Red Sox Close To Signing Jonathan Lucroy

The Boston Red Sox are close to a deal with catcher Jonathan Lucroy on Tuesday, according to sources. Lucroy would become a depth option behind Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki and would likely be settling for a minor league deal. The 33-year-old veteran backstop hit just .232/.305/.355 with eight homers and 36 RBI in 101 […]

Miles Mikolas To Miss Start Of Season

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (elbow) will miss the start of the regular season because of a flexor-tendon issue in his right elbow, according to manager Mike Shildt. Mikolas will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection and be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. The right-hander had a PRP injection after last season ended […]

D.J. Humphries Receives Three-Year Deal From Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals agreed with left tackle D.J. Humphries on a three-year, $45 million deal on Monday, according to sources. Humphries will make $30 million over the first two years, and the deal includes $29 million guaranteed. The 26-year-old played in a full season in 2019 for the first time since going 24th overall in […]

Teddy Bridgewater Expected To Have Big Free-Agent Market

Multiple teams expect New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to have a strong free-agent market as a starting or bridge quarterback for a team in transition this offseason. Bridgewater is expected to sign with another team unless Drew Brees retires. The 27-year-old Louisville alumni played in nine games in 2019 and held his own with […]

Panthers Think Cam Newton Will Be Cleared By March

The Carolina Panthers think that quarterback Cam Newton (foot) is likely to pass a physical and be cleared for some football activities in March, according to a source. However, they will still likely use caution with him in spring workouts if he remains on the team. Newton continues to rehab a surgically repaired Lisfranc injury […]

Francis Martes Suspended 162 Games

Houston Astros pitcher Francis Martes was suspended for 162 games without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing drug. Martes was suspended for a similar offense last March, so he'll miss the entire 2020 season for his second violation. The 24-year-old Dominican last pitched in the big leagues in 2017, making 32 appearances (four […]

Nick Solak Has Chance To Be Starter In Center Field

Texas Rangers second baseman/outfielder Nick Solak has a chance to win the starting center field job this spring. Acquired from the Rays last year, Solak hit a cool .293/.393/.491 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 33 games for the Rangers to finish the season. The 25-year-old ended the year ranked as the team's […]

Francisco Lindor Might Not Hit Leadoff

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is in negotiations with the team on a multi-year deal, might not hit leadoff in 2020. Lindor has been the team's primary leadoff hitter for the last two and a half years. He's hit 70 home runs in the last two years and could be better off in the […]

Avisail Garcia, Ryan Braun To Split Time In Right Field

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said that outfielders Avisail Garcia and Ryan Braun will share time in right field this year, with Braun also playing some first base. Christian Yelich will move from right field to left field in 2020. Braun, 36, managed to play in 144 games for Milwaukee last year, hitting .285 with […]

Yoenis Cespedes, Jed Lowrie Take Part In Monday's Workout

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (ankle, heels) and infielder Jed Lowrie (side) both took part in the team's workout on Monday. Lowrie had no physical restrictions, according to manager Luis Rojas. He took ground balls and live batting practice and is a full-go in practice. Cespedes took part in most activities but remains a […]

Jonathan Villar To Begin In Center Field

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that infielder Jonathan Villar will start camp working in center field. Villar will continue to get repetitions in the infield, but the Marlins are hoping Villar becomes their center fielder. It remains to be seen if Villar can stick at the position having little experience in the outfield, but […]

Starlin Castro Will Mostly Play Second Base

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that infielder Starlin Castro will mostly play second base, while Howie Kendrick will mostly play first and second base in spring training. Castro and Kendrick could play some third base later this spring, but Carter Kieboom and Asdrubal Cabrera are expected to be the primary options at the hot […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Working To Improve Launch Angle

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said he has been working to improve his launch angle, which at 6.7 degrees in his rookie season in 2019 ranked 372nd out of 406 major league hitters who put 100 or more balls into play. Hitting coach Guillermo Martinez and the team's strength and conditioning staff […]

Lions Having Trade Talks Involving Darius Slay

The Detroit Lions have talked with multiple teams about a potential trade for Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, according to sources. However, any team that trades for Slay must compensate the Lions and Slay with a new deal, and Detroit is determined to get fair value for Slay. The 29-year-old former second-round pick in 2013 […]

Dolphins Have Lukewarm Interest In Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Dolphins don't view Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as a slam-dunk pick with the fifth overall selection in this year's draft. On the flip side, the team has an increasingly positive view of Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert after he impressed at the Senior Bowl, according to sources familiar with the team's thinking. One source […]

