MLB Player News

The White Sox placed Stiever (lat) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Though Stiever has been in attendance at big-league camp, he remains limited to rehab work and wasn't expected to be ready to pitch at the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his right lat Aug. 23. The move to the 60-day IL officially rules Stiever out for the first two months of the campaign and opens up a 40-man roster spot for waiver pickup Yoan Aybar. Stiever will be eligible to begin a minor-league rehab assignment during his stint on the IL, and once the 60 days lapse and if he's deemed fully healthy, he'll likely slot into the rotation at Triple-A Charlotte.

The Astros optioned Dubin to their minor-league camp Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Dubin is expected to return to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2022 campaign after he turned in a 3.44 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 69:19 K:BB in 49.2 innings with the affiliate a season ago. After being added to the 40-man roster over the offseason, Dubin should be on the shortlist for a call-up to the big club if the Astros have a need for a spot starter or multi-inning reliever.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday he's entertaining the idea of using Chapman more in the eighth inning this season to keep the closer sharp during lengthier periods in between save chances, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. "It will serve him well at times and protect other guys at times," Boone said. "It will help us as a staff and keep Aroldis more regular rather than let him get to five, six days without pitching."

More specifically, Boone said he prefers to get Chapman some more work in the eighth inning of tight games, rather than asking the lefty to pitch in low-adrenaline blowouts or post-game bullpen sessions for the sake of staying sharp. While Chapman could still miss out on a few save chances if he's summoned when his team is trailing or tied and the Yankees later take the lead, the prospect of the 34-year-old getting more high-leverage, non-save-situation opportunities could help him avoid the ratio damage many traditional closers often take on when pitching in blowouts. The arrangement may also help Chapman pick up more innings, which would heighten the impact of his strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. He's thrown no more than 60 frames in any of the last six seasons, with his innings counts often lagging behind some of baseball's other ace relievers.

Manager Buck Showalter said Smith (foot) pitched a perfect inning-plus Thursday in the Mets' intrasquad game, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith's flawless relief appearance indicates that he's fully healthy again after he didn't complete his scheduled throwing session Wednesday due to a sore right foot. The right-hander's spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen looks fairly secure, though he'll likely be limited to a low-leverage role to begin the season.

Helsley (elbow/knee) will make his spring training debut Friday versus the Nationals, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Helsley underwent knee surgery in the offseason, but this news indicates he's recovered from that operation. The 27-year-old played a versatile role in the bullpen last year. He posted a 6-4 record, one save, 10 holds, 4.56 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 47:27 K:BB across 47.1 innings. He's got solid velocity -- he averaged 97.5 mph on his fastball last year -- and the right-hander's 3.99 FIP from last season suggests he was a little unlucky. Still, he's not expected to be part of the closer committee to begin 2022.

The Rockies reassigned Hammer to their minor-league camp Thursday.

Hammer took himself out of consideration for a spot in the Rockies' Opening Day bullpen by giving up five earned runs on five hits over three innings across his three Cactus League appearances. The 27-year-old, who previously made 40 relief appearances in the majors with the Phillies between the 2019 and 2021 seasons, will report to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the 2022 campaign, though he could request a release from his minor-league contract at some point if he recognizes a better opportunity with another organization.

The Rockies optioned Rolison to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

Rolison was one of four players on the Rockies' 40-man roster that was dispatched to the minors Thursday, leaving Colorado with 47 players remaining at MLB camp. The 24-year-old lefty will likely step into the rotation at Albuquerque, with whom he made 10 starts in 2021. He covered 45.2 innings in those outings, pitching to a 5.91 ERA and 1.48 WHIP.

Bukauskas (shoulder) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The move doesn't change Bukauskas' return timeline, as he was already expected to miss multiple months with a Grade 2 shoulder strain. It clears a spot for the Diamondbacks to add the recently-signed Zach Davies to the 40-man roster.

Harvey (triceps) is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday and could begin to throw live batting practice early next week, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The flame-throwing right-hander has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career, an issue which caused him to get designated for assignment by the Orioles in November before spending a few months on the Giants' 40-man roster and subsequently being claimed by the Nationals this week. He's in good spirits to begin his Washington tenure, however. "I feel really good," Harvey said Wednesday. "I've been feeling good, so I'm trying to keep it that way this year and stay healthy for the full season." If the 27-year-old can stay off the injured list, his 97 mph fastball and plus curveball could allow him to claim a high-leverage role in an unsettled Nats bullpen.

Otto allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out none over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring training game against the White Sox.

This was Otto's first Cactus League start, his first chance to stake a claim on the fifth starter's job, but the right-hander said he let the emotions get the best of him in the midst of a competition. He told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that his performance was "unacceptable." The Rangers took Otto off the hook by scoring 14 runs, the second time Texas' offense amassed double-digit runs in a spring game. He allowed all the damage in the first inning before settling down in the second, which pleased manager Chris Woodward. "He was amped up and excited, and he wants to show off what he can do," Woodward said of Otto's first inning. "I did like to see the second one though. There was a lot more calm to him, and the delivery was cleaner like I know he's able to while establishing his pitches." Woodward added that Otto, and possibly Spencer Howard and A.J. Alexy, might benefit from more time at Triple-A.