MLB Player News

Snell started a minor-league game Friday and recorded eight strikeouts over five innings, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

"Happy with a lot. Happy with first-pitch strikes," Snell said. "I was locked in. I didn't let the minor-league game get into my head at all. Being able to see that, learn from it and get ready for my next start which is Opening Day, it's very exciting." The left-hander was getting his final spring work in against minor leaguers in order to better control his workload. Snell worked up to 75 pitches Friday and allowed just one hit in addition to recording the eight whiffs. Snell next takes the mound for an Opening Day showdown against Justin Verlander and the Astros next Thursday.

Valdez is competing with Reymin Guduan for Houston's final bullpen spot, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez was competing with Brad Peacock for the team's final rotation spot, but Peacock prevailed, leaving Valdez to fight for a spot on the Opening Day roster as a reliever. The southpaw owns a fine 3.52 ERA through 15.1 innings this spring, while Guduan owns a 1.86 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 9.2 innings.

Sale is in agreement on a five-year extension with the Red Sox, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Sale is set to make his third consecutive Opening Day start for Boston and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. According to Rosenthal, the deal is worth about $145 million and will put the left-hander under contract through 2024. Sale has a 2.56 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 13.2 K/9 over 59 starts since being acquired by the Red Sox prior to the 2017 season.

Hammel was told Friday he'd made the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

The Rangers have yet to officially add Hammel to the 40-man roster, but that transaction should be coming some time in the next few days. Hammel is expected to open the season in the bullpen, but he has 298 starts under his belt so far in his big-league career, and he could be one of the first pitchers called upon should injuries or ineffectiveness strike the Rangers' rotation. The 36-year-old posted ERAs of 5.29 and 6.02 in the last two seasons while calling Kauffman Stadium home, so expectations should be low for him this year at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park.

Smyly will be the fourth starter in the rotation, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Smyly's thrown just 9.1 innings this spring, much of it encouraging until Thursday when he was tagged for eight hits and walked two over four innings. His slot in the rotation puts him on schedule to start Texas' home opener, April 1 against in-state rival Houston.

Dunn allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out six across four innings of work Thursday.

Dunn continued to generate whiffs at a strong rate and has 13 strikeouts in nine innings this spring. However, as has been the case throughout his minor-league career, Dunn has struggled with surrendering free passes -- he's now issued five during the exhibition season. Already optioned to minor-league camp, Dunn could get a small sample of big-league work later in the season if he impresses throughout the campaign.

Snell and the Rays agreed to a five-year, $50 million contract extension Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Snell gets rewarded for his Cy Young performance and the Rays get to lock up their young ace through his age-30 season. The deal buys out Snell's remaining years of team control as well as one additional season. It does not contain any options. Snell will remain in the Rays' pitcher-friendly home park for the foreseeable future, though he'll also be stuck in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox for the majority of his prime.

Springs will break camp with the Rangers, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Springs posted a 2.35 ERA and 11:5 K:BB through 7.2 innings this spring, which was good enough to earn him a spot in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen. The southpaw, who notched a 3.38 ERA and 8.7 K/9 in 18 appearances (32 innings) as a rookie in 2018, figures to reprise his role as a multi-inning reliever that could step in and start if needed.

Kikuchi allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, a walk and a wild pitch over 4.2 innings in the Mariners' 5-4 extra-innings win over the Athletics in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday. He struck out three and did not factor into the decision.

It was a reasonably effective regular-season major-league debut for Kikuchi, one that ironically unfolded right back in his native Japan. The 27-year-old southpaw didn't allow any extra-base hits, with the only runs charged to him coming as a result of a Marcus Semien single and a Jay Bruce error at first base that allowed Jurickson Profar to cross the plate. Otherwise, his first taste of big-league action seemed to be unfold relatively smoothly, particularly encouraging given that Kikuchi had an up-and-down Cactus League tenure. The young left-hander will be well-rested whenever he does take the mound for his second start, as the Mariners do not resume play until next Thursday against the Red Sox in Seattle.

Luzardo will be shut down for 4-to-6 weeks with a strained rotator cuff in his left (throwing) shoulder, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

This obviously sounds pretty bad. Luzardo, who was a candidate to open the year in the rotation, is now considered out indefinitely. If he resumes a throwing program in May, it would still take him several weeks to complete a rehab assignment. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016.