J.D. Davis Signs With A's
Free-agent third baseman J.D. Davis signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The deal includes another $1 million in performance-based incentives. Davis will stay in the Bay Area after spending all of 2023 with the San Francisco Giants, where he slashed .248/.325/.413 with 18 home runs, 69 RBI and 61... Read More
Jose Abreu Could Play Sunday
Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (knee) is scheduled to do a full workout in camp on Friday and Saturday, with the goal of serving as the designated hitter in a Grapefruit League game on Sunday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Abreu has been dealing with some minor knee soreness in camp in the last week,... Read More
Astros In Serious Pursuit Of Blake Snell
Updating a previous report, the Houston Astros are engaged in a serious pursuit of free-agent left-hander Blake Snell, according to sources briefed on their discussions. The 31-year-old southpaw is the best starter on the market and is believed to be seeking the same type of contract recently signed by two other Scott Boras clients --... Read More
Aaron Judge Unlikely To Play Saturday
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) will "probably not" return to Grapefruit League action on Saturday, according to manager Aaron Boone. The skipper added that Judge has "plenty of runway" to be ready for Opening Day on March 28 on the road against the Houston Astros. Judge didn't take batting practice with the... Read More
Nelson Velazquez Continues Spring Struggles Friday
Kansas City Royals outfielder Nelson Velazquez continued to struggle at the plate in a 6-1 Cactus League loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. The 25-year-old did draw a walk but also went hitless in three trips to the plate as he's now hitting just .172 (5-for-29) with just one extra-base hit, one RBI, and... Read More
Yordan Alvarez Exits Early Friday
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (foot) left Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning after fouling a ball off of his right foot. However, he was walking to the clubhouse on his own and did not seem to be in any pain. The slugger was playing left field on... Read More
Cristopher Sanchez Gets Rocked Friday
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez was knocked around in a Grapefruit League start against the Houston Astros on Friday. The 27-year-old lasted just 2 1/3 innings while giving up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out a pair. It was just his second start of the spring after he tossed... Read More
Paul DeJong Plays Long Ball Friday
Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong slugged his third homer of the spring as part of a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in Cactus League action on Friday. Signed to a one-year deal by the White Sox this offseason, DeJong is up to a .297 average with 13 RBI and a stolen base to... Read More
George Springer Goes Deep Friday
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer slugged a solo home run as part of his team's 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Grapefruit League action on Friday. The long ball was the veteran's second of the spring in what has been a prosperous start to Springer's 2024 season. He is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with... Read More
Nestor Cortes Gets Opening Day Start
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes has been tabbed as the club's Opening Day starter against the Houston Astros on the road on March 28. It was recently reported that Marcus Stroman did not wish to alter his spring schedule to line up for Opening Day, and manager Aaron Boone said Carlos Rodon was not... Read More
Keston Hiura Hits Grand Slam
Detroit Tigers first baseman Keston Hiura has been doing everything he can to stay on the active roster. On Friday, Hiura went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in the victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. This spring, Hiura is hitting .304 with two homers and nine RBI in 23 at-bats. The 27-year-old is coming off... Read More
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blasts Homer On Friday
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back in mid-season form as he stepped to the plate for Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The young slugger went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI in the loss. In his nine spring games, Guerrero is 10-for-24 with two home runs and eight... Read More
Matt Manning Looks Sharp On Friday
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning has been incredibly sharp early in camp. The right-hander made easy work of the Atlanta Braves lineup during Friday's game. Manning threw four scoreless innings while striking out three batters during Friday's victory. The 26-year-old has allowed one run or less in three of his first four outings this... Read More
Michael A. Taylor Signs With Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free-agent outfielder Michael A. Taylor on Friday. The contract is reportedly a one-year deal worth $4 million for the upcoming 2024 season. The 32-year-old is coming off a one-and-done season with the Minnesota Twins. Taylor slashed .220/.278/.442 with a career-high 21 home runs and 51 RBI in 129 games with... Read More
Kevin Gausman Throws Without Issues
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) was able to throw one inning of live batting practice on Friday. The right-hander threw 23 pitches during this session without any issues. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Gausman looked great during the outing. The organization has not given a timetable for his return... Read More
Tyler O'Neill Scratched On Friday
Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill (calf) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins. O'Neill missed time last week due to a calf issue, so it appears he has re-aggravated the injury. The expectation is that O'Neill is going to sit out for a few days before... Read More
Craig Counsell Not Committing To Any Bullpen Roles
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell isn't committing to a specific closer to open his first season with the club in 2024. There are high-leverage arms in Chicago's bullpen, but Counsell isn't ready to give out defined roles this spring among names like Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, Mark Leiter Jr. and Hector Neris. The best bet... Read More
Jose Urquidy Pulled From Minor-League Game With Elbow Pain
Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (elbow) pulled himself from a minor-league game in camp on Friday after 43 pitches due to right-elbow pain, according to manager Joe Espada. Urquidy is being evaluated by team trainers right now, but we might not have an update on his injury until later on Friday or Saturday morning. The... Read More
Framber Valdez Named Astros Opening Day Starter
Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez will start the team's Opening Day game on March 28 versus the visiting New York Yankees, according to manager Joe Espada. With future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander (shoulder) to begin the 2024 regular season on the injured list, Valdez will take the ball for the team's first game in... Read More
David Bednar To Throw A Bullpen On Friday
Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in camp on Friday. Bednar felt some right-lat tightness at spring training earlier this month, and his mound session on Friday will be his first time throwing since the injury cropped up. The 29-year-old right-hander has yet to debut in a spring... Read More
Aaron Judge Not Taking Batting Practice Friday
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) is not listed in Friday's batting practice groups in camp. Manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday that if Judge didn't take batting practice on Friday, he would not play in the team's Grapefruit League game on Saturday. Instead of BP, Judge said he would go through his... Read More
Pirates, Padres Eyeing Tommy Pham
The San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates are both eyeing free-agent outfielder Tommy Pham. Pham is one of the top names remaining on the open market after he split the 2023 season between the Mets and Diamondbacks. He was productive in doing so, hitting .256 with 16 home runs and 22 stolen bases across 129... Read More
Joey Gallo To Serve As Everyday First Baseman For Nationals
Washington Nationals first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo will serve as the everyday first baseman for the club in the 2024 campaign. The veteran inked a one-year, $5 million deal with the Nats this offseason after spending the 2023 season with the Minnesota Twins. He hit just .177 but slugged 21 home runs in just 111 games,... Read More
Griffin Canning Likely To Start Opening Day
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Griffin Canning is likely to start on Opening Day for the club on March 28. If the Angels don't juggle their current schedule when it comes to their pitchers, Canning is indeed lined up to start the opener. After missing the entire 2022 season due to stress fractures in his back,... Read More
Justin Wilson Inks Major-League Deal With Reds
Free-agent reliever Justin Wilson has signed a major-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds after he opted out of his minor-league pact with the Dodgers on Wednesday. The left-hander last saw big-league action with the Reds in the 2022 season, posting a 2.45 ERA in five appearances but was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery that... Read More
Edward Cabrera Playing Catch Friday
Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera is playing catch on Friday as he recovers from a confirmed right shoulder impingement. An MRI didn't reveal any structural damage in the 25-year-old's shoulder as the issue appears to be more of the day-to-day variety. Cabrera worked to a 4.24 ERA across 22 outings (20 starts) last season and... Read More
Eury Perez Won't Throw For 3-4 Days
Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (finger) won't throw for three to four days after experiencing fingernail/blister issues with his right-middle finger. The youngster left his most recent start after just 14 pitches due to the finger issue. The 20-year-old was fantastic in his big-league debut in the 2023 season, posting a 3.15 ERA alongside a... Read More
Braxton Garrett To Throw Live Batting Practice Sunday
Miami Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session as he looks to build up after experiencing soreness early in camp. Garrett is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. The southpaw enjoyed a quality season in the 2023 campaign, working to a 3.66 ERA and an impressive 19.3%... Read More
Rangers Optimistic That Corey Seager Will Be Ready For Opening Day
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he is more optimistic now about shortstop Corey Seager's (hernia) availability for Opening Day at the end of March. Seager had offseason hernia surgery but is coming along nicely this spring and should be ready to go for fantasy managers to kick off the 2024 regular season. The 29-year-old... Read More
Astros Still In Play To Sign Blake Snell
The Houston Astros have remained engaged in the starting pitching market, according to multiple people with knowledge of the team's plans, and it stands to reason that free-agent left-hander Blake Snell may emerge as their top target. "As I've said multiple times, we always have our foot on the gas when it comes to winning... Read More