MLB Player News

Astros pitching coach Brent Strom said Tuesday that he is "really high" on Abreu as a prospect, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

When asked who among the team's prospects could be a sleeper, Strom named Abreu. Strom did not include Abreu among the "realistic" candidates for the No. 5 rotation spot out of camp, but he said he thinks Abreu "can be an exceptional major-league starting pitcher" down the line. Abreu debuted last season at the age of 22 and averaged 95.1 mph on his fastball, with a 19.2 percent swinging-strike rate in his small sample (8.2 innings).

Farmer will likely work in an eighth-inning setup role in front of closer Joe Jimenez this year, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Farmer had his best professional season in 2019, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 73:24 K:BB over 67.2 innings, while recording 15 holds. By the end of the year, the righty had seemingly settled in as the team's setup man, and he appears to have that role secure heading into 2020. Jimenez is a volatile closer, so Farmer is worth keeping an eye on if the former falters.

Cisnero is a candidate to pitch in the seventh inning this year, setting up Buck Farmer and closer Joe Jimenez, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire likes to have established roles in his bullpen, and at the moment, only Farmer and Jimenez seem set. Cisnero posted a mediocre 4.33 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 35.1 innings with the Tigers last year, though he managed an impressive 40 strikeouts as well. The 30-year-old throws hard and doesn't have a ton of competition in Detroit, so he could secure a middle-relief role with a strong spring.

Soto hit 98 mph on the radar gun Tuesday and has looked impressive to begin camp, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

After a strong showing in the Dominican winter league, where he allowed just one run and struck out 16 across 11 innings of work, Soto seems to be carrying over some momentum. The 25-year-old lefty showed flashes last year out of the bullpen, posting a 3.93 ERA in 34 innings of relief, and he could earn more high-leverage work this season.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Kay would start the Blue Jays' second Grapefruit League game Sunday against the Twins, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Kay got his first taste of the big leagues last September, logging two starts and one turn as a primary pitcher for the Blue Jays. The lefty remains one of the more highly regarded young arms in the system, but he'll likely have a tough time cracking the Opening Day rotation even with a solid showing in spring training. Toronto can afford to let Kay gain further seasoning at Triple-A Buffalo to begin 2020 after the team added three established rotation options (Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chase Anderson and Tanner Roark) over the winter.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Thornton will start the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League opener Saturday versus the Yankees, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Thornton is only expected to cover an inning or two before turning the game over to the bullpen. As a rookie in 2019, Thornton supplied a 4.84 ERA and 8.7 K/9 across 154.1 innings while holding down a rotation spot all season. He won't be guaranteed a starting job to begin 2020, however, as Toronto beefed up its pitching staff this offseason with more seasoned rotation options in Hyun-Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson. Japanese newcomer Shun Yamaguchi is also vying for a back-end spot in the Jays' rotation.

Weiss agreed to a minor-league contract with Cleveland on Tuesday.

Weiss has a single MLB appearance under his belt, in which he faced four batters for the Reds back in 2018, walking two and allowing two homers. The 27-year-old spent 2019 in the upper minors in the Twins' system, struggling to a 7.24 ERA.

Puk will start the Athletics' Cactus League opener Saturday against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk made a midseason return from Tommy John surgery in 2019 before closing out the year in Oakland's bullpen, finishing the season with a 3.18 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 13 strikeouts across 11.1 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw will be attempting to earn a role in the Athletics' rotation this spring, competing with Chris Bassitt and Jesus Luzardo. Puk received high praise from his catcher Austin Allen following a live batting practice session to hitters Tuesday at Fitch Park in Arizona. "He looked really good, his fastball was there, he was throwing strikes with everything," Allen said. The 2016 first-round pick by Oakland will look to utilize his 6-foot-7 frame and full arsenal of pitches to keep hitters off balance and impress his coaches throughout spring training.

Puk, who is opening spring training without restrictions, will utilize all four of his pitches this season as a starter, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The towering left-hander was effective as a reliever in his first taste of big-league action last season, posting a 2-0 record and 3.18 ERA across 10 appearances while only deploying his fastball and slider. Puk felt some elbow soreness in his rehab from Tommy John surgery last summer when using the changeup, so he laid off the pitch when coming out of the bullpen for the Athletics. However, as the projected No. 5 starter for this coming season, Puk will reincorporate both his changeup and curveball, giving him a full arsenal that pitching coach Scott Emerson feels will give hitters "a completely different dynamic" when facing the promising southpaw.

Graveman (elbow), who last pitched in a major-league game back in May 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, has impressed with his form and expanded pitch repertoire early in camp, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has naturally been limited to only bullpens thus far, but manager Scott Servais has already expressed how impressed he's been with Graveman, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with a club option for 2021 back in late November. In addition to his trademark sinker, Graveman is expected to also mix in a changeup with much greater frequency, a pitch he had the time to refine during what was essentially a full rehab year with the Cubs organization in 2019. A strong spring should be enough to secure Graveman a back-end rotation spot on a new-look Mariners staff that will also feature fellow reclamation project Taijuan Walker and the emerging Justus Sheffield.