MLB Player News

Wittgren could be a candidate for saves if Brad Hand struggles, Joe Noga of Cleveland.com reports.

Hand will enter the season as the Indians' closer, but the team will need to have a backup plan in case his struggles from late in the 2019 campaign spill over into 2020. Wittgren would be among the candidates to claim the role, as James Karinchak has the arsenal for high-leverage work but lacks experience as a big-league closer while Emmanuel Clase (lat) is expected to be out until June. Wittgren recorded four saves and 12 holds for Cleveland last season, and posted a strong 2.81 ERA backed by a 1.08 WHIP.

Kay was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kay wasn't a favorite to secure an Opening Day rotation spot as he's thrown just 14 career big-league innings. After posting a 4.41 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 14 Triple-A starts last season, he likely still has something to prove in the minors.

May set a new personal high by hitting 99.8 mph with his fastball during Grapefruit League play, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

While that was on just one pitch, Park notes that May's average fastball velocity was also up over the 96 mph he averaged in 2019. Seemingly all the Twins relievers were throwing harder this spring. Taylor Rogers will be the closer, but May is also capable of getting high-leverage outs.

Littell set a new personal high by hitting 97.3 mph with his fastball during Grapefruit League play, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

He did not allow a run while striking out nine and giving up three hits and four walks over seven innings. Seemingly everyone in the Twins' bullpen upped their fastball velocity this spring, and while the 97.3 mph reading was on one pitch, Park notes that Littell's average fastball velocity was also up over his 94 mph average fastball velocity from 2019.

Rogers raised his average fastball velocity this spring and gave up one run on six hits and one walk over five innings while striking out seven, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Park did not specify how hard Rogers was throwing, but we can assume it was harder than the 95 mph he averaged on his fastball in 2019. Seemingly everyone in the Twins' bullpen was throwing a bit harder this spring, but Rogers remains the cream of the crop and should get the majority of the save opportunities when the season gets underway.

Smeltzer will use this shutdown period to improve his feel for a new slider, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

His 8.68 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and three home runs allowed in 9.1 spring innings are being attributed to him integrating that new pitch. He was a distant third behind Randy Dobnak and Jhoulys Chacin in the competition for the fifth starter's spot, but could be a better pitcher when play resumes if he gains feel for that slider. Even so, he still likely trails Dobnak in the pecking order, and Rich Hill (elbow) could be healthy enough to slot into the rotation sometime in June.

Cordero is projected to be part of the White Sox's bullpen to start the 2020 season, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. He's allowed one run on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out five over 4.2 spring innings.

The three organizations that employed Cordero in 2019 before he landed with the White Sox must be wondering what they missed. The flame-throwing right-hander allowed one earned run over 17.2 innings at Triple-A Charlotte before pitching effectively out of Chicago's bullpen (2.89 ERA) over the second half of the season. For a pitcher that throws mid-90s, Cordero doesn't strike out many batters, but the sink on it had opponents hitting balls into the ground (.189 BAA). He's expected to be part of a potentially good bullpen that should be able to shepherd leads from the seventh inning on.

Bummer is considered a lock to make the White Sox's bullpen, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. He's struck out five and walked two with no hits allowed over four scoreless spring innings.

Bummer is the poster child for spring-training stats don't matter. After surrendering nine runs and 11 hits in six spring innings during the 2019 Cactus League, he became the White Sox's most reliable reliever in the regular season. He claimed the setup role from Kelvin Herrera and earned 27 holds while posting a 2.13 ERA. The White Sox were so impressed, they re-signed the left-hander to a five-year deal in February. Bummer from the left and Steve Cishek from the right give opposing batters different looks in the late innings.

Johnson could serve as a starter for the Red Sox in 2020, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Johnson served as both a starter and reliever for the major-league club in 2019 prior to being outrighted off the 40-man roster during the offseason. However, he's been relatively effective this spring with a 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over five appearances (two starts), which led to interim manager Ron Roenicke listing him as an option to start in 2020 after Chris Sale (elbow) opted for Tommy John surgery Thursday. Roenicke also named Ryan Weber as an option, and it would appear as though Weber has the slight edge after exhibiting dominance on the mound this spring. However, Johnson could serve as a fill-in starter or join the rotation if more injuries occur.

Weber could serve as a member of Boston's starting rotation in 2020, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Weber was seen as a potential back-end starter heading into 2020, but the combination of a strong spring and Chris Sale (elbow) electing for Tommy John surgery led interim manager Ron Roenicke to name him as a candidate to begin the season in the starting rotation. The 29-year-old pitched nine scoreless innings while recording 11 strikeouts and no walks during spring training. Roenicke also named Brian Johnson as an option to serve as a starter, but it would appear as though Weber would have the slight edge after his strong showing this spring.