Ceddanne Rafaela Alters Stance, Adds Muscle

The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey writes that Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela will continue using an altered batting stance in 2025 in which he lowers his hands so that he's connected with his front leg with a small leg kick to help his timing at the plate. A new strength routine in the offseason also […]

Matt Moore Signs Minors Deal With Red Sox

Free-agent left-handed reliever Matt Moore (forearm) signed a minor-league deal on Thursday with the Boston Red Sox that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Moore missed the last month of the 2024 season due to a strained left forearm, but he's apparently past the injury and […]

Kyle Wright Dealing With Mild Hamstring Strain

MLB.com's Anne Rogers reports that Kansas City Royals right-hander Kyle Wright (hamstring) has a mild right-hamstring strain at spring training that he suffered while throwing the other day. Wright has been able to continue playing catch, but this is a setback in his progression in camp. The Royals will re-evaluate him next week. While it's […]

Javier Assad Resumes Playing Catch

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Thursday that right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) has resumed playing catch at spring training. Assad is recovering from a mild oblique strain that he suffered early in spring training. As long as the 27-year-old doesn't suffer another setback as he begins to ramp up, he should have enough time […]

Matt Shaw "Doing Great"

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that third base prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) is "doing great" hitting in the batting cages and throwing at camp. Shaw, the No. 19 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, injured his oblique early in spring training but has already resumed baseball activities and should be fine for Opening Day on […]

Owen Caissie Shut Down With Groin Tightness

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Thursday that outfield prospect Owen Caissie (groin) has been shut down in camp with left-groin tightness. Caissie also had core-muscle surgery over the winter, so this is a concerning development, especially after the Cubs designated outfielder Alexander Canario on Thursday. Per MLB Pipeline, Caissie is baseball's No. 54 […]

Trea Turner Could Return To Leadoff Role

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki writes that the Philadelphia Phillies think they can improve their chances of winning the World Series by making shortstop Trea Turner their leadoff hitter, although manager Rob Thomson won't make a final decision on the batting order until the end of spring training. "As long as he's got the mindset of getting […]

A's Talking Extension With Lawrence Butler

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is engaged in talks with the team about a long-term contract extension after his breakout performance in 2024, according to people briefed on the discussions who weren't authorized to speak publicly. The 24-year-old power and speed threat hit .262/.317/.490 with an .807 OPS, 22 home runs, 57 RBI, 18 stolen bases […]

Yusei Kikuchi Named Angels Opening Day Starter

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington named left-hander Yusei Kikuchi as the team's Opening Day starter on March 27 against the Chicago White Sox. Washington said it was an "obvious" decision. The Angels signed Kikuchi to a three-year, $63 million deal this offseason after the Japanese lefty went a combined 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA […]

Jo Adell, Nolan Schanuel To Play In Spring Opener

MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports that Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (oblique) and first baseman Nolan Schanuel (leg) are both scheduled to play in the team's Cactus League opener on Saturday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. Adell is fully recovered from the left-oblique strain that caused him to end last season on the injured list. […]

Mike Trout To Make Cactus League Debut On Monday

MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports that Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (knee) will make his Cactus League debut this year on Monday against the San Francisco Giants. The Angels are planning to move Trout to right field in 2025 in order to try and keep him healthy for the entire season. The 33-year-old three-time American […]

Cubs Designate Alexander Canario For Assignment

The Chicago Cubs designated outfielder Alexander Canario for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for newly-signed infielder Justin Turner, sources told ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers. Canario hasn't really gotten a fair shake in Chicago and has played in just 21 big-league games, so Rogers suggests he'll be a pretty good trade […]

Clarke Schmidt To Throw Bullpen On Friday

New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (back) said that he is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday and expects to be pitching in games soon. Despite dealing with a cranky back in spring training, Schmidt has no concerns about being ready for Opening Day in late March. Schmidt also missed three months of […]

Yankees Sign Aaron Boone To Two-Year Extension

The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they signed manager Aaron Boone to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season. Boone led the Yankees to the World Series last fall for the first time since 2009 and is one of three managers in franchise history to lead the team to the playoffs in […]

Gerald Everett Unlikely To Stick Around With Bears

The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that it's hard to see Chicago Bears tight end Gerald Everett sticking around in 2025 to be part of new head coach Ben Johnson's offense after he fell into the team's No. 2 TE role behind Cole Kmet in 2024. Everett signed a two-year, $12 million contract last offseason and […]

Panthers Likely To Cut Miles Sanders

Running back Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 season, but his biggest supporters, head coach Frank Reich and assistant coach Duce Staley, were fired 11 games into that season. Sanders then took on a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that the […]

