MLB Player News

Gomez was optioned to Low-A Tampa on Friday.

Gomez was added to the 40-man roster in November and has made one appearance this spring, notching one strikeout in a perfect inning against Philadelphia. He is likely a few years away from making his big-league debut.

Pearson (groin) felt good after throwing a bullpen session Saturday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Friday that Pearson won't have time to stretch out prior to Opening Day, but his throwing session Saturday went well. The right-hander will throw another bullpen in the coming days and could presumably advance to live batting practice or simulated games after that. It's not yet clear whether Pearson will begin the regular season in the bullpen or if he'll build up to a starter's workload away from the team.

Barlow has recorded two saves while allowing no hits and one walk while striking out four over three scoreless innings to begin spring training.

Barlow saw plenty of usage during the abbreviated 2020 campaign. He converted on both of his save chances and posted a 4.20 ERA and 39:9 K:BB over 30 innings while making 32 relief appearances. Following his strong showing over a limited sample in 2020, Barlow worked during the offseason to physically prepare to pitch well over a full season, Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star reports. The right-hander has performed well early in spring training, but he'll likely begin the regular season in a setup role with Greg Holland the favorite to serve as the closer early in the year.

Hicks, who has been impressive in live batting practices and a "B" game appearance, will next progress to making his Grapefruit League debut at a yet-to-be-determined date, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mike Shildt confirmed the right-hander's imminent spring debut Friday, and Silver notes it could unfold this weekend against either the Mets or Marlins. The eventual appearance will mark Hicks' first in official game action since June 22, 2019 following Tommy John surgery that summer and a subsequent 2020 opt-out.

Richards, who allowed two earned runs on two hits over two innings but recorded four strikeouts in a Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox on Friday, projects for multiple roles in 2021, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. "Richie's done well this spring," Cash said. "[Rays pitching coach] Kyle [Snyder] is very excited [about] where he's at and how he can help us in multiple ways."

The 27-year-old swingman had his share of struggles in 2020, pitching to a bloated 5.91 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across nine appearances (four starts). However, Richards had shown some promise in 2019 in the form of a 1.93 ERA across 23.1 innings after arriving from the Marlins via trade, and despite Richards surrendering a pair of earned runs in each of his first two spring outings, the Rays seem to be high on his versatility.

Pagan should have a high-leverage role with the Padres this season, but the team has yet to determine how closing duties will be handled, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.

Pagan has experience closing -- he saved 20 games for Tampa Bay in 2019 -- but he was used primarily as a setup man in his first campaign with San Diego last season. With veteran closer Mark Melancon brought over in the offseason and Drew Pomeranz fresh off a dominant 2020 campaign that included a temporary ninth-inning role, Pagan does not appear to be the early favorite for save opportunities heading into 2021, though the Padres have not yet determined how the back end of the bullpen will shake out. Manager Jayce Tingler suggested earlier in the week that plans have yet to be finalized, stating, "Are we open to a committee? Open to matchups? We are. We'd love to come out of here saying this is our ninth-inning guy and move forward. This early, I'm not interested in giving anyone that title. Sometimes, the key outs are in the seventh or eighth."

Melancon is among the candidates to close for the Padres this season, but manager Jayce Tingler has not yet settled on how the back end of the bullpen will shape up, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.

Melancon brings plenty of closing experience with him to San Diego -- he has saved 205 games in his MLB career and tied for seventh in the league with 11 saves last season. That said, the Padres have other intriguing ninth-inning options, including former big-league closers Emilio Pagan and Keone Kela in addition to Drew Pomeranz, who briefly and effectively filled in as the team's closer last year. It remains to be seen how the mix of arms will shake out in terms of roles, and manager Jayce Tingler has not yet decided whether any single pitcher will be handed exclusive ninth-inning duties, stating, "Are we open to a committee? Open to matchups? We are. We'd love to come out of here saying this is our ninth-inning guy and move forward. This early, I'm not interested in giving anyone that title. Sometimes, the key outs are in the seventh or eighth."

Wittgren has allowed two hits and no walks while striking out one over three scoreless innings to begin spring training.

Wittgren served as one of Cleveland's top setup men in 2020 and has been effective across three relief outings this spring. The right-hander will likely serve in a setup role once again with James Karinchak the favorite to begin the season as the team's closer, but Wittgren could contend for save chances if Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase struggle early in the year, Ben Axelrod of WKYC reports.

Pomeranz is a candidate to fill the Padres' closer role, but he is open to working in any function, Bryce Miller of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pomeranz certainly earned consideration for the closer role with his dominant performance last season, when he posted a 1.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 39.7 strikeout percentage. He also racked up nine holds and spent some time as the team's ninth-inning option, registering four saves before Trevor Rosenthal was brought over to close. Rosenthal is now in Oakland, but San Diego's offseason acquisition of Mark Melancon and the continued presence of former Tampa Bay closer Emilio Pagan provide an array of intriguing ninth-inning options for San Diego to choose from. To his credit, Pomeranz's focus is on winning, and he indicated recently that he is open to whatever the team asks of him, stating, "If they want me to close, that's fine. If they want me to pitch the sixth, seventh, eighth, that's fine, too. I don't care." It stands to reason that the left-hander will function in a high-leverage role again this year, but whether he will get a chance to close remains to be seen.

Smith has tossed two perfect innings while striking out three batters in his first two appearances this spring.

The 31-year-old is expected to begin the season as Atlanta's primary closer following the departure of Mark Melancon, despite the fact that Smith didn't record a save in 2020. Top southpaws often have a hard time holding down closer jobs as they're needed earlier in the game in high-leverage spots, but Smith's handedness is less of an issue in a bullpen that features two other tough lefties in A.J. Minter and Tyler Matzek. Chris Martin could also factor into the ninth-inning mix, but Smith has the pedigree after racking up 48 saves for the Giants in 2018-19. His 114:25 K:BB in 81.1 innings over the last two seasons is impressive, but he'll need to keep the ball in the park after serving up 17 homers over that stretch.