MLB Player News

Miami wanted a ninth-inning guy anyway, but they became especially motivated after losing Ronny Henriquez to elbow surgery. As a result, Fairbanks is getting $2 million more than he would have received had the Rays picked up his option. And that doesn’t include the $1 million buyout he received from Tampa Bay. Fairbanks had a 2.83 ERA in a career-high 60 1/3 innings last season. With a closing gig assured, he rates as a top-20 fantasy RP for 2026.

Valera left his last start with elbow soreness, but the team said on Monday that he would not need an X-ray or MRI. A day later, he is heading for an MRI. That’s a bit concerning, considering the 19-year-old missed three months last season with an elbow issue. We could be looking at an extended absence for the Red Sox’s fifth-ranked prospect.

With Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) going on the injured list, Dodd will be called up to take his place on the roster. He won’t be the closer; that will be Robert Suarez, but Dodd will be used to fill middle relief innings.

Iglesias was surprisingly not available to close Saturday’s game, and the Braves said he slept on his arm wrong and would be fine. The veteran then returned to notch a save on Sunday night, but he walked one and gave up a hit, and didn’t look sharp. Two days later, he’s landed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. The expectation is that this won’t be a long stint on the IL, but Michael King also “slept on his arm wrong” last year and wound up missing almost three months with a nerve issue. While Iglesias is out, Robert Suarez becomes a top-five closer option in fantasy baseball and needs to be added everywhere. Hopefully the Iglesias manager already scooped him up last week when the injury first popped up.

The 22-year-old looked great in two starts at Double-A this season, allowing one run on six hits in 10 innings with a 16/3 K/BB ratio. However, this says more about the Red Sox’s lack of starting pitching depth. With Sonny Gray (hamstring) on the injured list, and all of Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, Tanner Houck, and Patrick Sandoval on the injured list, the Red Sox don’t have many starting pitching options at Triple-A. Payton Tolle is likely being called up to the big leagues to take Gray’s spot in the rotation, which leaves Jake Bennett and Tyler Uberstine as the only true starting-pitcher options at Worcester. The Red Sox will hope not to have to turn to Rivera as an option this season, but he’s now one step closer.

Boyle landed on the injured list on April 11th with an elbow strain, but the imaging revealed no structural damage. He’s begun playing catch from distance and hopes to throw a bullpen by the end of April. That could have him on a rehab assignment by the middle of May, which would be good news for the Rays since it sounds like Ryan Pepiot (hip) is nowhere near a return to the mound.

The Orioles scored their first run with two outs in the top of the ninth to turn this into an extra-inning game. Both teams went scoreless in the 10th and plated one in the 11th. In the 12th, the Orioles took a lead on a Samuel Basallo single before Taveras appeared to finish things. The Royals, though, came back with three runs before making an out in the 12th, only to sputter out afterwards. Taveras came into tonight as a lifetime .280 hitter with the bases loaded, but he’d never gone deep in 50 plate appearances. He’s been a great surprise in the early going, hitting .341/.453/.554 to take over as the Orioles’ primary center fielder. His success might get Colton Cowser demoted at some point.

The run came on a Jac Caglianone homer, so all of those other runners were erased of stranded. Bradish became the first pitcher since Ubaldo Jiménez in 2016 to allow 13 baserunners but only one run. Incredibly enough, Jiménez was also pitching for the Orioles and facing the Royals in that game. Bradish will likely make his next start Sunday against Boston.

Nunez got some help in the 10th. With two on and none out, Jac Caglianone flew out to center. Leody Taveras’s throw to third got away, causing automatic runner Lane Thomas to take off, but he was tagged out, resulting in an odd double play. Nunez got through the inning scoreless and then allowed only the automatic runner to score in the 11th before the Royals won in the 12th. It’s the first big-league win for Nunez, who turned in a big spring to make the Orioles after totaling just 16 2/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A.

Lugo walked four tonight for just the 12th time in 128 career starts, but it hardly mattered since he gave up just one hit, a double from Taylor Ward. The other five hard-hit balls against him produced six outs, with one turning into a GIDP. Lugo now has a 1.15 ERA, though he possesses just one win to show for it. He’s yet to give up a homer in 31 1/3 innings. Last year, he gave up 27 in 145 1/3 innings, and that was before the Royals moved in their outfield walls. He’ll face the Angels next.

Erceg walked Gunnar Henderson on seven pitches, only to pick him off afterwards. Another walk and a groundout followed. Facing Pete Alonso, Erceg got ahead 1-2 but walked him after a couple of borderline check-swings weren’t called. Samuel Basallo then singled to tie the game. Erceg’s stuff is down a notch this year, but he actually had great velocity tonight, throwing 1-1.5 mph than his season averages. Still, he certainly can’t afford to walk batters like this when he’s just not getting many strikeouts. This might open the door for Matt Strahm and/or Daniel Lynch IV to receive save chances.