MLB Player News

Kelly's defined role for 2017 will be as a reliever, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

After five years of tempting both the Cardinals and Red Sox as a potential starter, Kelly made the transition to full-time reliever during the second half of last season. The right-hander struck out 21 while allowing just two earned runs in 17.2 innings out of the pen. He and his high-90s fastball will be called on mostly for seventh-inning duty.

Zych (right shoulder biceps tendon transfer) is playing catch at spring training and expects to be throwing from 120 feet soon, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Zych continues to progress from his October surgery, and will likely be close to healthy by the end of spring training. The righty missed most of last season with rotator cuff tendinitis and will aim for a middle-relief bullpen role in 2017. He has a solid 2.81 ERA in 32 major league innings.

Chavez enters spring training as the front-runner to win the Angels' fifth starter job.

It would make sense for the club to give Chavez first crack at the job after they signed him to a $5.75 million contract this past offseason. The 33-year-old has pitched for three different clubs over the past two years, posting ERAs north of four at each stop. While the ERA likely lands him in the streamer category in standard leagues, Chavez's solid strikeout rate last season (8.46 K/9) and his new pitcher-friendly ballpark could make him a decent option in deep and AL-only formats.

Robertson (knee) has been the subject of trade talks between the White Sox and Nationals, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The Nationals wanted to include Robertson in their winter trade for Adam Eaton and looked close to sealing the deal last week before talks hit a stalemate. A Nationals official admitted to a stalemate and said no trade is imminent. With the White Sox in an obvious rebuild mode, Robertson represents a very likely trade chip. The question for fantasy players is whether he winds up as a closer on a new team or as a setup guy. Landing with the Nationals, who were rebuffed several times during the offseason in their attempts to sign an established closer, would likely mean Robertson stays in a closer role.

Pomeranz, who had a stem cell injection in his left elbow during the offseason, has yet to throw off a mound, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

The procedure delayed Pomeranz's normal offseason throwing program and the left-hander will be about a week behind other starters at the onset of spring training. As Red Sox manager John Farrell figures out the final two spots in the rotation -- Pomeranz, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez are in the mix -- health will be the primary factor. If all three pitchers are throwing well, the decision of which two to keep will likely come down to roster flexibility. Rodriguez still has minor league options remaining while Pomeranz and Wright do not. It's possible Farrell could use Pomeranz in the bullpen, where he has vast experience, but he manager wants to keep the 28-year-old on a stater's track -- particularly after the organization gave up a top prospect (Anderson Espinoza) to land Pomeranz.

De Leon, acquired as part of the Jan. 23 trade that sent Logan Forsythe to the Dodgers, is likely to start the season in Triple-A Durham before a move to the big league club, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

De Leon is highly thought of but is unlikely to remain with the big league squad at the end of the exhibition slate, given the crowded nature of the pitching staff entering spring training. Naturally, injuries or personnel moves could alter the current make-up, but assuming no major upheaval, the 24-year-old righty is likely to start the season a step below the major league level. De Leon saw his first action in the majors last season, generating a 2-0 record, 6.35 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 17.0 innings in Los Angeles.

Puk, the sixth overall pick in the 2016 first-year player draft, will be a non-roster invitee to spring training, David Schoenfield of ESPN.com reports.

The towering southpaw logged 32.2 innings of work across 10 starts last season at Short-A Vermont, posting an impressive 3.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 11.02 K/9 and a .185 average against. It was an encouraging start for a player viewed as a future ace, and he'll have a chance to take a significant step up in competition during the exhibition slate. Puk's control will be an aspect of his game to particularly monitor, as he posted a 3.31 BB/9 over his modest minor league stint last season.

Bass signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on Friday.

Bass returns to Texas after playing 33 games with the club in 2015. He spent last season in Japan, where he compiled a 3.65 ERA in 103.2 innings. The right-hander has a 4.40 career ERA and a 1.39 WHIP in five major league seasons and will be a long shot to make the squad out of spring training.

Diaz will pitch for Team Puerto Rico in this year's World Baseball Classic, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old right-hander heads into the 2017 campaign as the Mariners closer after tallying 18 saves in 21 chances last season, along with an 88:15 K:BB and 2.79 ERA over 49 appearances. Diaz will join a Team Puerto Rico pitching staff that includes Twins hurlers Hector Santiago and Jose Berrios and the Mets' Seth Lugo.

Adams was acquired by the Angels for cash considerations Friday.

The recently DFA'd Adams was hit hard over 19 appearances with the Indians last season, notching a 9.82 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 18.3 innings. However, he's just one year removed from a much stronger campaign in which he recorded a 3.78 ERA and a more palatable 1.50 WHIP. If Adams can regain his 2015 form, he could be a serviceable middle reliever in Anaheim.