MLB Player News

Jansen (back) felt good after his Grapefruit League appearance Thursday and expects to be ready for Opening Day, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Jansen made just his second appearance of the spring Thursday, as he's been hampered by both back and lat issues. Despite that, he plans to be available on Opening Day, and he should be locked into the closer role. The Red Sox could be careful with his usage early in the campaign, however. Jansen pitched well Thursday, completing one scoreless inning while throwing nine of his 13 pitches for strikes.

Jansen (back) threw one scoreless inning without allowing a baserunner in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles,Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Jansen has been slowed by both back and lat issues this spring, with Thursday's outing marking just his second of the exhibition season. Nevertheless, the veteran right-hander was sharp, as nine of his 13 pitches went for strikes. It is not yet clear whether Jansen will be ramped up in time for the regular season.

Brash (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Brash only threw at roughly 70 percent effort, but Wednesday's session marked his first time throwing off the mound since being taken off his throwing program in late February. Brash will throw another bullpen session within the next few days, and it's possible he progresses to facing hitters after that. The 25-year-old righty will likely begin the year on the 15-day IL.

Santos (lat) will receive an MRI within the next few days, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Santos strained his right lat during a bullpen session earlier in spring camp, and his MRI will determine if the inflammation has gone down enough for him to resume his throwing program. Santos will begin the year on the injured list, but his absence isn't expected to extend more than a month or two into the regular season.

X-rays on Alcala's pitching hand showed no broken bones after he was hit in the hand by a line drive in Wednesday's game, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Alcala's index and middle finger on his right hand were sore after the game, but sounds like he could be ready for Opening Day. Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He's likely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster due to injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique).

The Mariners optioned Vargas to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Vargas allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings across six spring training games, and he will ultimately miss out on a spot in the Mariners' Opening Day bullpen. The 24-year-old righty turned in a 7.23 ERA and 2.11 WHIP across 42.1 innings with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate last season, and he will certainly need to improve upon those numbers before he gets called up to Seattle.

Ortega underwent surgery Thursday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Ortega traveled back to Houston on Tuesday in order to get his elbow checked out, and the procedure will keep him sidelined for three-to-four months. He will almost certainly begin the season on the 60-day IL, opening a roster spot in Houston's bullpen.

Swanson (forearm) played catch Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Swanson "felt great" during the session, per Blue Jays manager John Schneider. More should be known within the next few days as to whether Swanson will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list to start the season, but he took a nice step Thursday.

Francis was informed Thursday that he has made the Blue Jays' rotation, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

There didn't seem to be much doubt that Francis would open the year in the rotation after he held a 3.38 ERA and 15:4 K:BB over 18.2 innings during Grapefruit League play. He's likely to pitch at some point during the season-opening, four-game series against Tampa Bay. With Alek Manoah's (shoulder) situation still very much up in the air, Francis will have a chance to prove he should remain in the rotation for a while.

Martin (groin) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Orioles, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Martin has been working his way back from an early-March groin injury. While this will be his first official spring appearance, he began facing hitters a week ago and recently appeared in a minor-league game. Martin is expected to be ready for Opening Day, barring setbacks.