Xander Bogaerts Won't Sign Extension Before Friday

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said there's no chance that he'll sign a contract extension with the team before Opening Day on Friday against the division-rival New York Yankees. Bogaerts has an opt-out clause in his current contract after this season, which he's expected to exercise in order to become a free agent. The […]

Taylor Rogers Will Serve As Padres Closer

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Taylor Rogers will be the team's closer, according to manager Bob Melvin. The Padres acquired Rogers and outfielder Brent Rooker from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday morning in exchange for starting pitcher Chris Paddack and relief pitcher Emilio Pagan. It was assumed that Rogers would be the Padres ninth-inning man […]

CJ Abrams Not In Opening Day Lineup

San Diego Padres shortstop prospect CJ Abrams made the Opening Day roster, but he's not in the starting lineup for the season opener on Thursday night against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Ha-Seong Kim is starting at shortstop and batting eighth in the order. Abrams is likely on the bench because the team is facing […]

Angels Won't Stop Shohei Ohtani From Running

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that he has no plans to limit the amount of stolen bases that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani attempts this year. "Honestly," Maddon said, "whatever he wants to do." The two-way superstar and 2021 American League MVP will have the green light to run after stealing a career-high 26 […]

Mike Trout In The Lineup Thursday Night

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (illness) is in the starting lineup on Opening Day on Thursday and is hitting second against Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. Trout sat out of the team's final two spring training games with a stomach bug, but the 30-year-old superstar is back in the lineup for the first game […]

Taylor Ward Dealing With Groin Strain

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (groin), who was placed on the 10-day injured list to begin the season, is dealing with a left groin strain. It's unclear how serious the injury is or when Ward suffered the injury. Ward likely would have been in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday night against the Houston […]

Tommy Pham Hitting Third On Opening Day

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham is starting in left field and batting third on Opening Day on Thursday against Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried. Pham really struggled in his two seasons with the San Diego Padres, slashing .226/.335/.370 with 18 home runs, 61 RBI, 87 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 686 plate appearances […]

Matt Olson Hitting Second In Braves Debut

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson is hitting second in his Braves regular season debut on Opening Day on Thursday against Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tyler Mahle. Olson has a great matchup on Opening Day to make some noise immediately for his new team. He has big shoes to fill in Atlanta, but the 28-year-old left-handed […]

Red Sox Won't Have A Set Closer

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he won't have a set closer to start the season, but he would like right-hander Matt Barnes to pitch himself back into the ninth-inning role. Barnes' fastball velocity was down in camp, and the team believes they discovered a mechanical flaw that led to the drop in velocity. […]

CJ Abrams Officially Makes Opening Day Roster

The San Diego Padres officially announced that shortstop prospect CJ Abrams has made the Opening Day roster, selecting his contract from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday. Abrams begins on the 28-man roster with star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist) on the 60-day injured list. Abrams impressed in spring training, hitting .324/.359/.514 over 37 at-bats in […]

Luis Castillo, Mike Minor Placed On Injured List

The Cincinnati Reds officially placed starting pitchers Luis Castillo (shoulder) and Mike Minor (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday. Right-hander Lucas Sims and infielders Jose Barrero and infielder Donovan Solano were also put on the IL to kick off the season. Castillo is dealing with a sore shoulder and will miss the start […]

Myles Straw Leading Off For Guardians

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Myles Straw is starting in center field and batting leadoff on Thursday against Kansas City Royals right-hander Zack Greinke. Straw doesn't have much power -- five career home runs in four major league seasons -- but he has 46 career stolen bases in 256 games and was a nice speed target in […]

Pirates Sign Jake Marisnick To Majors Deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent outfielder Jake Marisnick to an undisclosed major league deal on Thursday. Marisnick was released by the Texas Rangers earlier this week, and he will provide the Pirates with outfield depth with both Anthony Alford (wrist) and Greg Allen (hamstring) on the injured list to begin the season. Marisnick hit just […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Signs Eight-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Pirates and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes agreed to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension that includes a team option for a ninth season on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the situation. Hayes, who suffered a minor ankle injury in spring training, is batting third on Opening Day on Thursday against St. Louis […]

Andrew Vaughn Will DH On Friday

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn (hip) will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth on Opening Day on Friday against Detroit Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Vaughn dealt with a hip pointer injury in camp but will be good to go for the first regular season game on Friday. The 24-year-old returned to spring […]

