Javier Baez Can Earn More Plate Appearances With Better Plate Discipline

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez can earn more at-bats this season if he improves his strike zone, draws walks and uses the whole field. Baez is one of the more exciting players in the game today due to his light-tower power and strong defense, but he has still struggled... Read More

Mark Melancon Expected To Be 100 Percent By The End Of Spring

Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that San Francisco Giants closer Mark Melancon (forearm) is expected to be 100 percent by the end of spring training. Melancon had a rough debut with the Giants in 2017, as he dealt with injuries and disappointed on the field. The closer underwent surgery in September to... Read More

Cubs Impressed By Yu Darvish

After throwing a 25-pitch session on Tuesday, many Chicago Cubs players and manager Joe Maddon were very impressed with starting pitcher Yu Darvish. Darvish recently signed a six-year deal with the Cubs and said, “it seems like I fit naturally with the team.” Darvish was the prized free agent in regards to starting pitchers and... Read More

Ben Zobrist Remains Out

Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist (back) remains sidelined for workouts. Zobrist has been absent all week with a back issue. Manager Joe Maddon seems to be playing it slow with the veteran and said “he’s fine.” Aside from daily leagues or an injury to Javier Baez or Ian Happ, Zobrist shouldn’t hold much fantasy value... Read More

Kolten Wong Turns To Yoga In Quest To Improve In 2018

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong has turned to yoga in hopes to improve in 2018. Manager Mike Matheny said, “I think he’s one of those guys who wants to take his game to another level.” Wong is coming off a year in which he had both ups and downs but still produced a respectable... Read More

Anthony Rizzo Won’t Lead Off In 2018

When asked if leading off was a possibility for Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in 2018, he replied with “no.” It’s no surprise, as Rizzo remains one of the better middle-of-the-order hitters in all of baseball. Rizzo should be targeted in the top 20 to top 25 this year and should be able to maintain... Read More

Ben Zobrist Misses Second Straight Day With Back Problem

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist (back) was held out of a workout for the second straight day with a back problem. Zobrist should be fine, but manager Joe Maddon didn’t want to push it. Zobrist will likely have more value to the Cubs than fantasy owners in 2018, as he... Read More

Phillies And Jake Arrieta Have Had Open Dialogue

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Philadelphia Phillies have had open dialogue with free-agent starting pitcher Jake Arrieta. A fit makes sense, as the Phillies have the money to spend and could use a veteran like Arrieta to help mentor a young clubhouse. The Phillies front office is also filled with former Orioles... Read More

Pablo Sandoval Gets Work At First Base

MLB.com's Chris Haft reports that San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was at first base during infield drills on Monday. Brandon Belt figures to be the primary first baseman, but with Evan Longoria now at third base, Sandoval will need to show versatility if he wants to land a bench spot. Sandoval has been trending down... Read More

Jose Abreu Takes Grounders At Third Base

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was seen taking groundballs at third base on Monday. Matt Davidson was at first base, but there shouldn’t be too much to read into this, as Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Abreu regularly took groundballs at shortstop last year. Regardless of where Abreu plays,... Read More

Joe Musgrove Dealing With Shoulder Discomfort

Newly-acquired Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (shoulder) has been dealing with shoulder discomfort. One of the main pieces back in the Gerrit Cole deal, Musgrove said that he is not concerned, according to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Musgrove missed some time in 2017 with a shoulder injury and this is not a good... Read More

Willy Garcia Dealing With Hand Issue

Chicago White Sox outfielder Willy Garcia (hand) has been limited with a hand issue that he developed in winter ball, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Garcia got some run in the outfield in the second half of 2017. He hit .238 with two home runs and 12 RBI over 105 at-bats. He... Read More

Teams Are Showing Interest In Hunter Renfroe

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that trade interest in San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe has picked up. With the Padres agreeing to terms with first baseman Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers will now move to a corner outfield spot. With Manuel Margot patrolling center field, that leaves a battle between Renfroe and Jose Pirela... Read More

Tony Watson Agrees To Terms With Giants

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the San Francisco Giants have finalized a contract with free-agent relief pitcher Tony Watson. It has been rumored over the last couple of weeks that this could be a match, and the Giants have found a way to stay under the luxury tax, according to Heyman. Watson started... Read More

Bruce Bochy Says Chris Shaw Will Only Play Left Field

Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that San Francisco Giants outfielder Chris Shaw will strictly play left field this spring, says manager Bruce Bochy. Pavlovic also notes that infielder Ryder Jones will get some time in the outfield. Shaw, one of the Giants top prospects, made the switch from first base to left field... Read More

