Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Alex Verdugo

The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Alex Verdugo on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.55 million deal. Verdugo had a very solid year in his second season with Boston in 2021, slashing .289/.351/.426 with a career-high 13 home runs, 63 RBI, six steals and 88 runs scored in 604 plate appearances […]

Mike Yastrzemski Avoids Arbitration

The San Francisco Giants avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million deal. Yastrzemski will come at a discount in the late round of fantasy drafts after he hit just .224/.311/.457 with a .768 OPS, although he did have a career-high 25 home runs, 71 RBI and […]

Darin Ruf, Giants Agree To Extension

The San Francisco Giants and first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf agreed to a two-year, $6.25 million contract extension on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal includes a third-year club option. The extension buys out Ruf's final two years of arbitration and potentially one free-agent season. In his second year with the Giants in 2021, the 35-year-old […]

Eric Lauer Scratched With Groin Pain

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Eric Lauer (groin) was scratched from his spring start on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox due to groin discomfort. He's expected to miss one turn and then get back on track, according to manager Craig Counsell. Right-hander Jason Alexander will get the start on Tuesday instead of Lauer. As long as […]

Justin Dunn Expected To Miss A Couple Months

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Justin Dunn (shoulder) is expected to miss a couple of months with a shoulder injury. Dunn was part of the package acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the trade that sent third baseman Eugenio Suarez and outfielder Jesse Winker to Seattle. The right-hander battled shoulder and control issues last year for […]

Luis Castillo Might Not Be Ready For Opening Day

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo (shoulder) was shut down for a day due to right shoulder soreness and may not be ready for the start of the season, according to manager David Bell. The right-hander has advanced to long toss and is moving in the right direction, but he may not have enough time […]

Matt Chapman Agrees To Two-Year Extension

The Toronto Blue Jays and third baseman Matt Chapman have agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract extension on Tuesday, according to sources. The Blue Jays buy out Chapman's final two years of arbitration with the new deal after acquiring him from the Oakland Athletics in a trade. The 28-year-old will receive a $1 million […]

Arden Key Meeting With Jaguars Tuesday

Free-agent defensive lineman Arden Key is meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday, according to a source. Key visited with the Detroit Lions on Monday, and it sounds like they are still very much in play, but Key is taking his pre-planned visits. The 25-year-old pass-rusher is coming off a career-high 6.5 sacks in his […]

Chiefs Sign Corey Coleman

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former New York Giants wide receiver Corey Coleman to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Coleman was a first-round pick (15th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in 2016, but he never lived up to the billing and has 61 receptions for 789 yards and five touchdowns in […]

Luis Patino Scratched Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Luis Patino was scratched from his scheduled spring start on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox because his arm didn't feel right on Monday. Patino will throw live batting practice on Wednesday, and the team isn't panicking yet. If the 22-year-old still doesn't feel right on Wednesday, he'll likely be shut […]

Kevin Pillar Signs With Dodgers

Free-agent outfielder Kevin Pillar signed a minor league deal with a base salary of $2.5 million in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The 33-year-old veteran will provide outfield depth for a stacked Dodgers roster. Pillar spent the 2021 season with the New York Mets and hit .231/.277/.415 with 15 home runs, […]

Teoscar Hernandez Has Mild Wrist Sprain

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (wrist) has a mild sprain in his left wrist but was able to put in a full day of work on Tuesday. Hernandez should be back on the field soon in spring games, according to manager Charlie Montoyo. It sounds like there's no danger of him missing Opening Day, […]

Marlins Have Talked About Ramon Laureano

The Miami Marlins remain on the lookout for a center fielder after filling two corner outfield spots with Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler. They have talked to the Oakland Athletics about center fielder Ramon Laureano, but the two sides are apart on the price. Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds could also be an option, but […]

Padres, Yankees Have Checked On Willson Contreras

The San Diego Padres and New York Yankees have checked in on the availability of Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras in recent weeks, according to sources. Contreras is in the final season of his deal and isn't engaged in contract extensions, so he could be traded in 2022. Chicago also signed Yan Gomes to a […]

Hunter Strickland Joins Reds

Free-agent relief pitcher Hunter Strickland signed an undisclosed deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Strickland pitched for three teams -- Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers -- in 2021 and had a combined 2.61 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 22 walks in 58 2/3 relief innings over 57 […]

