Cardinals, Jack Flaherty Exchange Arbitration Figures

The St. Louis Cardinals and ace starting pitcher Jack Flaherty haven't agreed to terms on a 2021 contract and exchanged salary arbitration figures on Friday. The 25-year-old asked for $3.9 million and the team offered $3 million. An arbitrator will hear their cases and make a decision next month. Flaherty finished fourth in the National […]

Mets In Talks With Brad Hand

The New York Mets are in talks with free-agent relief pitcher Brad Hand, but the two sides are "not close" to completing a deal, according to a source. The three-time All-Star has a very nice 2.70 ERA in the last five seasons with the Padres and Cleveland. The left-handed reliever had a sparkling 2.05 ERA […]

Padres Out Of The Mix For Kirby Yates?

The San Diego Padres were one of a dozen teams interested in free-agent relief pitcher Kirby Yates, but he's now in the final stages of considering offers from five teams, and a source says that the Padres are not one of them. San Diego would have to substantially increase their offer for him to reconsider, […]

Dylan Carlson Ready To Break Out In 2021?

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson, the team's top prospect, struggled in his first big-league action in 2020, but the 22-year-old switch-hitter earned a spot as the cleanup hitter in the playoffs and could break out in 2021. Carlson's hard-hit rate and sweet-spot rate last year were both over 40 percent, both above league average. […]

Masahiro Tanaka Unlikely To Return To Bronx?

With the New York Yankees signing right-hander Corey Kluber to a one-year, $11 million deal on Friday, it could shut the door on the team re-signing starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Luis Severino (elbow) is due back from Tommy John surgery in 2021 at some point, Domingo German will return from a suspension and the club […]

Blue Jays Still In Play For Top Free Agents

The Toronto Blue Jays remain in contact with free-agent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, catcher J.T. Realmuto and outfielder George Springer after failing to lure second baseman DJ LeMahieu away from the division-rival Yankees, according to sources. The Blue Jays were reportedly the runner-up for shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was traded to the Mets last week. […]

Phillies Make Five-Year Offer To J.T. Realmuto

The Philadelphia Phillies made free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto a five-year offer worth slightly north of $100 million on Friday. The figure is well below Realmuto's asking price at the end of last spring training -- he was hoping to get $200 million -- and is possibly below the record average annual value for a backstop. […]

Francisco Lindor, Michael Conforto Avoid Arbitration

The New York Mets reached one-year deals with seven players on Friday to avoid salary arbitration, including shortstop Francisco Lindor ($22.3 million), outfielder Michael Conforto ($12.25 million) and first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith ($2.55 million). Lindor, a four-time All-Star, said he's not opposed to a long-term contract after being acquired from Cleveland in a blockbuster trade. […]

Cubs Sign Kris Bryant, Javier Baez To One-Year Deals

The Chicago Cubs avoided salary arbitration on Friday with third baseman Kris Bryant ($19.5 million) and shortstop Javier Baez ($11.65 million) by agreeing to one-year deals. Bryant battled through injuries in 2020 that limited him to 34 games. He hit just .206 with four home runs, while Baez also struggled by hitting .203 with eight […]

Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Rafael Devers

The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with third baseman Rafael Devers on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4.575 million deal, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The 24-year-old broke out in 2019 with a .311 average, 32 home runs and 115 RBI while leading the league with 54 doubles and […]

Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Julio Urias Avoid Arbitration

Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Cody Bellinger ($16.1 million), shortstop Corey Seager ($13.75 million) and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias ($3.6 million) all reached one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration on Friday. Bellinger was the 2019 National League MVP and 2017 NL Rookie of the Year but hit a career-low .239 with 12 home runs and […]

Yankees Avoid Arbitration With Aaron Judge

The New York Yankees and outfielder Aaron Judge avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10.175 million deal. Judge won the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year in 2017, but suffered through his third injury plagued season in 2020, hitting .257 with nine home runs and 22 RBI in 101 at-bats […]

Yankees Finalizing Deal With Corey Kluber

The New York Yankees are finalizing a one-year, $11 million deal with right-hander Corey Kluber on Friday, according to sources familiar with the agreement. Pending a physical, the two-time American League Cy Young winner will head to the Bronx. Kluber suffered a torn right shoulder muscle in his first start with the Rangers in 2020 […]

Mario Edwards Jr. Suspended For Two Games

Chicago Bears defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. has been suspended without pay for the first two games of the 2021 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Edwards is eligible to become a free agent this offseason and will have to serve his suspension when he signs with a new team. He had […]

Latavius Murray, Taysom Hill Questionable Against Tampa

New Orleans Saints running back Latavius Murray (quadriceps) and quarterback Taysom Hill (knee) were both listed as questionable for the Divisional Round matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday after getting in limited practices on Friday. The fact that they both practiced on Friday is good news for their chances of suiting up for the third […]

