MLB Player News
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Tim Mayza RP | PHI
Blue Jays' Tim Mayza: Yet to allow run this spring
Mayza gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
Entering the game in the fourth inning, Mayza fanned Jose Caballero en route to another clean frame. The veteran southpaw has a 0.00 ERA through four spring innings with a 5:1 K:BB, and after recording a career-high 22 holds in 2023, he's on track to be the top left-handed set-up man for closer Jordan Romano in the Toronto bullpen.
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Mitch White RP | MIL
Blue Jays' Mitch White: Gets first spring start
White allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over three innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out two.
The 29-year-old right-hander got his first start of the spring after three relief appearances, and White tossed two scoreless frames before running into trouble in the third after giving up back-to-back singles to Rene Pinto and Yandy Diaz. White has a lackluster 5.00 ERA and 4:7 K:BB through nine Grapefruit League innings, and he appears to be behind Bowden Francis in the battle for the fifth starter role that has opened up due to Alek Manoah's shoulder issues.
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Cooper Criswell RP | SEA
Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Sharp in start
Criswell allowed two hits and struck out four over 3.2 scoreless innings in Monday's spring start against Pittsburgh.
Criswell was added to the rotation competition after an elbow injury to Lucas Giolito will require him to undergo surgery Tuesday. "We see [Criswell] as a starter until he's not," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Whatever decision we make, I'm intrigued." With two open rotation spots following Giolito's injury, Criswell joins a mix that includes Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Josh Winckowski. Criswell had a 5.97 ERA over 12 games with the Angels and Rays from 2021-23, but the Red Sox felt he could benefit from a personalized plan for improvement, which included changing the grip on his slider and improving his fastball. The right-hander has allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 10.1 spring innings.
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Putting together impressive spring
Erceg fired two scoreless relief innings during which he allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a Cactus League win over the Diamondbacks on Monday.
The right-hander's spring ERA remained unblemished with Monday's impressive performance, and the two hits were the first he's allowed this spring. Erceg has appeared in four Cactus League games overall and pitched a total of five innings, allowing an unearned run with a 5:1 K:BB. Erceg logged the first 50 big-league appearances of his career last season in Oakland, occasionally working as a multi-inning reliever and posting a 4-4 record, 11 holds, a 4.75 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.
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Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Makes spring debut
Fairbanks didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two in a scoreless inning in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.
The outing marked Fairbanks' spring debut, and he didn't disappoint. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, he hit 98 mph with his fastball while striking out the first two batters he faced. Fairbanks is coming off an excellent 2023 season and projects to earn the majority of save chances for Tampa Bay in 2024.
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Trevor Kelley RP | SEA
Mariners' Trevor Kelley: Assigned to minors camp
Kelley was sent to minor-league spring training Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Kelley had a rough go in big-league camp, allowing four runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one over 2.1 innings of work. He'll now set his sights on preparing for the minor-league season and should end up reporting to Triple-A Tacoma. Kelley posted a 5.23 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with a 28:11 K:BB across 32.2 frames a season ago at Triple-A Durham.
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Matt Canterino SP | MIN
Twins' Matt Canterino: Sent packing to Triple-A
The Twins optioned Canterino to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Canterino missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery but impressed this spring, yielding one run with a 5:0 K:BB over three innings. The 26-year-old could return to a starting role at St. Paul but might have a better shot to make an impact for the Twins as a reliever in 2024.
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Simeon Woods Richardson RP | MIN
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Optioned to Triple-A
Minnesota optioned Woods RIchardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Woods Richardson was unscored upon in three appearances this spring, but he never seemed like a serious candidate for the Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old will be used in St. Paul's rotation at the start of the 2024 season.
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Brent Headrick RP | NYY
Twins' Brent Headrick: Heads to minor-league camp
The Twins optioned Headrick to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Headrick was in the running for one of the Twins' final bullpen spots but ultimately came up short. The left-hander posted a 2.84 ERA and 3:4 K:BB over 6.1 innings this spring. He split time between the rotation and bullpen at St. Paul last season and could be used as a swingman again in 2024.