MLB Player News
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Yerry De Los Santos RP | NYY
Yankees' Yerry De Los Santos: Reassigned to minor-league camp
The Yankees reassigned De Los Santos to minor-league camp Monday.
De Los Santos was blasted for six runs (five earned) over just 2.1 frames this spring. He will provide some relief depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Ryan Pepiot RP | TB
Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Snags rotation spot
Pepiot will be included in the Rays' Opening Day rotation and is scheduled to make his first start April 1 versus the Rangers at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Though he'll be taking the hill for the Rays' fifth game of the season, Pepiot is essentially opening the season as the team's No. 4 starter, as Tyler Alexander will make his debut one game before Pepiot but looks to be in line for a bulk-relief role and may have his turn in the rotation skipped during lighter portions of the schedule. Pepiot concluded the Grapefruit League with a 6.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 13.1 innings, but a 16:3 K:BB provides a better indication of how well he pitched this spring. The 26-year-old right-hander could have his workload managed to some degree as he begins his first season in Tampa Bay, but he turned in sterling ratios during his time in the big leagues with the Dodgers over the past two seasons and should be useful on a per-inning basis.
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Jacob Waguespack RP | MIL
Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Slated for long relief
Waguespack will open the season in a long-relief role for the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He had been competing for a spot in the rotation, but the Rays have picked Tyler Alexander for that role. Waguespack holds a career 5.08 ERA and 79:38 K:BB over 13 starts and 14 relief appearances at the major-league level.
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Wins final spot in rotation
Alexander has won the final spot in the Rays' Opening Day rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander will pitch in the Rays' fourth game of the season Sunday against the Blue Jays, though it's possible he will follow an opener. The left-hander was used as a full-time reliever last season with the Tigers, but he has plenty of past starting experience and was stretched out to 89 pitches in a minor-league game Sunday. Alexander could be shifted to the bullpen when Shane Baz (elbow) and/or Taj Bradley (pectoral) are ready to return from the injured list, but that might be a while.
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Kevin Kelly RP | TB
Rays' Kevin Kelly: Sent down to minors
The Rays optioned Kelly to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kelly had to be kept on the Rays' roster all of last season after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but the club is now able to send him to the minors now that they've retained his rights. The Rays typically have a constant churn among their relievers on the back end of the 40-man roster, and Kelly could be one of several hurlers who gets cycled between the big club and Durham in 2024.
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Lucas Luetge RP | BOS
Red Sox's Lucas Luetge: Headed to Triple-A
Luetge is set to open the season at Triple-A Worcester after being informed over the weekend that he won't be included on Boston's Opening Day roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republic reports.
Fellow non-roster invitee Joely Rodriguez ended up beating out Luetge for the final lefty reliever spot in the Red Sox's Opening Day bullpen. Though Luetge's minor-league deal with Boston contained an upward mobility clause that would allow him to opt out of his contract, the deadline for him to invoke the clause has passed, so he'll report to Worcester. Luetge had most recently spent the 2023 season in Atlanta's organization, logging a 7.24 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 13.2 innings with the big club.
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Nick Burdi RP | NYM
Yankees' Nick Burdi: Nets Opening Day bullpen spot
Burdi has won a spot in the Yankees' Opening Day bullpen, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Burdi's career has been derailed by multiple arm surgeries, but he rediscovered his triple-digits fastball this spring on his way to a 2.45 ERA and 13:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings. The 31-year-old figures to be used in low-leverage spots initially but could work his way into more meaningful situations if he pitches well and stays healthy.
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Jacob Waguespack RP | MIL
Rays' Jacob Waguespack: May be relief option
Waguespack threw only two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, an indication he may be headed for a relief role to begin the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack is a candidate for the rotation with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) sidelined. However, his workload has decreased as spring has progressed, going from 48 and 53 pitches in his first outings to only 40 on Monday. Waguespack could fill a multi-inning relief role, though Tyler Alexander looks to be lined up for a starting job.
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Looks to be in rotation
Alexander threw 89 pitches and completed six innings in a minor-league game Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander is competing for the fifth starting job for the Rays to open the season with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) sidelined. In addition to his outing Sunday, Alexander also threw five innings in a March 19 Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. Meanwhile, Jacob Waguespack -- another contender for the rotation -- has worked significantly shorter stints.
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Jacob Webb RP | CHC
Orioles' Jacob Webb: Expected to win last bullpen spot
Webb is in line to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster after the team sent down Jonathan Heasley on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Webb had a 4.91 ERA over 7.1 innings across seven Grapefruit League outings. Between the Orioles and the Angels last season, he recorded a 3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 57:30 K:BB across 53.2 innings. The right-handed reliever hasn't been confirmed for the roster just yet -- there's a lot of roster churn just before Opening Day, and it's always possible the Orioles could snag an extra reliever from outside the organization, which could bump Webb off the major-league roster at the last minute.