Jose Leclerc To Enter Camp As Closer

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc will open spring training as the team's closer. “To the degree that we are putting the bullpen on paper today, I’d put him down at the back,” general manager Jon Daniels said recently. However, Daniels hedged his comments by saying that Leclerc and his swing-and-miss stuff might play better […]

Felix Pena Cleared To Throw Off Mound

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena (knee), who is working his way back from a torn ACL last year, has been cleared to throw off a mound. Pena made just 22 appearances in 2019 (seven starts) before his knee injury, and he struggled with a 4.58 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 101 and […]

Ross Stripling Also Heading To Angels

The Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers are still working to finalize their deal that is now expected to include starting pitcher Ross Stripling. The Dodgers would send outfielder Joc Pederson and Stripling to the Halos for middle infielder Luis Rengifo and two prospects, but there are still a lot of moving parts here. […]

Braves Not Actively Pursuing Kris Bryant

There have been no recent trade talks between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves involving third baseman Kris Bryant. The Braves have been rumored to be interested in trading for Bryant ever since they failed to re-sign Josh Donaldson. Bryant also became more attractive as a trade commodity when he lost his service-time grievance against […]

Red Sox Getting Alex Verdugo, Brusdar Graterol

The Boston Red Sox are acquiring outfielder Alex Verdugo and pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol in exchange for outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price in a three-team blockbuster trade involving the Dodgers and Twins, according to sources. With Betts now out of Beantown, Verdugo will join Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi in the […]

Twins Set To Acquire Kenta Maeda In Blockbuster Trade

The Minnesota Twins will acquire starting pitcher Kenta Maeda from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster three-team deal that also involves outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price going from the Red Sox to the Dodgers, according to sources. With Price joining the Dodgers rotation, Maeda is being shipped out. The Japanese right-hander […]

Joc Pederson Heading To Angels In Trade

The Los Angeles Angels will acquire outfielder Joc Pederson from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for infielder Luis Rengifo, according to sources. With the Dodgers reportedly acquiring Mookie Betts and David Price on Tuesday night, Pederson and Alex Verdugo (heading to Boston) were expendable. Pederson hit .249/.339/.538 with a career-high 36 home runs and […]

Dolphins Re-Sign Ricardo Louis

The Miami Dolphins re-signed wide receiver Ricardo Louis to a one-year contract extension for 2020, according to a source. Louis is still only 25 years old (26 in March), but he missed 2018 with a neck injury and the 2019 season with a knee issue. In two seasons with the Browns, Louis had 45 catches […]

Chiefs Want To Bring Sammy Watkins Back

The Kansas City Chiefs would like to bring wide receiver Sammy Watkins back in 2020. Watkins is only 26 years old and has had big performances for the Chiefs the last two postseasons, including going over 100 yards with a score in the AFC Championship against the Titans this year and his five-catch, 98-yard effort […]

Dodgers Agree To Acquire Mookie Betts, David Price

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox that would send All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price to the Dodgers, according to sources familiar with the deal. The deal is pending medical reviews and could involve a third team. Significant money will be going the way […]

Yonder Alonso Signs With Braves

The Atlanta Braves signed first baseman Yonder Alonso to a minor league deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Alonso hit an atrocious .199/.296/.346 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 121 games between the White Sox and Rockies last season. After clubbing a career-high 28 homers with the A's and Mariners as an […]

Cubs Considering Jason Kipnis

The Chicago Cubs have been in contact with second baseman Jason Kipnis, who is a Chicago native. The Cubs may have an opening at second base this season, so Kipnis would make sense, although he might be better off as a platoon guy after slugging .446 against right-handers last year with the Indians compared to […]

Panthers Re-Sign Reggie Bonnafon

The Carolina Panthers signed running back Reggie Bonnafon to a one-year extension on Tuesday. Bonnafon was the No. 2 behind workhorse Christian McCaffrey in 2019, so he only saw 16 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown over a full season in 2019. He averaged a healthy 7.3 yards per carry, though, and also added […]

Wilmer Flores Heading To San Francisco

The San Francisco Giants agreed to a multi-year deal with infielder Wilmer Flores on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Flores hit .317/.361/.487 with the Diamondbacks in 2019 and could play either second base or a utility role for the Giants in 2020. He'll be competing with the likes of Mauricio Dubon, Donovan […]

Rangers Sign Greg Bird

The Texas Rangers signed first baseman Greg Bird to a minor league deal on Tuesday. The deal will include an invite to spring training. If Bird can manage to stay healthy -- he's played in only 92 games the last two seasons with the Yankees combined due to multiple injuries -- he should have a […]

