MLB Player News

DeSclafani (elbow) got through another bullpen session without issue Thursday and his next step is to pitch in a minor-league game, Nick Nelson of Twins Daily reports.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli wasn't sure which day the minor-league appearance would take place, but it's imminent. DeSclafani has made nice progress since feeling soreness in his right elbow at the beginning of the month, but his availability for Opening Day remains very much in question. His primary competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, Louie Varland, has spun 11 scoreless innings with an 11:1 K:BB this spring.

The Cardinals optioned Robberse to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Robberse posted a 4.28 ERA across 124 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season, but he surrendered six runs in just 4.2 innings during spring training. The 22-year-old right-hander will need to display more consistent success in the minors, but St. Louis' relatively weak pitching staff keeps open the possibility of a major-league debut for Robberse in 2024.

Irvin allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings versus Atlanta on Wednesday.

Irvin experienced his first struggles this spring -- he had not allowed a run over his previous five innings across two starts. Irvin remains in contention for a rotation spot, and there should be enough room for both him and Tyler Wells at the start of the season, but that will likely change quickly once Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (elbow) are given the all-clear.

Williams (elbow) is scheduled to resume a throwing program after three or four days off but will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Though the Guardians are optimistic about Williams' long-term health outlook after a recent MRI came back clean, his sore elbow will prevent him from breaking camp as a member of the Opening Day roster. Williams, who hurt his elbow last week during a weighted-ball workout, has shown improvement since being scratched ahead of a Cactus League start last Sunday, and he should be able to start ramping up early next week. Provided Williams steers clear of any setbacks with his elbow as he builds up to a starter-level workload during what remains of spring training as well as the early part of the regular season, he could be ready to return from the IL in the minimum 15 days. The Guardians will likely formally place him on the IL closer to Opening Day.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Thursday that Iriarte is a candidate to reach the majors in 2024, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Acquired from the Padres in the Dylan Cease trade, Iriarte held a 3.49 ERA and 128:45 K:BB across 90.1 innings between the High-A and Double-A levels last season. The 22-year-old is already on the 40-man roster and figures to start the 2024 season at Triple-A Charlotte, but he could push to debut with the Pale Hose later this summer.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Thursday that Thorpe could pitch in the majors this season, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Thorpe was part of the return package from the Padres in the Dylan Cease trade and is landing with a club severely lacking in big-league rotation depth. The 23-year-old reached the Double-A level in 2023 but made just five starts there, so it seems likely that a non-contender like the White Sox will give him more time in the minors. Thorpe has thrown seven scoreless innings this spring and will have a couple weeks left of Cactus League action to impress his new club.

The White Sox are having internal discussions about signing Clevinger, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The White Sox are also reportedly in on Michael Lorenzen as they seek much-needed rotation reinforcements following the trade of Dylan Cease and move of Michael Kopech to the bullpen. Clevinger had a solid 2023 campaign with the White Sox, holding a 3.77 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 110:40 K:BB over 131.1 innings.

The Yankees and White Sox are among the teams to show interest in Lorenzen, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The Yankees are still awaiting more clarity on Gerrit Cole's (elbow) situation, but with their ace likely to miss a chunk of the season, at minimum, they're poking around on rotation help. As far as the White Sox go, they've traded Dylan Cease and moved Michael Kopech to the bullpen, so they desperately need arms for their rotation. Lorenzen posted a 4.18 ERA and 111:47 K:BB over 153 innings last season between the Tigers and Phillies.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Thursday that Kopech will begin the season in the bullpen, Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Kopech finished last season in the bullpen, but the White Sox seemingly had been committed to him as a starter again heading into 2024. However, they've reversed course even after trading starter Dylan Cease. Kopech was excellent in relief back in 2021 and immediately becomes a candidate to close for the club, perhaps even the favorite for the job. It's a boost to Kopech's fantasy outlook, but even if he does close he'll be doing so for one of the worst teams in the league.

Irvin allowed only one hit and zero walks over five scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out five.

Facing a Miami lineup that features most of its likely Opening Day starters, Irvin delivered a dominant 52 pitches (43 strikes) as he built up ahead of Opening Day. The 27-year-old right-hander has a somewhat stunning 16:2 K:BB through 12.2 spring innings, but considering he managed only an 18.7 percent strikeout rate against a 10.2 walk rate over 121 innings for the Nationals last season, he'll need to keep producing good numbers when the games start to count before he'll draw significant interest from fantasy GMs.