Carlos Carrasco, Dominic Smith Absent Monday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco and first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith were among four players that were absent from the team's first full-squad spring training workout due to a "non-injury-related issue," according to manager Luis Rojas. However, all four players should be at camp by the end of the week. This should be a […]

Tyler Eifert Expected To Become Free Agent

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to decline the team option for tight end Tyler Eifert, according to a source. Eifert was expected to earn a little under $5 million for the 2021 season if his option had been picked up, but he'll become a free agent instead. The oft-injured tight end managed to play in […]

Trey Mancini Without Restrictions This Spring

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini went through his first full-squad spring workout on Monday for the first time since he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer last March. Mancini has been in Florida since Feb. 1 and started taking live batting practice on the field after a week. The 29-year-old has been cleared to […]

Freddie Freeman Won't Report Tuesday

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will not report with the rest of the team's position players to spring training on Tuesday following the birth of his twin sons. Manager Brian Snitker said he expects the 2020 National League MVP to arrive later in the week. Freeman will have to spend "a couple days" away […]

Kemah Siverand Arrested For Street Racing

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kemah Siverand, who was signed to a futures contract last month after spending the second half of 2020 on the practice squad, was arrested early Saturday after a street-racing incident in Houston. The 24-year-old was one of three drivers arrested, and he was charged with felony evading arrest after he "initially […]

Eagles Will Release Alshon Jeffery

The Philadelphia Eagles plan on releasing wide receiver Alshon Jeffery when the new league year begins in March. With a much younger wideout corps expected for 2021, the move has been obvious for quite a while. Philadelphia also officially released veteran pass-catcher DeSean Jackson on Monday after he said the team was releasing him last […]

Jamaal Williams Prefers To Stay With Green Bay

Green Bay Packers impending free-agent running back Jamaal Williams would prefer to stay with the Packers for the rest of his career. "I'm thinking about free agency, but I'd really love to just be a Packer all my life if I could," Williams said. Williams and Aaron Jones, who is also set to be a […]

Texans Re-Sign Dontrell Hilliard

The Houston Texans are re-signing running back/kick returner Dontrell Hilliard to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million on Monday, according to a source. Hilliard, who was set to become a restricted free agent, will receive $200,000 guaranteed. The soon-to-be 26-year-old played in seven games with the Cleveland Browns and Texans in 2020, but he was […]

Derek Carr Likely To Stay, Marcus Mariota Likely Gone?

It's looking more likely that Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will remain with the team in 2021, while backup Marcus Mariota has been the subject of trade calls. Mariota is due $10 million in the final year of his contract and would probably get a chance to return to a starting gig under center […]

Kenny Golladay A Strong Candidate For Franchise Tag

Detroit Lions impending free-agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay is a prime candidate to be slapped with the franchise tag in the coming weeks if the two sides can't reach a long-term contract extension, along with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin. Golladay played in only five games due to injury in […]

Mike Tomlin Diagnosed With COVID-19

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is away from the team facility, according to sources. A team spokesman said that members of the coaching and personnel staffs were sent home last week after a couple positive COVID-19 tests surfaced. The Steelers had at least three players -- running back […]

Mike Iupati Hanging Up His Cleats

Long-time NFL offensive lineman Mike Iupati, who played the last two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, has decided to retire from football. "My body was telling me it was time to close the door," Iupati said. The 33-year-old played 11 seasons in the NFL. Along the way, he was selected to the Pro Bowl four […]

David Andrews Wants To Stay In New England

New England Patriots impending free-agent center David Andrews said he "would love to stay" with the team in 2021 and beyond. Left guard Joe Thuney will also be a free agent, but he played last year on the franchise tag and could become too expensive for the Patriots as one of the best guards in […]

Cam Newton Has No Plans To Retire

New England Patriots impending free-agent quarterback Cam Newton said he has no plans to retire. "I can't go out like that. I hear all of that talk. My pride won't allow me to do it. There aren't 32 guys better than me," Newton said. He began his first and potentially last year in New England […]

Jets Not Making A Decision On Sam Darnold Yet

The New York Jets plan to complete their evaluations of the top quarterbacks, including Pro Days and interviews, in the NFL draft before making any final decisions on quarterback Sam Darnold, according to sources. The Jets have received real trade interest in Darnold, but they want to get the full QB picture first. New York's […]

