The Marlins have to set their roster by Wednesday, when they open the season against the Cardinals. Miami plans to carry Donnie Murphy as a utility player, and Chad Gaudin, a non-roster invitee, as a long reliever. The decision to go with Murphy was difficult, because infielder Donovan Solano, a non-roster invitee, had a sensational camp. "We talked to Solano today," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Solano is staying in Triple-A. We're going to take Murphy. Solano has had the best Spring Training I've ever seen. I had to explain to him everything about the details, and why he's not on the ballclub. It was kind of hard."

Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann did not make his scheduled start Saturday due to a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. "It's a pretty good size in an inopportune spot," Niemann said. He is expected to begin the season as Tampa Bay's No. 5 starter. Niemann has been throwing the past few days with a band aid covering the blister, something he would not be allowed to do during a game. "I'm just trying to make sure it heals, that's the biggest thing," he said. "It was pretty big and pretty deep, so the skin is real soft under it. We have to be pretty cautious to not rip it and go back to square one."

The Braves will start Tommy Hanson on Opening Day against the Mets at Citi Field. "It's definitely a good feeling," Hanson said. "I was excited about it. I'm definitely glad I'm pitching Opening Day. It's an honor." It's a first-time honor for the 25-year-old pitcher.

The Orioles have placed pitcher Alfredo Simon on outright waivers, according to sources. Dan Duquette, Baltimore's executive vice president of baseball operations, said that information about the waiver process is confidential and that Simon currently remains on the 40-man roster. Simon has been both a starter and a reliever for the Orioles, making 16 starts while appearing in 23 games last season.

The tightness in the left groin of Josh Hamilton is not believed to be serious, but he was not in the lineup for Saturday night's game with the Indians. He remains listed as day to day. Hamilton complained of tightness after the seventh inning of Friday's 5-3 win over the Rockies, and was taken out of the game.

Michael Pineda's sore right shoulder showed no structural damage, a development Yankees manager Joe Girardi termed "great news." The pitcher has tendinitis and will begin the season on the disabled list. "I'm feeling a little better," Pineda said. "A little sore. I'm a little sad. I'll be OK." Pineda had experienced soreness in the back of his right shoulder on Friday night. "I'm pitching this year," he said. "I'm coming back strong."

The Padres have agreed to an extension with left-hander Cory Luebke that will keep him under contract through 2017. The deal runs through the 2015 season with club options for 2016 and 2017, the latter of which would be the first season Luebke would be eligible for free agency. Luebke is guaranteed $12 million in the deal and can potentially earn $27.75 million. The breakdown is a $500,000 bonus paid over two installments, $500,000 in 2012, $1 million in 2013, $3 million in 2014, $5.25 million in 2015, a $7.5 million club option for 2016 and a $10 million club option for 2017.

The Royals have locked up Alex Gordon with a four-year, $37.5 million contract extension. The deal includes a player option for 2016 as well. The two sides had been working on a long-term deal for months. Gordon will make $6 million this season, $9 million next season, $10 million in 2014 and $12.5 million in 2015. The player option is also for $12.5 million. "This is where I wanted to be," Gordon said. "I'm thrilled it's done and over with. I can look to the future now. I'm liking what I see. Our goal was to get it done by the beginning of the year, before the season started. It's a very exciting day for me. "Ever since Dayton (Moore, general manager) came into this organization, you kind of saw something change and he turned this organization around. We've got a great clubhouse right now. I'm excited to be part of it. I couldn't be happier to be here for five more years."

The Angels claim that a trade involving Bobby Abreu is not imminent. A proposed deal with Cleveland may have fallen apart over how much of the slugger's $9 million salary that Los Angeles would pay, according to sources. "Bobby's on our club," general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "That's been fairly consistently stated from the start. We talk to other teams every day and we'll continue to."

Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda said he felt "a little sore" in the back of his right shoulder during an abbreviated outing on Friday night. It was unclear if Pineda is injured or if this was "normal soreness." He said he felt the soreness "most of the time tonight," but that he did not inform the Yankees until after he was removed from the game with two outs in the third inning and the Phillies holding a 6-1 lead. "When I was throwing, it was a little sore," Pineda said. "It's normal for players who play every day."