MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Monday that Marinaccio has an "excellent shot" of making the Opening Day roster, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Marinaccio has given up five runs over 4.2 innings this spring, but none of those runs have been earned. He has allowed only three hits while posting a 4:2 K:BB. The right-hander registered a 2.36 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 41:8 K:BB across 26.2 innings at the Triple-A level last season.

Robles has a roster spot waiting for him when he's ready, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Robles was late arriving to camp due to visa issues and just made his first spring appearance Monday, when he worked around a hit and a walk while fanning two over one inning. Boston manager Alex Cora said Robles might be ready for Opening Day, but the Red Sox will first evaluate the right-hander Tuesday after throwing 23 pitches (14 strikes). Given that he's uncertain for Opening Day, Robles is not seen as a candidate for Red Sox's unsettled situation at closer at this time. The 31-year-old has closing experience and could enter the mix once his arm has been built up.

Fleming doesn't appear to have a spot in Tampa Bay's rotation, but he should have a multi-inning job in the bullpen, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fleming gave up two runs over 3.1 innings in Monday's spring training loss to Atlanta.

Fleming has allowed three runs over 6.2 innings with four strikeouts and no walks this spring. Fleming doesn't have great velocity (91.2 mph average fastball last season) or strikeout rates (5.6 K/9) but has outstanding control (2.1 BB/9) and ground-ball rates (55.7%). He'll likely work multiple roles in the bullpen and as an occasional opener.

Manager Brandon Hyde hinted Monday that Lopez may be at the front of the line for saves if the Orioles elect not to deploy him in a more versatile high-leverage role, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

An already murky Baltimore closer situation became even more foggy Sunday, when the Orioles dealt Cole Sulser and Tanner Scott to Miami. Sulser and Scott were two of the presumptive favorites to contend for saves in Baltimore, but their departures leave Lopez, Dillon Tate and Paul Fry as the main candidates, at least based on how reporters close to the team have handicapped the closer picture. A 25-game starter for the Orioles in 2021, Lopez finished last season in the bullpen and posted a 4.61 ERA in a small sample of 8.1 innings, though his underlying numbers (2.34 xFIP, 24.2 K-BB%) painted a rosier picture of his performance. In all likelihood, the Orioles will end up cycling through all of Lopez, Tate and Fry in the late innings early on during the season, hoping that one eventually emerges as the most reliable closer.

Jimenez tossed a scoreless inning in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays and now has a perfect 0.00 ERA this spring with four strikeouts across five innings of work.

It's a very small sample size, but after posting a 7.15 ERA in the condensed 2020 season and a 5.96 ERA last year, any promising signs are welcome with Jimenez. The righty was once considered a potential future closer in Detroit, though he's been passed up by the likes of Gregory Soto and Michael Fulmer in the Tigers' bullpen. Jimenez could pitch himself back onto the fantasy radar, but fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach until he displays more consistency.

Marte was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Marte made his big-league debut with four appearances down the stretch last year, and he won't make the Angels' Opening Day roster. He covered 7.1 innings for Salt Lake last season and allowed seven earned runs with a 7:5 K:BB.

Vasquez was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Vasquez inked a deal with Toronto on March 11 with the hope of cracking the Opening Day roster, but he'll begin 2022 in the minors following Monday's transaction. He made five relief appearances for the Blue Jays this spring, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while fanning five over 3.1 frames.

The Blue Jays informed Pearson (illness) on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pearson reported to camp prepared to compete for a starting role, though the bullpen always seemed to be his most realistic path to a roster spot after the Blue Jays added Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi in free agency to fill out their rotation. The 25-year-old appeared to be on track to win a relief role after he struck out six and allowed four baserunners in 4.1 innings between his first two Grapefruit League appearances, but he hadn't appeared since March 26 after succumbing to an illness. It's unclear whether the Blue Jays will stash Pearson on the 10-day injured list while he recovers from the ailment, or if he'll be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo as Toronto trims down its active roster to 28 men ahead of Opening Day.

Klein will be sidelined for the start of the minor-league season while he contends with shin splints, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

News of Klein's injury first became available Monday, when the Royals didn't list him on any of the season-opening active rosters the organization released for its minor-league affiliates. The 22-year-old right-hander spent his first professional campaign at High-A Quad Cities, finishing with a 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 121:44 K:BB across 70.1 innings.

Schreiber was reassigned to minor-league camp Tuesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Schreiber had solid results this spring, as he posted a 2.57 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in seven innings across four Grapefruit League appearances. However, he spent most of last year at Triple-A Worcester and will be forced to begin the 2022 campaign in the minors as well.