MLB Player News

Karcher was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Louisville by the Reds, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Karcher was added to the 40-man roster by Cincinnati over the winter. The right-hander recorded a 3.65 ERA over 56.2 innings of work with Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville.

Gilbert (elbow) was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Diamondbacks camp.

Gilbert had surrendered 10 earned runs through only 5.1 innings of work this spring in Cactus League play. It should be noted that the 29-year-old southpaw finished the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow sprain.

Martinez was optioned to Triple-A Reno by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Martinez struck out 62 batters over 38 innings last season in the minor leagues, though only 4.2 of those frames were above Double-A. The 21-year-old figures to open in a high-leverage role with Reno in 2023.

Selby was optioned Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Selby pitched well in 2022 with a 2.27 ERA and eight saves over 29 appearances with Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis. The right-hander was protected from the Rule 5 Draft in November by being added to the 40-man roster, and should spend time in Pittsburgh this summer -- if not sooner.

Gilbreath (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery as scheduled Tuesday, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.

Gilbreath will miss the entire 2023 season, and his rehab is likely to extend into the early part of the 2024 campaign. The 27-year-old left-hander registered a 4.19 ERA and 49:26 K:BB over 43 innings of relief for the Rockies in 2022.

The Giants optioned Winn to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Winn was added to the 40-man roster in November so that he could be protected from the Rule 5 Draft, but he never stood much of a chance to make the Opening Day squad out of camp this spring. The 25-year-old posted a 4.08 ERA in 108 innings last season between Low-A, High-A and Double-A ball.

Beck (ankle) was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Beck was removed from a Cactus League appearance this past Sunday after taking a comebacker off his left ankle, but all seems to be well in that regard. The 26-year-old could get the call to the Giants as emergency rotation depth at some point in 2023.

Manaea has allowed six earned runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out 10 over eight innings through three Cactus League starts.

It's encouraging to see Manaea missing bats frequently, but what contact has been made against him has often landed for a hit. The 31-year-old southpaw is coming off his worst season in the majors, in which he posted a 4.96 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 158 innings for the Padres. The Giants have a solid track record of getting the most out of their pitchers, but it'll be on Manaea to pitch well enough to retain his spot in what's shaping up to be a crowded competition for a place in the rotation.

Boxberger and Michael Fulmer are viewed by the Cubs as the primary options at closer, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Boxberger was brought in on a one-year, $2.8 million contract in December, and Fulmer was signed to a one-year, $4 million deal in February. Those two could get the bulk of ninth-inning opportunities out of the gate, though Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay also remain in the fold as high-leverage options on the North Side of Chicago. It could be a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.

Fulmer and Brad Boxberger are viewed as the primary options at closer for the Cubs, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

It could ultimately wind up being more of a carousel, with Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay also somewhere in the mix, but Fulmer has expressed a strong desire to claim the job and Boxberger boasts 82 career major-league saves. Fulmer, 29, signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago in February after working to a 3.39 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 63.2 innings last season between the Tigers and Twins. He picked up three saves along the way.