Drew Smyly Placed On 60-Day Disabled List

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that the Chicago Cubs have placed starting pitcher Drew Smyly (elbow) on the 60-day disabled list. Smyly signed a two-year contract this offseason but is likely to miss most of this year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Smyly should be avoided in 2018 but is a name to... Read More

Jason Vargas Signs With Mets

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the New York Mets have agreed to terms with free-agent starting pitcher Jason Vargas. Vargas is coming off of his best year in the majors. In 2017, he made his first All-Star team and finished with an 18-11 record and 4.16 ERA for the Royals. Jerry Crasnick of... Read More

Carson Fulmer Would Like To Start In 2018

Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald reports that Chicago White Sox pitcher Carson Fulmer would like to be a starter this season. Fulmer, a former first-round pick, has pitched as both a reliever and a starter thus far in his career. He finished 2017 as a starter and went 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in... Read More

Mike Montgomery Looking To Keep Arm Healthy In 2018

Speaking to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Cubs pitcher Mike Montgomery spoke about how he would like to keep his arm healthy even if he is not a starter. Montgomery started 2017 as a reliever before switching to a starter and then back going back to the bullpen. Overall, Montgomery had a solid year,... Read More

Johnny Cueto Battling The Flu

Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic is reporting that San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto is battling the flu and won’t throw a mound session Wednesday or Thursday. The Giants starting pitcher is coming off one of his worst seasons in which he dealt with multiple injuries, most notably blisters on his throwing hand. Cueto is... Read More

Cubs Reached Out To Jake Arrieta Before Signing Yu Darvish

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Chicago Cubs reached out to former Cub and free-agent starting pitcher Jake Arrieta prior to signing Yu Darvish to a six-year deal. Arrieta was one of the best pitchers during his time with the Cubs, but it appears there was no deal that both he and the... Read More

Yu Darvish Has Offers From Twins And Brewers

Jon Heyman reports that the Milwaukee Brewers have made free-agent starting pitcher Yu Darvish an offer in the $100 million-plus range. Heyman also notes that the Twins have offered a five-year deal to Darvish, which would likely be worth $100 million-plus. According to Heyman, there's "reason to believe" Darvish might prefer to return to one... Read More

Cardinals Have No Interest In Bringing Lance Lynn Back

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the St. Louis Cardinals have shown no interest in bringing back free-agent starting pitcher Lance Lynn. After going 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA in 2017, his first season back from Tommy John surgery, Lynn has a 72-47 career record and a 3.38 career ERA. Goold mentions... Read More

Cubs Appear Best-Positioned To Land Yu Darvish

MLB.com is reporting that the Chicago Cubs are in the best position to land free-agent starting pitcher Yu Darvish. Among the teams still in on Darvish, aside from the Cubs, are the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins. Darvish has been rumored to be holding out hope that the Dodgers or... Read More

Todd Frazier Agrees To Terms With Mets

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that free-agent infielder Todd Frazier has agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract, with the New York Mets. It is a nice deal for Frazier, who aside from home runs, has struggled in recent years. This past season, the 31-year-old hit .213 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI... Read More

Marlins, Nationals Continue Not Making Progress On J.T. Realmuto Deal

Jon Morosi of the MLB Network reports that the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals have made no progress in a deal involving catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Marlins are said to be asking for either Victor Robles or Juan Soto, two of the Nationals prized prospects. Realmuto is likely to be the next Marlin moved, but... Read More

Cubs Sign Peter Bourjos To Minor League Deal

Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Cubs have signed free-agent outfielder Peter Bourjos to a minor league deal. Bourjos spent last season with the Rays, where he hit .223. The Cubs seem to be set with their position players, but Bourjos should operate as organizational depth and will give the Cubs a speed... Read More

Gregor Blanco Returns To Giants

Free-agent outfielder Gregor Blanco has agreed to a contract to return to the San Francisco Giants. The 34-year-old spent 2017 with the Arizona Diamondbacks after winning two World Series with the Giants from 2012-2016. Blanco announced the news on his Instagram account and it is likely a minor league deal. The career .257 hitter will... Read More

Matt Albers Agrees To Terms With Brewers

Free-agent relief pitcher Matt Albers has agreed to a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Albers, 35, spent last year with the Nationals, where he had a 1.62 ERA in 61 innings and struck out 63 batters. It was the best year of his career, and he was... Read More

Cubs Sign Chris Gimenez

Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports that free-agent catcher Chris Gimenez has agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. Gimenez, 35, hit .220 with seven home runs last season for the Twins. Willson Contreras has a firm grip as the Cubs starting catcher, but Gimenez should have a good chance to earn... Read More