MLB Player News

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.

The Tigers placed Brieske (groin) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

Brieske suffered a left adductor strain during a workout last week and will now be shelved until at least late May. Putting Brieske on the 60-day IL frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Connor Seabold.

The Athletics traded Bowman to the Rays on Monday in exchange for Gerlin Rosario, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Bowman was returned to the Athletics on March 12 after spending spring training with the Reds as a Rule 5 draft pick. He'll now head to Tampa Bay, where he will likely open the season with Triple-A Durham. Bowman appeared in 71 games for Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025, finishing with a .231/.323/.369 slash line with 21 steals, six home runs and 60 RBI in 297 plate appearances.

Detroit signed Seabold to a one-year, split major-league contract Monday.

After being cut by Toronto over the weekend, Seabold quickly found an opportunity in a new organization. The 30-year-old righty may end up opening the season at Triple-A Toledo, but he'll claim a spot on the Tigers' 40-man roster and will earn a prorated $800,000 at the big-league level. Detroit cleared room on the 40-man roster for Seabold by placing Beau Brieske (adductor) on the 60-day injured list.

The Orioles reassigned Noel to minor-league camp Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

After being acquired from the Guardians during the offseason, Noel was outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster in January but attended big-league spring training upon clearing waivers. Noel proceeded to post a monstrous 1.158 OPS during Grapefruit League play, but the Orioles didn't have room for him in their crowded outfield. He'll head to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the season and should get the chance to play regularly.

The Orioles reassigned Handley to minor-league camp Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Handley logged 47 plate appearances in the majors in 2025 while the Orioles contended with multiple injuries at catcher, but the 28-year-old was never viewed as anything more than a stopgap option and was dropped from the 40-man roster over the winter. He'll remain part of the Orioles organization for the 2026 campaign, but he's likely to spend the entire season at Triple-A Norfolk unless Baltimore is down two of Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo and Sam Huff at any point.

President of baseball operations Chris Young said Monday that Latz will be part of the bullpen on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Latz will likely be ticketed for a multi-inning relief role, with most of his opportunities expected to come in lower-leverage spots. The assignment to the bullpen is a disappointing outcome for Latz, who looked to have a leg up on Kumar Rocker for the final spot in the season-opening rotation heading into spring training based on his strong close to the 2025 campaign. After an Aug. 20 call-up from Triple-A Round Rock, Latz turned in a 2.10 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 24:10 K:BB in 30 innings over his final eight outings with the Rangers, but he couldn't carry over that success to the spring. He yielded 16 runs (14 earned) on 18 hits and eight walks over his 15.1 innings during the Cactus League.

Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Monday that Rocker will be included on the Opening Day roster as the team's fifth starter, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Jacob Latz will begin the season in the bullpen after Rocker beat him out for the final spot in the Texas rotation. Rocker was relegated to the minors for the final two months of the 2025 season but delivered generally positive results this spring, finishing Cactus League play with a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB in 12.2 innings across four appearances.

Pena (finger) took batting practice on the field at Daikin Park in Houston on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena traveling with the Astros to Houston rather than stay back in extended spring training is certainly a good sign as he attempts to avoid the injured list and be in the Opening Day lineup. The 28-year-old has not played in a game setting since fracturing his right ring finger in an exhibition contest nearly three weeks ago. If the Astros decide to give Pena more time to heal, they will use Carlos Correa at shortstop and Isaac Paredes at third base.