MLB Player News

Wantz was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Wantz made two relief appearances in the Cactus League this year and allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three in three scoreless frames. Although he made 21 relief appearances for the Angels last year, he'll begin the 2022 campaign in Salt Lake.

Manager Chris Woodward doesn't want to put Barlow back in the closer's role right away this season, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Landry said Woodward cited the raised expectations for the club as the reason to use Barlow as more of a fireman. Per Landry, Spencer Patton, Matt Bush or Greg Holland could slide into the ninth-inning role early this season.

Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Sanmartin will start the Reds' second game of the season April 8 in Atlanta, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Coming into spring training, Sanmartin was one of a handful of pitchers battling for the two open rotation spots behind Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle. The Reds then traded Gray to the Twins and acquired a replacement for him in Mike Minor, but the latter won't be ready to go for the start of the season while he recovers from a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Castillo is also set to begin the campaign on the injured list due to a shoulder issue of his own, so Sanmartin was able to claim a rotation spot without having to truly battle for the job. Whether Sanmartin maintains a starting role by the time Castillo and Minor are healthy will hinge on his performance over the first couple of weeks of the season. The 25-year-old lefty turned in an impressive 2021 campaign at Triple-A Louisville before making two solid late-season starts for the big club in which he allowed two earned runs over 11.2 innings while striking out 11 and walking two.

Harvey (triceps) is slated to face hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The Nationals picked up Harvey on March 21 via waivers after the 27-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment for the second time since the end of the 2021 season. Though the oft-injured pitcher was able to pass a physical, he's still in the process of building up after he finished last season on the injured list with a right triceps strain. Harvey has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut and could be a candidate to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but he shouldn't be sidelined for much longer than the minimum amount of time if he avoids any further setbacks.

Underwood (shoulder) is scheduled to make his third relief appearance of spring training in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Underwood reported to Pirates camp at full health after a bout with right shoulder inflammation sidelined him for the final month of the 2021 campaign. He's been effective in both of his first two Grapefruit League appearances, spinning three scoreless frames while striking out three and allowing only two baserunners. Underwood looks well positioned to win a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen.

Poche is scheduled to appear in relief of starter Josh Fleming in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Healthy again after missing the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June 2020, Poche is vying for a spot in the Rays' Opening Day bullpen. He's looked sharp in his first two Grapefruit League appearances to date, striking out two over two scoreless frames while recording a save.

Manaea recorded seven strikeouts and allowed an earned run on two hits and a walk over 5.2 innings during a Cactus League loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The left-hander was in midseason form as his numbers indicate, making it two straight strong performances for Manaea after a rocky spring debut against the Reds back on March 19. Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports Manaea retired nine straight hitters at one point against a Dodgers lineup replete with regulars, recorded all seven of his punchouts on swinging strikes and was especially effective with his slider. "My sliders over the past two games have just gotten better and better," Manaea said. "I feel like I'm really starting to rip it and not worried about placing it somewhere and trying to make it do something. I just get my grip and let it go."

Clase has struck out three and allowed three hits across three innings in three Cactus League appearances.

Clase enters the 2022 campaign as the Guardians' top closing option. With James Karinchak (shoulder) sidelined to start the season, it's safe to say Clase will get a week or two at a minimum to take full control of ninth-inning duties. The flamethrowing right-hander was fantastic last year with a 1.29 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 74:16 K:BB across 69.2 innings. He logged 24 saves, six holds and five blown saves.

Trivino, who's fired three scoreless innings across three Cactus League appearances, should be the clear-cut closer to open the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has worked around three hits and a walk while recording six punchouts thus far, an encouraging start after he saw his strikeout rate tumble to 21.6 percent last season. Trivino recorded a career-high 22 saves last season over 26 chances and added eight holds, giving him no shortage of fantasy relevance. Given his experience, solid results in the role last season and the makeup of the rest of the bullpen, it appears he'll be given every opportunity to hold on to the closer job in 2022.

The Pirates plan to split closing duties between Bednar and Chris Stratton to open the season, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Bednar and Stratton split the job last year after the departure of Richard Rodriguez, and it's not a major surprise the pair will continue to do so to begin 2022. Bednar had a lighter share of the role with three saves but pitched better with a 2.23 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 77:19 K:BB across 60.2 innings. Meanwhile, Stratton picked up eight saves and had a 3.63 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 86:33 K:BB.