Browns Release Demetrius Harris

The Cleveland Browns released tight end Demetrius Harris, cornerback T.J. Carrie, offensive guard Eric Kush and linebacker Adarius Taylor on Monday. Harris played in 15 games (six starts) in 2019 and caught 15 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Mostly known for his blocking prowess, Harris couldn't even take advantage when David Njoku was […]

Dion Lewis Could Be Cap Casualty

Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis could be a salary cap casualty this year. Lewis carries a $5.1 million salary for 2020, and the Titans can save $4 million if they cut him, with $1.1 million in dead money. He basically served in a change-of-pace role behind bell-cow Derrick Henry in 2019, carrying the ball […]

Jordan Reed Still Experiencing Concussion Symptoms

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed (concussion) remains in the concussion protocol six months after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the preseason. It was the seventh documented concussion of his career, and it caused him to miss all of the 2019 season. His future in the league and with Washington is up in the air. […]

Mike Tomlin Confident Ben Roethlisberger Will Be Ready

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he has "no hesitation" that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) will be ready for Week 1. "This guy is the ultimate competitor. He dropped the gauntlet down. He made the statement he's coming back," Tomlin said. Roethlisberger played in just two games last year before needing season-ending right elbow […]

Jets Unlikely To Trade Le'Veon Bell

The New York Jets won't cut running back Le'Veon Bell because of the $19 million in dead salary cap money if they do so, and because of his massive salary, a trade is remote as well. If they really wanted to trade Bell, they'd have to be willing to pay a portion of his 2020 […]

Brian Snitker, Alex Anthopoulos Receive Extensions

The Atlanta Braves extended the contracts of manager Brian Snitker and general manager Alex Anthopoulos on Monday. Anthopoulos will be promoted to the team's president of baseball operations, and his contract is extended through 2024. Snitker and his coaching staff are now extended through the 2021 season. Snitker, 64, is 318-292 in three full seasons […]

Chris Davis Tried To Regain Strength In Offseason

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said that he gained around 25 pounds in the offseason in order to regain his strength. Davis calls it "good weight" and said that being leaner hurt his power and confidence. Hitting .179/.276/.326 is bound to hurt anyone's confidence, and the power-hitting left-handed swinger has now hit under .200 […]

Adam Frazier Played Through Finger, Shoulder Injuries Last Year

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier (finger, shoulder) revealed that he played through a broken right index finger and separated shoulder in 2019. Frazier said he broke his finger in spring training and separated his shoulder on Opening Day, but he didn't want the team to disclose his injuries and he played 152 games. Despite […]

Nathaniel Lowe Drops 20 Pounds

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Nathaniel Lowe has slimmed down by around 20 pounds. In his rookie season in 2019, Lowe hit .263/.325/.454 with seven home runs and 19 RBI in 50 games for the Rays in 152 at-bats. There's definitely some intrigue here, but the Rays have plenty of other options for first base, […]

Miguel Cabrera Back To 2015 Playing Weight

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera said he put on weight last year, but he's now back to his playing weight from the 2015 season. Cabrera changed his diet in the offseason to include more vegetables and fewer carbohydrates. The 36-year-old (37 in April) Dominican hit .338/.440/.534 with 18 home runs and 76 RBI in […]

Jean Segura Comes To Camp Lighter

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jean Segura came to camp 14 pounds lighter this year. He achieved that in the offseason by eating better, sleeping more and cutting out whiskey from his diet. Segura is willing to play anywhere the team wants him to play. The Phils said they plan on using him at either third or […]

Alex Bregman Focused On Mobility In Offseason

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman focused on his mobility in the offseason and came to camp weighing 195 pounds after he weighed in at 215 pounds last year. Typically a slow starter, Bregman is hoping to jump out of the gates quickly in 2020. The 25-year-old (26 in March) hit .296/.423/.592 with 41 home […]

Clayton Kershaw Healthy Entering 2020 Season

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (shoulder), who didn't pitch in a single spring training game last year and who missed the first three weeks of the regular season due to a left shoulder injury, said he feels "a lot better" after a healthy offseason. The left-hander also said he "never really did stop […]

Joey Wendle Recovered From Wrist Injury

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Joey Wendle (wrist) is confident that the right wrist injury that sidelined him twice last season is fully healed. "It feels really good," Wendle said. "I don’t foresee it being an issue whatsoever this season, and I’m looking forward to hopefully a fully healthy season." Wendle hit just .231 with a […]

Tommy La Stella, David Fletcher Could Platoon At Second Base

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said the most likely situation to fit both infielders Tommy La Stella and David Fletcher into the lineup together is with La Stella at second base and Fletcher in right field. “Obviously you want to get Tommy out there as often as you can against righties,” Maddon said. “The […]