MLB Player News

Early has made the Red Sox's Opening Day roster, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Early entered spring training competing with Payton Tolle and Johan Oviedo for the fifth spot in the Red Sox's rotation. Per Cotillo, the Red Sox will carry both Early and Oviedo on the 26-man roster (with Tolle starting the season with Triple-A Worcester) in an effort to provide length early in the season as both Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello continue to build up after pitching in the World Baseball Classic. Garrett Crochet will serve as Boston's Opening Day starter against Cincinnati while Sonny Gray takes the mound Saturday. With Suarez expected to pitch Monday against Houston and Bello to go Tuesday, there's a chance that Early gets his first start of the season as early as Sunday against the Reds. Early put together a strong spring training, appearing in five Grapefruit League games (four starts) and posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB across 17 innings.

McCullers has won a spot in the Astros' rotation and will make his season debut March 30 against the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers logged eight innings during Grapefruit League playing, allowing three runs with a 5:4 K:BB. He's a poor bet to stay healthy and effective, but McCullers is owed $17.7 million in his final year under contract, so it's not a surprise the Astros will open with him in the rotation.

The Red Sox reassigned Kahnle to minor-league camp Monday.

Kahnle agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday. It looked like the veteran right-hander had a decent shot at making the team's Opening Day roster as a member of bullpen, but that won't be the case after being reassigned Monday. Kahnle has no minor-league options left, so it's unclear whether he'll stay with Boston or request a release and try his luck elsewhere.

The Red Sox optioned Uberstine to minor-league camp Monday.

Uberstine appeared in four Grapefruit League for the Red Sox, allowing eight runs (five earned) on six hits and five walks while striking out 11 across 7.1 innings. He'll likely start the 2026 season with Triple-A Worcester but could make his major-league debut later this year. Uberstine has operated mostly as a starter in his minor-league career but could be deployed out of the bullpen if he's called up by the Red Sox.

The Astros optioned Arrighetti to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston will eventually go to a six-man rotation, and Arrighetti could fill that slot when that happens, per manager Joe Espada. For now, though, the righty will hone his craft in the minors. Arrighetti was limited to only seven starts last season due to injuries and posted a 6.75 ERA and 12:5 K:BB over eight innings this spring.

The Red Sox optioned Kelly to minor-league camp Monday.

Kelly was gunning for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster after appearing in 28 major-league games for the club in 2025, finishing with a 4.58 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, three holds and a 35:12 K:BB across 35.1 innings. The 31-year-old right-hander will likely start out in Triple-A Worcester but would be in line for a call-up to the majors when the Red Sox need more depth out of the bullpen.

The Red Sox optioned Tolle to minor-league camp Monday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Tolle entered spring training battling with Connelly Early and Johan Oviedo for the fifth spot in the Red Sox's rotation. Tolle showed promise in four Grapefruit League outings, posting a 2.53 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 13:1 K:BB across 10.2 innings. He will likely open the 2026 season with Triple-A Worcester, and while he didn't crack the Red Sox's Opening Day roster, Tolle should see some time in the majors this season when Boston needs an extra arm in the rotation.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Monday that he's comfortable with Martin and Robert Garcia in the closer role, and who he uses in the ninth inning will "depend on the situation," Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Schumaker at the start of Rangers camp named Garcia and Martin as the favorites to garner save chances, and he still sees the situation the same way on the precipice of Opening Day. The 39-year-old Martin has never had more than four saves in a single season in his career, but he's been one of the most reliable relievers in baseball over the last four years with a 2.60 ERA, 27.4 percent strikeout rate and 3.1 percent walk rate.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Monday that the team's closer job will "depend on the situation," but he's comfortable with Garcia and Chris Martin in the role, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Schumaker said something similar at the beginning of spring training and what occurred in Cactus League play doesn't appear to have changed his mind. Garcia tied for the team lead with nine saves last season and finished with a 2.95 ERA and 68:22 K:BB across 64 innings. Neither the left-handed Garcia nor the right-handed Martin have notable splits in their careers, so it could be a situation where Schumaker rides the hot hand.

Torres (back) is starting at second base and batting second in Monday's exhibition game versus the Rockies.

Torres had to be scratched from the Tigers' Grapefruit League lineup Saturday due to back tightness and didn't play Sunday, but he's back in action Monday. The 29-year-old is slated to serve as the Tigers' everyday second baseman and two-hole hitter this season.