Yoan Moncada Out Three Weeks With Oblique Strain

Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said that third baseman Yoan Moncada (oblique) will be out for three weeks with a Grade 1 oblique strain. Moncada wanted to play through the injury, but he feels it whenever he laughs or sneezes and also when he swings. The White Sox placed him on the 10-day […]

John Jenkins Re-Signs With Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins re-signed defensive tackle John Jenkins to an undisclosed deal on Thursday. Jenkins will return for his second season in Miami in 2022 after he had 16 tackles (10 solo) in seven games (two starts) last year. The 32-year-old will return as a reserve defensive lineman for the Dolphins. Jenkins was originally a […]

Colts Sign Armani Watts

The Indianapolis Colts signed free-agent safety Armani Watts to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Watts has mostly been a special teams player in his career, but he has played in 16 regular season games in each of the last three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old was a fourth-round pick by the Chiefs […]

Saints Sign J.P. Holtz

The New Orleans Saints signed free-agent tight end J.P. Holtz to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday. Holtz will add depth to the position for New Orleans after spending the last two years with the Chicago Bears. The 28-year-old had just one target in the last two seasons and has seven reception for 91 yards on […]

Steve Wilks, Ray Horton Join Brian Flores' Lawsuit

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks and former defensive coordinator Ray Horton have now joined Brian Flores' race discrimination class-action lawsuit against the NFL and various teams. They are bringing allegations against the Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, respectively. Wilks alleges that the Cardinals hired him as a "bridge coach" without giving him a realistic […]

Matt Harvey Rejoining Orioles

Free-agent right-hander Matt Harvey is close to a deal to return to the Baltimore Orioles. It will be a minor league deal, and the plan is for him to start at extended spring training in Florida and build up his arm. Not much should be expected of Harvey after he went 6-14 with a rough […]

Greg Allen Placed On 60-Day Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed outfielder Greg Allen (hamstring) on the 60-day injured list on Thursday. Right-handed pitcher Adonis Medina has also been designated for assignment. Allen suffered a hamstring injury in a Grapefruit League game last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays and will be on the shelf to open the 2022 campaign. He will […]

Chris Mazza Makes Rays Roster

After 11 seasons in professional baseball and at the age of 32, Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Mazza has been informed that he's made the team's Opening Day roster. Mazza has pitched in 73 2/3 major league innings, but he's never made an Opening Day roster before now. In his 32 big-league appearances with the […]

Dylan Carlson Batting Leadoff For Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson is starting in right field and hitting leadoff on Opening Day on Thursday against Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker. After experimenting with Carlson at leadoff this spring, the Cardinals will use the 23-year-old in the top spot for the first game of the regular season. This could be […]

Christian Yelich Batting Third On Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is starting in left field and batting third on Opening Day on Thursday against Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Yelich went 7-for-27 (.259) with two doubles and no home runs in spring training and is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2021 in which he slashed .248/.362/.373 with nine […]

Rafael Ortega Leading Off For Cubs

Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega is hitting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter on Opening Day on Thursday against Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes. Jason Heyward is starting in center field and batting seventh. Ortega has a big challenge ahead of him against last year's National League Cy Young winner, making him tough […]

Padres Acquire Taylor Rogers, Brent Rooker

The San Diego Padres acquired relief pitcher Taylor Rogers and outfielder Brent Rooker from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in exchange for starting pitcher Chris Paddack and relief pitcher Emilio Pagan. Rogers, a 31-year-old left-hander, will likely become the new closer in San Diego, which is bad news for anyone that already drafted Robert Suarez. […]

Jared Bernhardt Visits With Broncos

Former Maryland lacrosse player Jared Bernhardt, who transferred to Ferris State and led them to the Division 2 National Championship as a quarterback, had a top-30 visit with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday. Bernhardt will be a wide receiver/kick returner in the NFL. He's considered a long shot to get drafted, but it's not unheard […]

Danny Gray Making The Rounds

SMU wide receiver Danny Gray, who is ranked as NFL.com's No. 64 overall draft prospect this year, finished up a visit with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday after visiting with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday and spending time with the Dallas Cowboys over the weekend. Gray had an excellent senior season at SMU last […]

Treylon Burks To Visit With Jets, Browns

Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks will visit with the New York Jets on Thursday, and then he's scheduled to meet with the Cleveland Browns. Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline recently reported that Jets general manager Joe Douglas has been "gushing" about Burks. He ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February and […]