Patrick Robinson Ruled Out For Saints Defense

New Orleans Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson (hamstring) has been ruled out against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Sunday's Divisional Round matchup, the third between the two clubs this season. Robinson missed practice all week. New Orleans still has a solid defense overall on the edges of the secondary with Janoris Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore locking […]

Marcus Peters Questionable For Ravens Defense

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (back) and offensive guard D.J. Fluker (knee) were both listed as questionable for the Divisional Round game against the Bills on Saturday night. Peters and Fluker were both limited in practice on Thursday, so they have a chance to be active against Buffalo. Peters also missed several games near the […]

Cooper Kupp Questionable Against Packers

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (knee) is listed as questionable for the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Kupp missed practice all week, so fantasy managers should certainly be way of quarterback Jared Goff's top target if he's active this weekend. Kupp's injury wasn't deemed serious last weekend when he […]

Josh Gordon Banned Indefinitely

The NFL rescinded Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon's conditional reinstatement on Friday and left him banned from the league indefinitely. Gordon was added to the team's active roster three weeks ago and was set to return to the field when he had a setback in his battle with substance abuse that broke the terms […]

Arthur Smith Named New Falcons Head Coach

The Atlanta Falcons hired Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as their new head coach on Friday, according to sources. Smith was the team's top choice all along, so they get their man. The 38-year-old was one of seven coaching candidates for Atlanta after the team fired Dan Quinn on Oct. 11. Smith is expected […]

Police Investigating Von Miller

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is the subject of a police investigation in Parker, Colorado, although police haven't specified why they are investigating the former Super Bowl MVP. Miller missed the entire 2020 season after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in practice just days before the season opener. The 31-year-old was suspended for six games […]

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Questionable For Sunday

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, hip) missed practice on Thursday and Friday and is questionable to play against the Browns in the Divisional Round on Sunday. Tight end Deon Yelder (groin) and cornerback Rashad Fenton (ankle, foot) are also questionable. It's disappointing for Edwards-Helaire after he was limited in practice back […]

Sammy Watkins Won't Play In Divisional Round

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins (calf) and linebacker Willie Gay (ankle) missed practice all week and will not play in the Divisional Round against the Browns on Sunday. Watkins suffered a calf injury in Week 16 and was held out of the Week 17 regular season finale, but two weeks of rest wasn't […]

David Njoku Questionable Against Chiefs

Cleveland Browns tight ends David Njoku (hamstring) and Stephen Carlson (groin), offensive tackle Jack Conklin (hamstring, knee) and linebacker B.J. Goodson (shoulder) are questionable for the Divisional Round against the Chiefs on Sunday. Carlson was the only one of the four who was not able to practice on Friday, so the other three should have […]

Josh Hader, Brandon Woodruff Avoid Arbitration

Milwaukee Brewers relief ace Josh Hader and right-hander Brandon Woodruff avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to one-year deals. Hader will earn $6.675 million in 2020, while Woodruff's salary wasn't immediately known. Hader set an all-time record with 12 consecutive hitless innings to begin the 2020 season and ended with 31 strikeouts and 10 […]

Angels Sign Kurt Suzuki Friday

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with veteran catcher Kurt Suzuki on Friday, according to a source. Suzuki figures to split the catching workload with Max Stassi in 2021, with Anthony Bemboom also an option behind the two on the 40-man roster. Stassi is coming off left hip surgery last […]

Dan Campbell The Favorite For Lions Head-Coaching Gig

New Orleans Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell has emerged as the favorite to be the new Detroit Lions head coach, according to sources. However, the Lions can't conduct an in-person interview with Campbell until the Saints season has officially ended, so their pursuit of him is on hold until then. The Saints […]

Ronald Jones II A Game-Time Decision, Leonard Fournette To Start

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said that running back Ronald Jones II (calf, finger) was feeling better on Friday, but he will be a game-time decision against the Saints in the Divisional Round on Sunday. Leonard Fournette will start the game. Jones was limited in practice on Thursday after not playing in the […]

Dodgers Signing Prospects Wilman Diaz, Jesus Galiz

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed with shortstop Wilman Diaz and catcher Jesus Galiz on Friday, according to industry sources. Diaz is No. 3 on MLB Pipeline's international prospect list, while Galiz comes in at No. 8. Both players hail from Venezuela. Diaz is the highest-ranked teenager of this international class because of his present […]

Cubs Land Five-Tool Shortstop Cristian Hernandez

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a deal with five-tool shortstop Cristian Hernandez, ranked sixth on MLB Pipeline's international prospect list, on Friday for $3 million, according to industry sources. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound 17-year-old has been compared to a young Alex Rodriguez and has a build similar to Manny Machado at the same age. Hernandez could […]