Shota Imanaga Named Opening Day Starter

The Chicago Cubs announced on Tuesday that left-hander Shota Imanaga will start on Opening Day on March 18 in Tokyo, Japan, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Imanaga exceeded expectations in his first year in the big leagues in 2024, making the All-Star team while going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.02 WHIP and […]

Transition Tag More Plausible For Trey Smith

Both ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adam Teicher think it's unlikely that the Kansas City Chiefs would place the franchise tag on impending free-agent right guard Trey Smith, which would cost just over $25 million in 2025, but Schefter thinks the transition tag is much more plausible. The franchise tag for Smith would make him the […]

Aaron Rodgers Could Jump At The Chance To Play For Rams

ESPN's Adam Schefter believes that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to be a post-June 1 cut by the Jets, would be thrilled by the idea of going to the Los Angeles Rams to play for head coach Sean McVay. However, for that to even be a possibility, the Rams and current […]

Vikings In No Rush To Place Franchise Tag On Sam Darnold

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the Minnesota Vikings are in no rush to place the franchise tag on impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold despite his career year in 2024. It doesn't mean they won't eventually use it on the 27-year-old signal-caller, and it doesn't rule out the team giving him a multi-year extension. Another option […]

Andy Dalton, Panthers Agree On Two-Year Deal

The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Andy Dalton agreed on a two-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday that includes $6 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran signal-caller will remain in Carolina, where he's developed a close relationship with starter Bryce Young. Dalton, 37, ended […]

Bengals Trying To Land Extensions For Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Cincinnati Bengals will attempt to sign wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson to long-term contract extensions this offseason, according to sources. Higgins will hit free agency on March 12, but a team source thinks Cincy will use the franchise tag on him for […]

Jesus Made Transitioning Well To The States

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop prospect Jesus Made, who is already ranked at No. 56 overall in baseball at MLB Pipeline despite being only 17 years old, said he's feeling comfortable in the United States as he embarks on his first professional minor-league season in 2025. The switch-hitting Dominican infielder played in 51 games in the Dominican […]

Robert Gasser Expected To Throw Off A Mound In April

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser (elbow), who had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last July, has been on a throwing program for the last two months and is backing up 15 feet every three weeks. Gasser is expected to be throwing off a mound in April and hopes to be built up to […]

Sal Frelick Bulks Up

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick added 25 pounds of muscle since the end of last season, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Frelick is trying to stay around 190 pounds for as much of the 2025 season as possible as he heads into his second full big-league season. The 24-year-old former first-rounder hit .259/.320/.335 with only […]

Jeffrey Springs Not Facing Any Restrictions In 2025

Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs (elbow) isn't expected to have any workload restrictions almost two years removed from Tommy John surgery in 2023, according to manager Mark Kotsay. The 32-year-old southpaw is feeling like himself again and is excited for his opportunity with his new team in 2025. "Physically, I feel good. I can pick it […]

Harrison Bader To See Plenty Of Time In Left Field

The Athletic's Dan Hayes writes that Minnesota Twins outfielder Harrison Bader, who is primarily a center fielder and won a Gold Glove at the position in 2021, will see a significant amount of playing time in left field in 2025 in his first year in Minnesota. Bader's last 651 defensive appearances have come in center […]

DJ LeMahieu Reset In The Offseason

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu said that he took two months off from hitting in the offseason to give himself a "reset" after the worst year of his career in 2024. The three-time All-Star played in only 67 games for the Yanks last year and hit a disappointing .204/.269/.259 with only two home runs, […]

Liam Hendriks Sits At 93-94 MPH On Tuesday

Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks was sitting at 93-94 mph during his live batting practice session at camp on Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. Injuries have taken a toll on Hendriks in recent seasons (primarily Tommy John surgery in 2023), and while he may not throw as hard as he did […]

Wilyer Abreu Under The Weather

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder Wilyer Abreu (illness) is sick but should be back on the field soon at spring training. Abreu heads into the 2025 season in Boston as their everyday right fielder against right-handed pitching after hitting .253/.322/.459 with a .781 OPS, 15 home runs, 58 RBI, eight stolen […]

Masataka Yoshida Plans To Be Ready For Opening Day

The Boston Herald's Gabrielle Star reports that Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) said he's planning to be ready for Opening Day in late March. Yoshida has made plenty of contact for the Red Sox in his two seasons with the team, but he's coming off right-shoulder injury and has pretty much become […]

