• The competition for the fifth spot in the Dodger rotation has brought out the best in each and every candidate. Yesterday, Brett Tomko lowered his ERA to 1.29 (1 ER/7.0 IP) and non-roster invitee Joe Mays was nearly flawless in bringing his down to 2.57 (2 ER/7.0 IP). Chad Billingsley has not allowed an earned run in 6.1 innings pitched and Hong-Chih Kuo has allowed just one in 6.0 innings of work, while striking out five. Left-hander Mark Hendrickson struggled in his first outing, but since then has a 1.80 ERA (1 ER/5.0 IP) with five strikeouts.
  • The Dodgers decided late yesterday that Chad Billingsley will be a reliever if he makes the team.
  • Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels announced today RHPs Armando Galarraga and Edinson Volquez and LHP Daniel Haigwood have been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and RHPs Thomas Diamond, Eric Hurley, Jose Vargas and LHP Scott Rice were reassigned to minor league camp.
  • The Atlanta Braves trimmed their spring roster by four players today. Right-handed pitcher Joey Devine was optioned to Richmond (AAA), while right-handed pitcher Kevin Barry, left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison and catcher Clint Sammons were re-assigned to the Club's minor league camp. The Braves now have 44 players remaining in major league camp.
  • The Arizona Diamondbacks today optioned infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Danny Richar, outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Alex Romero and pitchers Evan MacLane and Jailen Peguero and reassigned right-handed pitcher Adam Bass, outfielder Justin Upton and catcher Wilkin Castillo to minor league camp, according to Senior Vice President and General Manager Josh Byrnes.
  • The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have optioned lefthanded pitcher Errol Simonitsch to Triple-A Rochester, and lefthanded pitcher Jose Mijares to Double-A New Britain.
  • Yankees reassigned OF Jose Tabata, 1B Eric Duncan, OF Brett Gardner, RHP Steven Jackson and RHP Kevin Whelan to minor league camp; optioned SS Alberto Gonzalez, RHP Jeff Kennard and 1B Juan Miranda to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
  • Mark Teixeira missed his second straight spring game Tuesday because of a bruised left knee.
  • Pitcher Jim Parque was reassigned to the minor leagues by the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday after allowing nine earned runs in his last two spring training outings.
  • The New York Mets released right-hander Alay Soler before their exhibition game Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians.
  • After a total of 10 spring innings and zero ground balls, Jay Gibbons will no longer be in the 1B mix for the Orioles. Instead, he will primarily be a DH.
  • Despite spraining his ankle yesterday. Chipper Jones started at third base today.
  • Los Angeles Angels starters Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver each threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session Monday and looked good, according to pitching coach Mike Butcher.
  • Catcher Javy Lopez, who had been competing to make Colorado's opening-day roster, was released Monday by the Rockies.
  • Jason Isringhausen is set to make his spring training debut Thursday.
  • The Rockies informed Taylor Buchholz that he'll begin the season in the bullpen.
  • Micah Owings has emerged as the lead candidate for the 5th starter job with the Diamondbacks.