Four-Seamer Could Be Key For Frankie Montas

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas posted a pristine 2.63 ERA with a 20.3 K-BB percentage and a 96th-percentile barrel rate (3.8 percent) in 2019, but he was also hit with an 80-game suspension for violating the league's drug program. The right-hander started strong last year but finished with a 5.60 ERA, a 15.6 K-BB […]

John Means Had Terrible Home Run Luck In 2020

Baltimore Orioles left-handed pitcher John Means, an 11th-round pick in 2014, was an All-Star and American League Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2019 with a 3.60 ERA over 155 innings. But the 27-year-old posted a 4.53 ERA (5.60 FIP) and allowed a whopping 12 home runs in only 43 2/3 frames last year. But […]

James Paxton Primed To Bounce Back In 2021?

Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher James Paxton (elbow) has had a tough time staying on the field in his career. He returned from back surgery last year but was limited to five starts and a 6.64 ERA due to left elbow issues. Despite the lofty ERA, he maintained similar strikeout and walk rates from his healthy […]

Texans Release Duke Johnson

The Houston Texans released running back Duke Johnson on Friday, according to a source. Johnson was set to have a salary cap hit of more than $5 million, so the team will move on instead. After playing in all 16 games in his first season with Houston in 2019 while carrying the ball 83 times […]

Ryan Tepera Returns To Cubs

The Chicago Cubs re-signed relief pitcher Ryan Tepera to an undisclosed major league deal on Friday. According to NBC Sports Chicago's Gordon Wittenmyer, Tepera is guaranteed $800,000 and can make an extra $800,000 in performance incentives and $150,000 via active-roster bonuses. The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 3.92 ERA (3.51 SIERA, 3.34 FIP) with a career-high […]

Brian Snitker Signs Extension Through 2023 Season

The Atlanta Braves signed manager Brian Snitker to a contract extension on Friday that will take him through the 2023 season. The deal includes a club option for the 2024 season. It's well-deserved, as Snitker has managed the team to three straight National League East division titles after they won just on division crown from […]

Nate Solder Plans To Play In 2021

New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder, who opted out of the 2020 season because of concerns for his family with COVID-19, intends to play in 2021 if the situation is right. Solder was considered a high-risk opt-out and his contract tolled. He's scheduled to make $10 million in 2021 while costing $16.5 million against […]

Sean McVay Sees Cam Akers As Every-Down Back

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he thinks running back Cam Akers can be an "every-down back." Akers got off to a slow start in his rookie season after being taken with the 52nd overall pick in the draft while being hampered by an injury that reduced his playing time. But Akers stepped […]

Steelers Set Deadline To Restructure Ben Roethlisberger

The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have committed to tweaking his contract to allow him to come back for the 2021 season. The first day of the new league year is Wednesday, March 17, which is the opening of free agency and also when teams must be compliant with the 2021 salary cap. That […]

Dont'a Hightower, Patrick Chung, Marcus Cannon To Return

New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, who all opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, are planning to return in 2021, according to sources. All three are in a good place physically. Without them last year, New England finished 27th in yards per game and […]

Chris Godwin Says He'd Play On Franchise Tag

Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Chris Godwin would love to return to the Buccaneers and said he'd be willing to play on the franchise tag in 2021. The four-year pro wouldn't be ecstatic about that outcome, but he'd be willing to accept the tag should the team go in that direction. Godwin was […]

Yoan Moncada Could Play Sunday Or Monday

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa was told on Thursday that third baseman Yoan Moncada (arm) could play third base on Sunday or Monday in a Cactus League game. Moncada is dealing with some arm soreness in the early days of spring camp, but the White Sox will be careful not to push him […]

Jake Cronenworth To See Some Work In Outfield

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth will get some looks in the outfield in spring training over the next month. Cronenworth broke out for the Friars last year by hitting .285/.354/.477 to finish second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He figures to share time at the keystone with Ha-Seong Kim, who […]

Ryan Weathers Building Up As Starter

San Diego Padres left-handed pitching prospect Ryan Weathers, who made his debut in the postseason against the Dodgers with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, is building toward a starter's workload in spring training and was the first pitcher to work multiple innings in a simulated game on Thursday. He used three pitches -- a […]

Padres Won't Get In Yu Darvish's Way

The San Diego Padres don't plan on trying to change starting pitcher Yu Darvish in his first season with the team. He threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Thursday for the first time this spring and said he felt good. "Had very good control, all in all feeling really good," Darvish said through a team […]

