Miami Marlins reliever Darren McCaughan has been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. The right-hander was claimed off waivers by the club from the Seattle Mariners this offseason after he made just three appearances with Seattle in the 2023 season. McCaughan worked to a 5.40 ERA in that time with Seattle while he also scuffled to a 5.83 ERA across 25 outings, all of which were starts, with Triple-A Tacoma. McCaughan is the owner of a 7.07 ERA across 14 appearances at the big-league level, appearing in just five games over the last two campaigns.

The Houston Astros are not going to sign free-agent left-hander Blake Snell, according to general manager Dana Brown. Speculation about the club signing Snell due to the fact Justin Verlander is set to start the season on the injured list increased but Brown threw water on the fire on that notion. "We might add something later (around the trade deadline), but right now I think our team's built to win and we're ready to go," Brown said on Saturday. "I don't envision, like, going out and signing Snell. But would I love to have him? Yeah." Snell, the 2023 NL Cy Young winner, remains unsigned just weeks before the 2024 regular season kicks off. The San Francisco Giants are the front-runners to land the two-time Cy Young winner while the Yankees have an offer on the table for the southpaw.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (elbow) will face live hitters on Thursday. He has been slow-played during the early portion of spring training after an elbow sprain ended his season early in 2023. A second-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, Whisenhunt was excellent across three minor-league levels last season, finishing with six starts of 3.20 ERA ball at the Double-A level. He also posted a tidy 1.42 ERA across six starts at High-A. The Giants also have right-hander Sean Hjelle on the shelf due to an elbow sprain, and he is set to be evaluated in two weeks. Whisenhunt is likely to open the season back at Double-A but could be a factor in the Giants' rotation in short order.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Sean Hjelle has suffered a right elbow sprain and will be evaluated in two weeks. The 26-year-old was competing for a spot on the club's Opening Day rotation but said he could feel something wasn't right in his throwing arm last week. Hjelle has appeared in each of the last two seasons with the Giants, posting a 6.17 ERA across 54 innings of work in that time. Last season, he posted a 6.52 ERA across 15 appearances, all of which came out of the bullpen. He also made 22 appearances (19 starts) at the Triple-A level but struggled to a 6.00 ERA in his 93 innings of work at that level. Of course, his status for Opening Day is doubtful as he seeks a diagnosis on his elbow.

Seattle Mariners infielder Luis Urias (shoulder) is starting at third base and batting seventh in the order for the team's Cactus League game on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. It's the first time that Urias has played third base in a game this spring as he returns from a bout of right-shoulder soreness. As long as the 26-year-old infielder doesn't have a setback with his shoulder injury, he should be ready for Opening Day on March 28. Urias was once a top prospect for the San Diego Padres, but injuries and poor performance offensively at the big-league level have him running out of chances to secure a regular role in the majors. Urias is off the fantasy radar in mixed leagues and will be hoping to earn a utility role for the M's in 2024.