Phillies’ Cliff Lee shut down, placed on 60-day DL with forearm strain
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:46 pm ET) Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee was unable to throw Sunday or Monday, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a left forearm strain — the same injury that had the veteran left-hander on the shelf twice last season. He will be shut down indefinitely, and brought back to Philadelphia periodically to be evaluated.

Although Lee was recommended by doctors to have surgery, he and the Phillies have mutually decided to try for the third time to take a non-surgically approach to his rehab, with the hopes to prolong his career. Surgery would keep the 36-year-old out for the entirety of the season, and likely end his career.

Orioles option Christian Walker, Dylan Bundy to minors
by Jason Butt | CBSSports.com

(4:35 pm ET) The Orioles announced that they optioned two players to minor-leage affiliates on Monday. 

Infielder Christian Walker is heading to Triple-A Norfolk and right-handed pitcher Dylan Bundy will go to Double-A Bowie.

Walker went 1-for-12 at the plate for a lowly .083 batting average this spring. At both Norfolk and Bowie in 2014, Walker hit .288 in 2014. 

Bundy posted a 5.79 ERA in three appearances this spring. With Single-A teams Aberdeen and Frederick a year ago, Bundy posted a 3.27 ERA in 41 1/3 innings. 

Report: Royals sign Rafael Furcal to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:25 pm ET) The Royals have signed infielder Rafael Furcal to a minor-league deal, the Kansas City Star reports.

Furcal is not in major-league camp with the team, as he is rehabbing his torn hamstring on the minor-league side. He suffered the injury during winter-league play and played just nine games in the majors last season while batting health issues.

Padres’ Corey Luebke to throw off flat surface on Tuesday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:23 pm ET) Padres pitcher Corey Luebke will start throwing off flat surface on Tuesday, in hopes of moving to mound work later in the week, according to MLB.com. Luebke is working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery in as many years, and is destined to remain behind in Arizona for extended spring training.

Mets name Dillon Gee as Zack Wheeler’s replacement in rotation
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:16 pm ET) Mets manager Terry Collins confirmed that Dillon Gee will likely replace Zack Wheeler’s spot in the rotation, according to MLB.com. The team announced earlier on Monday that Wheeler has a fully torn ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that will likely lead to Tommy John surgery.

Gee was 7-8, with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts for the Mets last year. In his five MLB seasons, all with the Mets, he’s 40-34, 3.91. He was destined to start in the bullpen before Wheeler’s injury. His last relief appearance was in 2011.

“That’s why we’ve got him. He’ll be the guy,” Collins said.

Padres’ Casey Kelly scheduled for live BP on Wednesday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:09 pm ET) Padres pitcher Casey Kelly (groin) will throw another live batting practice on Wednesday, after having no reported signs of a setback following Sunday’s session, according to U-T San Diego.

“Today, woke up feeling great. Arm was sore in right places,” Kelly said.

Four shutout innings for Mets’ Matt Harvey
by Shawn Krest | CBSSports.com

(4:09 pm ET) Matt Harvey threw four shutout innings for the Mets in a spring game against the Red Sox on Monday. 

Harvey allowed three hits and no walks, while striking out three of the 14 batters he faced. Harvey had a maximum pitch count of 60 and ended up throwing 53, 35 of them for strikes. 

Harvey kept his fastball in the 95-97 MPH range and pitched out of trouble after allowing extra base hits in the first two innings. 

“I felt great to the last pitch,” he told ESPN’s Adam Rubin. “So we’re moving in a good direction.”

Astros’ Mark Appel (forearm) tosses two innings in spring debut
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:09 pm ET) Astros pitcher Mark Appel made his spring debut Monday, surrendering one earned run on two hits and two walks in two innings while striking out one.

Appel was getting a late start to the spring after experiencing mild tightness in his right forearm. He was able to throw a bullpen session Wednesday without issue, setting him up to make his spring debut Monday. Appel went 1-2 with a 3.69 ERA and 38:13 K:BB ratio in 39 innings with Double-A Corpus Christi last season.

Cubs option Christian Villanueva and Rafael Lopez to AAA
by Shawn Krest | CBSSports.com

(4:04 pm ET) The Cubs optioned two players to Triple-A Iowa and assigned another six players to minor league camp on Monday.

Infielder Christian Villanueva and catcher Rafael Lopez were optioned to Triple-A.

Villanueva was hitless with four strikeouts and an RBI in eight at bats, this spring. Lopez hit .250 with two RBI. 

The non-roster invitees assigned to the minors were RHP Corey Black (13.50 ERA in 1.1 spring innings), RHP Pierce Johnson (one hit and three walks in four scoreless innings), RHP Armando Rivero (27.00 ERA in a third of an inning), RHP Donn Roach (12.00 ERA in three innings), LHP Hunter Cervenka (0-1, 15.43) and infielder Logan Watkins (no spring at bats).

Athletics option Renato Nunez to Double-A
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:01 pm ET) The Athletics have optioned third baseman Renato Nunez to Double-A Midland.

Nunez went 3 for 16 during Cactus League play while striking out in half of his at-bats. He spent 2014 with high Class A Stockton, where he hit .279/.336/.517 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI while earning a Futures Game selection.