Blue Jays Sign John Axford To Minors Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays signed veteran relief pitcher John Axford to a minor league deal on Monday. Axford hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2018, but he was throwing 97/98 mph for Team Canada, and the Toronto bullpen can use all the help they can get. The right-hander will throw in Florida and then […]

Angels To Keep Justin Upton In Leadoff Spot

The Los Angeles Angels plan to keep using outfielder Justin Upton in the leadoff spot. The 33-year-old veteran is riding a five-game hitting streak after going 2-for-5 with a single, double and a stolen base in an 8-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. He has hit .391 in his last five games, including […]

Kevin Plawecki Expected To Land On Injured List

The Boston Red Sox are expected to place catcher Kevin Plawecki (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, according to a source. Backstops Connor Wong and Chris Herrmann are both options to be called up from the minors to replace Plawecki on the major league roster. Wong was one of the players the Red […]

Matt Strahm Should Move To Bullpen Sessions Soon

San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Matt Strahm (knee) has rejoined the big league team after spending the first two months of the season rehabbing after undergoing patellar tendon surgery on his right knee last October. Strahm has been playing catch and should move to bullpen sessions soon. However, it's likely to be a slow buildup […]

Austin Nola Making Improvements

San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler said that catcher Austin Nola (knee) is "making improvements" nearly every day. Nola's mobility and strength are increasing, while the swelling in his knee continues to go down. It has allowed him to start moving towards more baseball activities. Nola has only played in 18 games so far in […]

Drew Pomeranz Throws Bullpen Session

San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz (lat) threw a bullpen session for the first time since he sustained tightness in his left lat. Pomeranz was nearing a return from a shoulder impingement last month before he suffered his lat injury. Manager Jayce Tingler said Pomeranz would throw at least one more bullpen session before […]

Dominic Smith Drives In Three In Game 1

New York Mets first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith went 1-for-3 with a three-run double in the 4-2 Game 1 win over the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. It was a nice game for Smith, who came into Monday's action hitting just .218 (12-for-55) with four home runs and eight RBI […]

Jacob deGrom Throws Five Scoreless Innings Monday

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom (shoulder) looked pretty healthy on Monday in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves just five days after exiting his previous start with right shoulder soreness. deGrom retired the first eight hitters in the 4-2 win in seven innings, throwing five shutout innings while striking out six […]

Zaven Collins Arrested For Reckless Driving

Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Zaven Collins, who was the No. 16 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was arrested on Sunday for excessive speed and reckless driving, according to the Scottsdale Police Department. The 22-year-old was observed going 76 mph in a 35-mph zone in Scottsdale, Ariz. Collins signed his fully guaranteed four-year rookie […]

Javier Baez Won't Take Part In Home Run Derby

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez said that he will not participate in this year's Home Run Derby. Baez has dealt with some thumb issues and wants to rest. The star shortstop may reconsider if he makes the starting lineup for the National League for the Midsummer Class, however. The 28-year-old from Puerto Rico is hitting […]

Adalberto Mondesi Goes Back On Injured List

The Kansas City Royals placed shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) back on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a strained left oblique. Infielder Ryan O'Hearn was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Oblique injuries are tricky injuries to come back from, and it's especially concerning for Mondesi, who spent time on the injured […]

Cesar Valdez Lands On 10-Day Injured List

The Baltimore Orioles placed relief pitcher Cesar Valdez (back) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a lower back strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Travis Lakins from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Valdez entered the season as one of the Orioles options in the ninth inning, but he's since been demoted from that […]

White Sox Talking Trade For Eduardo Escobar

The Chicago White Sox are looking for a replacement for second baseman Nick Madrigal and are engaged in trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Eduardo Escobar, who is being shopped. Escobar is making $7.5 million in the final year of his contract with Arizona and is hitting .240 with 15 home runs, 45 […]

Angels Activate Jose Quintana

The Los Angeles Angels activated left-hander Jose Quintana (shoulder) from the injured list on Monday and optioned pitchers Chris Rodriguez to Double-A and Jaime Barria to Triple-A in corresponding moves. Quintana was expected to go on a rehab assignment, but that turns out not to be the case. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw has been on […]

