MLB Player News

Nunez was optioned to the Orioles' minor-league camp Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Nunez appeared in five games with Baltimore during spring training, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six batters over five innings. The right-handed pitcher will now likely open the season with Triple-A Norfolk, and he'll look to impress in an attempt to get a shot with the major-league roster this season.

De Los Santos (knee) is expected to complete one more bullpen session before facing hitters in live batting practice Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The upcoming live BP session will represent the final checkpoint De Los Santos will need to hit in his recovery from a right knee strain before gaining clearance to make his Grapefruit League debut. De Los Santos worked mainly in middle relief between stops with Atlanta and Houston last season, picking up six wins and six holds and submitting a 4.36 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 62:24 K:BB across 66 innings.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that Higashioka (back) is feeling better and is expected to return to the spring lineup Monday against the Padres, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The 35-year-old backstop was scratched from the lineup Saturday due to back spasms but is on track for a quick return to the lineup. Higashioka had a .694 OPS in 94 games last season and is expected to split playing time with Danny Jansen behind the plate for the Rangers this year.

Pallette (shoulder) made his Cactus League debut Tuesday and has struck out five while allowing three hits and one walk over two scoreless innings between two appearances.

Pallette's spring debut was delayed while he contended with right forearm fatigue earlier in camp, but his bid for the Guardians' Opening Day roster won't be derailed. The Guardians selected Pallette in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter, so he'll need to remain on the 26-man active roster or a reserve list throughout the season, or else Cleveland will have to offer him back to the White Sox.

The Rays optioned Keegan to minor-league camp Sunday.

Keegan played in seven Grapefruit League games but never got going at the plate, as he finished 1-for-11 with six strikeouts. He should return to Triple-A Durham, where he posted a .735 OPS with 10 homers in 69 games during 2025.

The Rays optioned Cook to minor-league camp Sunday.

The 24-year-old was added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster in November but was always a longshot to crack the Opening Day roster. Cook missed some time in 2025 due to injuries but pitched well for Double-A Montgomery when available, finishing with a 2.30 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 15.2 innings.

The Rangers optioned Lopez to Double-A Frisco on Sunday.

Texas awarded Lopez a spot on its 40-man roster over the winter after he compiled a 2.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 116:41 K:BB between Frisco and High-A Hub City in 2025. The 23-year-old righty will head back to Frisco to begin the upcoming campaign, but a strong start to the season could put him on track for an early promotion to Triple-A Round Rock.

The Guardians optioned Aleman to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Aleman struggled to a 7.85 ERA over 36.2 innings at Columbus last season, so it's hardly a surprise he'll return there to begin 2026. The 25-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut and will need significantly better results to have a chance of changing that this year.

The Rangers optioned Davalillo to Double-A Frisco on Sunday.

Texas added Davalillo to its 40-man roster over the winter, but the 23-year-old righty is still in need of further seasoning in the minors. He'll return to Frisco to open the upcoming campaign after logging a 2.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:17 K:BB across 56 frames in the Texas League in 2025.

The Guardians optioned Espino to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Espino fired two scoreless innings during spring training but unsurprisingly won't make Cleveland's Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old made an appearance for Triple-A Columbus late last season, which was his first game action since 2022 after requiring multiple shoulder surgeries.