MLB Player News

Bard will begin the season on the Rockies' major-league roster.

After announcing his retirement from professional baseball in January of 2018, Bard signed with the Rockies in February as a non-roster invitee. He impressed enough in camp to earn a spot with Colorado's pitching staff to begin the regular season. The 35-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2013.

Shafer was optioned to the Reds' secondary camp site Friday.

Shafer is healthy after dealing with flexor mass irritation back in spring training, but he's still evidently not one of the Reds' primary bullpen options. He'll have a decent shot to make an appearance at some point this year, as he owns a career 3.75 ERA in 48 big-league innings, though that figure isn't backed up by his poor 41:32 K:BB.

Kuhnel (shoulder) was optioned to the Reds' alternate summer camp site Friday.

Kuhnel had been dealing with shoulder soreness back in spring training, though it's unclear if that's still an issue. He wasn't particularly likely to break camp with the team even if fully healthy, as he's thrown just 9.2 career big-league innings.

Bowman was optioned to the Reds' alternate summer camp site Friday.

Bowman won't be on the Reds' roster to start the year. He was low on the team's depth chart to begin with and missed time early in camp with elbow soreness, so it's not too surprising that he isn't considered one of the team's top options.

Megill was outrighted to the minors and assigned to the Cubs' secondary camp in South Bend, Indiana on Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Megill was selected by the Cubs in the Rule 5 draft back in December, but they'll keep him in the organization despite jettisoning him from the 40-man roster by sending cash considerations to the Padres in exchange for his rights. The 26-year-old could still be added back to the roster at some point this season for his big-league debut, as his 4.47 ERA in 50.1 innings with Triple-A El Paso last season came with a promising 32.3 percent strikeout rate.

Pivetta remains in the rotation conversation after throwing four scoreless innings in an intrasquad game Thursday without allowing a single hit, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Pivetta and Vince Velasquez are the primary competitors for the Phillies' final rotation spot this season, with both earning praise in recent days after impressing in intrasquad action. It's possible both pitchers open in the rotation, as there are questions surrounding both Zach Eflin's back spasms and Zack Wheeler's anticipated paternity leave. It's also possible neither pitcher is in the rotation for long, as the team's top pitching prospect Spencer Howard has looked good in camp as well and is expected to push for opportunities early in the season.

Howard flashed electric stuff while throwing three innings in Thursday's intrasquad game, Corey Seidman of NBCSports.com reports.

All of his pitches were working, buckling hitters with his big plus curveball and also blowing his upper-90s fastball by guys at the top of the zone. Pitching coach Bryan Price said he thinks Howard is ready to compete at the highest level and should be a part of the team's rotation early in the season. It's possible he will not open on the 30-man roster, but the Phillies will need a fifth starter no later than July 28 against the Yankees. Price said the team is focused on building up Howard's workload this season.

Hill was traded to the Padres for Franchy Cordero and Ronald Bolanos (ribs) on Thursday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Hill will bolster the bullpen for a Padres team that finished with a combined 4.59 ERA from its relief pitchers in 2019. The 30-year-old southpaw was excellent against left-handed hitters last season, allowing a .186 batting average without surrendering a single home run. Hill's dominance against left-handed hitters sets up nicely against a Dodgers lineup that feasts on right-handed pitching.

Crowe has been absent from team workouts since they began July 3, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Crowe is supposed to be training in Washington, as he was not listed on the roster sent to High-A Fredericksburg earlier this month. The 25-year-old struggled in Triple-A last season, posting a 6.17 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 41:26 K:BB in 54 innings for Fresno.

Hartlieb was sent back to the Pirates' satellite camp in Altoona on Thursday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Hartlieb was working at the team's major-league training site over the past few days, but he'll head to the alternate training site ahead of the regular season. The right-hander made 29 appearances for the Pirates last season, logging a 9.00 ERA and 38:18 K:BB over 35 innings.