Luis Rengifo To Be Ready For Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo (wrist), who had right-wrist surgery last August, said he was able to start a normal offseason program in late December and will be ready to go for Opening Day at the end of March. Between second base, third base and shortstop in 2025, Rengifo should play regularly for the […]

James Wood Dealing With Quadriceps Tendinitis

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that outfielder James Wood (quadriceps) has left-quadriceps tendinitis at camp. The injury doesn't bother Wood when he hits, so he was able to take batting practice on Tuesday and run the bases, but he didn't take part in outfield drills. The Washington Post's Andrew Golden writes that the team […]

Shane McClanahan Clocking In At 97-98 MPH

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (elbow) threw his first live batting practice session of spring training on Tuesday and was clocking in at up to 97-98 mph, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. McClanahan missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the 27-year-old southpaw is already looking […]

Shohei Ohtani Throws Another Bullpen On Tuesday

The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reports that Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) threw another bullpen session in camp on Tuesday. It's the second bullpen session at spring training for Ohtani, who also threw a 14-pitch session of two- and four-seam fastballs last Saturday. The 30-year-old Japanese hurler didn't pitch at all in […]

Colton Cowser Takes Live Batting Practice On Tuesday

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (hand) was seen taking live batting practice at spring training camp on Tuesday. Cowser had surgery to fix a left-hand fracture in October of last year but he seems fully healthy now and should be 100 percent for Opening Day at the end of March. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should […]

Zyhir Hope Invited To Spring Training

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that outfield prospect Zyhir Hope will be in major-league spring training as a non-roster invitee this year. Hope hit .290/.419/.484 with a .903 OPS, nine home runs, 36 RBI, nine stolen bases and 46 runs scored in 61 games in the Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in […]

Tyler Glasnow Facing Hitters On Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (elbow) is scheduled to face live hitters in a live batting practice session at camp on Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. Glasnow should be ready to go for Opening Day in 2025 after ending last year on the injured list and being unavailable for the playoffs due […]

Orioles Expect Big Things From Coby Mayo This Year

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said the team is expecting big things from third base prospect Coby Mayo in 2025. "I think the fact that he got his debut out of the way is a really good thing," Elias said. "I think that's big for young hitters these days. He's somebody that we think […]

Jordan Westburg Will Mostly Play Third Base

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that infielder Jordan Westburg will get some repetitions at second base this spring, but he'll mostly play third base at spring training. Westburg should start out at the hot corner in 2025, with prospect Jackson Holliday opening the year as the club's primary second baseman. The 26-year-old missed time […]

Dylan Crews Projected To Hit Second For Nationals

MLB.com's Jessica Camerato projects Washington Nationals outfield prospect Dylan Crews to hit second in the batting order in 2025, behind leadoff man and shortstop CJ Abrams. Crews, the second overall pick in 2023 out of LSU, has nothing left to prove in the minors. The 22-year-old made his major-league debut late in 2024 and went […]

Tyler Fitzgerald Dealing With Minor Back Injury

San Francisco Giants middle infielder Tyler Fitzgerald (back) is dealing with a lower-back issue in camp, but it's not considered a major issue. The Giants will likely keep him out a couple more days as a precaution. It's something to watch as Fitzgerald heads into his first full big-league season in 2024, but barring any […]

Texans Won't Use Franchise Tag On Stefon Diggs

ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime writes that the Houston Texans are unlikely to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) this year because they have limited salary cap space in 2025 and don't want to dump almost $26 million into an aging player coming off a torn ACL. Diggs will also be 32 years […]

Steelers Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Najee Harris

ESPN's Brooke Pryor writes that it would be cost prohibitive for the Pittsburgh Steelers to use the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Najee Harris this year after they declined his fifth-year option a year ago. Additionally, neither quarterbacks Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields is worth the hefty price that would come with a […]

D.J. Reed Expected To Test The Open Market

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini writes that the New York Jets aren't expected to use the franchise tag this year on any of their seven starters that are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. It makes sense that the Jets aren't looking to retain old players under a new regime with head coach Aaron Glenn […]

Jevon Holland Unlikely To Receive Franchise Tag

ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques writes that the only player the Miami Dolphins could even remotely consider placing the franchise tag on this offseason would be safety Jevon Holland, but that seems unlikely to happen since it's unreasonable to pay him $20 million in 2025 after he didn't intercept a single pass in 2024. Louis-Jacques thinks the […]