Shohei Ohtani's Splitter Is Downright Nasty

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani's split-fingered fastball is one of the most unhittable pitches in baseball. Hitters went 2-for-55 with 35 strikeouts against the pitch in 2018. Hitters are 0-for-19 with 18 K's against the pitch in 20 plate appearances so far in 2021. Of 23 swings at the pitch, hitters have whiffed […]

Jake Curhan Has A Heart Issue

California offensive take Jake Curhan (heart), who likely would have been a sixth- or seventh-round pick in this year's NFL draft, has been taken off several draft boards after medical tests showed a heart issue, according to a source. Despite the issues, Curhan has played through it and hasn't had any symptoms. Even though he's […]

George Springer Goes Hitless In Debut

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (quadriceps), who was making his team debut as the designated hitter in the leadoff spot against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, went 0-for-4 in the 8-2 loss. Springer signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal with Toronto in the offseason but missed time in spring training with a strained […]

Caleb Farley Tests Negative For COVID-19

Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley retested on Thursday and was negative for COVID-19 after he tested positive on Wednesday. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, called it "very encouraging." Despite injury concerns -- Farley has had two surgeries on his back -- he has the potential to become a lockdown cornerback at the next level. As a […]

Teams Not Expected To Deal Future Picks

NFL teams are not expected to deal future picks as often during this year's NFL draft, which begins with the first round on Thursday night. An executive said that teams are valuing 2022 draft picks "like gold" because there will be more talent, cleaner player evaluations and more scouting tape. "We could see an all-time […]

Broncos Still In Position To Draft A Quarterback

The Denver Broncos are still in the running to draft a quarterback at No. 9 overall in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, despite trading for Teddy Bridgewater on Wednesday. The Broncos might actually be in a better position to take a signal-caller on Thursday night because of Bridgewater's arrival. "It […]

Seahawks Sign Robert Nkemdiche

The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche to an undisclosed deal on Thursday to bolster their defensive line. The 26-year-old former first-round pick out of Mississippi in 2016 played sparingly in his first two NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He had a small breakout in 2018 before his season ended early due […]

Panthers Pick Up D.J. Moore's Fifth-Year Option

The Carolina Panthers exercised the fifth-year option for the 2022 season on the contract of wide receiver D.J. Moore on Thursday. This doesn't come as a surprise. Moore just recently turned 24 years old and has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the team in just his third year in the NFL. Last season, Moore […]

Chances Of A Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Are Remote

Multiple teams are expected to contact the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday to ask about the availability of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, according to sources. However, the chances of him being traded are "remote," according to one source. The 49ers don't currently have plans to trade Garoppolo unless the value of a proposed deal overwhelms them. […]

Giants Pick Up Saquon Barkley's Fifth-Year Option

The New York Giants picked up the fifth-year option for the 2022 season on the contract of running back Saquon Barkley on Wednesday, according to a source. This was a no-brainer decision despite the fact that Barkley missed most of last season due to a torn ACL. It was reported on Wednesday that the 24-year-old […]

Daulton Varsho, Riley Smith Called Up

The Arizona Diamondbacks called up catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho and pitcher Riley Smith from the alternate training site on Wednesday after the team placed outfielder Kole Calhoun (hamstring) and pitcher Taylor Widener (groin) on the 10-day injured list. Varsho, who is primarily a catcher, could see more time in the outfield with Calhoun sidelined with an […]

Yordan Alvarez Out For Health And Safety Reasons

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is out of the lineup on Wednesday for "health and safety reasons," according to manager Dusty Baker. Outfielder Michael Brantley is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second against Seattle Mariners right-hander Justin Dunn. Meanwhile, Chas McCormick enters the starting lineup in the seventh spot while playing […]

George Springer Making Blue Jays Debut Wednesday

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (quadriceps) has been activated from the injured list and will make his season debut in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter on Wednesday against Washington Nationals right-hander Erick Fedde. Toronto is easing Springer back into the swing of things in his first game of the season, but he'll […]

Seahawks Plan To Keep Russell Wilson

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said at his pre-draft press conference that the team plans on quarterback Russell Wilson being with them "for a good while." Wilson voiced his displeasure with the team's offense and the front office this offseason, leading to speculation that he would be traded before the 2021 season. The Chicago […]

Colts Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Quenton Nelson

The Indianapolis Colts picked up the fifth-year option for the 2022 season on the contract for perennial Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson on Wednesday. It was a no-brainer move, as no player drafted since 2015 has been named to more first-team All-Pro teams than Nelson, who has earned those honors in each of his […]

