MLB Player News
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Francisco Perez RP | ATH
Athletics' Francisco Perez: Back in Oakland
Perez re-signed Thursday with the Athletics on a minor-league contract.
Just one day after he elected free agency upon being outrighted off Oakland's 40-man roster, Perez opted to stick with the organization on a new deal. The 26-year-old lefty made 17 appearances at the big-league level in 2023, logging a 5.94 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 16.2 innings.
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Josh Winder RP | ARI
Twins' Josh Winder: Building up slowly in camp
Winder is behind the Twins' other pitchers for the start of spring training while he builds back up from a right scapula stress fracture he suffered late in the 2023 season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Winder wasn't placed on the injured list at any point due to the stress fracture, which wasn't detected until he underwent an MRI in October, per Park. After taking some extra time to rest up during the offseason, Winder seems to have moved past the injury, but he was still limited to playing catch from 90 feet at Wednesday's workout while most other Twins relievers threw bullpen or live sessions.
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Lou Trivino RP | BAL
Yankees' Lou Trivino: Back with Yankees on MLB pact
Trivino (elbow) agreed to a one-year contract with the Yankees on Wednesday.
The deal won't be made official until Trivino completes a physical, but the Yankees are already aware that the right-hander likely won't be available until the second half of the 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery last May. In his last full big-league season in 2022, Trivino logged a 4.53 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB in 53.2 innings between the Yankees and Athletics. He'll likely settle at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once he completes an extended rehab assignment, but he could earn a look in the big-league bullpen if he's able to quickly regain his pre-surgery velocity and command during his appearances in the minors.
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Clayton Andrews RP | NYY
Yankees' Clayton Andrews: Joining Bronx Bombers
Andrews was acquired by the Yankees from the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Joshua Quezada.
Andrews was designated for assignment by the Brewers last week, and the Yankees elected to trade for him rather than risk another team claiming him through the waiver wire. The left-hander allowed 10 earned runs over 3.1 frames in his first taste of the majors last season but had a 2.53 ERA in 48 outings at Triple-A.
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Scott Effross RP | DET
Yankees' Scott Effross: Goes to 60-day IL
The Yankees placed Effross (back) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Effross can be activated from the IL in late May, but he may not be ready to pitch when first eligible, given that manager Aaron Boone said earlier Wednesday that the right-handed reliever would be out until sometime in the summer while he recovers from the back surgery he underwent in December. The 30-year-old is on the 60-day IL to open a season for a second year in a row, after he missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He'll be replaced on the 40-man roster by left-handed reliever Clayton Andrews, whom the Yankees acquired from the Brewers on Wednesday.
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Scott Effross RP | DET
Yankees' Scott Effross: Out until summer after back surgery
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Effross (elbow) had back surgery in December and won't be available until some point in the summer, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Effross had his entire 2023 campaign wiped out while he recovered from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October 2022, but he had been expected to be fully cleared for spring training. However, with the back injury cropping up over the winter and necessitating another surgery, Effross doesn't look like he'll be ready to make his 2024 debut until June or July. On a positive note, Boone said that Effross was able to begin a throwing program last week, but the veteran reliever will presumably be brought along slowly throughout camp and is unlikely to pitch in Grapefruit League games. Effross could be a candidate to open the season on the 60-day injured list.
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Felix Bautista RP | BAL
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Shifts to 60-day IL
The Orioles placed Bautista (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Bautista will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October followed by a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition procedure last week. Baltimore brought in veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel on a one-year, $13 million contract in December and will install him as the closer this season while Bautista completes his rehab.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Dealing with lat soreness
Jansen reported to spring training Wednesday but won't immediately start a throwing program due to general lat soreness, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Everything initially appeared to be in order after the veteran closer's individual workout Wednesday morning, but Boston GM Craig Breslow then announced the lat injury. It's believed to be a mild issue, but coming into spring training with a new injury is always a concerning development. Jansen said he hopes to being throwing in about a week, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.
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Tyler Alexander RP | TEX
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Completes side session
Alexander (lat) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
While he was with the Tigers last season, Alexander didn't make any appearances after July 2 due to a left lat strain. He's seemingly entering his first Rays camp with few restrictions, if any, as he was throwing Wednesday alongside the team's other healthy relievers. The lefty turned in an unremarkable 4.50 ERA in 44 appearances with Detroit in 2023, but he had stronger underlying metrics (3.66 xERA, 3.48 SIERA, career-best 21.5 K-BB%). The Rays claimed him off waivers in November after the Tigers non-tendered him and are hoping that he can serve as a reliable multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Present for spring training
Jansen performed an individual workout at spring training Wednesday and doesn't appear to have any physical limitations heading into the regular season, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Jansen didn't pitch after Sept. 12 last season following a stint on the COVID-19 injured list, but he had a normal offseason and is preparing to return to his familiar role as the Red Sox's closer. However, with Jansen in the final year of his contract and with the Red Sox not profiling as a major contender in the American League coming off an 84-loss season, Boston is reportedly listening to trade offers for the 36-year-old reliever, per Christopher Smith and Sean McAdam of The Springfield Republican. Jansen is no longer one of the game's elite closers, but he was still serviceable enough when healthy in 2023, logging a 3.63 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB in 44.2 innings while converting 29 of 33 save chances.