CJ Abrams Expected To Begin Year Near Bottom Of Lineup

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said he thinks both infielders CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia could be top-of-the-order hitters eventually, but they are both expected to hit near the bottom of the regular lineup when the 2023 season begins. When Abrams joined the team in mid-August in 2022, he hit mostly seventh, eighth or even […]

Graham Ashcraft Looks Good In Live BP Session

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (ankle) had to leave his last live batting practice session early after he was hit by a comebacker on his right ankle. However, he threw another live batting practice session on Friday and looked like himself. The 25-year-old appears to be just fine. In his first taste of MLB action […]

Kyle Hendricks Feels Good After Throwing Friday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) felt good on Friday after throwing a 10-pitch, touch-and-feel bullpen session for the first time throwing off a mound since July 5 of last year. Hendricks expects to throw two more touch-and-feel bullpens before a series of full bullpen sessions. "I can be patient when I need to […]

German Marquez Set For Live BP Session Saturday

Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Saturday. Marquez is taking things slow early in spring training after coming into camp dealing with a sore left hamstring. It's not a serious issue, so the 28-year-old should be just fine for Opening Day, barring a setback in […]

Alek Manoah Has Contract Renewed

The Toronto Blue Jays have renewed starting pitcher Alek Manoah's contract. He'll earn $745,650 in 2023, according to an industry source. The MLB minimum this year is $720,000. Manoah took a renewal last year as well and made $706,200 rather than accepting the team's scale-based raise. The 25-year-old right-hander finished third in the American League […]

Cole Waites Hopes To Resume Throwing Monday

San Francisco Giants right-hander Cole Waites (lat) said he will be re-evaluated on Sunday and hopes to begin throwing again in camp on Monday. Waites is recovering from a right lat strain that he suffered before spring training, so he's a bit behind the other starters in camp. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut in […]

Caleb Smith Being Stretched Out As A Starter

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Caleb Smith is being stretched out as a starter in spring training, according to pitching coach Oscar Marin. The 31-year-old southpaw served as a reliever in 2022 with the Arizona Diamondbacks before a torn elbow ligament ended his season. However, Smith didn't need surgery on his elbow and reported to camp healthy […]

Rony Garcia Working As Reliever This Spring

Detroit Tigers right-hander Rony Garcia will be working out of the bullpen this spring, but the door isn't closed forever for him in a starting role. "His best route to this team will be in that bridge role of being stretched out to two and three innings," manager A.J. Hinch said. In his third MLB […]

Kyle Wright Encouraged After First Bullpen

Atlanta Braves right-hander Kyle Wright (shoulder) said he "felt really good" after his first bullpen session of spring training on Friday. Wright ended up throwing 23 fastballs. The 27-year-old entered camp behind the other pitchers due to a right shoulder injury that required an injection last month. It's unknown if he'll be ready for the […]

Saints Restructure Tyrann Mathieu's Contract

The New Orleans Saints restructured safety Tyrann Mathieu's contract on Friday, clearing another $4.668 million in 2023 salary cap space. Perhaps the Saints are clearing more cap space in order to make a run at signing free-agent quarterback Derek Carr, who is seeking $35 million per year on his next deal. In his first year […]

Lions Release Michael Brockers

The Detroit Lions released defensive lineman Michael Brockers on Friday. In his 11th NFL season and second with the Lions in 2022, Brockers was limited to six games (five starts) as a healthy scratch for most of the second half of the season. The 32-year-old finished with just four tackles (one solo) and a pass […]

Colt McCoy Undergoes Undisclosed Procedure

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy (undisclosed) had a "minor" undisclosed procedure after the 2022 season, according to new head coach Jonathan Gannon. The head coach also added that McCoy "looks good" and will be ready to go for 2023. But not having starter Kyler Murray (knee) on the field for offseason workouts as offensive coordinator […]

Cowboys May Move On From Tyron Smith

Dallas Cowboys eight-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tyron Smith (knee) may have played his last snap with the team. If he does return, though, Smith could return to the left tackle spot and play Tyler Smith at left guard, which was the plan going into last season. However, Tyron Smith's inability to stay healthy has […]

Lions Sign Aaron Glenn To A Contract Extension

The Detroit Lions are signing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to a contract extension, according to a source. Glenn interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals this offseason and is set to be extended for multiple years in Detroit. The Lions finished with the league's 32nd-ranked defense in 2022, but Glenn was […]

NFL Evaluators Torn On Anthony Richardson

University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is an interesting player heading into this year's NFL draft. "I can't remember a bigger variance league-wide on a feeling about a QB than Anthony Richardson," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said. Richardson has plenty of ability, but some NFL front offices are legitimately torn on where he should be drafted […]

