MLB Player News

Leclerc and the Rangers agreed to terms Wednesday on a contract extension, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The details, years or money involved in Leclerc's new deal aren't yet known, but the transaction likely makes the closer part of the Rangers' long-term core rather than a candidate to be dealt ahead of the trade deadline. The added job security Leclerc gains through the extension could be enough to make him one of the safer closer options in fantasy drafts on the heels of a breakout 2018 campaign. Though control remains an issue for the hard-throwing righty (career 16 percent walk rate), he still managed a stellar 1.56 ERA (1.90 FIP) and 13.3 K/9 last season while collecting 12 saves.

Fulmer said he isn't worried about decreased velocity early in spring training and is confident his fastball will tick up by the start of the regular season, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free-Press reports.

In a Grapefruit League start Monday, Fulmer was mostly sitting in the 89-91 mph range with his fastball, which is a drop from the 95.8 mph he averaged a season ago. However, the righty said his velocity will come. "If it keeps going up, then great, I'll be ready when the season starts, which is perfect because you want to peak at that time," he said. "It will come out, don't worry." Fulmer sounds pretty confident, and it's probably only worth worrying if the velocity stays down into late March.

Moore allowed three runs on three hits over three innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League loss to the Blue Jays. He walked three and didn't record a strikeout.

After starting his spring with two scoreless innings, Moore has allowed five runs over his last 5.1 innings of work. The lefty was bad in 2018, and while he probably has a pretty good hold on a rotation spot in Detroit, he doesn't look like a particularly appealing fantasy option at this point.

Kolarek allowed six runs (four earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning during Tuesday's loss to the Twins.

Kolarek served as the opener for the Rays and allowed the first three batters to reach base -- though one reached via error -- before giving up a grand slam to Eddie Rosario. The 30-year-old has thrown two innings over four spring appearances, and has given up nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits and four walks.

Tate has been deployed as a reliever this spring, but the Orioles haven't abandoned developing the right-hander as a rotation option, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. "I don't think we've given up on the idea of him being a starter," manager Brandon Hyde said. "He's going to be a multiple-innings guy."

All 35 of Tate's appearances over his past two seasons in the minors have come as a starter, with the right-hander turning in a 3.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 159:58 K:BB in 206.2 innings. The early results from his dalliance in the bullpen haven't been impressive, but working in relief may represent Tate's clearest path to the big leagues and allow his otherwise middling fastball to play up.

Loaisiga and Domingo German are the top two candidates to open the season as the Yankees' fifth starter with Luis Severino expected to miss time at the start of the year due to rotator cuff inflammation, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Loaisiga had been speculated as a top option, and manager Aaron Boone confirmed as much Tuesday. The opportunity may not last that long, as Boone sounded fairly optimistic about Severino's injury, but Loaisiga could easily be up multiple times throughout the season whenever a Yankee starter gets injured. Loaisiga threw 24.2 major-league innings last season but has never pitched at Triple-A and has only nine Double-A starts under his belt, so the fact that he's nevertheless mentioned as a top candidate is a testament to how the Yankees feel about his future.

Loaisiga will start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Luis Severino was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday with shoulder discomfort. The severity of the issue is still unknown, but if the injury delays Severino's start to the season, we could see Loaisiga and/or Domingo German begin the year in the Yankees' rotation. Injuries have held Loaisiga back -- he missed extended time with shoulder inflammation last season -- but the skills make him a player to keep an eye on over the rest of spring training.

Yarbrough (groin) played catch Sunday and will do so again Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After departing his Grapefruit League outing Thursday against the Twins due to left groin tightness, Yarbrough was sent in for an MRI over the weekend. Fortunately for the lefty, his scans turned up nothing overly concerning, so he'll ease back into his throwing program. Yarbrough noted that he has no definitive target to resume mound work but indicated that he remains on track to be ready for Opening Day.

The Tigers assigned Paredes to their minor-league camp Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

A non-roster invitee this spring, Paredes' move back to the minors a few weeks before the end of camp suggests he wasn't viewed as a serious contender for the Opening Day roster. He'll likely open the season in the Triple-A Toledo bullpen.

The Tigers optioned Jimenez to Double-A Erie on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Along with Jimenez, fellow pitchers Casey Mize and Eduardo Paredes were assigned to minor-league camp, reducing the team's big-league contingent to 56 men. Jimenez was never viewed as a serious candidate for an Opening Day roster spot after pitching exclusively at High-A Lakeland last season. He turned in a 3.42 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 50 innings, all in relief.