MLB Player News

Akin suffered an adductor injury while warming up in the bullpen during Baltimore's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies on Saturday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Manager Craig Albernaz said after the game that he doesn't know how severe Akin's injury is, but the skipper kept him out of the game as a precaution. More information on the 30-year-old's status for Opening Day should be available in the next couple days.

The Blue Jays granted Seabold his release Saturday.

Seabold tallied an impressive 13 strikeouts in just 6.2 innings this spring, but he did so while allowing five earned runs to score. Now a free agent, he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league contract after posting a 6.07 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 69.2 Triple-A frames in 2025.

The Blue Jays optioned Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Estrada will finish the Grapefruit League with a 4.76 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 11.1 innings. Those numbers are improvements from the 5.73 ERA and 1.45 WHIP he posted in 97.1 Triple-A frames last year, but the Blue Jays will send him back to the minors to continue developing.

The Rangers granted Brasier his release Saturday.

Brasier struggled to establish himself this spring, allowing six earned runs over 7.1 innings in the Cactus League. Because his chances of starting the season in Texas' bullpen were looking poor, he'll exercise his right to opt out of his contract and seek another opportunity on the free-agent market.

Adam (quadriceps) pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout against Colorado in a Cactus League appearance Friday.

Adam entered in the sixth inning and retired the Rockies in order on 12 pitches. It was the first time the righty reliever has appeared in a game this spring, as he's still working to get fully ramped up following the surgery he underwent early last September to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon. According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Adam will aim to make another exhibition appearance Monday, and if that goes well, there's still a chance he could make the Padres' Opening Day roster.

Manaea will not begin the season in the Mets' starting rotation, although manager Carlos Mendoza indicated Saturday that the veteran southpaw would be used in a piggyback role, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Mendoza didn't specify which starter would get an abbreviated workload to accommodate Manaea, however. Manaea's velocity has been down this spring, and getting used in a long-relief role could buy him more time to round into form. His actual Grapefruit League results have been solid as he has a 3.72 ERA and 9:2 K:BB in 9.2 innings. Freddy Peralta, David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga will open the season in the rotation.

The Angels released Strickland on Saturday.

After recovering from a shoulder injury that ended his season in early July last year, Strickland made five appearances in the Cactus League with Los Angeles, giving up one earned run on five hits and no walks while striking out two batters over five innings. Although his age and durability are both concerns, he may still be able to attract a deal on the open market.

Coulombe was sent home from Red Sox camp Saturday due to an illness, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The nature of Coulombe's illness isn't known, but assuming he's able to recover quickly, he should still be in good shape to make the Opening Day roster. The veteran reliever signed with the Red Sox a little over a week ago and made his Grapefruit League debut Thursday.

The Nationals unconditionally released Smith on Saturday.

Smith missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He inked a minor-league deal with the Nationals in mid-February with an invitation to spring training and appeared in six Grapefruit League games, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven across 5.1 scoreless innings. Smith's unconditional release means he'll be free to sign with another team looking to bolster its bullpen depth.

The Phillies reassigned Richards to minor-league camp Saturday.

Richards inked a minor-league contract with the Phillies in December but wasn't able to crack the Opening Day roster after posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across eight innings in eight Grapefruit League games. He'll likely open the season in Triple-A but would be a candidate for a major-league call-up if the Phillies need an extra arm out of the bullpen.