MLB Player News

The Royals optioned Avila to minor-league camp Sunday.

Avila made three appearances out of the bullpen during spring training, tossing six innings of one-run ball while allowing five hits and two walks and striking out seven batters. The 23-year-old ended the 2024 campaign with Triple-A Omaha and will likely return to the International League to begin the 2025 season.

Berrios allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The veteran right-hander allowed just one run across his first two appearances of the spring, but Brandon Lowe tagged him for a three-run homer during the third inning Sunday. After posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 153:54 K:BB across 192.1 innings last season. Berrios is locked in as a mid-rotation starter for Toronto, though his career-worst 7.2 K/9 in 2024 will limit his fantasy upside if repeated.

The Tigers optioned Owens to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The 24-year-old made a strong impression during spring training with four strikeouts and no walks over 3.1 scoreless innings, but he'll still end up beginning the season in the minors. Owens could quickly be called up for his MLB debut if he's able to replicate the 2.96 ERA he posted at the Triple-A level in 2024.

The Twins optioned Adams to minor-league camp Sunday, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Adams was added to the 40-man roster in November but wasn't a serious candidate to join the Twins for Opening Day. The 25-year-old righty will most likely open the 2025 season as a member of the Triple-A St. Paul rotation. Adams logged a 3.90 ERA and 118:35 K:BB in 127 innings between stops with St. Paul and Double-A Wichita in 2024.

The Twins optioned Raya to minor-league camp Sunday, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Raya had been slowed early in spring training after suffering a quadricep strain, but he was cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Red Sox. The 22-year-old right-hander was exceptionally wild in that outing, however, as he failed to record an out and was charged with five earned runs after hitting three batters and walking two others. He's expected to open the season in the rotation at Triple-A St. Paul.

Scherzer gave up one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out six during Saturday's split-squad game against the Tigers.

Mad Max has been absolutely dominant in camp so far, posting a 14:0 K:BB over nine innings. The 40-year-old right-hander is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign with the Rangers and can't be counted on as a 200-inning workhorse any more, but Scherzer seems determined to prove he can still carve through a lineup when he is on the mound. He may have some personal milestones in his sights as well in 2025 -- Scherzer needs 93 more strikeouts for 3,500 in his career, and 103 would put him past the legendary Walter Johnson on MLB's all-time list.

Sears gave up one run over three innings with four strikeouts in Saturday's Cactus League win over Arizona. He has a 3.38 ERA with a 8:4 K:BB in eight innings this spring.

Sears looks to be in regular-season form as Opening Day approaches. He's locked in as the No. 3 starter for the A's after leading the team in innings and wins last season. While Sears isn't dominant (18.1 percent strikeout rate last season), he does features good control (6.5 percent walk rate).

The Rangers reassigned Plassmeyer to minor-league camp Sunday.

Plassmeyer made three appearances at the big-league level with the Phillies between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but he pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level in the Pirates organization in 2024, logging a 7.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while striking out 83 batters over 67.1 innings. He caught on with Texas in December on a minor-league deal and received an invitation to big-league spring training, but he didn't perform well enough in camp to earn a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. He'll likely head to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the upcoming season.

Perez allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in his Cactus League start Wednesday against the Brewers.

Perez is viewed as a veteran leader in an otherwise relatively inexperienced White Sox rotation. Davis Martin is expected to draw the Opening Day start, but Perez is also in consideration. Even after his shaky outing Wednesday, the southpaw stated he was happy with his stuff and was specifically working on getting the feel for his curveball, per Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Rangers optioned Santos to Double-A Frisco on Sunday.

Texas protected Santos from the Rule 5 Draft over the winter by adding him to the 40-man roster, but the 22-year-old righty is still in need of some further seasoning in the upper levels of the minors before making his MLB debut. He'll return to Frisco to open the 2025 campaign after he turned in a 4.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 57:14 K:BB over 46 innings last year.