MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Schmidt (shoulder) is expected to rejoin the rotation "in the middle of the month," Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Schmidt has appeared fully recovered from his rotator cuff tendinitis for a while and just needs to continue getting stretched out at this point. He will need to make a rehab start, but Schmidt seems to be tracking toward a season debut sometime during the Yankees' April 11-16 homestand.

The Guardians placed Means (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Cleveland will hold off on sending Means to the 60-day IL for now, though he isn't expected to be ready for MLB action until the final month of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. If the left-hander runs into any snags during his rehab program, Cleveland may opt to hold Means out for the entire season.

The Orioles designated Contreras for assignment Thursday.

Contreras was competing for a spot in the Orioles' Opening Day bullpen as a multi-inning reliever but didn't distinguish himself this spring, yielding six earned runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out eight over eight frames during the Grapefruit League. Since he didn't have minor-league options remaining, the Orioles will risk losing him to waivers by designating him for assignment. Contreras has now been DFA'd on six separate occasions by five organizations since last May.

The Guardians placed Cecconi (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Per MLB.com, Cecconi has begun a throwing progression since being diagnosed with a mild left oblique strain just over a week ago. He's up to throwing from 120 feet on flat ground, so he could soon be ready to throw bullpen sessions. The Guardians intend to have Cecconi get stretched back out as a starter, so he'll likely be at least a few weeks away from coming off the IL.

The Guardians placed Bieber (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Bieber still has several months left in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the L is simply procedural. Assuming he doesn't run into any setbacks, the right-hander should be able to return around midseason.

The Orioles placed Rogers on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right knee subluxation, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rogers suffered the injury back in January and, at last check, remained limited to throwing on flat ground. He remains without a timeline to make his season debut, and he could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk once he's healthy.

The Orioles placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right elbow inflammation, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez came down with the injury in early March. He is slated to resume throwing off a mound before the end of this week, and the Orioles have some optimism that he won't require an extended absence. That said, Rodriguez has numerous boxes to check in the recovery process before a timeline for his season debut gets clearer.

The Orioles placed McDermott on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right lat strain, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

McDermott resumed mound work in mid-March but still needs time to build back up. Once healthy, he will likely be sent to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Astros placed France (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The procedural move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. France is not expected back until after the All-Star break while he recovers from July 1 surgery to repair a torn right shoulder capsule.

The Astros placed Whitley (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Whitley suffered a left knee bone bruise during a March 8 Grapefruit League appearance against the Yankees. He has continued throwing bullpen sessions, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment.