MLB Player News

Leiter could be a factor in the Athletics' closer committee to begin the season, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

The right-hander joined the A's on a one-year, $3 million contract in December after being non-tendered by the Yankees earlier in the offseason. Leiter had a 4.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 54:17 K:BB across 48.1 innings during the 2025 regular season, recording two saves and 16 holds in 59 appearances. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay utilized a heavy committee approach last year after the departure of closer Mason Miller at the trade deadline, and Leiter figures to be a part of that mix early in 2026 despite his underwhelming numbers last year. He's given up one run on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks through four outings in spring training.

Long (elbow) faced live pitching Friday as he continues to ramp up his activity level, MLB.com reports.

Long has resumed regular workouts and facing live pitching is another step forward in his rehab process from an injury he sustained in an exhibition game last month. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a left elbow bruise and cleared of any structural issues earlier in March, so he should be fully healthy in the near future. Long figures to begin the season with Triple-A Iowa and could push toward the majors at some point if he continues to tear up the level like he did in 2025.

Stowers (hamstring) is starting in left field and batting in the leadoff spot in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Stowers was sidelined for the past two weeks while rehabbing from a right hamstring strain, but he has progressed enough in his recovery to be back on the field for Saturday's game. He's looking to build off a productive 2025 season in which he slashed .288/.368/.544 with five steals (on six attempts), 25 home runs and 73 RBI over 457 plate appearances.

Mayer started at second base and went 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's spring game against Tampa Bay.

Mayer followed up one of his worst games of the Grapefruit League on Thursday (0-for-4, two strikeouts) with his best Friday. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has made it clear that Mayer is not guaranteed a spot on the 26-man roster yet, but the expectation is that he'll open the season with Boston on March 26 in Cincinnati, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. If Mayer is on the Opening Day roster, then he'll likely be the primary starter at second base.

Harris could lead the Athletics' closer committee early in the season, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

Manager Mark Kotsay utilized a committee approach after the A's traded away Mason Miller last season, with Harris leading the way with four of the club's final 15 saves, and the skipper is expected to have a similar strategy this season. As a lefty that can also cover multiple innings, Harris is likely to see significant action outside the ninth inning. The 29-year-old had a 3.20 ERA last season, but his 1.35 WHIP and 23.5 percent strikeout rate don't offer major upside, especially if the save chances are inconsistent.

Steele (elbow) faced live hitters Friday for the first time in 11 months as he continues his recovery from UCL revision surgery last April, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Steele only threw 19 pitches, but it was still an important milestone in his long road back following surgery. The lefty has been ramping up his throwing during the winter and early spring, and he's tentatively targeting a May or June return to the majors. Steele was fairly sharp in his session Friday, recording three strikeouts and two flyball outs, and he said he felt good afterward. The team will surely be cautious with the southpaw, though it looks like he'll be able to help the rotation at some point this year.

Oviedo allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 3.1 innings in Friday's spring start against the Rays.

Oviedo was dynamic in the first inning when he struck out the side before a two-out walk in the third extended the inning and led to two runs. "The first inning was the highlight of his outing," Boston manager Alex Cora told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "His stuff is really good. We cannot deny that. And when we throw it over the heart of the plate, there's a lot of outs. So we've just gotta keep doing that consistently." Through four Grapefruit League starts, Oviedo has allowed two runs (1.59 ERA) on eight hits and six walks over 11.1 innings.

Mize allowed six runs on six hits and four walks across three innings in Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the Pirates. He struck out two.

This was easily Mize's worst start of the spring slate, as he came into the contest having allowed three total earned runs across 8.1 Grapefruit League innings. He said after the contest that his "mechanics are off," per Jason Beck of MLB.com, which is somewhat concerning at this point during spring training. The righty should still be locked into a regular-season rotation spot, though the Tigers did bolster their pitching staff in the offseason with the additions of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, so Mize may be knocked down the pecking order a bit. He stayed mostly healthy last year and posted a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 139 strikeouts across 149 regular-season innings.

Across 11 Grapefruit League games, Perez has gone 4-for-24 with seven strikeouts.

Perez had a promising sophomore campaign in 2025, as he increased his production from 2024 across the board to finish with a career-best 13 home runs, 43 RBI and a .738 OPS across 100 regular-season contests. He's off to a sluggish start this spring but should still have the inside track to the starting role in right field. Utility man Matt Vierling could see more time in right if Perez's slump lasts into the regular season, and Kerry Carpenter is also an option there on days when he's not serving as the DH.

Sterner has given up four runs on four hits while striking out 12 and walking three across six innings during spring training, and Jason Burke of SI.com didn't list him as a closer candidate for the A's.

Sterner was effective as a rookie last season with 16 holds to go along with a 3.18 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 70:21 K:BB across 65 innings, though he didn't pick up any saves, even after closer Mason Miller was traded away at the deadline. Burke listed Hogan Harris as the early favorite for saves with Scott Barlow and Mark Leiter also in the mix, though manager Mark Kostay isn't expected to utilize a true closer in the traditional sense. Sterner still figures to pick up some saves this season if he pitches similarly to 2025.