MLB Player News

Davidson was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old allowed two earned runs over 1.2 frames in his big-league debut last season but won't open 2021 in the majors. Davidson had a 2.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 122:45 K:BB over 110.2 innings at Double-A in 2019 before earning a late-season promotion to Triple-A.

Arano (visa issues) was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old was a late arrival to spring training due to visa issues, but he gave up four runs over two spring innings before being optioned. Arano last pitched in the majors during 2019 with 4.2 frames for the Phillies.

Almonte pitched a perfect fourth inning while failing to strike out any batters in Thursday's spring loss to the Cubs.

Almonte made his second relief appearance of spring training Thursday and only required six pitches to retire the side in the fourth inning. Daniel Bard appears to be the favorite to earn save chances early in the season, but Almonte hopes to be in contention for late-game opportunities in 2021, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. "Any other baseball player would probably say the same thing -- you want to have that big role," Almonte said. "Whether you get it or not, you have to shoot for it. And that's something that I think I can handle." The right-hander has displayed confidence in his fastball, slider and changeup to begin the spring and has allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out one over two scoreless innings during his two relief appearances in Cactus League play.

Montero, the Mariners' presumptive 2021 closer, has allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk while recording three strikeouts across the two innings covering his first two Cactus League appearances.

A late arrival to spring training due to a visa issue may still have Montero a bit off-kilter, as he's been atypically hittable following a mostly effective last two seasons with the Rangers. Montero was charged with a blown save Thursday versus the Dodgers, but the Mariners figure to continue affording the hard-throwing right-hander plenty of spring opportunities to get himself right prior to Opening Day.

Rodriguez allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over three innings as he was charged with the loss in Thursday's spring game against the Cubs.

Rodriguez allowed two runs in each of his first two Cactus League appearances this year. He struggled early in Thursday's matchup and gave up three runs in the first inning before allowing runs to come across in each of the next two frames. Since Austin Gomber has pitched incredibly well during spring training, Rodriguez's chance at a starting job appears to be slim, but he could still be in contention to serve as a long reliever if he can settle down ahead of the regular season.

McHugh was saddled with the loss in Thursday's Grapefruit League defeat at the hands of Atlanta, allowing an earned run on a solo home run while giving up two other hits and a walk over two innings. He also hit a batter and recorded one strikeout.

The veteran continues to round himself back into shape after missing all of 2020, with Thursday's outing going a bit smoother than his Grapefruit League debut Sunday. McHugh notched a scoreless fifth frame upon entering the game before surrendering the home run in the sixth inning, but he was able to inch closer to the Rays' goal of stretching him out to up to four frames by the end of spring training in order to prepare him for what could be multiple roles.

Fairbanks allowed an earned run on a solo home run and did not record any walks or strikeouts over one inning in his first Grapefruit League action of the spring Thursday.

The right-handed reliever had seen his spring debut delayed by a recent bout of food poisoning. The long ball Fairbanks allowed was aided by wind, but he was otherwise effective. The 27-year-old failed to convert either of the two save chances he saw in 2020, but he proved his mettle as a strong later-inning option with a 2.70 ERA, seven holds and a 32.4 percent strikeout rate.

Hearn hit a batter and struck out two over 2.1 scoreless innings in Thursday's spring game against the Athletics.

Hearn hit the first batter he faced then recorded seven consecutive outs during his second Cactus League start. "It was dominant," manager Chris Woodward told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. "He blew the doors off some guys. I think he really found himself last year and that has only continued. He looks like he belongs." The left-hander has relied heavily on a fastball-slider combination so far, but he'll get stretched out and face a lineup a second time through in his next outing, and he'll need to make his changeup an effective third pitch.

Pressly allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning against the Mets on Thursday.

Pressly allowed a leadoff single to Michael Conforto but erased the runner with an inning-ending double play. The right-handed closer has made two scoreless Grapefruit League appearances so far and remains on track for Opening Day.

Bummer allowed two runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning during Thursday's spring game against the Reds.

This was Bummer's debut this spring. The left-hander has been a high-leverage contributor out of the bullpen, emerging as Chicago's primary setup man during a breakout 2019 campaign. A biceps injury limited him in 2020, but he returns as a setup option from the left side in front of closer Liam Hendriks.