MLB Player News

Gott (elbow) completed a bullpen session Wednesday during the Giants' first workout of spring training, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Gott finished the past season on the injured list while battling right elbow inflammation, but his ability to throw at the start of camp suggests he'll enter the 2021 campaign with no restrictions. The right-hander received a look in the closer's role last season but couldn't hold down the job, posting a 10.03 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 15 appearances before being shut down. With Reyes Moronta (shoulder) healthy for the start of 2021 and the Giants also adding Jake McGee and Matt Wisler in free agency, Gott will likely find himself lower in the bullpen pecking order.

Barria will be a late arrival in spring training due to visa issues, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Manager Joe Maddon revealed Wednesday that Barria is one of several pitchers who will be late to spring training due to visa issues. The right-hander made seven appearances (five starts) for the Angels in 2020, posting a 3.62 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 32.1 innings. He'll likely operate as a swingman once again when he's able to report to camp.

Quijada will be a late arrival to spring training due to visa issues, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Quijada is one of several players who are facing visa issues, so he'll be unavailable to begin camp. While it's not yet clear when he'll be able to report, the southpaw should serve as a low-leverage reliever in the big-league bullpen once he's available.

The Yankees announced Wednesday that Luetge signed a minor-league contract with the organization that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.

Luetge will get the chance to compete for a spot in the Yankees' Opening Day bullpen, but his lack of recent big-league experience likely makes him an extreme longshot to win a role. He's bounced around a slew of organizations since his last MLB appearance with Seattle in 2015, with his most recent action in affiliate ball coming at the Triple-A and Double-A levels in the Diamondbacks system back in 2019.

Soriano (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Soriano was selected by the Pirates with the first pick of the Rule 5 draft in December, but he'll begin the season on the injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery in February 2020. The move will clear a spot on the 40-man roster for southpaw Tyler Anderson. Prior to his surgery, Soriano recorded a 2.55 ERA and 84:48 K:BB over 77.2 innings at the Low-A level.

Strop signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Wednesday as a non-roster invitee, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Strop signed with the Cubs for the final month of the 2020 season, and he'll return to the team to compete for a major-league roster spot during spring training. The right-hander failed to appear in the big leagues with Chicago last year but has made 54 relief appearances with the Cubs and Reds over the past two seasons. During that time, he posted a 4.91 ERA and 52:26 K:BB over 44 innings.

The Yankees announced Wednesday that Garcia signed a minor-league contract with the organization that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.

The 34-year-old Garcia has seen big-league action with the Phillies, Angels and Rangers over parts of the last eight seasons, compiling a 4.26 ERA and a 8.8 K-BB% for his career. Even if he's able to secure a spot in the Yankees' Opening Day bullpen, Garcia will be ticketed for a low-leverage role and won't offer much fantasy value, even in AL-only leagues that count holds as a category.

The Marlins acquired Curtiss from the Rays on Wednesday in exchange for first baseman Evan Edwards, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Curtiss emerged from relative obscurity to become a key piece in the Tampa Bay bullpen in 2020, submitting a 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 22.2 K-BB% over 25 innings. The 27-year-old looked on track to factor into the setup mix for Tampa Bay in 2021, but the organization instead elected to cash him in for a minor-league prospect in Edwards to clear up space on the 40-man roster. The move to Miami should at least put Curtiss in better position to contend for saves and holds, as the Marlins' late-inning pecking order remains unsettled heading into spring training. Anthony Bass, who inked a two-year deal with Miami in the offseason, will presumably enter the spring as the frontrunner for the closer's gig, but Curtiss could eventually gain traction in the ninth inning if he's able to carry over his strong form from 2020.

Beeks (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Beeks is expected to miss most or all of the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late August, so the move is simply procedural with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training Wednesday. Beeks' placement on the 60-day IL will clear room for left-hander Jeffrey Springs and right-hander Chris Mazza, who were acquired from the Red Sox on Wednesday via trade.

Leclerc is healthy after tearing a muscle behind his shoulder last season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

That's good news for the Rangers, but they can't be sure if the right-hander can recapture the form of his breakthrough 2018 season. There's nothing meaningful to be gleaned from 2020, when Leclerc was limited to two appearances, but opposing hitters made better contact against him in 2019. It will be hard to gauge Leclerc's progress during spring training, when hitters are typically behind pitchers, but the team is looking at the right-hander to be its closer in 2021.