MLB Player News

Mengden (foot) is expected to stay in extended spring training for two to four weeks in order to continue rehabbing his foot, Joe Stiglich of Comcast SportsNet California reports.

Mengden has shed his walking boot and resumed throwing but is still some time away from returning to live action. His timetable for return is still a bit cloudy, but more updates should become available in the coming weeks.

Robertson has returned to the White Sox's training camp from the World Baseball Classic and is uncertain when he'll next pitch for Chicago, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

Robertson last pitched in the final game of the WBC, mopping up Team USA's 8-0 championship win over Puerto Rico. He's already had plenty of work, much of it in the playoff-like atmosphere that is the WBC, so finding opportunities for him over the final week of training camp isn't paramount. Robertson will open the regular season as Chicago's closer, though he's in the same boat as other veterans on the roster of this rebuilding team. His name came up in trade talks all offseason, and he's expected to be dealt at some point.

Jimenez was reassigned to minor league camp on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Jimenez was considered an "extreme long shot" to make the Opening Day roster, and now he figures to head to Triple-A Toledo to start the season. The 22-year-old will probably be the closer there, and he projects as the closer of the future for the Tigers. A promotion to the majors sometime in 2017 is not out of the question.

Norris is expected to start the Tigers' third game of the season April 6 against the White Sox, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Justin Verlander will start the season opener, then Jordan Zimmermann is expected to pitch second. The Tigers are moving Michael Fulmer back to fourth to start the season because they eased him in this spring, so that pushes Norris up to No. 3. The lefty has the potential to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter, and with a spot secured in the Tigers rotation, he's a high-upside play later in fantasy drafts.

Covey allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three in 3.2 scoreless innings against the Indians on Saturday, Scott Merkin of the White Sox's official site reports.

Saturday's start had been scheduled for days, but it took on added significance in light of the news that Carlos Rodon (bicpes) would likely begin the regular season on the disabled list. Covey, a Rule 5 pick, is one of three starters being considered as a temporary fill-in for Rodon. He entered Saturday's start having allowed seven runs on nine hits in his last 3.2 innings but was much more aggressive in attacking hitters and produced his best outing of the spring. While encouraging, it was just one start, and he threw only 44 pitches. If he's a serious candidate to fill in for Rodon, the White Sox will have Covey stay back in Arizona when the major league team breaks camp and have him make a start in a minor league game to build up his innings and pitch counts.

Harvey (elbow) is recovering soundly and has had no setbacks, thus keeping him on track for game action sometime in July, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports.

It wasn't long ago that Harvey was a mainstay in Top 100 lists everywhere, but his outlook has crumbled in just two short years. He missed all of 2015 trying to rest and rehab through an elbow injury before succumbing to Tommy John surgery after just five starts last season. Harvey still ranks as the Orioles' No. 7 prospect, and the club's farm director, Brian Graham, believes the right-hander could be on the scene sooner than most would expect. "He has the chance to be really good and really special," Graham said. "I know he has not pitched a lot of innings the last two years. He could be ready for the big leagues really quickly. That's how good he is." A full season of good health and solid results would put Harvey on the radar in deep leagues beginning in 2018.

Sedlock was told by the Orioles' coaching staff to take it slow this spring and work on developing one pitch at a time, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports.

Asking a first-round pick to take his time developing is no surprise, but the team made it a point to the No. 6 prospect that there's no need to rush. "It took a lot of getting used to. For me, with my competitive nature, I want to be at my best every single time I step on the mound and have my full arsenal," Sedlock said. "Once I was told what I needed to work on, I stayed within myself and realized that if things are going to go the right way this year, I'm going to have to work on one thing at a time." Sedlock said he spent the first couple weeks of camp just working on his fastballs while ignoring all off-speed pitches. The 6-foot-4 right-hander projects to be a mid-rotation starter in time, but the journey is just beginning for the 21-year-old. In dynasty formats, Sedlock is definitely worth putting on the watch list.

Zych (biceps) is scheduled for an inning of relief in Sunday's game against the Reds, his first Cactus League action of the spring, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Zych is making his way back from biceps surgery and he'll work in a game with the big club a day earlier than previously expected. He is battling Edwin Diaz and Steve Cishek (hip) for a prominent role in the late innings for manager Scott Servais. Even if he isn't used for saves he could be valuable for holds and his high strikeout rate.

Lee was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

He was having a strong spring in major league camp, notching a 2.77 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 13.0 innings. Despite being optioned to the minors Saturday, MASN's Roch Kubatko Lee is still in the running to be Baltimore's fifth starter early in the season.

Duffey gave up one unearned run over six innings with 10 strikeouts in a minor league game Saturday. He appears to be the leading candidate for Minnesota's fifth starter job as a result, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Duffey has a 3.86 ERA with a 6:1 K:BB in 11.2 innings in big league spring training games. He excelled in the minor league start Saturday, while Adalberto Mejia did not fare as well against minor leaguers. Although Duffey may have the lead in the competition, it's still not clear what the Twins will decide to do as Jose Berrios could also figure into the mix. However, Berrios may need time in Triple-A after failing to pitch enough innings while playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.