Steelers Tweak Cameron Heyward's Contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers did a basic conversion to restructure defensive lineman Cameron Heyward's contract, according to a source, and he'll still make $10.5 million for the 2021 season. A roster bonus and base were converted to a signing bonus, which created around $7 million in salary cap space for the cap-challenged Steelers. Pittsburgh ranks No. […]

Jeremy Jeffress Lands With Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to a minor league deal with free-agent relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress on Monday that includes an invite to spring training, according to a source. Jeffress would earn $1.25 million with another potential $1.25 million in performance bonuses if he makes the team's big-league roster. The 33-year-old right-hander spent the 2020 season […]

Stephen Strasburg Feeling Great

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (hand, thumb) said he's "been feeling great" since he underwent surgery last August to fix carpal-tunnel neuritis after experiencing chronic numbness in his right thumb. Strasburg made just two starts last season before undergoing the surgery, finishing 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA over five innings. The 32-year-old right-hander started […]

Ian Kennedy Signs With Rangers

The Texas Rangers signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Monday. The 36-year-old veteran of 14 years in the major leagues is coming off a 2020 season with the Kansas City Royals in which he allowed 14 earned runs (seven home runs) in just […]

Clayton Kershaw Plans To Pitch Beyond 2021

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who is entering the final season of his three-year, $93 million deal in 2021, made it clear that he plans to pitch again in 2022. "I have no intentions of hanging them up," Kershaw said Sunday. "I'm only 32. I feel like I have a few more years […]

Corbin Burnes' Changeup Standing Out

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes drew praise from catcher Omar Narvaez in spring camp because of his improved changeup. "I think it's a big weapon for him this year," Narvaez said. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 2.11 ERA in his breakout in 2020, and it was backed up by a 2.99 xFIP and a […]

Jarred Kelenic To Start The Year In Minors

Seattle Mariners president and CEO Kevin Mather said that outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic will start the 2021 season in the minor leagues after Kelenic and his representation rejected the team's six-year contract extension offer with options. "We would like him to get a few more at-bats in the minor leagues, probably Triple-A Tacoma for a […]

Jake Arrieta Happy To Be Back With Cubs

Former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta is happy to be back with the Chicago Cubs and said it's "where I wanted to be." The 34-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $6 million deal to return to the team that he helped win a World Series title with. He pitched for Chicago from 2013-17 and won the […]

J.T. Realmuto Catches Bullpen Over The Weekend

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (thumb) is dealing with a broken right thumb, but manager Joe Girardi said that he was able to catch reliever Brandon Kintzler's bullpen session on Saturday. Realmuto was also able to hit with his left hand and handle pop-ups while backing up the bases. The Phillies are hoping that he'll […]

Anthony Rendon Could Be Late To Camp

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that third baseman Anthony Rendon could be a late arrival to spring training due to the ongoing weather situation in Texas. Rendon is from Houston, but a late arrival to spring training shouldn't affect his fantasy value at all heading into the 2021 season. The 30-year-old hit .289/.418/.497 […]

Jake Lamb Agrees With Braves

The Atlanta Braves agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent corner infielder Jake Lamb on Sunday. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger had 59 home runs and an .843 OPS for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 and 2017, but he has battled multiple injuries in the last three seasons. After he hit 30 long balls in […]

Bryan Abreu, Andre Scrubb Earn Early Praise

Houston Astros pitchers Bryan Abreu and Andre Scrubb have earned early praise from pitching coach Brent Strom in spring training. Abreu made the roster for the American League Championship Series in 2019 but showed up out of shape last year and didn't pitch well. Scrubb took advantage of his opportunity in the shortened 2020 season […]

Ryan Pressly The Leading Candidate To Close

It appears that the closer role this year is Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Pressly's to lose after he converted 12 of 16 save chances last year when Roberto Osuna was injured and lost for the season, according to pitching coach Brent Strom. Pressly was an All-Star setup man in 2019 and converted 11 of […]

Don't Give Up On Carter Kieboom

Washington Nationals third baseman Carter Kieboom hasn't responded in his first 165 big-league plate appearances so far, hitting just .181 while losing playing time to Asdrubal Cabrera last summer before being optioned to the team's alternate training site. But Kieboom hit .303/.409/.493 in 109 Triple-A games in 2019 and has a career minor league slash […]

Ryan McMahon Could Return To 2019 Prominence

Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon took a step back in 2020 (.215/.295/.419 in 52 games) after hitting 24 home runs in 141 games in 2019, but he has the tools to return to prominence from a power perspective this season. He has a 46.2 percent hard-hit rate since 2018, including a 43 percent mark in […]