MLB Player News

Covey is expected to open the year in the White Sox's rotation, Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald reports.

With Carlos Rodon (biceps) headed to the DL, the door is open for Covey to step in for his major-league debut during the first week of the regular season. He figures to start either April 8 or 9 against Minnesota. The Rule 5 pick has made just six starts above High-A, and the results this spring (7.82 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 6:4 K:BB) suggest there will be growing pains for the 25-year-old right-hander.

Whalen (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.

The Mariners made their final round of roster moves Friday to trim their roster down to 25 active men and were able to do so by placing six different players on the DL, including Whalen. The 23-year-old has battled a calf injury this spring and he's now experiencing some inflammation in his throwing shoulder. It's unclear when exactly he'll be ready to come off the disabled list, but Friday's announcement guarantees he'll miss at least the first week and a half of the season.

Zych (biceps) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.

Although Zych was recently able to get back on the mound after undergoing biceps tendon transfer surgery, he's still not quite ready to pitch at the big-league level. Zych figures to start the season in the minors.

Reed left Friday's Grapefruit League game after feeling a strain in his right side, LaVelle E. Neal report of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Reed had already notched two outs in the ninth inning when he felt the pain. The right-hander is expected to serve as organizational depth at Triple-A Rochester this season after appearing in seven games this spring for the Twins.

Heller was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

The right-hander absorbed a 6.43 ERA in 10 major-league appearances last season but spun a 2.27 ERA in his split Triple-A work between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Indians' Columbus outfit. Heller will serve as organizational depth.

Chavez was officially named the Angels' fifth starter on Thursday.

Chavez had been locked in a battle with Alex Meyer for a spot in the back of the end the Angels' rotation throughout the spring, but Chavez's sharp spring ultimately earned him the job. He notched a 2.51 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 13.1 innings this spring. As it stands, Chavez is in line to start one of the Angels' games against the Mariners in the opening week of the season.

Green was optioned to Double-A Trenton on Thursday.

Green had been in contention to land a spot at the end of the Yankees' rotation, but Thursday's move confirms that he's out of the picture for the time being. That said, it's unclear what the Yankees will do with their fifth starter now given that Bryan Mitchell will start the season as a reliever. Hoch does note that, due to a surplus of off-days early in the season, the Yankees have the luxury of not needing a fifth starter until April 16.

Graveman (illness) was scratched from Wednesday's major-league spring start against the Cubs and instead faced minor leaguers at A's camp at Hohokam Park, Jack Thompson of the East Bay Times reports. "He was sick yesterday," manager Bob Melvin said before Wednesday's game. "He's better today, but it was going to be a shorter day for him anyway. Based on the fact he didn't feel great it's better for us to monitor his innings."

The move was precautionary and as of now, Graveman remains on track to take the ball in Monday night's opener versus the Angels. The 26-year-old right-hander wrapped up spring with a 2-1 record, 2.29 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB over 19.7 innings across five starts.

Zych fired a 1-2-3 inning against Double-A San Antonio on Wednesday, Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

It was another one-inning rehab outing for Zych, who'll continue to round back into shape from biceps tendon transfer surgery in the minors once the regular season starts. He needed only 10 pitches to get through his one frame, his third such appearance this spring.

McHugh (arm) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday.

The right-hander dealt with a dead arm all spring, and unfortunately it seems that his efforts to prepare himself for the season weren't good enough to avoid a DL stint. McHugh is scheduled for a simulated game Saturday, so it doesn't seem like his return to MLB action is too far away, but things should become clearer following Saturday's outing. In the meantime, Mike Fiers appears to be in line to pick up at least one start in his stead.