MLB Player News

The Rangers anticipate that Rodriguez will open the season on the 10-day disabled list due to right elbow inflammation, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez earned his way to the big leagues last August after racking up 61 strikeouts to go with a 1.34 ERA and 0.72 WHIP across 47 innings with High-A Down East and Double-A Midland. The right-hander predictably found life in the majors more difficult, but his big fastball was expected to keep him in contention for an Opening Day spot in a Rangers bullpen lacking in impact arms. However, with the elbow issue having prevented him from pitching since March 6 and more rest on the docket, Rodriguez may have to settle for a minor-league assignment once he's activated from the DL.

The Athletics reassigned Puk to their minor-league camp Sunday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Athletics' top pitching prospect saw his chances of making the Opening Day roster improve with several rotation hopefuls struggling this spring and Jharel Cotton (elbow) requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery, but the organization wasn't quite ready to activate Puk's MLB service clock just yet. It likely didn't help Puk's cause that he endured his worst outing of the spring in his most recent start Wednesday against the Mariners, giving up four runs and walking three batters in 2.2 innings. Puk will seek to improve his secondary offerings as he returns to the high minors this season, but if he shows the growth the Athletics are expecting, he could be up with the big club at some point during the summer.

Pomeranz (forearm) tossed a 33-pitch, two-inning simulated game Sunday, with teammates Rafael Devers and Sandy Leon rotating turns against the southpaw, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports. "I felt good -- I don't know velocity-wise what it was, but it was carrying through and it was getting on them quick -- that's what I look for, the four-seam, the way it's coming out of my hand -- it was coming out good," Pomeranz said after the session.

Pomeranz hadn't faced hitters since March 2 after developing tightness in his left forearm during a Grapefruit League outing. The lefty noted the next step in his recovery from the injury is still to be determined, and Pomeranz is not guaranteed to be available for his first turn through the rotation during the regular season, which would likely fall April 1 against the Rays. In the event that Pomeranz, Steven Wright (knee) and Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) are all unavailable to start the season, Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson would be temporarily plugged into the rotation.

Kimbrel (personal) is scheduled to rejoin the Red Sox on Monday and toss a live batting practice session, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Boston's closer has been away from the team since Feb. 28 after his four-month-old daughter required emergency heart surgery. With his daughter responding well to the procedure over the past three weeks, Kimbrel is ready to return to work and expected to go through an expedited spring training. Manager Alex Cora said he expects Kimbrel to be ready for the start of the season, so Boston's bench boss probably won't need to tab an interim ninth-inning man.

The Orioles optioned Hart to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Hart, a 28-year-old LOOGY, has made 73 appearances with the Orioles over the past two seasons but plummeted down the depth chart this spring with Baltimore bringing several left-handed relievers to camp. With Hart out of the mix, Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes, Tanner Scott, Josh Edgin and Joely Rodriguez are the top contenders for a spot as the Orioles' second lefty out of the bullpen behind Richard Bleier.

Jordan Zimmermann, not Fulmer, will start Opening Day, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

It was widely assumed that Fulmer would get the nod, but manager Ron Gardenhire decided to go with the veteran Zimmermann, who turned in a career-worst 6.08 ERA last season. Fulmer is Detroit's most talented starter, but he has dealt with some elbow issues this spring, so perhaps the Tigers are just giving him extra time to get ready for the season.

The Royals optioned Almonte to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Maria Torres of The Kansas City Star reports.

An impressive showing in the Cactus League (one run allowed over nine innings, 8:1 K:BB) wasn't enough for Almonte to secure a spot in the Royals' Opening Day bullpen. The 24-year-old remains one of the higher-upside arms in the organization's farm system and looks close to contributing in relief for the big club, but the Royals may not be ready yet to pull the plug on developing Almonte as a starter at Triple-A.

Barnes allowed one run on two hits while striking out five over two innings Saturday against the Rays.

Barnes, who didn't allow a run in his five previous Grapefruit League outings, ran his fastball up to 98 mph Saturday and has struck out nine 12 over seven innings. He's one of the hard throwers the Red Sox can call on in the seventh or eighth innings. The trick for Barnes is to command better. The right-hander has walked 3.9 batters per nine innings over the last two seasons.

Busenitz gave up three runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning Saturday to raise his spring ERA to 8.22.

Busenitz has given up seven runs in 7.2 innings this spring but does have 10 strikeouts and just two walks. He made a strong impression when called up last season with a 2.05 ERA and 7.8 K/9 in the final two months, so he's likely to win a bullpen spot even with his uneven spring.

Moll was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays on Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Moll had already been optioned out of the Mariners' major-league camp before being placed on waivers and scooped up by Toronto. The 26-year-old southpaw logged 6.2 innings across 11 appearances for the A's last season, posting a 10.80 ERA, 2.40 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB. He'll compete for an Opening Day roster spot in the Blue Jays' bullpen.