MLB Player News
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Mike Clevinger RP | PIT
Pirates' Mike Clevinger: Making push for roster spot
Clevinger threw 3.0 scoreless innings while allowing one hit to go along with three strikeouts and two walks in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
Clevinger joined the Pirates in February on a non-roster deal, but he appears to have a legitimate chance to make the roster as either the fifth starter or a long reliever. He reports being fully healthy, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and touched 97 mph in his first spring outing Feb. 25. Adding in Monday's outing, Clevinger has thrown five scoreless innings, though he's managed only a 4:4 K:BB.
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TJ Rumfield 1B | COL
Rockies' T.J. Rumfield: Impressing new club
Rumfield is making a case to be the primary first baseman for the Rockies to begin the season, Stephen Harding of MLB.com reports.
Rumfield was very productive in the minor leagues while working his way through the Yankees' minor-league system, but he was ultimately blocked and never got a chance to reach the majors. His outlook changed when he was traded to the Rockies in late January, and he has taken advantage early in spring, slugging three home runs across 16 at-bats while striking out only once. Harding currently projects Rumfield to start at first base against right-handed pitching, with Blaine Crim a potential complement to step into the lineup against lefties.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Should return this week
Lewis (side) participated in a session of live batting practice Sunday and could rejoin Minnesota's Grapefruit League lineup as early as Tuesday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old was scratched from the lineup last Thursday due to right side tightness, but he had an MRI come back negative and resumed baseball activities over the weekend. Lewis had injury troubles once again in 2025 with hamstring and quadriceps issues, but he still played in a career-high 106 games. The side injury appears to be a minor concern, but any spring health problems are worth keeping an eye on given Lewis' injury history.
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Edgar Quero C | CHW
White Sox's Edgar Quero: Even reps at catcher unlikely
Quero is likely to get the majority of his starts at catcher against left-handed pitching, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
While manager Will Venable stopped short of calling the White Sox's catcher situation a straight platoon, he did acknowledge that Kyle Teel will start behind the plate against most right-handed pitching. That leaves Quero on the short end of playing time, though he's also likely to get at least some plate appearances at DH. While the playing time situation is a bit murky, Queto has picked up nine hits across his first 17 at-bats -- three of which have gone for extra bases -- early in Cactus League action, after working at Driveline to improve his swing this winter.
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Kyle Teel C | CHW
White Sox's Kyle Teel: Set to be primary catcher
Teel will catch on most days when the White Sox face a right-handed pitcher, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The White Sox have a crowded depth chart at catcher, with Teel and Edgar Quero leading the way. Teel earned the majority of playing time at the position across the second half of 2025 and looks to be in line to maintain that role. Manager Will Venable stopped short of calling the distribution of playing time a platoon, though Quero will draw most of his starts behind the dish against lefties while also getting some additional plate appearances at designated hitter. Meanwhile, Teel will look to build off of a solid rookie season, when he hit .273 with eight homers and three stolen bases across 297 plate appearances.
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Rays' Gavin Lux: To miss at least one more week
Lux is at least one week away from making his Grapefruit League debut due to "general soreness," per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Lux is ramping up his activity at Rays camp, and his status for Opening Day still doesn't appear to be in any real jeopardy. After slashing .269/.350/.374 with five home runs and 53 RBI over 503 regular-season plate appearances for the Reds in 2025, the 28-year-old middle infielder is expected to be Tampa Bay's primary second baseman when healthy in 2026.
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Edwin Uceta RP | TB
Rays' Edwin Uceta: Status in doubt for Opening Day
Uceta (shoulder) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Pitching coach Kyle Snyder said Monday that Uceta, who's still limited to playing catch, is "probably still another couple of weeks away from getting back on the mound." The 28-year-old right-hander entered Rays camp in the mix for save chances, but now he's at serious risk of having a delayed start to the season. With Uceta's Opening Day status in real jeopardy, Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger appear to be the most likely candidates to close games for Tampa Bay early in the season.
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Jack Suwinski RF | LAD
Dodgers' Jack Suwinski: Sent outright to Triple-A
Suwinski was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.
Suwinski was scooped up off waivers by the Dodgers on Feb. 21, and he appears on track to begin the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City after passing through another round of waivers unclaimed. He struggled to a .147 average with three home runs, 10 RBI, seven stolen bases and 15 runs scored a season ago in 59 games with Pittsburgh.
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Jacob Nottingham DH | SEA
Mariners' Jacob Nottingham: Re-ups with Seattle
Nottingham agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Sunday.
Nottingham will remain with Seattle for the 2026 campaign, though he hasn't seen big-league action since the 2021 season. He appeared in only 17 matchups a year ago for Triple-A Tacoma, slashing .193/.277/.298 with six doubles, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Nottingham figures to serve as catching depth at Triple-A.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Tigers' Justin Verlander: Set for spring debut Friday
Verlander will make his first Grapefruit League start in Friday's game against the Red Sox, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Verlander will be the last member of Detroit's projected season-opening rotation to take the hill this spring, and it will be his first game in a Detroit uniform since 2017 after rejoining the club on a one-year, $13 million contract last month. The 42-year-old isn't the same pitcher he was when he last played for the Tigers, but he should at least give the team a veteran option to reliably eat up some innings. Verlander turned in a respectable 3.85 ERA and 137 strikeouts across 152 innings for the Giants last year.