MLB Player News

Lopez was optioned to the team's alternate training site Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Lopez was battling for the fifth rotation spot, but was expected to serve as a reliever for the team even if he lost out on the role. However, he had a disastrous spring training, allowing 11 earned runs across 11 innings while surrendering three home runs and four walks. Lopez will likely pitch in the big leagues at some point this season, but he'll have to wait for injury or poor performance for his next opportunity.

Kelly (undisclosed) threw a bullpen session Sunday but isn't likely to be ready by Opening Day, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Kelly continues to make progress toward a return, but he has yet to face live hitters and won't do so until tossing more bullpens. With Opening Day now 10 days away, it appears Kelly won't be able to ramp up in time to start the season on the active roster.

Manager Bob Melvin said that Puk's struggles with command concerned him during Monday's outing, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk's velocity has been down during spring training, topping out at 92-93 mph in his last outing. However, Melvin was less concerned about the speed of Puk's pitches and more alarmed by his inability to hit his spots. Puk worked 1.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks. With Mike Fiers (hip) unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Puk is a candidate for the rotation to start the season, though Daulton Jefferies and Cole Irvin have outpitched him thus far.

Angels manager Joe Maddon suggested Sunday that Rodriguez profiles as a reliever both now and in the future, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. "If you look at (Rodriguez) right now, he looks like a relief pitcher to me," Maddon said. "But that doesn't mean he can't start. Just looking at the way he comes after you, the physical stuff, how intimidating he can be in the short term, it's very interesting. I've not seen enough of him to know the other side of it."

Rodriguez has been used almost exclusively as a starter in the minors, though injuries and the global pandemic have limited him to only three appearances since 2017. He is being considered as an option to break camp with the Angels this season as a reliever, and he has posted an impressive 10:1 K:BB over 6.1 innings this spring. While a transition to relief could help expedite the right-hander's path to the majors, it wouldn't be the best thing for his long-term fantasy value.

Lamet (elbow) will start Wednesday's Cactus League contest against the Giants, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lamet has been built up slowly this spring as the Padres have understandably been cautious after an elbow issue caused the right-hander's 2020 campaign to end early. Lamet has been throwing in sim games but hasn't exceeded 29 pitches, so it's likely that he'll have a short outing Wednesday. With that in mind, his likelihood of starting the season in the rotation remains in considerable doubt.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Monday that Gilbreath is in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Gilbreath's contract was selected by the Rockies in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but he hasn't pitched above High-A. The southpaw had a rough outing Wednesday while allowing four runs over two-thirds of an inning against the Giants, but he's been relatively effective otherwise and has struck out 12 batters across 6.2 innings. Even if Gilbreath begins the year in the majors, he shouldn't have a high-leverage role for Colorado.

Romano appears to be next in line to close games for Toronto to begin the season after Kirby Yates (arm) revealed Monday that he would miss multiple weeks after being diagnosed with a flexor pronator strain, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Toronto had never officially named Yates its closer after signing him to a one-year deal this offseason, but he had been in line to fill that role so long as he made a full recovery from the procedure he required last fall to remove bone spurs from his elbow. Based on his comments Monday, Yates seems to have suffered a setback that leaves him without a definitive timeline for a return, opening the door for Romano to potentially step in as the Blue Jays' ninth-inning man. Before his own 2020 campaign was cut short by a sprained finger, Romano was a breakout performer in the Toronto bullpen, posting a 1.23 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB in 14.2 innings while scooping up two saves and five holds. He's returned to action healthily and effectively this spring, and his skills could make him an elite option at closer if he's able to hold down the job for the duration of Yates' absence.

Yates said Monday that he expects to miss multiple weeks after he was diagnosed with a flexor pronator strain in his right arm, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The injury is an unfortunate break for Yates, who was believed to be back to 100 percent at spring training after requiring a procedure last year to address bone chips in his elbow. The fact that he's now dealing with another arm injury is troubling, and the Blue Jays aren't expected to provide a concrete timeline for his return until the team evaluates him further. Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis become the most likely candidates to pick up saves for Toronto to begin the season, after Yates had looked to be locked in as the team's closer upon signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal over the winter.

Sborz is in the mix to close games for the Rangers at the start of the season after Jose Leclerc was shut down with elbow soreness Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Sborz certainly wouldn't be in the conversation for many teams, as he owns a career 6.08 ERA at the highest level in just 13.1 innings of work. The Rangers' bullpen has been hit with a number of injuries already, however, with Leclerc expected to join Jonathan Hernandez (elbow), Joely Rodriguez (ankle) and Brett Martin (back) on the injured list to start the year. Sborz did record a 31.4 percent strikeout rate and a 7.7 percent walk rate in his last two seasons in the minors, which could be enough to win the job when the top competitors are non-roster invitees like Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said that Rodriguez (ankle) will open the season on the injured list, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Rodriguez is believed to be progressing well from the sprained ankle that limited him early in spring training, but because he has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game with the start of regular season just 10 days away, the Rangers aren't counting on him to be an option for Opening Day. Young noted that Rodriguez will likely be in store for an abbreviated absence to begin the season, so he could be ready for activation from the IL in the minimum 10 days.