Bills Must Do Something About Von Miller's Contract

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller had a bounce-back season in 2024, but he carries the second-largest salary cap hit on the team for 2025 at $23.8 million as a rotational player. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia writes that the Bills must do something about Miller's contract, and without taking a pay cut, he's likely to […]

Marcus Williams Expected To Be Cut

Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams being cut this offseason is viewed as a formality after he was benched in 2024 and made a healthy scratch for the final seven games, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. The 28-year-old will likely be a post-June 1 cut. Williams restructured his deal last month to make it easier […]

Falcons Could Cut David Onyemata To Get Younger Up Front

The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that the Atlanta Falcons releasing defensive tackle David Onyemata would save $16 million on the 2025 salary cap while incurring an $8.8 million dead-cap hit. Cutting fellow defensive tackle Grady Jarrett might make more sense, but he seems untouchable. Atlanta is in need of getting younger up front on their […]

Jalen Thompson A Potential Cap Casualty

The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that the Arizona Cardinals don't have an obvious potential salary cap casualty on their roster this offseason with the fourth-most available cap space ($71.3 million), per Over The Cap, but safety Jalen Thompson could be a possibility. Thompson has been a starter for most of his six seasons and has […]

Texans Open To Bringing Stefon Diggs Back

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Sports Radio 610 on Wednesday that the team is open to bringing impending free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) back. "I had a good relationship with Stef and his representation. We enjoyed having Stef in the building, so the door is always open," Caserio said. The 31-year-old's […]

Ernest Jones IV Not In Play For Franchise Tag

ESPN's Brady Henderson writes that the franchise tag isn't an option for the Seattle Seahawks to use on impending free-agent linebacker Ernest Jones IV this offseason, and the team has only used the tag twice since general manager John Schneider took over in 2010. Inside linebackers, which is what Jones is, and pass-rushing outside linebackers […]

Rams Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Alaric Jackson

ESPN's Sarah Barshop believes it's unlikely that the Los Angeles Rams will use the franchise tag at a projected cost of $25.1 million in 2025 on left tackle Alaric Jackson, who will be a free agent in March. The Rams will have several different avenues that they can go this offseason as they look to […]

Paulson Adebo A Long Shot To Receive Franchise Tag

ESPN's Katherine Terrell writes that New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (leg), who is coming off a broken femur last year that required surgery, is a long shot to be franchise-tagged this offseason. Not only is Adebo coming off a pretty serious injury, but it wouldn't be the best financial move for the organization with […]

Cody Poteet To Start Cactus League Opener On Thursday

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cody Poteet, who was acquired in the offseason trade with the New York Yankees that involved outfielder Cody Bellinger, is slated to start the team's Cactus League opener on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitchers Brad Keller, Daniel Palencia, Jack Neely and Brooks Kriske are scheduled to appear in Thursday's game […]

Bears Likely To Let Keenan Allen, Teven Jenkins Walk In Free Agency

ESPN's Courtney Cronin writes that it's more likely that the Chicago Bears let both wide receiver Keenan Allen and offensive guard Teven Jenkins walk in free agency this offseason. Allen and Jenkins are Chicago's top two free agents this year, but neither are candidates to be slapped with the franchise tag. Allen will turn 33 […]

Patriots Release Sione Takitaki

The New England Patriots announced on Wednesday that they released linebacker Sione Takitaki. The 29-year-old former third-round pick (80th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in 2019 out of BYU, Takitaki played in 11 contests (four starts) with New England last season and had just 21 tackles (seven solo) for the Patriots in a rotational role. […]

Ravens Re-Sign Keith Kirkwood

The Baltimore Ravens re-signed veteran wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to the league's personnel notice. Kirkwood spent the entire 2024 season on Baltimore's practice squad and will now return to workout with the team this offseason and through training camp this summer. The 30-year-old pass-catcher made his NFL debut […]

Darius Slayton Won't Be Franchise-Tagged

Wide receiver Darius Slayton is the New York Giants' top free agent this offseason, but ESPN New York's Jordan Raanan writes that Slayton isn't a candidate to be franchise-tagged with the number being well over $20 million in 2025. Raanan compares Slayton more to Darnell Mooney, who got $13 million per year in free agency […]

Cowboys Unlikely To Franchise Tag Osa Odighizuwa

ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer writes that defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa is the only impending free-agent candidate that the Dallas Cowboys would even consider using the franchise tag on this year, but they are unlikely to do so because of the projected cost of more than $23 million against the 2025 salary cap. However, the Cowboys […]