George Springer Dropped To Fifth In Lineup

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is starting in right field on Friday against Los Angeles Angels right-hander Lucas Giolito, but he's been dropped to fifth in the batting order. Meanwhile, second baseman Whit Merrifield is taking over the leadoff spot for the Jays. Springer has hit leadoff for Toronto this entire season, but he […]

Gunnar Henderson Returns From Injury

Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson (back) is back at shortstop and is hitting leadoff for the O's on Friday against the visiting New York Yankees and right-hander Gerrit Cole. Henderson left Tuesday's game early with lower-back pain and sat out of Wednesday's contest, but he's good to go heading into the weekend after having another […]

White Sox Land Korey Lee In Trade

The Chicago White Sox acquired catching prospect Korey Lee (oblique) from the Houston Astros on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman, according to a source. Lee was ranked by MLB Pipeline as Houston's No. 5 prospect before the trade. The 25-year-old backstop is currently recovering from a strained oblique and has been on […]

Clayton Kershaw To Throw Simulated Game This Weekend

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Friday that left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will throw a two- to three-inning simulated game this weekend, and if he feels good, "we will pencil him into the rotation." Assuming no setbacks this weekend, the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer could make his return to the starting rotation […]

Astros Acquire Kendall Graveman From White Sox

The Houston Astros are in agreement on a deal with the Chicago White Sox on Friday that will send right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman to the Astros, according to sources. It's unclear what the Astros are sending the White Sox in return. Graveman, who had been serving as Chicago's closer with Liam Hendriks (elbow) on the […]

Seahawks, Devon Witherspoon Agree To A Deal

The Seattle Seahawks and first-round rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon agreed to terms on a four-year, $31.86 million fully guaranteed deal on Friday that includes a $20.2 million signing bonus, according to a source. The fifth overall pick of this year's NFL draft becomes the last first-rounder to get a deal done. The 22-year-old defensive back […]

Royals Drawing Interest In Scott Barlow, Carlos Hernandez

The Kansas City Royals continue to draw significant trade interest in relief pitchers Scott Barlow and Carlos Hernandez as the Aug. 1 trade deadline draws near, according to sources. Barlow is more likely to be moved based on club control; he's set to be a free agent after the 2024 season, while Hernandez will be […]

Giants Looking For Middle-Infield Help

The San Francisco Giants are looking for middle-infield help as the Aug. 1 trade deadline quickly approaches, according to sources. They have touched base with the Kansas City Royals about second baseman Nicky Lopez and the St. Louis Cardinals about shortstop Paul DeJong. The Cardinals also have Tommy Edman and Brendan Donovan, who are both […]

Mets Could Move Justin Verlander At Trade Deadline

There is a belief within the industry that the New York Mets could move three-time American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in the coming days, according to two major-league executives. The Mets enter the weekend trailing the Reds by seven games for the final wild-card spot in the National League. Verlander is in the […]

Rangers Aggressively Pursuing Jordan Hicks

The Texas Rangers are aggressively pursuing relief pitcher Jordan Hicks. He'll be a free agent at the end of this season and will be moved only if the Cardinals can't sign him to a contract extension before Tuesday's trade deadline. Hicks and the Cardinals were reportedly close to agreeing on a contract extension several days […]

Willie Calhoun Designated For Assignment By Yankees

The New York Yankees reinstated outfielder Willie Calhoun (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated him for assignment. If Calhoun clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any major-league team. The 28-year-old only managed to play in 44 games for the Yankees this year, and he was slashing .239/.309/.403 with five […]

Brandon Woodruff Throws Four Innings In Rehab Start

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) made a minor-league rehab start for High-A Wisconsin on Thursday and allowed an earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out three in four innings of work. Woodruff was able to increase his pitch count to 52 pitches in his second rehab start. The 30-year-old will […]

Zach Eflin Still Day-To-Day

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said it's still "day-to-day" with right-hander Zach Eflin (knee) as to whether he will make his next start on Tuesday against the New York Yankees. Eflin was forced to leave his last outing early on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins with left-knee irritation, but his MRI exam thankfully didn't […]

Yandy Diaz To Return On Friday

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that corner infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) will be in the lineup on Friday against the Houston Astros as the designated hitter and will avoid an injured-list stint due to groin tightness. Diaz was forced from Tuesday's game against the Marlins with a left-groin injury and sat out on […]

Sam Howell Expected To Open The Season As The Starter

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell will open the year as the team's starter under center, but ESPN's Dan Graziano sees it being an unsettled situation that switches back and forth throughout the year, and Washington could be in the hunt for a QB again next offseason. Howell, a fifth-rounder last year, played in just one […]

Anthony Richardson To Start In Week 1?

ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will offer enough as a runner that he'll be the team's best option under center in Week 1 over Gardner Minshew. Richardson also might not need as much refining as a passer as many thought he would. He was the fourth overall pick for a […]

C.J. Stroud Expected To Start In Week 1

ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks that Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will show enough this summer and in the preseason to convince the team to start him in Week 1. The Texans know what they have in Davis Mills, which is a big reason they drafted Stroud at No. 2 overall this year. Mills has […]

Clayton Tune's Mobility Could Give Him A Chance

Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback Colt McCoy is expected to open Week 1 as the starter under center with Kyler Murray (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL. However, if Murray takes a while to come back, ESPN's Dan Graziano wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals take a look at rookie fifth-rounder Clayton Tune, whose mobility […]

Baker Mayfield With An Edge In QB Competition?

ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield's experience will give him the edge in the team's QB competition this summer against Kyle Trask. Mayfield, the first overall pick in 2018, has gone 32-29 as an NFL starter over five years with three different teams. Meanwhile, Trask has thrown nine career passes since […]

George Fant Signs One-Year Deal With Texans

The Houston Texans signed free-agent offensive tackle George Fant to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $4 million on Friday, according to a league source. Fant chose the Texans over other NFL teams' offers after he worked out in Houston earlier this week. The Texans are adding some tackle insurance with fourth-year offensive […]

49ers Likely To Keep Trey Lance?

The San Francisco 49ers carried three quarterbacks last year and still didn't have enough to get through the NFC Championship game. They will likely keep three QBs again this year, even if a quarterback-needy team makes a substantial offer for Trey Lance this summer. Veteran Brandon Allen is a solid fourth option and would likely […]

Amari Cooper Expected To Practice Friday

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (undisclosed) is expected to practice on Friday after missing three days of training camp practice with a "minor tweak." Cooper has been watching from the sidelines in recent days with a minor undisclosed injury, but he'll get back on the practice field on Friday to continue developing chemistry with […]

Willson Contreras Should Be Able To Play Friday

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (head) has a pretty good cut on the top of his head that doctors were able to glue, rather than stitch, together after he was hit by a backswing of Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ on Thursday. Contreras said he passed all of his concussion tests and his headache […]

Orioles Interested In Michael Lorenzen

The Baltimore Orioles remain focused on pitching upgrades ahead of next Tuesday's MLB trade deadline, according to sources, and Detroit Tigers All-Star right-hander Michael Lorenzen is one starter that they are interested in. The Orioles currently have a 1.5-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, but they're looking for rotation […]

Travis Etienne Jr. Impressing With His Hands

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. wasn't utilized much in the passing game a year ago -- he had 35 catches for 316 yards on 45 targets in his first NFL season -- but he has caught nearly everything thrown his way so far in training camp this summer. If Etienne is able to […]

Allen Robinson II Working Out Of The Slot

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Allen Robinson II (foot) was working out of the slot at training camp practice on Thursday in 11-on-11 work. Robinson has moved past a foot injury that caused his season to come to an early end in 2022, and he's working with the first-team offense in training camp so far in […]

Gabe Davis Ready To Bounce Back

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis dealt with a nagging ankle injury for much of last year, and he admitted on Thursday that the injury had an effect on his third NFL season. Despite being a disappointment, he increased his numbers in every category from 2021, catching 48 passes for 830 yards and seven touchdowns. […]

Cardinals Comfortable Using James Conner As Bell-Cow Back

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Thursday that he's "100 percent" comfortable with running back James Conner being the bell cow of the team's running game this year. There is little in the way of competition behind Conner in Arizona, but the problem for fantasy purposes is that the 28-year-old is unlikely to […]

Jalen Ramsey Likely To Have Full Meniscus Repair

No firm determination will be made until Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee) has surgery, but the likely outcome is a full meniscus repair, according to sources. If all goes well with Ramsey's rehab, it means he could be back by December. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported earlier that the 28-year-old All-Pro is expected to […]

Willson Contreras Leaves Game With Head Injury

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (head) was hit by the backswing of Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ on Thursday and was forced to exit the game early. The swing knocked Contreras' mask off and there was a good amount of blood involved. Cardinals trainers put Contreras through the concussion protocol before exiting the field. […]