Justin Steele Scratched With Illness

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (illness) was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals due to flu-like symptoms. Right-hander Ben Brown, who is competing for a spot in the Opening Day starting rotation, will replace Steele. It's not a big deal for Steele, and he should be ready […]

Jac Caglianone Could Play Outfield To Accelerate His MLB Debut

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that Kansas City Royals first base prospect Jac Caglianone will get repetitions in the outfield this year and could find himself playing corner-outfield spot to accelerate the timeline for his major-league debut to potentially this summer. As things currently stand, the Royals have a logjam at first base with Vinnie Pasquantino […]

Grayson Rodriguez Dealing With Triceps Soreness

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (triceps) is dealing with right-triceps soreness and is being evaluated in camp, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles are expected to have more of an update on Rodriguez after the tests come back. The 25-year-old's velocity was notably down during his Grapefruit League outing on Wednesday against the Minnesota […]

Zebby Matthews Leaves Outing On Thursday With Injury

Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (ankle, foot) left Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees after making a nice play on a slow chopper near the foul line. Matthews' right ankle/foot slipped as he was making the play, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power. We'll have […]

Jordan Westburg Returns To Spring Lineup

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (back) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates and is starting at second base and batting fifth, according to The Baltimore Sun's Matt Weyrich. This will be Westburg's first game in spring training since dealing with lower-back soreness last Wednesday. It was a […]

Seahawks Re-Sign Josh Jobe

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed restricted free-agent cornerback Josh Jobe (knee) on Thursday. In his first year with Seattle in 2024, Jobe appeared in 10 games (six starts) and had a career-high 37 tackles (29 solo), his first career interception and seven pass breakups before being put on Injured Reserve before the Week 18 regular-season finale […]

Junior Caminero Leaves Early With Back Tightness

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (back) left Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against the Philadelphia Phillies with what the team is calling lower-back tightness, per the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. Before being pulled, Caminero struck out in both of his plate appearances. Although the Rays may just be being extra cautious with one […]

Cristopher Sanchez Adds Cutter, Throwing Harder

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez's average sinker velocity last year was at 94.5 mph, but he sat at 96 to 99 mph with the pitch in his first start this spring thanks to added weight on his 6-foot-5 frame, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Sanchez was an All-Star in 2024 and posted a 3.32 ERA […]

Sandy Alcantara Will Be On Innings Limit Early On

ESPN's Jeff Passan write that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is back after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery, will be on an innings limit early this year. The 2022 National League Cy Young winner has looked like his old self in spring training, throwing sinkers at 98-100 mph, […]

Matt McLain Generating Buzz In Camp

One MLB evaluator said this week that by the end of the 2024 season, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain and shortstop Elly De La Cruz will be the best second base/shortstop tandem in baseball. McLain, a former 17th overall pick in 2021 out of UCLA, actually had a better rookie season in 2023 than […]

Jeremy Pena Working On Plate Discipline

The Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara writes that Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena has been working on his plate discipline leading into the 2025 season and lowering his chase rate. In 1,842 regular-season plate appearances in his three years in the big leagues with Houston, Pena has only walked 90 times compared to 375 strikeouts in […]

Christian Walker Undergoes Ultrasound On His Oblique

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) said his left-oblique injury isn't as serious as the one that kept him out for a month last season. He said he is sore on Thursday but not worse than Wednesday, which is a good sign. Walker had an ultrasound and is waiting for the inflammation to subside […]

No Structural Damage For Brandon Nimmo

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (knee) said the MRI exam he had on his sore right knee on Tuesday only showed inflammation and no structural damage. Nimmo is waiting for "the last 10%" of soreness to go away before returning to the Grapefruit League lineup in the coming days. The 31-year-old's health has to […]

Bo Bichette Could Hit Leadoff Or Cleanup

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider is undecided on where shortstop Bo Bichette will hit in the lineup this year, but the skipper mentioned both the leadoff and cleanup spots as possibilities. "2,3 Vlad and Tony (Santander), and then from there could be Bo (Bichette).. could be Bo 1, could be Bo 4, depending on […]

Steelers, Cole Holcomb Agree To Revised Contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker Cole Holcomb (knee) agreed to a revised contract on Thursday that will clear $4 million in salary cap space in 2025, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Holcomb suffered a season-ending dislocated knee on Nov. 2 of 2023 and didn't play at all last year, but he's considered fully healthy […]