Zach Davies Heads To Diamondbacks

Free-agent starting pitcher Zach Davies signed a one-year major league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Davies will have the chance to make up to $4.5 million and includes a team option for 2023. The veteran right-hander doesn't get many swings and misses (6.6 career K/9) and had a 5.78 ERA and 1.60 WHIP […]

Raiders Agree With Jacob Hollister

The Las Vegas Raiders agreed with free-agent tight end Jacob Hollister on an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to a source. Hollister began his career with the New England Patriots, so he'll be reunited with head coach Josh McDaniels. The 28-year-old tight end spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and had a disappointing […]

Bengals Re-Sign Stanley Morgan

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed wide receiver Stanley Morgan to an undisclosed two-year deal on Monday night, according to a league source. The deal includes a signing bonus and workout bonuses. Morgan will return to the only team he's known for his fourth season. The 25-year-old only had two catches on four targets for 11 yards […]

Bengals Waive Fred Johnson

Cincinnati Bengals restricted free-agent offensive tackle Fred Johnson recently signed his tender, but after the team signed right tackle La'el Collins, the Bengals have decided to waive Johnson, who can be claimed on waivers. It's well known that the Cincinnati offensive line was one of the worst in football last season, but Johnson was the […]

Vikings Re-Sign Sean Mannion

The Minnesota Vikings are re-signing backup quarterback Sean Mannion to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, according to a source. The Vikings have brought back starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and now Mannion. The 29-year-old former third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2015 out of Oregon State, Mannion will return to Minnesota for his […]

Demarcus Robinson Meeting With Raiders

Kansas City Chiefs free-agent wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to a source. Robinson has spent all six of his NFL seasons playing for the Chiefs, and he had 25 receptions on 41 targets for 264 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games (10 starts) last season. If he […]

Jameis Winston Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (knee), who tore his ACL on Halloween last year, is expected to be ready for training camp this summer "if everything continues to go smoothly with his rehab," according to a league source. Winston and the Saints agreed on a two-year deal on Monday to run it back another […]

Buccaneers Re-Sign Leonard Fournette

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed running back Leonard Fournette to a three-year deal worth $21 million on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal can be worth up to $24 million through incentives and also includes $9 million in guarantees. Fournette had an excellent year in Tampa in 2021 in his second year with the team, […]

Yu Darvish Made Mechanical Adjustments

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish said he tweaked his mechanics in the offseason and is also past the hip injury that landed him on the injured list twice in 2021. It also played a part in his 6.65 ERA in his final 14 starts after he had a 2.44 ERA through his first […]

Shohei Ohtani Could Hit Leadoff This Year

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that he could use designated hitter Shohei Ohtani as the team's leadoff hitter this year, followed by outfielder Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. Ohtani had a .372 on-base percentage and swiped 26 bags on his way to American League MVP honors last season, so he could be a […]

Luis Urias Questionable For Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said it is status quo on third baseman Luis Urias (quadriceps) after he underwent tests on Sunday. Urias will be out for around two weeks, putting his status for Opening Day very much in question. However, the Brewers don't expect him to have an extended absence. With less than three […]

Lions Agree With Chris Board

The Detroit Lions agreed with free-agent linebacker Chris Board on an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday night, according to a source. Board has been a special teams standout and a situational defensive player for the Baltimore Ravens, who made an effort to re-sign him. He's expected to compete for a starting spot on defense in […]

Kenny Pickett's Hands Measure 8 5/8 Inches At Pro Day

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett's hand size increased by an eighth of an inch from the NFL combine to 8 5/8 inches at his school's Pro Day on Monday. "The stretches work," Pickett said with a laugh. "It's the reason why I've been doing them. If it helped getting an eighth of an inch, I'll take […]

Za'Darius Smith Visits With Vikings

Former Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith visited with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, according to sources. Smith's original deal with the Baltimore Ravens fell apart, so he's back on the open market and could end up staying in the NFC North. The 29-year-old pass-rusher originally agreed to a four-year, $35 million deal with […]

Lions Sign Mike Hughes To One-Year Deal

The Detroit Lions signed free-agent cornerback Mike Hughes to a one-year, $3.5 million deal on Monday, according to a source. Hughes was a first-round pick (30th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, and he spent the first three seasons of his career in Minnesota. Last year he played in 17 games (five starts) for […]