MLB Player News

Bridwell was optioned to Double-A Bowie on Friday, Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Bridwell's move down to Double-A was only a matter of time, but he did manage to log five appearances with in big league camp this spring. He was touched up for two home runs over his 6.2 innings of work and will now head down to minor league camp to continue to stretch out as a starter. He'll start the year in Bowie's rotation in all likelihood.

Berrios was reassigned to Minnesota's minor league camp.

Berrios will likely begin the season at Triple-A. Although he didn't give up a run in 4.1 innings this spring, he struggled with control (3 walks) and had a bad outing in a minor league spring game. Even if he was perfect, the Twins likely would have kept him in the minors. And he could stay in the minors until June if the Twins want to ensure an extra year under team control. Berrios would appear to have little else to prove at Triple-A, however, as he had a 2.62 ERA, 9.9 K/9, and 1.7 BB/9 at Rochester last season.

Meyer was optioned to Triple-A Rochester. He had a 5.79 ERA with seven hits allowed and four walks in 4.2 innings.

Meyer entered 2015 as Minnesota's top pitching prospect and was seen as a possible ace in the rotation, but he had an up-and-down year that saw him moved to the bullpen. He had a 3.68 ERA and 10.2 K/9 over the final two months at Triple-A as a reliever, so he could be called up to the majors early in the season if he continues to have success in the bullpen.

Gibson gave up one earned run over 3.1 innings with seven strikeouts in Wednesday's spring training win over Boston.

Gibson has a 3.68 ERA In three spring starts with a 9:4 K:BB ratio in 7.1 innings. Gibson had just a 6.7 K/9 last season, which was a career high in the majors. He's set with a spot in Minnesota's rotation and his spring outing could show promise of a needed increase in strikeouts.

Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed Thursday that Rodriguez (knee) will not be ready for the start of the season, freelance reporter Maureen Mullen reports.

Farrell confirmed what was already known, as Rodriguez dislocated his kneecap Feb. 27 and only resumed throwing off a mound Wednesday. A previous report suggested that the lefty won't be ready to make his first start until April 26.

Rodriguez (knee) threw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since temporarily dislocating his kneecap Feb. 27, the Boston Herald reports.

The left-hander threw about 20 pitches as pitching coach Carl Willis and manager John Farrell looked on as extremely interested parties. Rodriguez threw from a standard delivery, but did not throw with 100 percent effort. The exercise was more about feeling his landing and the weight transfer one makes during a delivery. "We saw what we wanted to see," Willis said. "More importantly, he felt that he could be normal. That's the case. You have to have that confidence not only in as a pitcher and your arm, but for your entire body to do what you do." While nothing is official yet, Rodriguez will most certainly open the season on the disabled list. In that likely event, the Red Sox will make do with Steven Wright, Henry Owens or Roenis Elias.

Odorizzi looked strong while pitching five shutout innings against the Red Sox Class-A club Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out four. Odorizzi displayed solid control throughout, walking none and finding the strike zone with 53 of his 77 offerings. The increased workload was encouraging for the right-hander, who had pitched a maximum of 3.1 innings in his three appearances so far this spring."The first time you go out there for five innings, you feel like you are out there for forever after you haven't been out there for more than two or three," Odorizzi said. "It was good to get up and down that many times, especially with the heat out there." The Rays' projected third starter plans to stretch out to 90 pitches in his next game, another minor-league start on Monday while the big-league club is Havana for their exhibition game versus the Cuban National Team.

Smyly yielded three hits, one earned run and a walk over 4.2 innings in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Phillies. He also struck out four but did not factor into the decision.

The five-year veteran continued his outstanding spring, and currently leads all Rays pitchers with two victories during the exhibition slate. Smyly surrendered his first earned run over three appearances on a third-inning homer to right field by Cedric Hunter, but looked sharp otherwise, throwing 45 of his 66 pitches for strikes. The southpaw is currently slotted third in a Rays rotation spearheaded by ace Chris Archer that has a chance to be dominant should their collective health hold up.

McCullers (shoulder) will begin the season on the disabled list, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.

While McCullers received clean results from an MRI over the weekend, he's apparently still not overly close to returning, as he remains without a timetable. The Astros will continue to handle the situation with caution, and McCullers now figures to miss at least the first week-and-a-half of the season.

Berrios gave up five runs on two hits, a walk and two hit batters in a minor league spring game Tuesday, the MLB.com reports.

There has been little indication that Berrios will begin the season in the major league rotation. And while this may have been an outing just to get some work in, it doesn't help build any momentum to change that outlook. Berrios is in the running for the fifth starter job, but he'll likely begin the season at Triple-A. Last year he posted a 2.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 75.2 innings at Triple-A as a 21-year-old, so he could be called up to the majors early in the season.