MLB Player News

The Giants optioned Cruz to minor-league camp Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

It appears Cruz was sent to Triple-A Sacramento despite the fact he spent last season at the Single-A level. The 22-year-old produced a 2.06 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 86:23 K:BB over 52.1 innings for San Jose last season, which was his first action above rookie ball.

Beck exited Sunday's spring game against the A's after being hit in the left ankle with a comebacker, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Beck came out of the bullpen Sunday and delivered 2.2 scoreless frames before exiting the contest. It's unclear if the 26-year-old will be available for his next turn through the rotation, and he should be considered day-to-day until his status is updated.

Montes de Oca suffered a forearm injury during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays and will undergo medical imaging Monday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Montes de Oca seems unlikely to be available for at least a couple weeks, depending on the specifics of the injury. The 26-year-old righty made his MLB debut last season and gave up four earned runs with a 6:2 K:BB over 3.1 innings.

Montes de Oca exited Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays with an apparent injury after he was visited on the mound by an athletic trainer, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Montes de Oca has pitched well thus far in camp, but he issued three straight walks Sunday before being removed with what could be an arm-related issue. The 26-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

Naughton has allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings through five Grapefruit League appearances.

Naughton was on and off the Cardinals' major-league roster for much of 2022, posting a 4.78 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB across 32 innings. He started three of his six appearances, but his path to staying in the majors this season is in the bullpen since the Cardinals have a surplus of potential starters. Naughton remains unlikely to challenge for a high-leverage role, so he won't be a factor in most fantasy formats.

Johnson (knee) worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless seventh inning in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Mariners in Cactus League play.

Johnson was making his first Cactus League appearance in just under a week after experiencing right knee soreness following his previous outing. The knee issue didn't dramatically derail Johnson during his buildup program, so he looks like he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season.

The Phillies optioned McArthur to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

The 26-year-old right-hander wasn't able to secure a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day bullpen after he was tagged for three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings across his five Grapefruit League appearances. McArthur is still awaiting his big-league debut, but the Phillies' decision to keep him on the 40-man roster over the offseason suggests the organization thinks he can become a contributor in the majors at some point in 2023.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that Pomeranz (elbow) will throw to live hitters at least one more time before potentially getting into a spring-training game, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

Pomeranz threw to live hitters Friday for the first time this spring, and Melvin was encouraged by the session, saying, "What I saw yesterday was great. He was averaging almost 92 [mph]. His breaking ball was spinning well. I know he felt good about it as well," per Bill Center of FriarWire. The manager added that Pomeranz will throw in a similar setting at least once more before potentially getting into a game situation. That lines up with earlier reports that the veteran reliever could open the season in the Padres' bullpen rather than on the injured list.

Raley (hamstring) is expected back Tuesday for the Mets, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Raley was diagnosed with a low grade left hamstring strain Saturday, and the left-hander was forced to withdraw from the American roster for the World Baseball Classic. Even if he misses a few extra days, it appears that this won't be an injury that carries into the regular season.

Bird (oblique) threw his first bullpen session of the spring Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Time appears tight for Bird to get ramped up by Opening Day, but he reportedly still has a chance. He recorded a 4.91 ERA in 47.2 innings of relief as a 26-year-old rookie last season.