Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward Have Fifth-Year Options Picked Up

The Cleveland Browns made the expected moves of picking up the fifth-year options on both of their 2018 first-round draft picks, quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward, according to sources informed of the situation. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, fifth-year options on former first-rounders are now guaranteed. Mayfield's fifth-year option is worth $18.86 […]

Rashawn Slater Being Compared To Zack Martin

Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is being compared to Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl offensive guard Zack Martin. Both players are roughly 6-foot-4, 310 pounds with 33-inch arms, and both have played offensive tackle. NFL teams are viewing Slater as an offensive lineman with Pro Bowl potential ahead of next week's draft. Slater has experience at […]

Didi Gregorius Could Return Friday

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius (elbow) hasn't played since Sunday due to a sore right elbow, but manager Joe Girardi thinks that Gregorius will play on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. If Gregorius returns, Girardi said he will play rookie Nick Maton or Brad Miller at second base, depending on the matchups. Maton recorded three […]

Giants Will Consider Trading Down In The First Round

The New York Giants are considering moving out of the 11th overall position in next week's NFL draft, despite the fact that general manager Dave Gettleman has never traded back in the first round, or any round, of the NFL draft. The Giants have only six picks in the upcoming draft and are still in […]

Jared Oliva Out At Least Four Weeks

Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk confirmed that outfield prospect Jared Oliva (oblique) will be out of action for at least four weeks at the alternate training site after sustaining a left oblique injury. The Pirates have already given up on the center field platoon of Anthony Alford and Dustin Fowler, as both […]

Chad Kuhl To Injured List, Dustin Fowler DFA'd

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Chad Kuhl (shoulder) on the injured list on Thursday with right shoulder discomfort. Right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb was recalled from the alternate site. The Pirates also recalled corner infielder Todd Frazier from the alternate site and designated outfielder Dustin Fowler for assignment. Manager Derek Shelton pointed to Luis Oviedo, Sean […]

Blue Jays Acquiring Jeremy Beasley From Diamondbacks

The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring right-handed pitcher Jeremy Beasley from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, according to a source. The 25-year-old was designated for assignment earlier this week and will report to Toronto's alternate site to provide depth with a fastball-splitter combination that plays as a starter or a reliever. Beasley was a 30th-round […]

Diego Castillo Blows Save, Takes Loss Against Royals

Tampa Bay Rays closer Diego Castillo blew his second save chance of the season and was saddled with the loss in a 9-8 game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Entering the game with an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Castillo allowed two runs on two hits and a walk […]

Michael Wacha Allows Three Runs In No-Decision

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Michael Wacha allowed three earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision in the 9-8 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. All three of the runs that Wacha allowed came on two home runs to Hunter […]

Francisco Mejia Doubles In A Run Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Francisco Mejia went 1-for-3 with an RBI double in the 9-8 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. It was the third double of the season for the Rays backstop, and he's now slashing .323/.353/.516 on the young season in 35 plate appearances in his first season in Tampa. The […]

Brandon Lowe Homers In Second Straight Game

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe went 1-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and his second home run in as many nights in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Kansas City Royals. He also struck out once in the game. Lowe is slashing just .182/.299/.364 on the young season, but he has homered in […]

Will Vest Impressing As Rule 5 Pick

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Will Vest, the team's Rule 5 pick from the Detroit Tigers, has done nothing but impress so far this year despite pitching in just 132 1/3 minor league innings before 2021, with only 33 2/3 frames coming above Class A. The Mariners didn't have a single written scouting report on Vest […]

Max Scherzer A Potential Trade Chip?

