Eduardo Rodriguez Throws Live Batting Practice

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (heart) threw live batting practice on Tuesday for the first time in spring training after missing all of the 2020 season due to inflammation of his heart. Manager Alex Cora said that Rodriguez "looks good" and that the ball was coming out of his hand effortlessly like before. […]

Injuries Continue To Hamper Tommy Pham

San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham was limited to just 31 games in the shortened 2020 season due to a left hamate fracture in his hand. The career .277/.373/.472 (126 OPS+) hitter batted just .211/.312/.312 (74 OPS+) when on the field in his first season with the Padres. But Pham walked and struck out as […]

Injury To Blame For Eugenio Suarez's Down Season?

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez had surgery in January of last year after a freak right shoulder injury, and it could've been largely responsible for his down 2020 season. He hit .118/.268/.235 with just four extra-base hits in his first 20 games. Suarez slashed a more respectable .246/.336/.592 with 19 extra-base hits and 13 […]

Forty-Plus Homers In Reach For Cody Bellinger

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger won the National League MVP in 2019 when he hit .305 with 47 home runs and a 1.035 OPS, but his OPS fell by 246 points last year. While he may never be able to replicate that special 2019 season, there are reasons for optimism. Bellinger hit .284 with […]

Nolan Arenado Could Have Excellent First Season In St. Louis

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado's disappointing 2020 season ended early due to a shoulder injury, but he still won his eighth straight Gold Glove Award and is joining a postseason contender. Arenado has never won an MVP, but he's finished in the top 10 in National League MVP voting five times, including three […]

Christian Yelich Should Bounce Back

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich's 34.6 percent swing rate last season was the second-lowest among qualified hitters in 2020. He had a 45.2 percent swing rate when he had his second straight MVP-caliber season, and the 10.6 percentage-point decrease was the largest among all hitters that qualified in 2019 and 2020. On the bright side, […]

Max Scherzer Progressing From Ankle Sprain

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (ankle), who sprained his left ankle during conditioning drills two weeks before spring training, is progressing and threw from 60 feet on Sunday. "He felt better -- he said he's about 80 to 85 percent," manager Dave Martinez said on Monday. The Nats are taking it day-to-day with their […]

Joey Gallo Still Has Elite Power

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo didn't mash the ball like we're used to seeing in 2020 -- his .378 slugging percentage was the lowest mark in any season where he's played at least 20 games -- but his expected slugging percentage was at .413, ranking in the 49th percentile. He also had an average home […]

J.D. Martinez's 2020 Season An Aberration?

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez had an uncharacteristic .389 slugging percentage in 2020 after posting a .619 mark from 2017-19. He hit 79 home runs in his first two years in Boston but only produced seven round-trippers in last year's shortened season. Martinez's hard-hit rate was down last year, but his 11.0 percent […]

Gleyber Torres Still Has A Bright Future

New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres hit 38 home runs in 144 games in 2019, but he finished last season with just three long balls in 42 games and his barrel rate dropped 6.4 percentage points, the sixth-largest drop in baseball. His hard-hit rate increased from 36.5 percent to 38.0 percent, but almost half of […]

Matt Olson Could Rebound In 2021

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson hit 14 home runs while playing in all 60 games in 2020, but his wOBA fell to .311 while his batting average sat at .195. Olson struck out a career-high 31.4 percent of the time last year, compared to a career rate closer to 25.0 percent in his first […]

Isaiah Wilson Says He's Done With Titans

Tennessee Titans right tackle Isaiah Wilson, the team's first-round draft pick (29th overall) last year, was put on notice by general manager Jon Robinson last week after he failed to live up to expectations in his rookie season. Wilson wrote on Twitter on Monday night that he is "done with football as a Titan" before […]

Kenyan Drake Open To Anything In Free Agency

Arizona Cardinals impending free-agent running back Kenyan Drake, who is coming off his best season (955 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns), is open to anything as he approaches free agency next month. "There are gonna be several different circumstances that I guess I'll come together with my team to kind of deliberate with exactly who […]

Kawann Short Drawing Interest On Open Market

Free-agent defensive tackle Kawann Short said that he's receiving interest after he was released by the Carolina Panthers last week. "We had a few teams reach out, but none set in stone," Short said. "We're really trying to narrow it down to see what's the best fit for me, the best fit for my family." […]

Shin-Soo Choo To Play In KBO In 2021

Free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is expected to join the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2021, according to Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV. The 38-year-old left-handed hitter spent the last seven years with the Texas Rangers, and he hit .236/.323/.400 over 33 games in the shortened 2020 season. Choo was an All-Star in […]

Anibal Sanchez Not Rushing To Sign

Free-agent starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez turned down multiple MLB offers after he impressed during his showcase, and he plans to wait and see how the league's COVID-19 protocols go during spring training and hope that a contender calls while he's waiting. If things are under control with the virus, Sanchez will pitch in 2021. The […]

Carlos Correa Open To Long-Term Extension

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa said he's open to a long-term contract extension if it's completed before Opening Day. Correa avoided salary arbitration by signing a one-year, $11.7 million deal, but he can become a free agent after the 2021 season. He's spent his whole career with Houston after he was the first overall pick […]

Diamondbacks Finalize Deal With Asdrubal Cabrera

The Arizona Diamondbacks confirmed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with infielder Asdrubal Cabrera on Monday. The 35-year-old was in spring camp on Monday when the team went through their first full-squad workout. Cabrera made $925,926 in prorated pay from a $2.5 million salary last season in 52 games for the Washington Nationals during the shortened […]

Tyler Clippard Agrees With Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent relief pitcher Tyler Clippard to a one-year, $2.25 million deal on Monday night, according to multiple reports. The deal includes $1.75 million this year and a $3.5 million mutual option for the 2022 season with a $500,000 buyout. The 36-year-old right-hander is a two-time All-Star and has made 777 appearances […]

K.J. Wright Won't Take Hometown Discount

Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent linebacker K.J. Wright said "it makes absolutely no sense" to take a hometown discount as he heads into free agency next month. "I do way too much on the football field to take a discount," said Wright. He was the only player in the league last year to hit double digits […]

Franklin Perez Throwing In Camp

Detroit Tigers right-hander Franklin Perez (shoulder), the team's No. 14 prospect, threw his first formal bullpen session of spring training on Monday. Perez took things easy, but it was a good step for an injury-plagued youngster that has pitched in just nine minor league games since joining the team as part of the Justin Verlander […]

Spencer Torkelson Impresses In Batting Practice

Detroit Tigers first baseman/third baseman Spencer Torkelson, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, put on a show in batting practice at spring training on Monday during the team's first full-squad workout. Torkelson will get his first look at live pitching on Tuesday, and he could see quite a few at-bats when spring training games […]

Albert Pujols Unsure Of Plans Past 2021

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is undecided on whether he'll continue his career beyond the 2021 season, according to a source. The 41-year-old is entering the final year of his $10-year, $240 million deal with the Angels. The future Hall of Famer could open this season backing up Jared Walsh at first base […]

Yoenis Cespedes To Hold Showcase March 2

Free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes wants to play in 2021 and will hold a showcase for major league teams on March 2 in Fort Pierce, Florida. The 35-year-old opted out of the 2020 season after just eight games for COVID-19-related reasons. Cespedes has been bothered by multiple injuries and has played in just 127 games since […]

Cleveland Hasn't Talked Extension With Shane Bieber

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber said the team hasn't approached him about a long-term contract extension, but he said he's willing to listen and sounded excited about the idea. Cleveland typically starts extension talks in spring training, so the two sides could come together soon on discussions. The 25-year-old right-hander is under team control […]

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 […]