MLB Player News

The Mariners placed Thornton on the 15-day injured list Friday with appendicitis.

Thornton will be eligible for activation May 21, but an appendectomy could result in a longer than minimum stay on the IL for the reliever. Troy Taylor is taking Thornton's spot in the bullpen.

Cobb (hip) looked uncomfortable covering first base during a live batting practice session Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Cobb threw the ball well enough, but moving off the mound to field his position seemed to be a problem. What that means exactly for the veteran right-hander's timeline is uncertain, but it presents another obstacle before he'll be cleared to pitch in games. Cobb has been shelved since February after being diagnosed with inflammation in his surgically repaired right hip. He's currently on the 15-day injured list but is a candidate to shift to the 60-day IL if the Tigers need to free up a 40-man roster spot, as a season debut before late May seems unlikely at this point.

The Rays transferred Kim (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The move cleared a 40-man roster spot for Connor Seabold. Kim's timeline to return hasn't changed, as he had always been expected back from shoulder surgery in late May at the earliest. Kim began increasing the intensity of his baseball activities in late April, but it's not clear when he will be ready for a rehab assignment.

The Rays selected Seabold's contract from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Seabold had produced a 4.55 ERA and 26:7 K:BB over 27.2 innings and six appearances (five starts) this season with Durham. The right-hander will give manager Kevin Cash some length in the bullpen.

The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Englert had been roughed up for seven runs over his last two relief appearances. His spot in the bullpen will be taken over by Connor Seabold.

Lauer retired the only batter he faced Tuesday in Blue Jays' 8-3 loss to the Angels.

After working four innings as the primary pitcher behind opener Yariel Rodriguez in his Blue Jays debut April 30, Lauer was deployed in a more traditional relief role Tuesday. The southpaw recorded the final out of the eighth inning, while Jose Urena covered 4.1 innings as Toronto's newest fifth starter. Urena has already been named the Blue Jays' starter for Sunday's game in Seattle.

Uceta allowed three earned runs on four hits across 0.2 innings Thursday against the Phillies.

Uceta was viewed as one of the top setup men in baseball entering the season, but he hasn't lived up to that billing over the first six weeks. He's allowed at least one earned run in five of his 17 appearances, and more concerningly has a pedestrian 13:6 K:BB across 15.2 frames. Uceta does lead the Rays with six holds, so he remains part of the high-leverage mix behind closer Pete Fairbanks.

Elko is slashing .348/.431/.670 with 10 home runs and a 28.5 percent strikeout rate in 31 games for Triple-A Charlotte.

Elko is a righty-hitting first baseman who is already 26, so it's possible he's just a Quad-A hitter when it's all said and done. His 27.6 percent hard-hit rate and 67 percent contact rate aren't great marks, especially for an older first baseman. Elko is not yet on Chicago's 40-man roster.

Rodriguez picked up his fourth hold of the season in Thursday's win over the Angels, allowing one hit and striking out five over two scoreless innings.

The 28-year-old right-hander needed only 29 pitches (20 strikes) to record his six outs, as Rodriguez helped give the Blue Jays' usual high-leverage options a breather by working the seventh and eighth innings. He may be joining that group himself -- Rodriguez has recorded a hold in back-to-back appearances, and over his last nine outings and 12.1 innings he's posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB.

Varsho went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Thursday's win over the Angels.

The center fielder crushed a Connor Brogdon changeup down the right-field line for a solo shot in the eighth inning, giving Varsho his third homer in seven games since making a delayed season debut after completing his recovery from shoulder surgery. He's batting .273 (6-for-22) with one steal, four runs and six RBI. And while Jays manager John Schneider has eased him back into the lineup -- Varsho has yet to start back-to-back games in May -- the Gold Glover appears ready to handle a full workload.