Christian Arroyo Could Win Final Roster Spot

Boston Red Sox second baseman Christian Arroyo, who impressed the team at the end of last year, is out of minor league options and will receive a long look in spring training for the final roster spot. Arroyo has also seen time at third base, and manager Alex Cora mentioned that he can play some […]

Matt Barnes, Adam Ottavino The Top Closing Candidates

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted that his thoughts on closing out games has shifted to a more traditional approach from what it was a few years ago. Relievers Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino are the top candidates to serve as the closer, and Cora would like to have a set closer by Opening […]

Anthony Rendon Out Monday With Soreness

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon is being held out of the team's spring game on Monday due to "soreness," according to manager Joe Maddon. There's no reason for the Angels to rush their star third baseman early in spring training. Fantasy managers that have already drafted the 30-year-old should have nothing to worry […]

J.J. Watt Signing Two-Year Deal With Cardinals

Free-agent defensive end J.J. Watt announced on Twitter on Monday that he has chosen the Arizona Cardinals as his next team. The Cardinals are giving the star pass-rusher a two-year deal worth $31 million, according to an informed source. The deal includes $23 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team […]

Xander Bogaerts Has A Sore Shoulder

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) is dealing with a sore shoulder in camp, but manager Alex Cora doesn't think the issue will keep Bogaerts from being ready by Opening Day. The Red Sox are taking a cautious approach with their star shortstop, and he hopes to resume throwing in a few days. Bogaerts […]

Patrick Mahomes Should Be Ready For Training Camp

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (toe) underwent surgery to fix his turf-toe injury on Feb. 10. With a three-month recovery period expected, the Chiefs think that Mahomes will be ready for training camp this summer, and he could be good to go by mandatory minicamp, according to general manager Brett Veach. The 25-year-old was […]

Washington Expected To Part Ways With Alex Smith

The Washington Football Team is expected to part ways with quarterback Alex Smith in the coming days, according to informed sources. Smith had a gruesome leg injury in 2018 and needed 17 surgeries to fix and later save his leg from amputation. He missed all of the 2019 season before becoming the league's 2020 Comeback […]

Manny Machado Had Laser Eye Surgery In Offseason

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado underwent laser eye surgery in the offseason because he said his vision felt slightly off during night games in recent seasons. In the shortened 2020 season, Machado hit .304/.370/.580 with 16 home runs to finish third in National League MVP voting. The right-handed slugger was on pace to […]

Texans Release Nick Martin Friday

The Houston Texans released center Nick Martin on Friday. Martin carried an $8.75 million salary cap hit for the 2021 season. With the release of Martin and running back Duke Johnson, the Texans are around the $20 million mark after the moves, with the salary cap projected near the stated floor of $180 million, per […]

White Sox Sign Norge Vera, Others

The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms with Cuban right-hander Norge Vera on a deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus on Friday. The 20-year-old is No. 15 on MLB Pipeline's list of the top-30 international prospects. The White Sox also agreed with outfielder/first baseman Dario Borrero, right-handers Adrian Gil and Carlos Hinestroza, catcher […]

Stephen Strasburg Should Bounce Back With Better Health

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg was trying to pitch with a numb hand last year before he underwent surgery to fix carpal tunnel. You can throw out his lost season in 2020 in which he threw just five innings over two games. Strasburg was one of the best pitchers in baseball the last time […]

Julian Edelman Wants To Return In 2021

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (knee) wants to play in 2021, but he continues to rehab from a knee injury he suffered last season and it remains to be seen if he'll be able to play from a physical standpoint. The 34-year-old veteran played in just six games in 2020 because of his […]

Charlie Morton May Not Be Done

Atlanta Braves right-hander Charlie Morton finished third in the American League Cy Young voting in 2019, but he had a 4.74 ERA in his age-36 season in his final year with the Rays in 2020. Morton allowed six earned runs in his first start of the year but posted a 3.71 ERA in his final […]

Angels Add Jesse Chavez To Bullpen Mix

The Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent relief pitcher Jesse Chavez to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Friday. The 37-year-old veteran posted a 5.35 ERA for the Angels back in 2017 and has spent the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers, recording a 6.88 ERA in 17 innings in […]

Don't Write Off Zack Greinke

Houston Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke had a 1.84 ERA in his first five starts of 2020, but he finished with a 4.03 ERA, his second-highest mark in any season over the last decade. Greinke allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last seven starts, his longest streak since 2005, his first […]

