MLB Player News

The Yankees will open the first three games of spring training with pitchers Adam Warren, Nathan Eovaldi and Esmil Rogers as their starting pitchers, reports Newsday. All three are expected to compete for a fifth or sixth starting rotation spot.

White Sox pitcher Zach Putnam has been dealing with a tight back, but he said it's a minor issue, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

Putnam has had his back wrapped the last two days.

Twins starting pitcher Trevor May has looked to improve flexibility coming into his competition for a rotation spot this spring by turning to yoga to help repeat his delivery, the Star Tribune reports.

"I’ve been doing yoga for 30 or 40 minutes every morning, and I’m much fresher than ever before," May said. "Every scouting report I’ve ever seen on myself says, 'Has trouble repeating his delivery.' Well, yoga is literally repeating moves, keeping your body under your control. I do the warrior pose, which is [the same as] striding and throwing a baseball. It has to help."

May initially struggled in his major-league debut last season, but he hopes the perseverance he showed and his improvements near the end of the season help set him apart in the battle for a rotation spot this spring.

"Obviously I don’t know exactly what the people who are making decisions are thinking, but showing I can be successful after having my face beat up for two months, showing I can work through it, it’s a trait you have to have," May said. "I take pride in the fact that I didn’t give up. I didn’t let it get me down."

Rays president of baseball operations Matthew Silverman said Saturday Alex Colome is currently throwing at a Dominican Republic complex and is hopeful he will join the team next week after his visa gets approved, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Colome posted a 2.66 ERA over 23 2/3 innings in 2014.

Because his role on the team is already defined, White Sox closer David Robertson is not expected to see "a ton of opportunities" during the Cactus League season, according to ESPN.

"Even talking to him, he doesn't need a lot of appearances to really be ready," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think more goes on what he does right now (in workouts before games). I know he's not going to sit there and have 20 appearances in spring training just to be ready. I would say 10, or less. Really it's up to him. He's been around long enough to understand what he needs to be ready."

Robertson signed four-year, $46 million deal with the White Sox this offseason, and is entering camp with high expectations. He converted 39 of 44 save opportunities in 2014 for the Yankees, registering a 3.08 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over 64 1/3 innings of work.

"I really ease into spring training," Robertson said. "We've got 45 days here to get ready. If I can’t be ready in 45 days, there's something wrong. I look at it as a chance to get out here and slowly get yourself acclimated and get back to playing baseball. Obviously I've done things in the offseason to get my body to where it needs to be. It's just a matter of getting back on the field and getting in tune with everything."

Relief pitcher Ryan Pressly was able to crack the Twins' roster in 2013 only to spend most of last season in the minors, thanks to three minor-league options he had left. 

This spring training, Pressly is looking to do enough to prove he deserves a spot on the Twins roster once camp is over. 

"We'll see how everything kind of plays out," Pressly said. "It's going to be interesting. You've got guys like [Michael] Tonkin and Lester [Oliveros] who are going to come out of the gates swinging. I just have to control what I can control. So, it's about who shows up and who has a good spring, and I'm hoping I have a good spring like I did in 2013."

With Triple-A Rochester, Pressly posted a 2.98 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. When he was called up to the Twins in July, he posted a 2.86 ERA in 25 games. 

Astros reliever Josh Fields, who missed a bullpen session on Monday with a hamstring issue, returned to the mound Tuesday for a rescheduled session, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters that Fields was a full-go and did not experience any discomfort on Tuesday.

"Well, Fields doesn't really downshift," Hinch said. "If he was feeling anything, he doesn't show it. So he looked great. He looked the same as he did a few days ago. And he said he felt great. He went through the whole program, including some of the conditioning. He has one gear, and he throws it.

"I think he's fine. We'll modify his conditioning a touch just to ensure it, but that bullpen didn't give any indication that there's a lingering issue."

Athletics prospect Sean Nolin is frustrated his recovery from sports hernia surgery is not going as quickly as he hoped, per the Contra Costa Times.

“The last thing I wanted to do was be the guy in the training room,’’ Nolin said Tuesday. “I’m coming off surgery that took place three months ago. The recovery time is supposed to be 6-8 weeks, but I guess that’s not for athletes.’’

Nolin doesn't have a timetable for when he might be cleared for full activity.

“There’s an opportunity here,’’ he said. “But I can’t throw off a mound yet. It’s not like I’m doing nothing. I’m still doing all the other workouts and I’m throwing my 180 feet, so I’m keeping my arm strong. Once I’m ready to go, things should be fine.’’

Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, threw 29 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He also threw some changeups from flat ground.

Moore is expected to be placed on the disabled list, and the Rays aren't expecting his return until June at the earliest.

Rays pitchers Alex Colome and Ronald Belisario have not reported to camp due to visa issues, according to the Tampa Tribune. 

The club expects Belisario to resolve his issue shortly. It appears it may take Colome slightly longer before he's able to report to camp. "We're at the mercy of what’s going on over there, but all of our reports say it shouldn’t be that long," manager Kevin Cash said.

Colome posted a 2.66 ERA over 23 2/3 innings last year. Belisario put up a 5.56 ERA over 66 1/3 innings.