Astros Make Offer To Hunter Pence

The Houston Astros have made an offer to outfielder Hunter Pence, according to MLB sources. Pence was drafted by Houston and played for them from 2007 to 2011. He's a four-time All-Star, including in 2019 with the Rangers when he hit .297 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI in a resurgent season. The 36-year-old […]

Andrew Whitworth Expected To Return In 2020

Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth (ankle) will put off retirement and is expected to return for the 2020 season, according to sources. Whitworth underwent surgery to clean out his ankle and is feeling great and wants to keep playing at 38 years old. Given LA's struggles on the offensive line last year, he's […]

Derrick Henry Sets His Asking Price

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, who will hit the free-agent market in March, revealed what he is looking for if the Titans don't re-sign him. “Zeke numbers is the floor,” Henry said on “The Rich Eisen Show” about his asking price. Ezekiel Elliott signed a six-year, $90 million contract extension that included $50 million […]

Sean Rodriguez Signs With Marlins

The Miami Marlins agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Sean Rodriguez on Tuesday, according to a source. The 34-year-old played every position in 2019 for the Phillies except catcher, and he even threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings on the mound. That's about where the good ended for S-Rod, though, as he hit only […]

Greg Olsen To Visit With Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are interested in former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, according to a source. The veteran tight end will take a visit to Seattle. That will be after he visits with the Bills and Redskins this week. From a fantasy perspective, Olsen going to the Seahawks and catching passes from quarterback Russell […]

Johnathan Abram Close To Full Health

Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (shoulder), who tore his rotator cuff in the season opener last year in his rookie season, said he is currently at 90 percent health and benched 185 pounds 10 times during his training session last week. The 27th overall pick last April was looking to be a potential difference-maker […]

Lions Discussing Extension With Darius Slay

The Detroit Lions and Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay continue to discuss a long-term contract extension, but the expectation remains that he could re-enter the trade market if no deal is reached in the coming weeks, according to a source. Slay is eligible to become a free agent after next season. The 29-year-old totaled 46 […]

Jamal Adams Expects Extension From Jets

New York Jets safety Jamal Adams expects to reach a contract extension with the team this offseason, and the Jets and his representation are in the early stages of talks. The All-Pro safety is optimistic that a deal will get done this offseason. Adams was a first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2019 and […]

Greg Olsen To Visit Bills, Redskins

Free-agent tight end Greg Olsen will visit with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins this week, according to a source. Bills general manager Brandon Beane used to work for the Panthers, while Redskins head coach Ron Rivera coached Olsen with the Panthers. Olsen was officially released by Carolina on Monday. If he wants a shot […]

Dolphins Unlikely To Pursue Tom Brady

The Miami Dolphins are unlikely to strongly pursue New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is set to become a free agent in March, according to one source. “We’re a team that’s building, and I don’t know why he’d really want to come to the Dolphins. He’s been one of the fiercest competitors there is […]

Preston Williams Says He'll Be Ready For Next Season

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Preston Williams (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL last year, said he will be ready for the start of the regular season this fall. Williams' emergence in his rookie season and the breakout year for Devante Parker has Miami suddenly stacked at receiver. They feel they don't need to […]

Colts Discussing Extension For Marlon Mack

The Indianapolis Colts have had contract-extension talks with running back Marlon Mack, according to an NFL source. Talks are expected to heat up later this month at the combine. The soon-to-be 24-year-old is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and is set to make $2.25 million in 2020, the final year of his rookie contract. […]

Diamondbacks Sign Jon Jay, Edwin Jackson

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jon Jay and pitcher Edwin Jackson to minor league deals on Monday. Jay will make $1.5 million if he's on the major league roster with another $1.75 million in incentives, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale. The 34-year-old (35 in March) played in just 47 games for the White Sox […]

Mariners Sign Marco Gonzales To Extension

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract extension with starting pitcher Marco Gonzales on Monday. The extension will begin in 2021 and contains a team option for the 2025 season. He'll make $1 million this year in the final year of his two-year deal. The left-hander was tied for the American League […]

Panthers Officially Release Greg Olsen

The Carolina Panthers officially released tight end Greg Olsen on Monday. Olsen will immediately become a free agent and is now able to sign with any team. The 34-year-old (35 in March) and the Panthers agreed to mutually part ways after Olsen spent the last nine years of his career in Carolina. He posted consecutive […]