MLB Player News

Fulmer said Tuesday that he plans to ease into spring training in order to preserve his arm for the regular season, Evan Woodberry of MLive.com reports.

After taking home the American League Rookie of the Year award last season, Fulmer enters his second big league season with much less to prove, which helps explains why the Tigers are having him take a more gradual approach this spring. The 23-year-old right-hander projects to have a top-3 spot in Detroit's starting rotation to begin the season.

According to manager A.J. Hinch, Giles will close more games than not this season, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Giles ended last season as the Astros primary closer, and that's where it seems he will pick up in 2017. He converted 15 of his 20 save opportunities last year, while posting a 4.11 ERA across 65.2 innings in the process. Will Harris and Luke Gregerson will see save opportunities when Giles isn't being used.

Strahm will be stretched out during spring training, but Royals manager Ned Yost said that he'll head into camp as a reliever, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Radio reports.

Earlier reports stated that the left-handed pitching prospect would compete for a rotation spot during the spring, but Yost commented about how much relieving helped fellow left-hander Danny Duffy develop into one of the top pitchers on the Kansas City staff. Strahm dominated major league hitters during his debut season last year, posting a 1.23 ERA and a 12.3 K/9 in 22 innings out of the Royals bullpen, so if he continues to fan batters at that high clip, he stands a good chance to crack the Opening Day roster, especially if he continues as a reliever.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said that Smith (elbow) will likely throw his first bullpen since Tommy John surgery sometime between March 10 and March 15, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

This development seems to be consistent with the expectation that the former eighth-rounder could return sometime in late May or early June, although Mastrodonato speculates that he could return a bit earlier than that. Smith underwent Tommy John surgery on May 24 of last year, but his return date should become clearer as he progresses through his rehab process.

Flynn fell through the roof of his barn and suffered a broken rib, among other injuries, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports.

The injury will cause Flynn to miss up to eight weeks, so he will be headed to the disabled list for the start of the season. The 26-year-old posted a 2.60 ERA across 55.1 innings last season with the Royals.

McHugh won his arbitration hearing on Tuesday and will receive $3.85 million for the 2017 season, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.

The Astros had proposed a $3.35 million salary for the upcoming season, but the arbiter rewarded McHugh for handling 150-plus innings in three straight seasons while posting an ERA under 3.90 in two of those three campaigns.

Farmer will stretch out as a starter in spring training, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Farmer made 20 starts at Triple-A Toledo last season, but he was primarily used as a reliever with the MLB club. The Detroit rotation will likely consist of Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer, Jordan Zimmermann, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd when camp breaks, meaning Farmer could start the year in Toledo again. He provides depth should other starters struggle or go down to injury.

VerHagen (shoulder) will work as a starter in spring training, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

VerHagen has worked exclusively as a reliever the last two seasons for the Tigers, but he said he feels more comfortable starting. VerHagen likely won't crack Detroit's rotation to start the season, but his work during the spring could make him a guy the Tigers use for multiple innings of relief. He could also start the year in Triple-A Toledo's rotation.

Pomeranz (elbow) will throw off a mound Monday, the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reports.

This will mark the first time Pomeranz has thrown off a mound this offseason. He had a stem cell injection in his left elbow in October, which delayed his normal offseason throwing program. Pomeranz should have a spot in the Red Sox's rotation if he is fully healthy by Opening Day.

Crockett's chances of making the Opening Day roster were lessened by the recent signing of Logan Boone, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Crockett's rookie season didn't go well after he posted a 5.06 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 29 appearances for the Tribe last season. The signing of Boone now gives the team three viable southpaws in the bullpen behind Andrew Miller. Crockett, 25, will likely find himself at Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2017 campaign.