Jaguars Sign C.J. Beathard To Contract Extension

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Friday that they re-signed quarterback C.J. Beathard to an undisclosed contract extension before he became a free agent. Beathard has been in Jacksonville the last two years and will remain as the primary backup to young signal-caller Trevor Lawrence in 2023. In his two years with the Jaguars after spending […]

Derek Carr Seeking $35 Million Per Year

Free-agent quarterback Derek Carr is reportedly seeking $35 million per year after taking free-agent visits with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini. "He doesn't need to be the first quarterback to sign (in free agency)," Russini added. Carr has a head start on the free-agent market, but he's […]

Yerry Rodriguez Looking For Permanent Bullpen Spot

Texas Rangers right-hander Yerry Rodriguez is looking for a permanent bullpen job with the Rangers in spring training this year. The Dominican product signed for $60,000 in 2015 and made his major-league debut with a scoreless inning on the final day of the 2022 season. He has a running fastball that reaches 100 mph and […]

Miguel Vargas To Be In Saturday's Lineup

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that infielder Miguel Vargas (finger) will be in the team's lineup for the Cactus League opener on Saturday, but "you can tell the Brewers he won't be swinging." Vargas still isn't cleared due to a finger injury, but the Dodgers want him to continue playing on defense. The […]

Clay Holmes To See Most Of Save Opportunities

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that relief pitcher Clay Holmes is expected to close out the majority of the games for the team in 2023. "I would expect [Holmes] to close a lot of games for us. Probably most games, and hopefully a lot of games. But I do see a number of […]

Giovanny Gallegos Won't Make Spring Debut Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos will not make his spring training debut in Saturday's Grapefruit League game as he continues to adjust to MLB's new pitch-clock timer in 2023. Last year, Gallegos averaged 25.8 seconds between pitches with nobody on base, which tied Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga for the slowest tempo. Per MLB's […]

Felix Bautista To Throw Another Bullpen Saturday

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (knee, shoulder) will throw another bullpen session on Saturday at 80 to 85 percent intensity. Bautista continues to increase the intensity of his throwing sessions in spring training as he recovers from knee and shoulder soreness that also bothered him late last season. The 27-year-old right-hander is taking things slowly […]

Tommy La Stella Likely Out 5-6 Days

Seattle Mariners infielder Tommy La Stella (arm) is dealing with a sore right arm in camp and will likely be out for five to six days. He was originally set to serve as the team's designated hitter in their Cactus League opener on Friday. The Mariners will take it easy on La Stella early in […]

Yordan Alvarez Not Doing On-Field Drills

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) still isn't doing any on-field drills with the team at spring training, and manager Dusty Baker said on Friday that there isn't an update on Alvarez's progress or prognosis. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger is dealing with more soreness in his left hand, which is something he dealt with […]

Ozzie Albies Had Offseason Shoulder Surgery

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (shoulder) revealed that he underwent offseason surgery on his right shoulder in the middle of October, which he called "just a regular clean-up" to address some pain he had experienced for a couple of years. Albies said he had a shoulder impingement, so "they had to go through and […]

Dylan Moore Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Seattle Mariners outfielder Dylan Moore (core) picked up more baseball activities after the team's first full-squad workout on Feb. 21. He was expected to be slow played to begin spring training, but there are no current concerns about his status for Opening Day. Moore recently signed a three-year, $8.875 million contract extension with the team. […]

Andres Munoz Is "Ahead Of Schedule"

Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Andres Munoz (foot) is "ahead of schedule," according to manager Scott Servais, but he's still a week or longer away from making his Cactus League debut. The Mariners were concerned about how much volume the high-leverage reliever could handle early in the year, but the coaching staff is now more encouraged […]

Kenta Maeda To Pitch Saturday In Spring Debut

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut in spring training this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins are ready to get a look at Maeda. The 34-year-old veteran right-hander last pitched in the majors in August of 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of […]

Kyle Wright To Throw Bullpen On Friday

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright (shoulder) is still scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday. Wright completed a short box bullpen (catcher moved up) this week and didn't suffer any setbacks. The 27-year-old right-hander reported to spring training behind the other pitchers in camp after requiring a cortisone injection in his shoulder in […]

Gavin Lux Has More Bat Speed

Los Angeles Dodgers middle infielder Gavin Lux has shown more bat speed after working on his swing mechanics at Driveline during the offseason. Lux hit fewer fly balls in 2022 and finished terribly due to neck and back issues, but overall it was a solid season, as he finished with a .276/.346/.399 slash line, career-high […]