MLB Player News

Otto was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Otto failed to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation but remains one of the team's top candidates to call on when they need another starter. The 26-year-old was knocked around to the tune of a 9.26 ERA in his six-start debut last season, but that hid a promising set of peripherals, as he was slightly better than average in all three of strikeout rate (25.2 percent), walk rate (7.2 percent) and groundball rate (44.4 percent).

Poche was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

While Poche won't be on the team to start the year, the Rays will rotate through their relievers with options throughout the season, so he should get his chance before too long. The lefty has missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and had an unimpressive 4.70 ERA in his 51.2-inning debut back in 2019, though that came with a strong 34.8 percent strikeout rate.

The Mariners optioned Mills to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.

Mills was one of four players optioned or reassigned Tuesday in the Mariners' latest round of cuts at big-league camp. The 27-year-old righty closed last season at Tacoma, but he made 11 appearances at the big-league level in total in 2021, producing a 9.95 ERA and 2.05 WHIP across 12.2 innings.

Kowar was awarded a spot on the Opening Day roster Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The first-round pick from 2018 got his first taste of big-league action last season, but he struggled with an 11.27 ERA and 2.08 WHIP across nine appearances spanning 30.1 innings. He didn't have the best spring either, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks through seven innings. Kowar will be able to log multi-inning assignments, though with Carlos Hernandez in the rotation, it's expected Kowar will operate out of the bullpen to begin the year.

Speier was awarded a spot on the Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Speier finished 2021 well with a 1.17 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 7.2 innings after spending the bulk of the season with Triple-A Omaha. The southpaw saw mainly low-leverage work, and with plenty of bullpen arms ahead of him, Speier should expect to see most of his time in the middle innings in 2022.

Snider will be on the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

It's a little surprising to see Snider on the roster after he posted a mediocre 6.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB across 30 innings with Triple-A Omaha after a midseason promotion last year. To his credit, he pushed the issue with a 1.35 ERA over 6.2 innings in spring training. The right-hander will provide the Royals with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen to begin the season.

Tate (illness) remained away from Orioles camp Tuesday, but manager Brandon Hyde said he's optimistic the right-hander will be part of the team's season-opening bullpen, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

With three scoreless appearances to open spring training, Tate was well on his way to breaking camp with a meaningful bullpen role, but a sore throat that has kept him from pitching since March 26 suddenly puts him at risk of a brief stint on the injured list to begin the season. The Orioles will likely wait and see how Tate progresses over the next two days before determining if he'll be ready to go for Friday's opener versus the Rays. Even if Tate gets the green light to join the club, his lack of recent work could put him behind Jorge Lopez and Paul Fry in the pecking order in the Orioles' wide-open competition for the closer's job. Hyde's comments Monday seemed to indicate that Lopez is viewed as the team's top leverage reliever, though the skipper could end up giving multiple pitchers opportunities to pick up saves before settling on a designated closer.

Jurado (elbow) will begin the season the 7-day IL at Triple-A St. Paul, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Jurado is working his way back from a torn UCL in his right elbow.

Balazovic will begin the season the 7-day IL at Triple-A St. Paul with a left knee strain, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

It's not clear how long Balazovic will be out. He suffered a back injury in spring training last year that delayed the start to his 2021 season to June. He then had a solid season at Double-A with a 3.62 ERA, 9.5 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 20 starts. If he can stay healthy, Balazovic has a chance to join the Minnesota rotation early in the season.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Tuesday that Merryweather will be part of the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Merryweather was touched up for six runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- over five innings during Grapefruit League play, but his solid performance at the big-league level the past two seasons on the rare occasions that he's been healthy was likely enough for him to earn his spot on the roster. That being said, Merryweather -- who scooped up the Jays' first two saves last season -- may have to settle for lower-leverage work to begin the 2022 campaign until he shows improved form. Jordan Romano is poised to enter the season as the Blue Jays' closer and should have a decent amount of job security after converting 23 of 24 save chances in 2021.