Jacob deGrom To Pitch In Game 1 Against Braves

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (shoulder) will pitch in Game 1 of the team's doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves on Monday. deGrom played catch on Sunday and was telling reporters that he planned on starting on Monday, but it's now official. While it's excellent news that the 33-year-old ace won't have to miss […]

Cowboys Offensive Line Set To Return Three Key Pieces

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyron Smith (neck), Zack Martin (calf, concussion) and La'el Collins (hip) didn't do much on-field work during spring practices, but all three are expected to be full participants when training camp begins at the end of July. The trio combined to miss 36 games in a lost 2020 season. The Cowboys […]

Justin Herbert: New Offense Puts A Lot On QB

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, said the team's new offense under coordinator Joe Lombardi puts a lot more on his plate. "It's pretty similar. I think there are just more personnel [groups], more formations and a lot more put on the quarterback with going up […]

Trai Turner Says He's 100 Percent

Free-agent offensive guard Trai Turner said that he's 100 percent healthy after being limited to just nine games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The Chargers acquired Turner in 2020 in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, but the 28-year-old missed seven of the first eight weeks due to injury before returning for the […]

Sean McVay Impressed With Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay couldn't be more happy with the team's new quarterback, Matthew Stafford. "Bro, this dude's a bad MF-er," McVay said, laughing. "Whatever people say about him, as good as it can be, he's even better than advertised. It makes sense to him. The guy's ability to see the game, […]

Yordan Alvarez Drives In Two More Runs Sunday

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez went 1-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's 8-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. It wasn't all good, though, as he struck out twice and also left seven men on base in the game. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter now has a seven-game hitting streak in […]

Austin Gomber Dealing With Forearm Tightness

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber (forearm) left his start early on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers due to left forearm tightness. In just two innings before exiting, Gomber had allowed two runs on four hits while striking out one. The Rockies ended up losing the game by a score of 6-5. The 27-year-old left-hander […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Becoming A Complete Hitter

Toronto Blue Jays corner infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has always had raw power, but he's becoming more of a complete hitter in 2021 during his breakout with Toronto. Guerrero finished his minor league career with more walks (151) than strikeouts (139) and was on base around 41 percent of the time. Entering Friday, he had […]

Johnny Cueto Earns Quality Start, Win Against Phillies

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto allowed three runs on six hits over six innings on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies to earn a quality start and his first win since May 31. The 35-year-old right-hander also broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning when he drew a walk and scored on a […]

Shohei Ohtani Hits Two Homers Friday

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit his 20th and 21st home runs of the season in an 11-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, the same day that he announced that he'd be participating in this year's Home Run Derby. Ohtani became the third player to reach the 20-homer mark this year. […]

Trai Turner Visits With Steelers

Five-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Trai Turner finished up his visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, according to a source. The Steelers had the worst rushing offense in the league last year thanks to a bad offensive line, so it makes sense that they're searching for more help up front. Pittsburgh is replacing three […]

Hunter Greene Shows Triple-Digit Velocity In Triple-A Debut

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene, the No. 56 overall prospect in baseball, touched 104.3 mph in his debut with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday. However, it wasn't all great, as Greene also allowed four solo home runs and a walk while striking out eight over four innings of work. Since 2008, only five pitchers in the […]

Shohei Ohtani Commits To Home Run Derby

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to announce that he will take part in next month's Home Run Derby. Ohtani ranks third in the league with 19 home runs. He won the Nippon Professional Baseball Home Run Derby and was the MVP of its All-Star game in 2016. Ohtani […]

Jamal Adams, Seahawks Expected To Get Contract Done

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that he's confident the team will get a long-term contract extension worked out with All-Pro safety Jamal Adams, who was excused from mandatory minicamp this week for personal reasons. Carroll also said the team expects Adams to be present for training camp at the end of July. Adams […]

Packers, Aaron Rodgers Unlikely To Resolve Issues Until July

The Green Bay Packers are not expected to have any negotiations with quarterback Aaron Rodgers over the course of the next couple of weeks. Rodgers, the reigning MVP sat out of the team's entire offseason program. "To me, and based on the people I've spoken with, this is really something that will be wrapped up […]

Zach Wilson Soaking It Up In Offseason Practices

New York Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, has had his ups and downs in offseason practices, but the Jets coaching staff has been impressed with how he's handled things so far. "He's unflappable in the sense that he doesn't care whether something went good or bad, […]