MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Alexander to minor-league camp Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander had a 4.77 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 65:26 K:BB across 77.1 innings between Atlanta and Houston last season but was never a likely bet to crack the Astros' Opening Day roster. Alexander is likely to work out of the rotation at Triple-A Sugar Land to begin 2026 and could get another look in the majors as a swingman at some point this year.

Team Dominican Republic manager Nelson Cruz said that Perdomo is on the bench for Sunday's game against Team Netherlands due to an illness, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

With Perdomo battling the flu, Cruz will turn to Erik Gonzalez to man shortstop in the Dominican Republic's second game of pool play. Perdomo will rest up and recover with the aim of returning to the starting nine Monday versus Team Israel.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Mullins is "doing better" in his recovery from back tightness and will take part in an on-field workout Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mullins last played Tuesday before succumbing to the back injury, but the veteran outfielder looks to be making good progress and is being viewed as day-to-day. Assuming he's able to move past the back issue and play in at least a few more games before the end of the Grapefruit League slate, Mullins should be in good position to begin the season in the strong side of a platoon in center field.

Manager Kevin Cash said that Diaz has been out of the Rays' Grapefruit League lineup since Tuesday due to a sore left hand, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cash downplayed any concern about the injury, noting that Diaz is expected to rest for a couple more days before he begins swinging a bat again Tuesday. If all goes well, Diaz could check back into the lineup later in the week.

Stock (shoulder) said Sunday that he'll require surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome and could be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Stock is leaving the door open to pitch late in the season, but since he had been attending Mets camp on a minor-league deal, he's unlikely to surface in the majors at any point in 2026. The right-hander first experienced discomfort in his shoulder following his start Tuesday for Team Israel in an exhibition game against the Marlins.

Team Venezuela manager Omar Lopez said Saturday that Chourio (hand) should rejoin the lineup for Monday's World Baseball Classic game against Nicaragua, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

Chourio has been out of Venezuela's lineup for both of the last two games while nursing a left hand injury that he suffered in an exhibition game Wednesday, when he was hit by a pitch. The good news for Chourio is that the injury isn't considered a long-term concern, and the 21-year-old should be back in the lineup in short order.

Martin allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four across three innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Mariners.

Martin has had mixed results this spring, but he settled into a groove during Saturday's appearance. He threw 32 strikes on 50 pitches, while generating punchouts of Brendan Donovan, Luke Raley and Mitch Garver. The White Sox have made little known about their rotation plans to this point in the spring, though Martin's ramp-up suggests he has a good chance of securing a spot to begin the 2026 campaign.

Harrington allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two across four scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

This marked Harrington's second appearance of the spring, and he worked efficiently while ramping up to 44 pitches. He put 29 of those in the strike zone, while punching out Riley Greene and Colt Keith. Harrington has now allowed one earned run across six innings while striking out two and walking three this spring. He has an outside chance to earn a rotation role to begin the season, but he will more likely begin the campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Barco added a changeup, sweeper and sinker to his pitch mix this offseason, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Barco featured a fastball, spltter and slider during his brief big-league debut at the end of 2025, but believed he needed to add to his arsenal to stick in the rotation. He threw six changeups among his 57 pitches in Saturday's Grapefruit League outing against the Tigers, during which he surrendered three earned runs across three innings while striking out three and walking one. Despite the bumpy outing, Barco showed improved control, registering his first appearance of the spring without giving up multiple free passes.

The Angels reassigned Rada to minor-league camp Saturday.

Rada was a longshot to make the Angels' Opening Day roster, and the 20-year-old will start the 2026 season in the minors. He ended the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Salt Lake, where he slashed .323/.433/.416 with 20 steals (on 26 attempts), one home run and 17 RBI in 201 plate appearances. Rada lacks power, but his ability to make contact and his prowess on as a baserunner could net him some major-league opportunities in 2026.