Commanders Re-Sign Zane Gonzalez

The Washington Commanders re-signed kicker Zane Gonzalez to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Gonzalez took over for an injured Austin Seibert (hip) before Week 13 last season and finished the year (including three playoff games) by making 12 of his 15 field-goal attempts and all 27 of his extra-point tries […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. To Hit In Two-Hole This Year

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Thursday that he plans to bat first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the two-hole this year, with new outfielder Anthony Santander behind him in the No. 3 spot. "2,3 Vlad and Tony (Santander), and then from there could be Bo (Bichette).. could be Bo 1, could be […]

Marcelo Mayer To Play On Friday

Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer (illness) has recovered from a stomach illness this week and plans to play in a Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Miami Marlins, according to manager Alex Cora. Mayer is feeling better and will be back in action in spring training this weekend. Per MLB Pipeline, the […]

Ceddanne Rafaela Could Return This Weekend

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is doing better and will do some running in camp on Thursday. If that goes well, Rafaela will be cleared to return to Grapefruit League action this weekend. Rafaela has been held out of spring training games this week after experiencing hamstring tightness […]

DJ LeMahieu Diagnosed With Calf Strain, No Timetable For A Return

An MRI exam on New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) on Wednesday showed that he's dealing with a left-calf strain, per Newsday's Erik Boland. LeMahieu will be shut down from baseball activities for at least a "couple of weeks." He has yet to talk about the MRI results with the team doctor, so there's […]

Giancarlo Stanton Expected To Rejoin Team This Weekend

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) had a second round of platelet-rich plasma injections in New York and is expected to rejoin the team in spring training camp in Florida this weekend, according to general manager Brian Cashman. However, Cashman also said Stanton won't be able to do much in terms of baseball […]

Luis Gil Out At Least Three Months

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said it's going to be at least three months before the team gets right-hander Luis Gil (lat) back this year. The Yankees got another MRI exam on Gil this week, which confirmed what the team said originally of a high-grade lat strain and a six-week shutdown. Don't expect […]

Clayton Kershaw Progressing Well

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (foot, knee) said he's progressing well in his recovery from surgeries on his foot and knee and has thrown off a mound "a couple times." "It's not 100 percent yet but it's getting there. Feels good," Kershaw said. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer had both of his surgeries […]

Will Smith Back In Cactus League Lineup On Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (knee) is back in the Cactus League lineup on Thursday against the Texas Rangers, doing the catching and batting sixth. Smith was hit by a pitch on his left knee in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds and was removed as a precaution and he was just […]

Tommy DeVito To Sign His Tender This Weekend

New York Giants exclusive-rights free-agent quarterback Tommy DeVito will sign his tender at some point this weekend, sources tell The Bergen Record's Art Stapleton. DeVito will be the only current QB on the Giants' roster with free agency kicking off next week. DeVito has played in 12 games, including eight starts, for the G-Men the […]

Bengals Telling Teams Tee Higgins Isn't Available Via Trade

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that multiple NFL teams have contacted the Cincinnati Bengals about the availability of wide receiver Tee Higgins after the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him on Monday, according to sources. Those teams have been told that Higgins remains unavailable as the Bengals work on giving him a long-term deal. […]

Patriots Could Get Involved With Chris Godwin

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that if Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Chris Godwin makes it to free agency, don't be surprised if the New England Patriots get involved. It's no secret that the Patriots are looking to upgrade their receiving corps with a bona fide No. 1 wideout this offseason, and after the […]

Bengals Want To Bring Back Mike Gesicki

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Cincinnati Bengals were happy with impending free-agent tight end Mike Gesicki last year and would like to re-sign him, even though they are also trying to keep all three star players in receivers Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson on long-term deals. Teams are projecting that […]

Chase Young To Draw Interest In Free Agency

Teams that ESPN's Jeremy Fowler talked to at last week's NFL Combine are putting New Orleans Saints impending free-agent defensive end Chase Young high on the pecking order in the free-agent pass-rush market. Although Young functioned as a backup in 2024 with the Saints, the former second overall pick is still only 25 years old […]

Bears Targeting Durham Smythe

The Chicago Bears are targeting free-agent tight end Durham Smythe, sources tell ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. This one makes sense on multiple levels after the Miami Dolphins released Smythe last month. The Bears also cut veteran tight end Gerald Everett last month, and veteran Marcedes Lewis and Stephen Carlson are both set to be unrestricted free […]