With the Washington Nationals off to a slow start this year and with outfielder Juan Soto and starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg both on the injured list, some are wondering if ace Max Scherzer could be a trade candidate this summer if the team's season continues to go in the wrong direction. Scherzer will become a […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Aggravates Left Wrist Injury

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (wrist) aggravated his left wrist on Wednesday night while taking swings in Detroit. He is headed back to Pittsburgh to be re-examined on Thursday. It comes just days after a report that Hayes' return was on the horizon after he joined the team's alternate training site for games. Hayes […]

Drew Brees Was Rarely Healthy In 2020

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees missed four games in his final NFL season in 2020 due to broken ribs and a collapsed lung, but the future Hall of Famer said he only felt right in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions. "I only really felt good in one game, from the perspective of, […]

49ers Sign Arden Key

The San Francisco 49ers signed former Las Vegas Raiders pass-rusher Arden Key to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Key represents a low-risk depth signing for San Francisco. The 24-year-old was a third-round pick in the 2018 draft after a poor showing at the NFL combine. He suffered a broken foot […]

49ers Sign Wayne Gallman

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent running back Wayne Gallman to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday. Gallman was originally drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. He has played in 53 career games (14 starts) and has 338 carries for 1,444 yards and nine touchdowns while also […]

Julian Merryweather Likely Out Longer

The Toronto Blue Jays are still waiting for more information on relief pitcher Julian Merryweather's left oblique strain, and his injury is expected to keep him out of action beyond his 10-day injured list stint. Merryweather is eligible to come off the injured list on Saturday, April 24, but it doesn't look as though that'll […]

Tyler Chatwood Should Be Back Soon

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Tyler Chatwood (triceps) "should be back, too, right away" when his 10-day injured list stint is up, according to pitching coach Pete Walker. Chatwood was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Tuesday after he threw a bullpen on Sunday. The 31-year-old veteran right-hander had pitched in 2 […]

Jordan Romano's Injury Isn't Serious

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jordan Romano (arm) threw a side session on Sunday, and pitching coach Pete Walker hopes to have him back as soon as his 10-day injured list stint is up. Walker said Romano's right ulnar neuritis is "nothing severe." Romano is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday, April […]

Nate Pearson Getting Closer To A Return

Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Nate Pearson (groin) was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Tuesday as he builds back up from a right adductor strain he suffered late in spring training, according to pitching coach Pete Walker. Pearson is past his injury, but he must increase his workload in a simulated […]

Teoscar Hernandez Recovering Nicely

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who tested positive for COVID-19, is recovering well. "He's symptom-free and feeling ready for baseball again. It's such a difficult thing for a player to go through. He's perfectly healthy now and recovered. Now we'll just have to make sure that there's nothing transmissible and he's safe to come […]

George Springer Could Make His Debut Soon

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said recently that all signs are "exceptionally positive" with outfielder George Springer (quadriceps), who has stayed back from the team's road trip to continue his rehab at the team's Dunedin facilities. "He's really feeling good. He's running and he's doing all of the baseball activities," Atkins said. "Not […]

Gavin Lux On Track To Return Next Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux (wrist), who was placed on the injured list on April 18 with right wrist soreness, is on track to be activated when he's eligible, which would be for next Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. "He's still swinging, taking grounders, running, throwing, and he's hitting in the cage," […]

Aldon Smith Booked On Battery Charge

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Aldon Smith turned himself in on Tuesday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an alleged battery in the New Orleans area, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. He was booked and released Wednesday on $25,000 bond. Smith will be arraigned on July 14. […]

T.J. Ward Announces Retirement

Free-agent safety T.J. Ward announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday after eight years in the league. Ward earned two Pro Bowls in his time in the league and came to be known as one of the hardest-hitting safeties. He last played in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and landed a spot on […]

Dolphins Building Around Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Dolphins proved that they are committed to second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when they traded out of the No. 3 overall spot in this year's draft. Shortly thereafter, Miami swung a deal to move back into the top 10 while also securing future first-round picks. General manager Chris Grier explained on Wednesday that the […]

Justin Fields Managing Epilepsy

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields confirmed to NFL teams during the pre-draft process that he is managing epilepsy, a neurological disorder that can cause seizures. However, it has not affected his football career, and doctors think Fields will outgrow it like his other family members have. It's something to watch, but it's unlikely to keep […]

Pierre Desir Agrees With Seahawks

Free-agent cornerback Pierre Desir agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday. Desir was on Seattle's practice squad back in 2016 but failed to make the team out of training camp the following season. In 73 career games with the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, New York […]

Gregory Rousseau Expected To Go In First Round

Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for University of Florida edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, said that multiple NFL teams have told him that they will select Rousseau in the first round of this year's draft if he is available when they are on the clock. With elite size and skill, Rousseau has the potential to be a […]