Several D-Backs Players Test Positive For COVID-19

One player on the Arizona Diamondbacks 40-man roster, "several" minor leaguers and one minor league coach have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last week, according to a team official. No identities have been released, but a source says that more than 70 of the 80-plus tests came back negative. All of the positive tests […]

Training Camps To Open As Scheduled

The NFL has advised teams that training camps are expected to begin as scheduled on July 28, with rookies and selected players allowed to report earlier, according to executive vice president Jeff Pash. Commissioner Roger Goodell also said that the league's focus is to "get ready for games at our stadiums and to engage our […]

Josh Gordon Hopes To Hear Back In 30 Days

Free-agent wide receiver Josh Gordon has applied for reinstatement by the NFL and is hoping to hear back from commissioner Roger Goodell within the next 30 days. Gordon could meet with the commissioner either in person or virtually. He's been staying clean but hasn't been drug tested recently during the coronavirus pandemic. At age 29, […]

Odell Beckham Jr. 100 Percent Healthy

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (hernia) is "free and clear." "He's 100 percent and looking really good" following sports hernia surgery. Cleveland's offense was dysfunctional last year, mainly because of a poor offensive line, but OBJ was also playing through injury for most of the year, which […]

Daniel Jones Bulking Up

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is bulking up in preparation for his first full season as the Giants starter under center. Jones, who stands at 6-foot-5, weighed 220 pounds as a rookie, but he's now closer to 230 pounds after hitting the weights hard this offseason. The second-year signal-caller wanted to put on a […]

Blaze Jordan Signs For $1.75 Million

The Boston Red Sox agreed to a $1.75 million bonus with third-rounder Blaze Jordan on Thursday, according to a source. The bonus is significantly higher than the slot value for the No. 89 overall pick, which is $667,900. Jordan is a 17-year-old third baseman from Mississippi who burst onto the scene at just 12 years […]

Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley DH Options For Braves

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna's range has declined in recent years, and his arm strength hasn't really returned since he had right shoulder surgery after the 2018 season. The presence of the designated hitter for National League teams this year will allow the Braves to put Ozuna's power bat in the middle of the lineup […]

Cowboys-Steelers Hall Of Fame Game Canceled

The NFL is canceling the preseason opener Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 6 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to league sources. The Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on Aug. 8 is being postponed until next year. With COVID-19 cases on the rise in […]

Stephen Piscotty Should Be Ready For Season Opener

Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty (oblique), who was shut down from baseball activities earlier this spring, told NBC Sports Bay Area in April that he was pain-free and taking swings. Piscotty said that he was "fully confident" that he will be ready for the 2020 season opener. Fantasy owners will probably want the 29-year-old to […]

A.J. Puk, Jesus Luzardo Could Be Free Of Innings Restrictions

Oakland Athletics left-handed pitching prospects A.J. Puk (shoulder) and Jesus Luzardo, the team's No. 3 and 1 prospects at MLB Pipeline, respectively, could be free of innings restrictions in 2020 now that the season will only consist of 60 games and start in late July. Puk was shut down in March when he suffered a […]

Eugenio Suarez 100 Percent Recovered

Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams said that third baseman Eugenio Suarez (shoulder) is 100 percent recovered from offseason shoulder surgery in January. Prior to COVID-19 delaying the 2020 season, Suarez was a question mark to be ready for Opening Day, but it looks like he'll be full strength when the season finally […]

Shaquil Barrett Unsure If He'll Sign Franchise Tag

Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, the reigning NFL sack leader, is one of five remaining NFL players (A.J. Green, Chris Jones, Yannick Ngakoue and Justin Simmons) that have yet to sign their franchise-tag tenders. Barrett said on NFL Total Access on Wednesday that he is "about 50-50" on whether he'll sign it. He […]

Howie Kendrick One Of Many Options For DH Role

The Washington Nationals used second baseman Howie Kendrick as their designated hitter last year in the World Series against the Astros. Kendrick is back for his 15th season, and while he's expected to be a backup infielder, he's now the top candidate to serve as their DH with National League adopting the rule for the […]

Ryan Braun's Career Could Be Extended With New DH Rule

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/first baseman Ryan Braun's career could be extended with a universal designated hitter in the National League for the shortened 2020 season and possibly in 2021 and beyond. Braun is 36 years old and is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, leading to questions in March about this potentially being his […]

Braves To Be Cautious With Starting Pitchers Early In Season

Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that the team will be cautious with their starting pitchers early in the shortened 2020 season, with some of them potentially going just two to three innings for the first couple of times through the rotation. Other pitchers would then piggy back off the starters and go two […]

