AL Notes: Canseco joins Oakland’s broadcast

Los Angeles Angels name Ricky Nolasco Opening Day starter

Nolasco had a good second half last year after joining the Angels and had a 3.52 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP in 15 innings. Monday’s start was Nolasco’s 4th career opening day start, and he will be key for the Angels this year if they want to shock some people and clinch a playoff berth.

Oakland Athletics add Jose Canseco to the broadcast team

Canseco is a very interesting character and is known to say whatever he wants whenever he wants. He will do the show from his Las Vegas home and will be on pre and post game shows. If Canseco does his thing the pre and post game shows may have better ratings than the A’s game.

Seattle Mariners reach agreement with Mark Lowe

After being released by the Detroit Tigers one year after signing a 2 year, 11 million dollar deal, Lowe has returned to Seattle. He impressed in 2015 in 34 appearances with the Mariners having a 1.00 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. However, coming off a terrible year the Mariners may look at Lowe more so as depth (and he will indeed start the year in AAA Tacoma).

Texas Rangers officially sign Rougned Odor

The Rangers officially announced the extension for Odor on Thursday. The deal is for 6 years and includes a player option and two horses. It is worth $49.5 million and the option year is worth $13.5 million with a $3 million buyout. Odor is 22 and coming off a year with 33 home runs, a .271 batting average, .502 slugging percentage, and a 2.4 WAR.

Indians’ top prospect Yandy Diaz makes roster

Injuries to two starters, Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall, opened up a spot in the infield and outfield. Diaz fit the mold as he plays third base and outfield. Although he is not a great fielder his bat is top notch. Diaz hit .325/.445/.381 with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks last season and got better when he reached Triple-A, slashing .325/.399/.461.

Jacob May announced White Sox opening day starter

After moving on from Peter Bourjos the White Sox are turning to the 25 year old speed demon Jacob May. His above average speed is key to his ability to cover an extreme amount of ground in the outfield. However, his speed will not be a factor on offense unless he makes contact consistently, which is what Bourjos has struggled with his entire career.

Detroit Tigers’ J.D. Martinez placed on 10-day disabled list

Coming off three great seasons with the Tigers’, Martinez will have too wait a little longer before starting season number four. The cause of the DL stint is a Lisfranc (midfoot) strain. Martinez is eligible to come off the DL on April 8th, one day after home opener for the Tigers’.

Kansas City Royals’ Jorge Soler placed on 10-day disabled list

Traded for Wade Davis in the offseason, Soler’s debut will be delayed. He is eligible to return on April 9th but the club doesn’t anticipate him too return by then. After a lost year, mainly because of injuries, the Royals start off the 2017 season without their starting right fielder.

Minnesota Twins leave 1B/DH Byung Ho Park off roster

The Korean slugger is coming off his first season where he struggled to a .191 BA, 12 homers, and 80 strikeouts. However, Park had a great spring and saw him hit a team-leading six home runs, and seemingly did everything the Twins could have asked for but was still left off the team

Baltimore Orioles acquire Alec Asher from Philadelphia Phillies

The Orioles acquire former Rangers prospect Asher from the Phillies. Even though Asher is coming off pretty good starts that saw him pitch to a 2.28 ERA and a 0.940 WHIP it is a small sample size. In 2015 he started 7 games and had a 9.31 ERA and a 1.793 WHIP, he is also coming off an 80 games suspension for PED use.

Red Sox’s Drew Pomeranz opens season on 10 day DL

Pomeranz was hit hard all spring and will open up on the season on the 10 day DL with a forearm flexor sprain. However, he is projected to return on April 9, which was the day he was scheduled to make his first start anyway. He is looking to regain the success he had in San Diego.

New York Yankees lose sixth consecutive Opening Day game

The Yankees’ youth movement started with a 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Masahiro Tanaka did not have his best stuff, Greg Bird had a error, and Gary Sanchez with 0-5 with a throwing error. The Yankees’ will be looking to get their win of the season when elder C.C. Sabathia takes the mound.

Chris Archer looks dominant on Opening Day

After coming off a season where he went 9-19 with a 4.02 ERA, Archer looked dominant against the Yankees’. Archer got Sanchez to weakly ground out to the shortstop with the bases loaded to finish out the seventh, his final line was 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO. If Archer can continue to pitch like he did on opening day then the Rays may make some noise.

Toronto Blue Jays release Melvin Upton Jr

The Blue Jays decided to chose Ryan Goins over Upton for the opening day roster. Upton hit 20 home runs and stole 27 bases last season, but collapsed in the second half. Goins is last in the league in wRC+ since 2013 and had a net WAR of -0.3 in 2016. Jon Heyman mentioned the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants as teams who could have interest.