MLB Baseball 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 21, 2026, 6:30 PM ET
MLB Roster Moves & Minor League Updates
Major League Baseball clubs continued trimming their spring rosters Saturday, with several veterans and high-profile prospects receiving their marching orders. The Pittsburgh Pirates reassigned their highly touted 19-year-old prospect Konnor Griffin to minor league camp, signaling he will begin the season developing outside the majors. Similarly, teams clearing out bullpen depth saw veteran reliever Ryan Brasier granted his release by the Texas Rangers, while the Washington Nationals designated right-handed hurler Drew Smith for release from his minor league agreement.
The shakeup extended to established outfielders seeking guaranteed big-league time as the season approaches. After failing to secure a spot on the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster, outfielder Austin Slater exercised the release clause in his minor league contract, making him immediately available to other organizations. Conversely, the New York Yankees finalized their roster construction by officially slotting 34-year-old veteran Randal Grichuk onto the squad, confirming his role as an experienced option in the outfield rotation heading into Opening Day.