MLB Player News
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Royals' Matt Strahm: Delivers clean appearance
Strahm (leg) tossed a perfect inning of relief Friday in the Royals' 5-2 loss to the Giants in Cactus League play.
Strahm had been lifted from his previous spring appearance Wednesday after being struck in the left leg by a line drive, but he suffered nothing more than a contusion and felt well enough to get back on the mound two days later. The 34-year-old lefty is ready to go for Opening Day as he kicks off his second stint in the Royals organization after being acquired from the Phillies over the winter. Strahm is expected to be a key part of the bridge to closer Carlos Estevez.
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Nick Martinez RP | TB
Rays' Nick Martinez: Rough Grapefruit League showing
Martinez finished Grapefruit League play with a 14.49 ERA and 7:6 K:BB over 13.2 innings.
Martinez surrendered a whopping 29 hits (including five home runs) in his four spring training starts. It will not prevent him from occupying a spot in the Rays' rotation -- he's already been announced as the starter for Saturday's game in St. Louis -- and Martinez should have some leash given his $13 million salary. Fantasy managers will probably want to steer clear of starting Martinez for the time being, however.
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Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman: Ready to close
Chapman has allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over 5.2 spring innings.
Chapman is ready to resume his role as Boston's closer in 2026. The 38-year-old is coming off a stellar 2025, when he converted 32 of 34 save opportunities, lowered a consistently pesky walk rate to a career-low 2.2 BB/9 and was named the AL Reliever of the Year.
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Ryan Watson RP | BOS
Red Sox's Ryan Watson: Emerges from camp with roster spot
The Red Sox informed Watson on Monday that he will be included on the Opening Day roster, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The 28-year-old righty won a spot in the Boston bullpen after submitting a 5.56 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB over 11.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. A Rule 5 Draft selection over the winter, Watson will need to be stashed on the major-league roster throughout the 2026 season, or else the Red Sox will have to offer him back to the Giants.
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Tyler Samaniego RP | BOS
Red Sox's Tyler Samaniego: Optioned to Triple-A
The Red Sox optioned Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Samaniego spun 5.1 scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play, collecting a 6:2 K:BB with just one hit allowed. It wasn't enough to capture a spot on the Opening Day roster, but Samaniego is poised to make his major-league debut at some point this season.
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Danny Coulombe RP | BOS
Red Sox's Danny Coulombe: Set to pitch Monday
Coulombe (illness) is scheduled to make a relief appearance in Monday's exhibition against the Twins, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
The Red Sox sent Coulombe home from camp Saturday after he fell ill, but the veteran reliever has apparently made a full recovery following a couple days of rest. After signing with Boston just under two weeks ago, Coulombe made just one Grapefruit League appearance, but he should still be on track to make the Red Sox's Opening Day bullpen if he checks out fine following Monday's outing.
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Kody Funderburk RP | MIN
Twins' Kody Funderburk: Set to make bullpen
Funderburk will make the Twins' Opening Day roster, manager Derek Shelton told MLB.com.
Funderburk was thought to be the odd man out of the bullpen as the fourth lefty behind Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda and Andrew Chafin. However, Chafin was released earlier in the week, so Funderburk will be in the major-league bullpen. Funderburk had a 2.61 ERA and a 21:8 K:BB in 20.2 innings after the All-Star break last season, which showed promise for 2026.
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Cole Wilcox RP | SEA
Mariners' Cole Wilcox: Sent down Sunday
Wilcox was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
Wilcox appeared in eight games with the Mariners during spring training, producing a 4.32 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 8.1 innings. The right-hander was traded to Seattle in November after making his major-league debut with the Rays in 2025. Wilcox will now look to impress with Tacoma in an attempt to get a shot with Seattle's major-league roster down the road this year.
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Brandon Eisert RP | CHW
White Sox's Brandon Eisert: Sent to Triple-A
Eisert was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday.
Eisert will head to Charlotte after posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over nine innings in eight appearances with the White Sox during spring training. The southpaw made 72 appearances, including three starts, with the South Siders in 2025, compiling a 4.39 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 74 strikeouts over 69.2 innings. Eisert will likely return to the major-league roster in relatively short order.
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Peter Lambert RP | HOU
Astros' Peter Lambert: Loses out in bid for roster
The Astros informed Lambert on Sunday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Lambert had attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but made a spirited bid for a spot in Houston's bullpen by turning in a 2.92 ERA and 8:5 K:BB in 12.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. The right-hander's minor-league contract contains an opt-out clause that will allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but Lambert is still deciding whether to become a free agent or stay in the organization and report to Triple-A Sugar Land, per Rome.