Framber Valdez Ahead Of Schedule

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (finger) has progressed to the point where he is ready to start facing hitters, according to pitching coach Brent Strom. The left-hander fractured his left ring finger in his first start of spring training on March 2 but avoided surgery and is ahead of schedule. He's been throwing off […]

Joe Kelly Nearing His Season Debut

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly (undisclosed) could be getting close to making his season debut after being out since the start of spring training with an undisclosed injury. Kelly has spent the last few weeks at the alternate training site and has made about four appearances. The right-hander is scheduled to toss another […]

Cody Bellinger Trending In The Right Direction

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger (leg), who has been out since April 6 with a hairline fracture on his left fibula, is "trending in the right direction," according to manager Dave Roberts. Bellinger is scheduled to head to the team's alternate training site in Arizona to continue his rehab on Thursday. He has been […]

Lions Pick Up Frank Ragnow's Fifth-Year Option

The Detroit Lions picked up the fifth-year option for the 2022 season on center Frank Ragnow on Wednesday, according to a source. The move was widely expected after Ragnow had quickly become one of the league's best interior linemen in his first three seasons in the NFL. Ragnow will make $12.657 million fully guaranteed in […]

Will Harris, Wander Suero On The Mend

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Will Harris (hand) threw a simulated game on Sunday. He has not pitched in a game since mid-March, so the Nationals plan to continue to get him repetitions out of the bullpen. Reliever Wander Suero (oblique) began his throwing program on Monday and threw lightly on Tuesday. Suero is scheduled to […]

Broncos Acquire Teddy Bridgewater From Panthers

The Denver Broncos acquired quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick (No. 191 overall), according to a source. The Panthers will pay a portion of Bridgewater's 2021 compensation as part of a restructured contract. If anything, Bridgewater will be a solid backup option, but the Broncos […]

Jon Lester Getting Close To A Return?

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jon Lester threw 90 pitches over six innings on Sunday in a simulated game and was scheduled to throw a light bullpen session on Tuesday. Manager Dave Martinez, general manager Mike Rizzo and Lester will meet with pitching coach Jim Hickey to establish a plan for his next throwing session, including […]

Stephen Strasburg Throwing From 150 Feet

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (shoulder) threw from 150 feet on Tuesday and "everything went well," according to manager Dave Martinez. "We're hoping that he continues to build strength, and we can get him on the mound here real soon," Martinez said. Stras has been on the injured list since April 18 with right […]

Falcons Keeping Options Open At No. 4 Overall

Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot isn't sure exactly which way the team will go with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of Thursday's NFL draft. The first-year GM insists there's "definitely no pressure" heading into his first draft, because he thinks the pressure comes in the process of preparing for the […]

Three Quarterbacks Could Go In Day 2 Of Draft

Stanford's Davis Mills, Florida's Kyle Trask and Texas A&M's Kellen Mond could all be selected in Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night on Day 2 of this year's NFL draft. A handful of teams have done "extra legwork" on some or all of the potential Day 2 quarterbacks. The list of teams includes the […]

Saints Looking To Trade Up In First Round?

The New Orleans Saints are a team weighing a potential move up in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, according to sources. According to a source, the Saints may want to move up to grab Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley, and they feel that they may need to move ahead of […]

Saquon Barkley On Track For Start Of Season

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (knee), who tore his ACL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears last year, is on track to be ready for the start of the 2021 season, according to sources. It was reported several months ago that Barkley was doing very well in his rehab, and this is […]

Christian Darrisaw Expected To Be Fully Healed

Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (core, groin), who played with a significant groin injury late in 2020, also had surgery to fix a core muscle injury in January, according to a source. However, he took part in position drills at his Pro Day and should be fully healed soon after receiving a thumbs up […]

Bengals Won't Pick Up Billy Price's Fifth-Year Option

The Cincinnati Bengals will not pick up the fifth-year option for the 2022 season on 2018 first-round pick Billy Price, according to a source. Price will now become a free agent after the 2021 season. He would have earned an estimated base salary of $10.4 million in 2022 had the Bengals picked up the options, […]

Caleb Farley Tests Positive For COVID-19, Won't Attend Draft

Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will not be attending the NFL draft in Cleveland this week. "Fortunately he is completely asymptomatic and feels totally normal," said his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. "He will be watching the draft at home in North Carolina while in quarantine." Farley has the potential […]