MLB Player News

The Giants optioned McDonald to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

McDonald got off to a fast start this spring and looked to have a real chance at making the Giants' Opening Day bullpen as a long reliever. However, after finishing the Cactus League with a 6.94 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 11.2 frames, he'll head to Sacramento to get back on track. The 25-year-old righty has looked good during his limited MLB opportunities (1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP through 18 IP), so the Giants may still be willing to add him to their rotation if injuries begin to arise among their starters.

Lucchesi signed a contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Lucchesi was released by the Giants on Sunday after making three appearances in the Cactus League, during which he allowed one earned run across three innings. He had one of his best seasons last year with San Francisco, finishing with a 3.76 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 38.1 frames, and he's expected to claim a spot in the Angels' bullpen to open the new campaign.

Marquez hurled 4.2 innings in an exhibition start against Seattle on Monday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.

Marquez actually worked as a reliever Monday, though he followed opener Kyle Hart after just one inning. Marquez logged a starter's workload with 81 pitches, and he racked up a whopping 22 whiffs -- 18 of which came on his knuckle curve. The veteran pitcher hasn't been a big strikeout guy in recent seasons, averaging less than a punchout per inning every year since 2019, but having Coors Field as your home park can have that kind of impact. Over his final two outings this spring, he's racked up 17 strikeouts across 9.2 frames. It remains to be seen if Marquez has rediscovered something in his arsenal or if he's just thriving in the atmosphere of exhibition games, but he seems to be headed for a role in San Diego's Opening Day rotation, and there's suddenly a reason to at least consider his name at the end of fantasy drafts in deep leagues.

Lagrange tossed 2.2 innings in an exhibition start against the Cubs on Monday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out four batters.

Lagrange has frequently turned heads this spring, and he won the 2026 James P. Dawson Award given to the most outstanding rookie in Yankees camp, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. However, Monday serves as a reminder that the flamethrowing hurler is still a 22-year-old who has yet to pitch above Double-A. The Cubs smoked four extra-base hits against Lagrange, including two home runs. Even with the ugly line, the right-hander will finish the spring slate with a 4.96 ERA and 1.29 WHIP while posting an impressive 17:6 K:BB over 16.1 innings. He'll open the season in the minors, but Lagrange certainly boosted his prospect status this spring.

Lodolo (finger) played light catch Tuesday with 15-to-20 throws, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo -- who is recovering from a blister on his left index finger -- said afterward that things went OK, but the hurler "didn't sound particularly enthused," per Wittenmyer. The lefty is tentatively slated to make his season debut Saturday versus the Red Sox, but it's considered likely that Lodolo will either be pushed back or placed on the injured list. The Reds will make a decision on Lodolo's status soon.

McGarry cleared waivers and was returned to the Phillies and assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 26-year-old righty was selected by the Nationals during the Rule 5 Draft in December but was designated for assignment over the weekend. McGarry will now rejoin the organization that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. He spent most of last year at the Double-A level and had a 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 103:45 K:BB over 72 innings.

Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

The transaction clears a 40-man roster spot for waiver pick Osvaldo Bido. Wentz will miss the entire 2026 campaign after undergoing surgery earlier this month to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.

Atlanta claimed Bido off waivers Tuesday.

The right-hander was recently waived by the Yankees and will now return to Atlanta, which rostered him briefly in December before he was claimed by the Rays. Bido made 26 appearances (10 starts) for the Athletics last season and had a 5.87 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 68:35 K:BB across 79.2 innings.

The Brewers acquired Woodford from the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for K.C. Hunt and selected Woodford's contract from Triple-A Nashville.

Woodford wasn't going to make the Rays' Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee, but he'll now open the year in the Brewers' bullpen. The right-hander holds a career 5.10 ERA over 111 appearances (25 starts) at the big-league level. Woodford will fill a long-relief role in Milwaukee.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Gil will be optioned to the minor leagues to start the regular season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

New York is beginning the season with a four-man rotation since a fifth starter isn't needed until April 11 in Tampa Bay, and Gil will stay stretched out in the minors rather than sticking in the majors as a bullpen piece. The right-hander missed the first four months of 2025 due to a lat strain but returned for 11 regular-season starts down the stretch, posting a 3.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 41:33 K:BB across 57 innings. Gil surrendered 10 earned runs (including six homers) with a 24:5 K:BB over 19.1 innings during spring training, so he'll begin the minor-league season with decent momentum despite the incoming demotion.