Player Notes

  • Red Sox option Joe Jacques to Triple-A
    Red Sox optioned LHP Joe Jacques to Triple-A Worcester.

    Advice: Jacques will open the season back in the minors after making 23 appearances (one start) last year for the Red Sox. The 29-year-old southpaw figures to be up at some point when Boston’s bullpen needs a fresh arm. Rotoworld 9 minutes ago
  • Likely to make MLB bullpen
    Alcala looks set to begin the season in the Minnesota bullpen with injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique), MLB.com reports. He has a 2.16 ERA this spring with a 10:3 K:BB ratio in 8.1 innings.

    Advice: Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He could become part of the setup mix if his fastball can come close to averaging the high-90s mph from earlier in his career (97.4 average mph fastball in 2021). Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:41 pm
  • Hits open market
    The Athletics released Felipe (elbow) on Monday.

    Advice: Felipe was designated for assignment Saturday and will now become a free agent after failing to draw any interest on waivers. He's already been ruled out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery Friday. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:54 pm
  • Works one inning
    Brebbia (calf) threw one inning in a minor-league game Monday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

    Advice: Brebbia is working his way back from a calf injury and had a successful return to game action. He remained non-committal about his status for Opening Day, noting that he typically needs eight-to-10 innings in the exhibition season to get properly stretched out. Monday's outing marked his first game action of the spring, meaning he may need to start the regular season on the injured list. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:44 pm
  • Locked into rotation spot
    Perez has allowed one earned run across 12 innings with a 13:4 K:BB in Grapefruit League action.

    Advice: There are a couple of vacancies in the back of the Pirates' rotation, but Perez will be locked in as a starter to begin the regular season. He built up to five innings in an outing against the Philies on Monday, racking up eight strikeouts against two walks without allowing a run. Despite the strong form, there should be some skepticism about Perez's performance, as he's posted an ERA above 4.40 in six of his last seven campaigns. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:25 pm
  • Likely to make big-league club
    Bielak is likely to make the big-league roster out of spring training due to a combination of injuries to the Astros pitching staff, and because he is out of minor-league options, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Bielak hasn't pitched well this spring, allowing six earned runs across 7.1 innings while maintaining just a 5:4 K:BB. However, with both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) destined for the injured list to begin the campaign, the Astros are in need of pitching depth. As things currently stand, Bielak is expected to serve in a relief role, with Ronel Blanco serving as the fifth starter. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:04 pm
  • Kyle Harrison strikes out five in win against Reds
    Kyle Harrison recorded five strikeouts over five shutout innings in Monday’s 4-2 win against the Reds.

    Advice: The biggest story of the evening may be Blake Snell reportedly signing with the Giants, but San Francisco may have a rising star on the back end of its rotation this season. The 22-year-old southpaw put together another impressive spring outing and the new addition of his cutter could be the difference throughout the regular season. In seven starts with the Giants last season, Harrison posted a 4.15 ERA with a 35/11 K/BB ratio across 34 2/3 innings. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:42 pm
  • Frankie Montas fans five against Giants
    Frankie Montas struck out five batters and allowed one earned run in four innings on Monday against the Giants.

    Advice: For the first time this spring, Montas went four innings and had his best outing since his first time on the mound in late February. The 30-year-old will be the Reds’ Opening Day starter so it is encouraging to see him get back into rhythm after he allowed four earned runs in back-to-back starts. Montas has a 6.94 ERA this spring with a 10/4 K/BB ratio across 11 2/3 innings. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:42 pm
  • Report: Snell, Giants agree to two-year, $62M deal
    The Giants and free agent left-hander Blake Snell have agreed to a two-year, $62 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

    Advice: The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner finally secures a contract with just nine days left until Opening Day. According to Heyman, there is an opt out following the 2024 season, which is something the 31-year-old has been seeking since entering free agency. The Giants’ pitching staff has been decimated by injuries to its pitching depth during spring and will be without at least Alex Cobb (hip), Robbie Ray (elbow) and Tristan Beck (arm) to start the season, so adding Snell to their rotation hopefully lessens the blow. There are some lingering command issues that are worrisome for fantasy managers long-term, but he’s coming off his best season since 2018 after posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP with an insane 234/99 K/BB ratio across 180 innings. It’s a phenomenal landing spot as San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly Oracle Park and his familiarity with the NL West should mitigate some likely regression. Rotoworld Yesterday, 6:31 pm