Capsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Cleveland Indians2017: 102-60, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS.Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, LF Rajai Davis, RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33 HRs, 89 RBIs, 44 2Bs, 15 SBs, 10 errors), 2B Jason Kipnis (.232, 12 HRs, 35 RBIs in 90 games), 3B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, AL-leading 56 2Bs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107), 1B Yonder Alonso (.266, career-high 28 HRs, 67 RBIs with Athletics and Mariners), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.288, 12, 53 in 82 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38, club went 44-22 in his starts) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56), CF Bradley Zimmer (.241, 8, 39, 18 SBs, 0 errors), LF Michael Brantley (.299, 9, 52 in 90 games) or Rajai Davis (.235, 5, 20, 29 SBs with Oakland and Boston).Rotation: RH Corey Kluber... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [More]

RHP Zach Putnam, who underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on June 23, was transferred from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day DL on Wednesday. He had no decisions and a 1.04 ERA in seven relief appearances for the White Sox this year.

RHP Zach Putnam (right elbow inflammation) underwent another MRI on Wednesday and hopes to begin throwing a baseball for the first time Thursday since being placed on the disabled list April 23. "Everybody is comfortable with where I am and with the healing that has taken place," Putnam said on Wednesday. "We are going to start slow, but I am pretty optimistic that I can ramp things up pretty soon."

RHP Zach Putnam (right elbow inflammation) is improving, but there is still no timeline for his return. "We know he is getting better going through the rehab process," Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. Putnam has made seven appearances (8 2/3 innings) this season and has a 1.04 ERA with nine strikeouts and one walk.

RHP Zach Putnam was placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to April 23, because of inflammation in his right elbow. The 29-year-old was off to a great season in the White Sox bullpen with a 1.04 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.

RHP Zach Putnam has gone through elbow issues before, and so he understands when something is significantly wrong. He doesn't believe the tenderness in his right elbow that forced him to leave his last appearance against Cleveland fits into that category. Putnam is day-to-day with the ailment and said Monday that he will return when he feels as if he has recovered, but that there is no structural damage in his elbow. "It doesn't make it any less frustrating," Putnam said Monday. "I want to be out there, I want to pitch, I want to play, I want to earn my paycheck, but sometimes you have to listen to your body a little bit."

RHP Zach Putnam was available to pitch Sunday but he was not used. He exited Saturday's game against Cleveland with right elbow tenderness. Manager Rick Renteria said the team had no concern about Putnam.

RHP Zach Putnam exited Saturday's game against Cleveland because of right elbow tenderness. He gave up a run and a walk and recorded two outs. His ERA is 1.04.

RHP Zach Putnam was in the White Sox's clubhouse prior to a game Wednesday against the Indians, meeting with his teammates for the first time since undergoing surgery Aug. 5 to remove bone fragments from his pitching elbow. Putnam isn't throwing yet and doesn't expected to start a throwing program until December. Putnam said two bone fragments were removed. "Definitely surgery that needed to happen and reiterated that fact after I saw what they took out of there," Putnam said. "It was gnarly stuff."

RHP Zach Putnam underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow Friday. It's unknown whether Putnam will be able to return this season. He is beginning his rehab process in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he lives in the offseason. Putnam, a hard-throwing reliever, is 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA and has 30 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings this season. He's a key middle-innings relief option when healthy.

RHP Zach Putnam will likely undergo surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow and will likely need several weeks of recovery before he returns, general manager Rick Hahn said. Putnam went on the disabled list June 21 for ulnar neuritis in his right elbow.

RHP Zach Putnam (elbow) is trying to avoid season-ending surgery to repair issues that placed him on the disabled list. Putnam isn't currently participating in baseball activities but may start throwing as early as this weekend when the White Sox travel to Houston. Putnam said the injury is in the same place he had trouble with in 2013 when he underwent surgery to fix the problem. If surgery was required, the procedure would likely be one to remove bone chips from his elbow. "I think we are going to give it the old college try and try to see if we can get through the rest of the season without having to do a procedure," Putnam said Wednesday.

RHP Zach Putnam (elbow) is still exploring his options, but is hoping to avoid season-ending surgery. Putnam may throw for the first time when Chicago travels to Houston this weekend, but said he is currently evaluating his progress on a day-to-day basis.

RHP Zach Putnam (ulnar neuritis in right elbow) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. Putnam is 0-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 25 appearances this season and last pitched Monday at Boston, walking three on 21 pitches while failing to record an out.

Relief pitcher Zach Putnam walked the first three batters of the ninth inning at Boston on Monday and landed on the 15-day disabled list with ulnar neuritis in his right elbow Tuesday. The White Sox recalled right-hander Chris Beck from Class AAA Charlotte for Tuesday's game at Boston. Beck was recently converted to a reliever and posted a 1.93 ERA over his past seven appearances in which he threw two or more innings four times.Beck was 4-3 with a 4.47 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 15 games (seven starts, 56 total innings) with Charlotte in 2015 while limiting left-handers to a .193 (16-83) average. Putnam, 28, is 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA (7 ER/27.1 IP) and 30 strikeouts over 25 relief appearances with the White Sox this season. He was removed from Monday's game against the Red Sox after walking the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.

RHP Zach Putnam pitched his 12th scoreless outing Wednesday. He has not allowed a run in his past four outings, covering five innings.

Putnam (groin) was reinstated from the DL on Friday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Putnam missed only the mandatory 15 games with a groin injury, and he'll return to the Chicago bullpen, where he holds a 3.07 ERA across 41.0 innings.

Putnam was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday with a strained right groin.

The move is retroactive to Aug. 27, so Putnam could return to Chicago's bullpen in mid-September. That said, he would be unlikely to see much high-leverage work. Daniel Webb was reinstated from the DL as a corresponding move.

Although he did not pitch Tuesday, Putnam (groin) was available out of the White Sox's bullpen if needed, the Daily Herald reports.

Putnam was unavailable for a few days due to the injury, but it sounds like he could be back on the mound soon. He has struck out a career-best 12.2 per nine this season, but he does not get used frequently enough to rack up gaudy strikeout numbers.