MLB Player News

Chavez allowed an unearned run across two innings to pick up the win in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Athletics. He gave up two hits and struck out two.

The veteran reliever is in camp as a non-roster invitee, though he seems pretty likely to earn a bullpen role. Chavez pitched for the Cubs along with the Rangers back in 2018, when he posted a strong 2.55 ERA across 95.1 innings. He was good with Atlanta last year as well, registering a 2.14 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while striking out 36 batters across 33.2 innings. Chavez should slot in somewhere in front of closer Rowan Wick and could see high-leverage work this season.

Winckowski was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Winckowski was added to Boston's 40-man roster in November and will now head to minor-league camp after opening spring training with the major-league club. He appeared in two games for Worcester but spent most of 2021 at the Double-A level, where he posted a 4.23 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 88:30 K:BB across 100 innings.

Mata (elbow) was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Mata underwent Tommy John surgery last April and sat out the 2021 campaign, and he still has a bit to go in his recovery. The 22-year-old could return to game action sometime over the summer if there's no issues with his rehab program.

Smith (shoulder) paused his throwing program Wednesday due to foot soreness, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Smith missed time down the stretch last season with shoulder inflammation, and he's now picked up a foot issue during spring training. The 28-year-old had a 2.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB over 41.1 innings before the injury in 2021, and his availability for Opening Day is now in question.

The Brewers optioned Perdomo (back) to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

Perdomo was one of five 40-man roster players that the Brewers demoted to Triple-A in the team's latest round of cuts from big-league camp. The right-hander didn't see any action for either the Brewers or in the minors after early August of last season while he contended with a strained back, and he's gone unused thus far during the Cactus League slate. With that in mind, it's unclear where Perdomo stands on the health front as the start of the minor-league season approaches.

Lambert agreed to a one-year, $762,500 contract with the Rockies on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Lambert missed most of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he made two starts late in the season and gave up seven earned runs over 5.2 innings. The right-hander debuted with Colorado in 2019 with a 7.25 ERA across 89.1 innings, and he has an outside shot at a spot in the Opening Day rotation this year.

Stephenson and the Rockies agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.28 million contract to avoid arbitration, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old righty was one of the Rockies' more dependable middle relievers in 2021, turning in a 3.13 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while striking out 52 over 46 innings. He could pick up more setup work after logging only four holds a season ago, but he'll likely enter 2022 behind all of Alex Colome, Carlos Estevez and Daniel Bard in the pecking order for saves.

The Rangers optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Texas sent out Rodriguez and fellow pitcher Demarcus Evans to Triple-A as it reduced its group in big-league camp to 57 players. While working as a swingman at Round Rock following a mid-season promotion from Double-A Frisco in 2021, Rodriguez appeared in 13 games (four starts) at the Triple-A level and finished with an 8.01 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 30.1 frames.

Bruihl (arm) is listed among the Dodgers relievers scheduled to pitch in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Guardians, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Bruihl will be making his second appearance of the spring after he struck out two over a scoreless frame Sunday against the Cubs. The 24-year-old southpaw looks like he's made a full recovery from the left arm injury that kept him sidelined late in the Dodgers' National League Championship Series loss to Atlanta last October.

Patino (shoulder) threw an 18-to-20 pitch bullpen session Wednesday with no issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday with some shoulder soreness, but his quick return to the mound indicates it's not a serious concern. The 22-year-old is now scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday as he moves toward a return to game action.