Red Sox Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that "one player who was exposed in his hometown, got tested, was positive but he's been asymptomatic and that's resolving. We've been fortunate that's the only other positive test we've had." The identity of the player hasn't been revealed, but Bloom said he is on the […]

Collin McHugh Could Be Ready For Start Of Season

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that pitcher Collin McHugh (elbow) could be ready to play by Opening Day in late July. McHugh is already throwing off a mound and is getting close to pitching in games. The right elbow issue that he dealt with last year was still bothering him in […]

Alex Verdugo Should Be Ready To Go

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that outfielder Alex Verdugo (back) should be "all systems go" for spring training 2.0 and the start of the 2020 regular season in late July. Verdugo was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, and he said that […]

Diamondbacks Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a player test positive for COVID-19 in the last month in Arizona, according to general manager Mike Hazen. However, the player that tested positive wasn't using the team's spring training facilities, so it sounds as though no other players or staff members that were using the team's spring training facilities were […]

John Brebbia Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said that relief pitcher John Brebbia (elbow) had Tommy John surgery three weeks ago. Brebbia will miss all of the shortened 2020 season and likely at least half of the 2021 season. The 30-year-old right-hander would've likely served in a middle-relief role this year after posting a 3.59 […]

Dodgers To Start Season With Five-Man Rotation

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the team is planning to start the 2020 regular season with a five-man starting rotation. However, Roberts doesn't anticipate the starters going beyond four innings per game during their first turn through the rotation. With the 2020 season shortened to 60 games because of COVID-19, we're likely […]

Cole Hamels Expected To Be Ready For Start Of Season

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Cole Hamels (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of the 60-game 2020 season in late July, according to general manager Alex Anthopoulos. It's usually not a good sign when a 36-year-old develops shoulder issues in the spring, but Hamels has had time to recover because of COVID-19 and […]

Players Set To Report To Training Camp On July 28

The National Football League has set a date of July 28 for veterans to arrive to training camp amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, the league and Players Association are still negotiating what training camps will look like and how the health and safety protocols will be handled. But as of now, it looks like the […]

Multiple Mariners Test Positive For COVID-19

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said that "more than one" player on the team has tested positive for COVID-19. Dipto also said that a "few" of them, not all, are showing symptoms of the virus. With spring training 2.0 set to begin next week in Seattle for the Mariners, all of their players will […]

Mariners To Use Six-Man Rotation For Start Of Season

The Seattle Mariners will use a six-man starting rotation to begin the delayed 2020 season at the end of July. Some starters will get piggy-backed. Marco Gonzales is expected to be the team's Opening Day arm, followed by the likes of Yusei Kikuchi, Justus Sheffield, Kendall Graveman and Taijuan Walker. Justin Dunn, Nestor Cortes and […]

Austin Adams Will Be Full-Go For Spring Training

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said that relief pitcher Austin Adams (knee) will be full-go for spring training 2.0 next week. Adams underwent surgery last October for a torn left ACL. The delay to the 2020 season thanks to COVID-19 was a positive for Adams, and he could factor into high-leverage situations at the […]

Mitch Haniger's Status Uncertain For Spring Training 2.0

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto is uncertain about outfielder Mitch Haniger's (back, groin) status for spring training 2.0 in early July. Because Haniger has had two core surgeries and a back operation since last June, his readiness for Opening Day in late July should also be in question. The 29-year-old hit .285 with 26 […]

Joely Rodriguez Not Expected To Be Ready For Start Of Season

Texas Rangers left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez (lat), who strained a late muscle in April, is throwing but is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2020 season in late July. Barring any setbacks, the southpaw should be able to pitch before the shortened season is over. The 28-year-old Dominican could figure into […]

Pirates Sign First-Rounder Nick Gonzales

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed rookie shortstop Nick Gonzales, the seventh overall pick this month, to a $5.432 million signing bonus on Wednesday, which matches the slot value for the No. 7 pick. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound middle infielder might have been the best pure hitter in this year's draft class. Gonzales was the Cape Cod League […]

Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez Could Serve On Taxi Squad

Seattle Mariners CEO John Stanton said that he expects young prospects like outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, catcher Cal Raleigh and pitchers Logan Gilbert and George Kirby to be on the 30-man taxi squad for the shortened 2020 season. Even this year's first-round pick, Emerson Hancock, has a shot. Kelenic and Rodriguez are one […]