MLB Player News

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez is making a push to join the starting rotation this year, even though he doesn't know if he's earned it yet.

"I think I opened eyes enough, but I don't think I did enough because I didn't keep it," Chavez said at Spring Training on Monday. "Now, if I get it, I gotta keep it. That's my mentality. I wanna ride it out."

Chavez reported to camp a bit heavier than he ended the 2014 season, weighing it at 170 pounds after finishing last year at 157.

"I feel way stronger," he said. "That's such a cliche thing for me to say, but for my size, it's a huge deal, and I can tell just by playing catch, the early side sessions, the way the ball's coming out, it just feels like I don't have to use anymore extra effort now that I've built all that muscle."

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago feels like he's "earned a spot" in the team's rotation, according to MLB.com.

"In my eyes, I feel like it," Santiago said. "They probably want a lot more out of me, but I feel like I did well enough in the second half." After a tough first half, in which he posted a 4.50 ERA, Santiago did improve in the second half, putting up a 2.98 ERA over 63 1/3 innings. 

While Santiago has the most experience, he's expected to be pushed by the team's youngsters. "There's going to be some competition and we're going to see how it plays out," Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said.

Santiago posted a 3.75 ERA over 127 1/3 innings last year. 

Astros reliever Josh Fields skipped his bullpen session Monday after feeling tightness in his left hamstring Sunday, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. However, he isn't expected to be sidelined for long, per the Houston Chronicle.

“Fields is going to throw probably tomorrow or the next day,” Hinch said. “Just a small little hamstring tightness. We certainly went on the side of caution. There’s no concern, he did all the other drills, he did bunt plays, he did PFPs.”

Orioles RHP Ryan Webb credits October shoulder surgery for helping him to lose weight. 

Webb, who arrived at spring training weighing 245 pounds last season, reported to Orioles camp at 228 this year. 

After surgery to tighten the capsule in his left shoulder, Webb didn't have much appetite. "I had the surgery, so I took a couple weeks off and that actually helped because I didn't eat as much then," he told MASN's Roch Kubato.

Webb had regular rehab work at Camden Yards, which helped him drop the weight. In addition to regular workouts, he began drinking juice and cut down on bread and fats.  

Webb went 3-3, with a 3.83 ERA in 51 games last year. 

Athletics pitcher Sean Nolin is still experiencing pain in his groin and will be shut down for awhile, reports the Bay Area News Group.

Nolin had hernia surgery over the offseason, but he has not fully recovered.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Saturday that he has somewhat of an idea who his closer will be this season, but declined to reveal any names, per the Houston Chronicle. Hinch noted that it "will take a while" before he names his closer.

"I think you got to let it play out," Hinch said. "I don't want to get too far in trying to make that happen in your own mind. But I do have an idea of how I think it's going to play out, but I'm not rushing to judgment, or, I'm not against changing my mind about half a dozen to 10 times between now and April. It's very, very premature.

"There's less need to sort of try out. Competing for it is sort of a hard way to describe it when you've got guys that have some credentials. So I'll stop calling it a competition, but it's more of an alignment of how we're going to use them."

Luke Gregerson signed a three-year, $18.5 million contract with the Astros, and is the highest-paid reliever on the roster. Chad Qualls was the ninth-inning man last season, and Pat Neshek, Tony Sipp and Josh Fields are all viable candidates for the gig.

Athletics LHP Sean Nolin is coming off of offseason sports-hernia surgery and will take the next step in his rehab on Saturday.

Nolin is scheduled to throw off of flat ground, according to John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group. Assuming there are no setbacks, the next step will be throwing off of a mound, according to MLB.com's Jane Lee.

Nolin was acquired in the trade that sent Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays. He has appeared in two MLB games, with an 0-1 record and 27.00 ERA. 

Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman told reporters that pitcher Matt Moore, who is working his way back from April 22 Tommy John surgery, is on track for a "June-ish" return, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

"He's been doing what he's supposed to do ever since surgery and really showed a great work ethic," Silverman said. "He's not pushing himself too hard but he's challenging himself."

Moore went 17-4 in 2013 with a 3.29 ERA and 143 strikeouts. He suffered a torn UCL in his left arm after his second start of the 2014 season.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has a hole to fill at closer without David Robertson on the roster. He is open to utilizing both Dellin Betances and newly signed Andrew Miller in the role to begin the year.

"I think you could do that," Girardi said. "I think you have to see how people react when they’re in the situation. I feel good about both of those guys doing it. A number of guys down there, I think, are more than capable of closing."

He is expecting a battle throughout spring training to figure out who will take control of the role.

"There are a lot of questions about how it’s actually going to mold together," Girardi said.

Athletics pitcher Sean Nolin will be held back a few days due to a groin issue, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Nolin won't throw a side session for the first few days of camp. The issue seems minor, and Nolin should start throwing soon. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade from the Blue Jays during the offseason. He could compete for a spot in the team's rotation if he can get healthy.