MLB Player News

Although Athletics manager Bob Melvin hinted last week pitchers Tommy Milone and Jesse Chavez were likely to open the season in the rotation, it appears an official announcement is forthcoming.

"I haven't heard officially, but stuff is flying around that me and Jesse [Chavez] made it into the rotation," Milone told MLB Network Radio Sunday.

Astros manager Bo Porter said Sunday he expects to open the season with a closer-by-committee approach. He said the plans could change, but right now no one has taken hold of the job.

Before spring training began, Porter had identified Josh Fields, Matt Albers, Chad Qualls and Jesse Crain as candidates for the closer's role. Unfortunately, Crain has been sidelined all spring due to injury.

The Rays announced a flurry of moves to trim the roster down to 34 Thursday, with the end of spring training looming.

Pitcher Brad Boxberger was optioned to Triple-A, while catcher Ali Solis , infielder Cole Figuero, outfielders Jerry Sand and Justin Christian , and pitchers Adam Liberatore, Steven Geltz and Juan Sandoval were assigned to minor-league camp.  

The Red Sox announced Thursday they optioned infielder Brock Holt and pitcher Rubby De La Rosa to Triple-A Pawtucket. They also reassigned first baseman Brandon Snyder to minor-league camp.

How does one feel good about a pitcher that surrenders six walks in 4 2/3 innings? Just ask Joe Maddon about Matt Moore, who did just that for the Rays on Tuesday against the Twins.

"That's as good as stuff as I've seen him have in a long time, based on fastball, break on the curveball and changeup, outstanding," he told the Tampa Tribune. "That as as good as stuff as he had when he beat the Rangers several years ago in the playoff game. The other part of it is the command still is a little bit there and then not there, but overall I kind of liked what I saw better, because we haven't seen that kind of stuff in a while."

Moore hit 96 mph on his fastball, but only threw half of his 96 pitches for strikes.

Rays pitcher Matt Moore surrendered one earned run on four hits and six walks in 4 2/3 innings while striking out four in his team's 11-1 win over the Twins Tuesday.

Yikes. Despite his massive potential, Moore has had control issues in each of the last two seasons, walking 157 batters in 327 2/3 innings. He may have turned in an excellent 17-4 record and 3.29 ERA last season, but regression has a good chance of striking if his control doesn't improve in his third full year. Moore owns a 4.35 ERA and 10:11 K:BB ratio in 10 1/3 spring innings.

Athletics pitcher Fernando Rodriguez will throw in a minor-league game Friday, MLB.com reports.

It'll be Rodriguez's first appearance in a game since undergoing Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the 2013 season. He has been limited to simulated games to this point.

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez allowed two earned runs, both on solo home runs, while giving up six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings and striking out two in his team's 16-6 win over the White Sox Tuesday.

Chavez entered the game having pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings, and while Tuesday's effort was a step back from that pace, he still did a good job limiting the damage. He's locked into a rotation spot due to the team's injury issues at pitcher.

Mariners pitcher Brandon Maurer played catch Monday and will start ramping up activity now his back and neck are feeling better, per MLB.com.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin told reporters Monday pitcher Drew Pomeranz will be stretched out to start after the rash of injuries that has impacted the starting rotation. The San Francisco Chronicle suggests Pomeranz will open the year at Triple-A Sacramento and provide starting pitcher depth for the organization.