Jarred Kelenic Putting On A Show At Camp

Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic has been putting on a show with towering home runs early in spring camp this week. Kelenic has been compared to former left-handed sluggers Chase Utley and Steve Finley and current Nationals star Juan Soto for his left-handed swing. He's MLB Pipeline's No. 4 overall prospect heading into the […]

Orlando Brown Exploring Trade Possibilities

The representatives for Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown have started to explore trade possibilities as he looks for a full-time spot at left tackle, according to a source. The Ravens value the three-year starter and Pro Bowler but are aware of his plans and are open to discussions about his future. Baltimore drafted Brown […]

Quinnen Williams Doesn't Want To Be Traded

New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams said he'd "be disappointed" if the team traded him this offseason to the Houston Texans in a package to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson. The third overall pick of the 2019 draft has been the subject of trade rumors for months. "I really want to be a Jet for […]

Corey Linsley Doesn't Expect To Be Back

Green Bay Packers impending free-agent center Corey Linsley said that he feels his departure is coming in free agency. "We're not closing the door for anything," Linsley said. "Obviously we'd never do that for any team, especially the Packers, but yeah it definitely feels weird. Looks like all signs are pointing towards snapping the ball […]

Texans Still Unwilling To Talk Deshaun Watson Trade

The Houston Texans remain unwilling to talk about quarterback Deshaun Watson with other teams, with some clubs resorting to leaving voicemails with their trade offers, according to sources. Watson spoke with head coach David Culley recently, but the two have yet to meet in person. The 25-year-old franchise signal-caller hasn't backed off his demands to […]

Bears Re-Sign Ryan Nall

The Chicago Bears re-signed running back Ryan Nall to an undisclosed deal on Thursday. In his second season with the Bears in 2020, Nall had 67 yards and a touchdown on just 11 touches (three carries, eight receptions) in 16 games. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent next month, but he'll remain […]

Titans Shopping Isaiah Wilson

The Tennessee Titans have shopped first-round offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson this offseason, according to sources. The team is open to trading the former Georgia star after he played in only a handful of snaps in one game for the Titans in his rookie season after being taken with the 29th overall pick in the first […]

Titans Releasing Adam Humphries

The Tennessee Titans are releasing wide receiver Adam Humphries on Thursday, according to a source. The move saves the Titans around $4.47 million in salary cap space for the upcoming 2021 season. Humphries, who is still only 27 years old, was a big-ticket signing two years ago for Tennessee, but he caught only 60 passes […]

Kevin Cash Raving About Austin Meadows

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash continues to rave about outfielder Austin Meadows and how he looks really good after dropping weight in the offseason. Meadows played in only 36 games last year while dealing with COVID-19 and a Grade 2 oblique strain, but the 25-year-old broke out in his last full season in 2019 […]

Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez Get On The Field Thursday

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (hamstring) took batting practice on the field on Thursday but remained out of infield drills. Outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knees) stretched and did some running with the team but remained out of batting practice. Bregman tweaked the same hamstring that caused him to miss some time last year, but […]

Russell Wilson Hasn't Demanded A Trade

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has not demanded a trade, according to his agent, Mark Rodgers. Wilson wants to stay in Seattle and has a no-trade clause, but if a trade were considered, the only teams he would play for would be the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders or Chicago Bears. Another […]

John Lynch Endorses Jimmy Garoppolo As Starting QB

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains in the team's plans as the starter under center. Lynch said that there wasn't any doubt that Garoppolo would be the team's starter in 2021 if he's healthy. There have been questions as to whether the Niners would go in a different […]

Framber Valdez Could Become Mainstay In Rotation

Houston Astros left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez, who led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts in 2020, posted a 3.57 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 70 2/3 innings while making four stellar starts over 24 frames in the postseason. His 94 2/3 total innings led all of baseball last year, and he had a nice […]

Broncos Release Jurrell Casey Thursday

The Denver Broncos released defensive tackle Jurrell Casey on Thursday, according to a source. Denver acquired Casey in a trade with the Tennessee Titans before the 2020 season, but he played in just three games before he landed on Injured Reserve for the rest of the year due to a serious biceps injury. He's entering […]

J.J. Watt Has Offers From Multiple Teams

Free-agent defensive lineman J.J. Watt has received contract offers from multiple teams, according to league sources. The largest offer on the table is believed to be worth between $15 million and $16 million. The Cleveland Browns are one of the teams interested in the pass-rusher, but it's unclear if they have submitted an offer to […]