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Parker Messick pitched five scoreless innings and fanned eight for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.
Messick, who had a 2.83 ERA and a 165/44 K/BB in 133 2/3 innings between high-A and Double-A last year, hasn’t given up a run in nine innings so far this season. The 2022 second-round pick will be a rotation candidate for the Guardians and a possible mixed-league pickup sometime this summer.
Liam Hendriks began his rehab assignment by throwing a scoreless first inning Thursday for Triple-A Worcester.
Hendriks, returning from a compressed nerve in his elbow, averaged 94.3 mph with his fastball and fanned three out of four batters, allowing only a soft hit in the process. He might finally make his Red Sox debut next week after a couple of more appearances.
Kyle Gibson allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings in his first Triple-A start Thursday.
Gibson struck out four and walked none while throwing 47 pitches. He figures to start at least two more games for Norfolk before joining the Orioles.
Commanders signed QB Josh Johnson, formerly of the Ravens, to a one-year contract.
A new (first stint) parenthetical opens up in Johnson’s Wikipedia. Johnson embarks on his age-39 season as the clear No. 3 quarterback in Washington behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. Johnson started three games for the Commanders in 2018 and completed 2-of-3 passes for 17 yards for the Ravens last season as Lamar Jackson’s backup. Signing with a different team would have been better for his Immaculate Grid usefulness, but the NFL’s ultimate journeyman should get a chance to crack the 53-man roster for the Commanders.
Texans signed CB/S Jalen Pitre to a three-year, $39 million extension.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the deal has $29.156 million in guarantees. Pitre missed the back half of last season with a pectoral tear, but excelled in his new role as Texans nickel corner with a career-best 71.3 PFF coverage grade. This isn’t a needle-moving re-signing, but clearly Houston valued their slot corner highly to get this done ahead of the draft. Pitre was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.
Browns signed QB Joe Flacco, formerly of the Colts, to a one-year, $4 million contract.
Flacco will get a chance to earn “up to” $13 million this year with incentives. Entering his age-40 season, Flacco probably is more of a fallback than an actual plan for the Browns at this point. He started six games for the Colts last year and finished with 1761 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 65.3 percent of his passes. Flacco might have enough in the tank — especially back in Kevin Stefanski’s offense — to beat out Kenny Pickett in training camp if the Browns exit the draft without adding another veteran or highly-drafted rookie.