is from making his debut in the Cactus League, but he's likely to grab a spot in the Angels' bullpen once he's fully healthy.