MLB Player News

Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday that Detmers will open the 2025 season in the bullpen, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Detmers had been competing against Jack Kochanowicz for the final spot in the Angels' rotation. With Kochanowicz winning the job, Detmers will work out of the Halos' bullpen and could be used as a long reliever, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Detmers worked in relief in each of his last three spring outings and allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and two walks while striking out 13 across 11.2 frames.

Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday that Kochanowicz will open the season as the team's fifth starter, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

He beat out Reid Detmers, who will begin the season in the bullpen. Kochanowicz earned the spot after holding a 2.92 ERA and 7:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings covering four Cactus League starts. The 6-foot-7 righty had just a 9.4 percent strikeout rate in 11 starts with the Angels last season, but the club will bet on the sinkerballer producing enough grounders to make up for his lack of bat-missing ability.

The Orioles optioned Gibson to minor-league camp Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Gibson signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Orioles on Friday to bring depth to a rotation that has Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish all missing the start of the season due to elbow injuries. Despite not being with a team during most of spring training, the 37-year-old Gibson has pitched in simulated games against college hitters and has built up to 70 pitches, and the plan is for the veteran right-hander to join Baltimore's rotation "somewhere around" May 1, per Weyrich. Gibson went 8-8 across 30 regular-season starts with the Cardinals in 2024 and logged a 4.24 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 151:68 K:BB over 169.2 innings.

Cantillo will open the season in the Guardians' bullpen, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Cantillo lost out on the fifth spot in Cleveland's rotation but will be included on its Opening Day roster as a reliever. The left-hander made eight starts and one relief appearance last season, collecting a 4.89 ERA and 44:15 K:BB over 38.2 frames. Cantillo could still be considered for starts at some point later this season.

Rodriguez (elbow) played catch from out to about 90 feet Monday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Rodriguez was spotted playing catch from about 75 feet last week, so he seems to have taken an incremental step forward in his throwing program as he recovers from elbow inflammation. The right-hander is likely at least a couple weeks away from stepping back on the mound, and he'll essentially need to complete his own version of spring training before the Orioles deem him ready to make his season debut. Baltimore will formally place Rodriguez on the injured list prior to Thursday's opener in Toronto.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that the goal is for Gibson to join the rotation "somewhere around" May 1, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Gibson had already been built up to 50-to-70 pitches while throwing on his own before he signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract last week. However, the Orioles have a plan in place for the veteran right-hander to continue getting stretched out before he joins their rotation. Gibson held a 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP alongside a 151:68 K:BB over 169.2 innings last season with the Cardinals.

The Yankees placed Gil (lat) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, who signed a one-year deal Monday. Gil is expected to be sidelined until at least June while he recovers from a high-grade right lat strain.

Fried completed 5.1 innings in a Grapefruit League game against Tampa Bay on Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters.

Fried fell behind early when he served up a two-run home run to Junior Caminero in the first inning, but the star hurler allowed just one more run (and no additional extra-base hits) during the remainder of his outing. Fried pitched well during his first spring with the Yankees, compiling a 3.38 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB over 16 innings. The next time he takes the mound in a game, the lefty will be making his regular-season debut for New York. That start is expected to take place Saturday versus Milwaukee.

McClanahan said Monday that he remains without a timeline to make his season debut, but he acknowledged that his left arm is already feeling better after he exited his final Grapefruit League start Saturday due to nerve irritation in his tricep, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McClanahan noted that he's still waiting for the nerve to calm down before he's re-evaluated, at which point the Rays could have a clearer timeline for the lefty to resume his throwing program. Given that McClanahan previously underwent Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and in August 2023, the Rays will likely proceed deliberately with his recovery from the tricep issue, even though all indications are that the 27-year-old avoided a significant injury. With McClanahan ticketed for a stint on the injured list to begin the season, the Rays should have room at the back end of their Opening Day rotation for both Zack Littell and Drew Rasmussen.

Olson allowed two runs on four hits across 5.1 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He walked two and struck out three.

Olson wrapped up a solid spring slate in which he recorded a 4.30 ERA and 13 strikeouts across 14.2 innings. The righty is in line to serve as Detroit's No. 3 starter this season behind Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, with his debut likely coming on Saturday against the Dodgers on the road. Olson has posted sub-4.00 ERAs in each of his first two MLB campaigns, though he's a risky play against the loaded Los Angeles lineup.