MLB Player News

Hudson will sign a major-league deal with the Blue Jays on Sunday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Hudson was released by the Angels on Friday after joining the team on a minor-league deal in February. The 32-year-old had a 4.11 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB over 46 innings with the Dodgers last season and figures to serve in a middle relief role with the Blue Jays.

Wittgren was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Wittgren was acquired from the Marlins in February after being designated for assignment and will somewhat surprisingly start the season at Triple-A. The 27-year-old had a 2.94 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB over 33.2 innings with Miami last season and figures to join the Indians at some point in 2019.

Phillips was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Phillips didn't allow a run through eight Grapefruit League appearances (9.2 innings), racking up a 10:3 K:BB in the process. Still, the Orioles want the right-hander to spend more time in the minors after struggling to a 13.11 ERA in his big-league debut last season (11.2 innings).

Alvarado fired a scoreless sixth inning in which he also recorded a strikeout during a Grapefruit League win over the Pirates on Friday.

Alvarado has been sparsely utilized by manager Kevin Cash this spring, with Friday's outing only his second appearance of the exhibition slate. The 23-year-old southpaw has thrown just 13 total pitches but recorded three strikeouts, and he remains on track to see the bulk of save opportunities despite the Rays not officially designating him as a full-time closer.

VerHagen is expected to head to the injured list to open the year with a strained forearm, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

VerHagen had been dealing with a shoulder issue earlier in spring and is now apparently battling a new problem. The issue isn't considered a serious one but the Tigers have little reason to risk further injury, especially considering that injured-list trips can be backdated by three days at the start of the year, meaning VerHagen could be eligible to return just a week into the season.

Cisnero was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday.

Cisnero hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2014, so it's little surprise to see him fail to win a job despite a 1.86 spring ERA. He'll head to Triple-A and wait for his chance at a roster spot.

Loaisiga was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday but is expected to return six games into the season once CC Sabathia (knee, chest) has served his suspension, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sabathia will occupy a roster spot at the start of the year but will then head to the injured list for a brief period as he recovers from offseason knee and chest surgeries. Loaisiga will be preferred ahead of Luis Cessa in the rotation due that time, although the Yankees could also use an opener when Sabathia's spot in the rotation comes up.

General manager Jon Daniels said Saturday that Gomez would be included on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The Rangers will select Gomez's contract after the veteran right-hander yielded only two runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out nine over 10.1 innings in Cactus League play. The 31-year-old is expected to fill a middle-relief role out of the Texas bullpen.

Manager Ned Yost said Saturday that Lopez will likely stay at extended spring training after the Royals wrap up their Cactus League slate this weekend, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Lopez showed some flashes of promise late in 2018 with the Royals but hasn't taken a major step forward through his first five spring outings, posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB across 16.1 innings. Despite the underwhelming results, Lopez looks likely to fill a rotation spot for the rebuilding Royals, though Yost hasn't indicated when the right-hander might be ready to make his first turn. At this point, only Brad Keller and Jake Junis are locked in as starters for the first two games of the season, but Lopez could be summoned when a third starter is required March 31 versus the White Sox. If the Royals look go with another pitcher as their No. 3 starter, Lopez may not be summoned to the majors until April 9 or 10, when the team would first require a fourth and fifth man in the rotation.

Borucki (elbow) will be re-evaluated in the upcoming days but has already been ruled out for at least one turn through the rotation to begin the season, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

The Blue Jays open their season March 28 and will play 10 consecutive days, so the team won't have the luxury of shortening its rotation to four men while they wait for Borucki to recover from a sore elbow. As a result, Toronto will likely turn to one of Thomas Pannone, Sean Reid-Foley, Tyler Thornton or Sam Gaviglio to make a spot start when Borucki's first turn comes up April 1 versus the Orioles. Once Borucki gets re-evaluated, the Blue Jays should have a better sense of the lefty's timeline to rejoin the big club.