MLB Player News

Yarbrough was traded to the Rays on Wednesday as part of the return package for Drew Smyly.

Yarbrough is the least exciting of the three players the Rays netted for Smyly, as he projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever. He posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 99:31 K:BB in 128.1 innings at Double-A last year.

Jimenez received an invitation to major league camp this spring.

It is a testament to how bad the Tigers' farm system is that Jimenez, a reliever, is their third best prospect for dynasty leagues. Of course, it also says something about Jimenez's future role, as many evaluators think he is the closer in waiting in Detroit. He notched a 1.51 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 78:17 K:BB in 53.2 innings across three levels last season, and has 15.2 innings of experience at Triple-A, so he is awfully close to being big league ready. Francisco Rodriguez is under contract for one more season, but if he gets hurt or gets traded, Jimenez, along with Bruce Rondon, would be in the mix to take over in the ninth inning.

Scott will be used as a starter this season, Roch Kubatko of MASN reports.

The left-hander split last season between High-A and Double-A, spending the entirety of the campaign as a bullpen option. The Orioles will now attempt to stretch him out, while also working on his off-speed pitches. Still, the hard-throwing Scott projects as a reliever in the long term.

Rumbelow (elbow) has re-signed with the Yankees on a minor league deal, Baseball America reports.

The Yankees released Rumbelow in November, but he will return to the organization and continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery in the opening months of the 2017 campaign. Rumbelow is just 25 and has already pitched at the Triple-A level in parts of three seasons, posting a 4.17 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.9 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 69 innings.

Satterwhite signed a minor league contract with the Orioles on Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

Satterwhite tossed 18 frames for Triple-A Salt Lake last season, also pitching in Japan to solid results. The Orioles will give the 29-year-old another shot with an MLB organization, though it's unclear if his contract comes with an invite to spring training. If he were to sneak into a 25-man roster spot, Satterwhite would likely serve in a middle relief for Baltimore.

Pomeranz and Steven Wright are the leading candidates to be fill out the fourth and fifth spots in Boston's starting rotation in 2017, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that Pomeranz and Wright are "penciled in fourth and fifth," suggesting that lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who still has minor league options, could keep evolving at Triple-A Pawtucket. There had been some talk of Pomeranz going to the bullpen -- he served as a reliever for Oakland in 2014 and 2015 -- but it sounds like Boston's preference is to have the 2016 All-Star pitching out of the rotation.

Gonsalves will be a non-roster invitee to Minnesota's major league spring training camp.

Gonsalves could be Minnesota's top pitching prospect after a dominant season at High-A and Double-A. He pitched a combined 140 innings, good for a 2.06 ERA and 9.9 K/9 between High-A Fort Myers and Double-A Chattanooga. He's very unlikely to make the team out of spring training, but his invite could be a sign that management believes it won't be long before he's in the mix.

Putnam (elbow) is throwing out to 120 feet in his rehab program and has not experienced any setbacks.

The 28-year-old right-hander battled through a couple of injuries last season before being shut down in August to undergo surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Despite the sore elbow that first cropped up in June, Putnam pitched well in a middle relief, multi-inning role, posting a 2.30 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

Harvey (elbow) could begin throwing again as early as next week, Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports.

The potential throwing session is only expected to be a light 45-foot "toss-and-catch" exercise, but given the fact that he'll be five months removed from Tommy John surgery by Monday, it seems like the top prospect is right on track with his rehab process. This timetable would line up Harvey for a possible return date late in the 2017 season, although things should be clearer as he progresses further in his recovery. If all goes as planned, the right-hander could begin long toss in a couple months with limited offerings off a mound following that step.

Johnson said he no longer feels anxiety and his elbow feels fine as he starts his offseason preparation for the 2017 season, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Johnson had a challenging season in 2016. A spring toe injury put a crimp in his schedule followed by an uncharacteristic bout of wildness, leading to him walking away from the game to treat an anxiety disorder. He pitched well upon return, posting a 3.07 ERA over his final seven starts at Triple-A Pawtucket, putting himself back on the radar for 2017. While Boston's rotation is well-stocked with pitchers who won't begin the season at Triple-A, Johnson has moved ahead of Henry Owens and Roenis Elias at Pawtucket. If the Red Sox deal one of their surplus starters, as expected, Johnson's chances of pitching in Boston become more realistic.