MLB Player News

Graveman (back) threw his first live batting practice session of the spring Tuesday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Graveman was signed to a major-league deal after camp opened but then missed time with back tightness. The Diamondbacks believe he has enough time to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Chapman's spring struggles along with those of Liam Hendriks leave Boston's closer role unsettled, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.

Chapman has a 4.91 ERA with six walks through 3.2 spring innings, which is better than Hendriks, who has a 13.50 ERA and 11 hits allowed over four innings. Manager Alex Cora acknowledged both pitchers have been knocked around but is taking an optimistic view that both are "going to be OK." If neither Chapman nor Hendriks improve over the last two weeks of the Grapefruit League, then Justin Slaten, unaccustomed to the mental aspects of closing, might sneak in to take on the ninth-inning role.

Boston manager Alex Cora is not panicked by Hendriks' spring results thus far, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports. "The velo's good, he's just got to execute," Cora said Monday. "I think it's too early to be worried about that. As long as he's healthy, we're going to keep running him out there."

Hendriks was most recently tagged for two runs on three hits over one inning Sunday, the third consecutive outing in which the Red Sox's potential closer has given up runs. The manager pointed to Hendrik's velocity, which was at 91 mph early in camp before increasing to 96 mph in Grapefruit League games. Cora takes an optimistic tack, while others, like one rival scout told McAdam, see Hendriks has been missing location over the middle of the plate. There's still time for Hendriks (13.50 ERA, 11 hits, four spring innings) to stabilize, but at this point in the Grapefruit League, Boston's closer situation remains unsettled. Aroldis Chapman (4.91 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 3.2 spring innings) and Justin Slaten (no earned runs, three innings) are also in the mix.

Halvorsen allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one across two-thirds of an inning in Monday's Cactus League game against the Reds.

Halvorsen entered the game in the eighth inning and was tasked with protecting a one-run lead. He served up a leadoff homer and proceeded to allow two walks and two extra-base hits. Halvorsen is in the mix for saves and had previously allowed only one earned run across five innings while maintaining a 4:2 K:BB, and it's unclear how this poor outing may affect his role to begin the regular season.

Vodnik pitched a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Reds.

Vodnik allowed two earned runs in his prior outing Saturday, so this was a needed bounce-back performance. That inconsistency is a microcosm of his entire spring, however, as he's allowed three earned runs across five innings -- albeit with a 5:1 K:BB. Vodnik is a candidate to earn the closer role in Colorado, though Tyler Kinley has had a more impressive spring.

Gallegos was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Gallegos made six appearances out of the bullpen during spring training, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six batters over 6.1 innings. The right-hander appears set to begin the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City after signing a minor-league deal with Los Angeles in November.

The Pirates optioned Shugart to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Shugart made five appearances during spring training. He was off to a good start with three consecutive scoreless innings before imploding for five runs in just one-third of an inning against the Pirates back on March 2. The 28-year-old was able to earn a promotion to the big leagues at the end of the 2024 season for Boston, notching a 4.15 ERA over 8.2 innings. The right-hander will have to claw his way back from Triple-A in 2025.

The Blue Jays optioned Robertson to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Robertson struck out a pair in a scoreless inning in his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday versus the Twins but was then cut from big-league camp after the contest. The 26-year-old will begin the season at Buffalo but should get an opportunity in the Blue Jays' bullpen eventually.

Thompson won't be included on the Cubs' 31-man travel roster for the season-opening series against the Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The right-hander moved between the majors and minors last season but was effective while up with the Cubs, finishing with a 2.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB across 30.1 innings. Thompson has given up three solo homers through four appearances in spring training, and it appears he won't be traveling with the club to Japan, though no roster moves have officially been made.

Manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that Mears has been battling with an illness the past few days, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The specifics of the ailment are unclear, though Mears appeared to be feeling a bit better Tuesday morning. With just over two weeks until Opening Day, the right-hander's availability could be in question depending how much time it takes for him to rebuild his strength.