MLB Player News

Hendriks has fallen behind Aroldis Chapman in the battle to come Boston's closer, Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com report.

Hendriks had location issues during his first few Cactus League appearances but most recently threw a scoreless inning last Saturday. Per the report, the reliever corrected the command issues, but the quality of Chapman's stuff has put him over the top in the competition. Justin Slaten is also in the mix but appears destined for a setup role.

The Red Sox optioned Winckowski to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Winckowski has had a rough spring, permitting 12 runs with a 4:6 K:BB over seven innings. He should still spend plenty of time in the majors in 2025, but for now he'll try to get straightened out at Worcester.

Vesia struck out one and allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Cubs in Tokyo.

Tanner Scott secured the save in Tuesday's season opener, and it was Vesia that received the call Wednesday after Kirby Yates worked the eighth inning. Vesia was one of the best relievers in baseball last season with a 1.76 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 67 appearances while recording five saves and 14 holds, but he's unlikely to be a consistent source of saves in 2025 given the offseason additions of Scott and Yates.

The Phillies optioned Sweet to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sweet -- who was acquired via trade over the offseason -- yielded three runs with a 5:3 K:BB in six innings this spring. The 28-year-old will provide bullpen depth at Lehigh Valley.

The Red Sox optioned Guerrero to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Guerrero struck out 10 over 5.2 innings this spring but also walked nine and surrendered six runs. The 24-year-old was terrific during a cup of coffee in the majors last season -- allowing just one unearned run over 10 innings -- and should get another opportunity in the big leagues sooner rather than later.

Romero is away from the Giants due to personal reasons, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Romero was a non-roster invitee to spring training, but he hasn't made an appearance since March 9. The 34-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the 2018 campaign, during which he posted a 12.60 ERA, 2.90 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across 10 innings with three different teams. Romero is competing for a spot in the bullpen, though he appears to be a long shot to make the Giants' Opening Day roster.

Chapman "appears to have become the in-house favorite" to open the season as the Red Sox' closer, Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com report.

Chapman has clearly outpitched Liam Hendriks (10.80 ERA) this spring, allowing two runs with a 10:4 K:BB over 5.1 innings. Walks are likely to continue to be a major problem for Chapman, but, even at 37, he remains one of the hardest throwers and best bat-missers in the game. His leash is likely to be short if he is indeed named Boston's closer, with Hendriks, Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten looming as alternatives.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that Swanson (forearm) will resume a throwing program Wednesday or Thursday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

It will be the beginning of what Schneider referred to as a "normal-ish, maybe a little bit of an accelerated ramp-up" similar to what pitchers do at the start of spring training. Given that timetable, it sounds like Swanson will probably miss most, it not all, of April, as he works his way back from a median nerve entrapment in his right forearm.

The Astros optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander's 8.59 ERA in nine spring appearances derailed his chances of earning a place on the Opening Day roster. Hernandez had a 2.83 ERA over 28.2 innings at Sugar Land last year but gave up seven earned runs in five regular-season outings with Houston.

Ort (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Ort has progressed slowly but surely from an early-camp left oblique injury. The Astros don't appear to have officially ruled him out for Opening Day yet, but it seems unlikely that he will be ready.