MLB Player News

Gipson-Long (oblique) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and appears to be on track for the start of the regular season, MLB.com reports.

Gipson-Long strained his left oblique early in spring training but has been throwing over the past few weeks as he attempts to get back to full health. It looks like the righty should be good in time for Opening Day, though it remains to be seen what his role might be. The Tigers added depth to their rotation in the form of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander during the offseason, so Gipson-Long would likely need to settle for a bullpen spot if he makes the MLB roster.

Vest will join Team USA ahead of the quarterfinal round of the World Baseball Classic, replacing teammate Tarik Skubal, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Skubal went back and forth on sticking around with Team USA, but with the lefty ultimately departing the roster, the team will replace him with Vest, who posted a 3.01 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 68.2 regular-season innings for Detroit last year. Vest gives the United States a reliable veteran option who can pitch some high-leverage innings out of the bullpen.

Baldwin was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Baldwin underwent imaging after he felt soreness throwing to the bases recently, and he figures to be shut down for at least the next few days. Baldwin is expected to fill a utility role for the White Sox this season after posting a .697 OPS across 328 plate appearances during the 2025 campaign.

The Red Sox placed Gonzalez (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The move opens up a 40-man roster spot for new lefty reliever Danny Coulombe, who was signed to a one-year deal in a corresponding move. Gonzalez has been sidelined for the entirety of spring training due to shoulder inflammation that will now require a "left shoulder arthroscopic debridement" operation, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. With Gonzalez set to miss at least the first two months of the regular season, Kristian Campbell, Nate Eaton and Andruw Monasterio will be competing for at-bats and playing time.

The Red Sox signed Coulombe to a one-year contract Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

It's a major-league deal for the 36-year-old Coulombe, who split the 2025 season between the Twins and Rangers. Across 55 total appearances, Coulombe posted a 2.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB across 43 innings. Not including closer Aroldis Chapman, Coulombe figures to operate as manager Alex Cora's top situational lefty reliever out of Boston's bullpen.

Joyce (shoulder) has been throwing bullpens but is likely to start the regular season on the injured list, per MLB.com.

Joyce underwent shoulder surgery to repair his labrum last May and continues to work his way back. His most recent bullpen session took place Tuesday, so the fireballing reliever seems to be making good progress, but he hasn't yet pitched in a spring game and seems to be tracking toward an IL stint to open the campaign. Even if that is the case, Joyce doesn't seem to be looking at a lengthy absence, and he could work his way up to high-leverage work out of the bullpen quickly upon his return to game action.

Klassen has had a strong spring training so far and may be looked at as an option for the Angels' Opening Day rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com implies.

Alek Manoah remains the favorite for the team's fifth-starter role, but he's had two straight rough spring starts, surrendering nine runs with a 7:7 K:BB over 6.1 innings. That could open the door for the Angels to consider other options, and Jack Kochanowicz -- who's pitched well so far -- may be the lead candidate for the rotation should Manoah not get the role. However, Bollinger points that Klassen has excelled this spring, as the young hurler has given up just two runs while registering a 9:3 K:BB over eight innings spanning three appearances. Klassen isn't on the 40-man roster and has just one Triple-A outing under his belt, so he's probably still a longshot to open the season in the majors. He's one of the Angels' top prospects, however, and the organization certainly hasn't been shy in recent years about rapidly advancing prospects through the minors and up to the majors.

The Rangers signed Beeks to a major-league contract Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will need to create a spot on the 40-man roster to make room for Beeks. The 32-year-old left-hander appeared in 61 games for the Diamondbacks last season, posting a 3.77 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:20 K:BB across 57.1 innings. Beeks should work in tandem with Tyler Alexander as the Rangers' left-handed specialists.

Kochanowicz is competing for a rotation spot this spring, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The top three slots in the Angels' Opening Day rotation seem to be locked up by Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers, while Grayson Rodriguez appears to have the inside track to the fourth slot as long as he remains healthy. Beyond that, Alek Manoah is the favorite for the fifth-starter role, per Bollinger, but the former Blue Jay has struggled in his past two spring outings, giving up nine runs with a 7:7 K:BB over 6.1 innings. Manoah, who has minor-league options remaining, thus may be on shaky ground in terms of breaking camp with the big club, which puts Kochanowicz and George Klassen, among others, potentially in position to be competing for a rotation spot. If that is indeed the case, Kochanowicz has made a strong pitch for the role, allowing just two runs on eight hits with a 5:1 K:BB over 8.2 frames across his first three appearances this spring.

Kiner-Falefa started at first base and went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's spring game against Minnesota.

Kiner-Falefa is adding first base to his already expansive list of positions. With Willson Contreras away at the World Baseball Classic and Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) possibly in need of surgery, Kiner-Falefa has made four appearances at first, while also seeing time at shortstop (one game), second base (two), third base (two), and designated hitter (one). Through 10 Grapefruit League games, he's batting .409 (9-for-22) with four walks, two doubles, two RBI and one steal. The latest roster projection by Ian Browne of MLB.com includes both Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio as utility infielders.