Four-Seamer Could Be Key For Frankie Montas

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas posted a pristine 2.63 ERA with a 20.3 K-BB percentage and a 96th-percentile barrel rate (3.8 percent) in 2019, but he was also hit with an 80-game suspension for violating the league's drug program. The right-hander started strong last year but finished with a 5.60 ERA, a 15.6 K-BB […]

John Means Had Terrible Home Run Luck In 2020

Baltimore Orioles left-handed pitcher John Means, an 11th-round pick in 2014, was an All-Star and American League Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2019 with a 3.60 ERA over 155 innings. But the 27-year-old posted a 4.53 ERA (5.60 FIP) and allowed a whopping 12 home runs in only 43 2/3 frames last year. But […]

James Paxton Primed To Bounce Back In 2021?

Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher James Paxton (elbow) has had a tough time staying on the field in his career. He returned from back surgery last year but was limited to five starts and a 6.64 ERA due to left elbow issues. Despite the lofty ERA, he maintained similar strikeout and walk rates from his healthy […]

Texans Release Duke Johnson

The Houston Texans released running back Duke Johnson on Friday, according to a source. Johnson was set to have a salary cap hit of more than $5 million, so the team will move on instead. After playing in all 16 games in his first season with Houston in 2019 while carrying the ball 83 times […]

Ryan Tepera Returns To Cubs

The Chicago Cubs re-signed relief pitcher Ryan Tepera to an undisclosed major league deal on Friday. According to NBC Sports Chicago's Gordon Wittenmyer, Tepera is guaranteed $800,000 and can make an extra $800,000 in performance incentives and $150,000 via active-roster bonuses. The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 3.92 ERA (3.51 SIERA, 3.34 FIP) with a career-high […]

Brian Snitker Signs Extension Through 2023 Season

The Atlanta Braves signed manager Brian Snitker to a contract extension on Friday that will take him through the 2023 season. The deal includes a club option for the 2024 season. It's well-deserved, as Snitker has managed the team to three straight National League East division titles after they won just on division crown from […]

Nate Solder Plans To Play In 2021

New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder, who opted out of the 2020 season because of concerns for his family with COVID-19, intends to play in 2021 if the situation is right. Solder was considered a high-risk opt-out and his contract tolled. He's scheduled to make $10 million in 2021 while costing $16.5 million against […]

Sean McVay Sees Cam Akers As Every-Down Back

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he thinks running back Cam Akers can be an "every-down back." Akers got off to a slow start in his rookie season after being taken with the 52nd overall pick in the draft while being hampered by an injury that reduced his playing time. But Akers stepped […]

Steelers Set Deadline To Restructure Ben Roethlisberger

The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have committed to tweaking his contract to allow him to come back for the 2021 season. The first day of the new league year is Wednesday, March 17, which is the opening of free agency and also when teams must be compliant with the 2021 salary cap. That […]

Dont'a Hightower, Patrick Chung, Marcus Cannon To Return

New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, who all opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, are planning to return in 2021, according to sources. All three are in a good place physically. Without them last year, New England finished 27th in yards per game and […]

Chris Godwin Says He'd Play On Franchise Tag

Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Chris Godwin would love to return to the Buccaneers and said he'd be willing to play on the franchise tag in 2021. The four-year pro wouldn't be ecstatic about that outcome, but he'd be willing to accept the tag should the team go in that direction. Godwin was […]

Yoan Moncada Could Play Sunday Or Monday

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa was told on Thursday that third baseman Yoan Moncada (arm) could play third base on Sunday or Monday in a Cactus League game. Moncada is dealing with some arm soreness in the early days of spring camp, but the White Sox will be careful not to push him […]

Jake Cronenworth To See Some Work In Outfield

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth will get some looks in the outfield in spring training over the next month. Cronenworth broke out for the Friars last year by hitting .285/.354/.477 to finish second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He figures to share time at the keystone with Ha-Seong Kim, who […]

Ryan Weathers Building Up As Starter

San Diego Padres left-handed pitching prospect Ryan Weathers, who made his debut in the postseason against the Dodgers with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, is building toward a starter's workload in spring training and was the first pitcher to work multiple innings in a simulated game on Thursday. He used three pitches -- a […]

Padres Won't Get In Yu Darvish's Way

The San Diego Padres don't plan on trying to change starting pitcher Yu Darvish in his first season with the team. He threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Thursday for the first time this spring and said he felt good. "Had very good control, all in all feeling really good," Darvish said through a team […]