MLB Player News

Magnifico was optioned to minor-league camp Monday.

Magnifico did not allow a run in five appearances this spring, but that was not enough to earn him a spot on the Brewers' Opening Day roster. Magnifico made his big-league debut last season, so he could join the Brewers again at some point this season.

Holmes was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Though the Pirates added Holmes to the 40-man roster during the offseason, the right-hander wasn't in serious consideration for an Opening Day role with the big club. He'll still move up a rung in the ladder to Triple-A after logging a 4.22 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 101 strikeouts over 136.1 innings at Double-A Altoona in 2016.

Melancon received an invite to join the United States in the World Baseball Classic as an alternate.

Melancon has fired five scoreless innings in early Cactus League action, so he has little to prove to his new club. Team USA would first have to elect to bring him aboard, then the Giants would have to approve the addition to the roster. Regardless of whether he joins Team USA or not, his spot as the Giants' closer is etched in stone.

Manager Bud Black said Rusin (oblique) is still 7-to-10 days away from throwing, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

With the unfortunate news surrounding Chad Bettis (illness), Rusin would normally have been an obvious fill-in for a youthful Rockies rotation. With this development, however, Rusin's availability for the season's opener may even be in jeopardy depending on how quickly his strained oblique can return to normal. If the left-hander is unable to claim this role in the rotation right away, that would likely open the door for Jeff Hoffman and German Marquez to take over those spots, although Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland and Harrison Musgrave are also in the mix. This is somewhat speculative at this point, though things should become clearer once Rusin begins throwing again.

Hoffman has an improved shot at garnering a spot in the Rockies rotation.

The top prospect was competing with a crowd for one of the final rotation spots, but now with Chris Rusin (oblique) and Chad Bettis (illness) on the shelf, Hoffman seems to be in line for the fourth spot in the rotation. The 24-year-old has yet to allow a run this spring and has struck out three batters between his two appearances. He struggled a bit upon his promotion to the big leagues last year and was even relegated to the bullpen for a brief period of time, but it seems like it's in the cards for Hoffman to move beyond that and become an integral part of Colorado's pitching staff.

Venditte was traded to the Phillies on Sunday in exchange for outfielder Joey Curletta.

The 31-year-old spent time with the Blue Jays and Mariners last season but found relatively little success with either organization at the major league level. However, the Phillies lack bullpen depth, and given his niche as a switch-pitcher, Venditte could push for a spot with the big league bullpen if he can piece together a few good spring appearances.

Stewart will sit out for a week due to shoulder tendinitis, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Manager Dave Roberts said that he'll be able to do strengthening exercises on his ailing shoulder in the meantime, which should help to limit the time Stewart is on the shelf. However, the Dodgers don't think he'll be ready to start games by the time the regular season rolls around in early April, which certainly hurts his chances of winning a coveted roster spot. A timetable for his return should become clearer as he ramps up his throwing.

Sewald threw two shutout innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, striking out one, and his strong spring could put him in line for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

He doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but Sewald's slider is a weapon that could allow him to be successful in the majors. The Mets' bullpen is in a bit of turmoil at the moment with Jeurys Familia likely facing a suspension to begin the season and Addison Reed struggling, so if Sewald keeps getting outs, there could be a role for him in New York. Despite his 43 minor league saves over the last two seasons, though, don't expect him to figure into the ninth-inning mix.

Voth finally began to develop a feel for his changeup last season, giving him the third pitch he feels he'll need to be successful in the majors, The Washington Post reports. "I've always had the change-up," Voth said, "but it's never been that good."

He's never been a scout's darling as his fastball tops out at 92 mph, but much like Tanner Roark before him, Voth has been effective as he's made his way rung by rung up the ladder in the Nats' farm system. The 24-year-old right-hander looked good in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, tossing 1.2 shutout innings while striking out three including Jay Bruce and Lucas Duda, and with Max Scherzer's finger issue leaving his Opening Day status in question, Voth could well find himself as the team's fifth starter coming out of camp -- a role that would make him worth a late-round dart or reserve pick in NL-only formats.

Gomez tossed 1.2 scoreless innings in Saturday's win over the Blue Jays.

Gomez has allowed just one run in four appearances this spring. Barring a collapse during spring play, the right-hander likely will open the year as the Phillies' closer, with Hector Neris likely next in line should Gomez falter.