Mitch Haniger Has Disc Removed From Back

Updating a previous report, Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger (back, core) underwent a discectomy on Thursday, a procedure that removes part or the whole intervertebral disc. It was Haniger's second surgery in three weeks, as he had a hernia surgery in late January. The two injuries combined will push his timetable deeper into the 2020 […]

Michael Chavis To Play Both First And Second Base

Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that infielder Michael Chavis will play both first and second base this year, splitting time with Mitch Moreland at first and Jose Peraza at second. Chavis had his ups and downs in his rookie season in 2019, most notably against left-handed pitching. Roenicke thinks Chavis can improve in […]

Mitch Haniger Has Another Core Surgery

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger (hernia) underwent his second core surgery in three weeks on Thursday. There remains no timetable for Haniger's return, but his 2020 season will be significantly delayed. The 2018 breakout star was plagued by injuries last season and played in only 63 games as a result, and now it looks like […]

Tyrod Taylor Has Vote Of Confidence From Head Coach

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said that quarterback Tyrod Taylor, last year's backup to Philip Rivers, could have an opportunity to win the starting job in 2020. "Tyrod Taylor is a heck of a quarterback," Lynn told AM 570 LA Sports. "We couldn't have a better backup right now, and now he has […]

Diontae Johnson Undergoes Hernia Surgery

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (hernia) recently underwent sports hernia surgery. A third-round pick in 2019, Johnson caught 59 passes on 92 targets for 680 yards and five touchdowns in a full season in his rookie year with Pittsburgh. He saw more opportunities during the year with JuJu Smith-Schuster banged up, but he was […]

Gregory Polanco Expected To Report Healthy

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco (shoulder) is expected to report to camp healthy, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. The Pirates will monitor Polanco closely in spring training after another injury plagued season in 2019 in which he played just 42 games. Polanco hit just .242/.301/.425 with six home runs, 17 RBI and […]

Felix Pena Should Be Healthy For Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that pitcher Felix Pena (knee) should be healthy by Opening Day. Pena is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last August, but he's ahead of schedule and could be an option to win the team's No. 5 rotation spot if he proves himself in spring training. The […]

Felix Hernandez Has Chance To Win Rotation Spot

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Felix Hernandez has a chance to win a rotation spot with his new team with Cole Hamels (shoulder) expected to miss at least half of April. Hernandez has slimmed down and is confident that he's healthy enough to win a rotation spot in Atlanta. The six-time All-Star and former Cy Young […]

Johnny Cueto Says He's Healthy

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (elbow), who missed most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, said his arm feels great. "I feel like the arm is a baby," Cueto said. There's a chance he could be the team's Opening Day starter. After throwing just 16 innings to close out the 2019 […]

Nick Senzel Has Been Hitting

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Senzel (shoulder), who had surgery in September to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder, has been hitting. Manager David Bell said that Senzel is picking up his throwing program this week and is on pace to be ready around Opening Day. Barring a setback, Senzel may not have to […]

Mike Leake Has Fractured Left Wrist

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake (wrist) has a fracture on his non-throwing wrist, but he is still hoping to be ready for the start of the regular season. The 32-year-old underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday that revealed an old fracture that was aggravated by a fall caused while chasing his dog. Leake was […]

Anthony Lynn Given One-Year Extension

The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to a one-year contract extension with head coach Anthony Lynn that puts him with the team through the 2021 season. The Chargers are entering a transition now that they have officially moved on from veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, and they're expected to let running back Melvin Gordon walk in free […]

Brusdar Graterol Will Be A Reliever

Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol, who was acquired in the three-team blockbuster trade that sent Kenta Maeda to the Twins, will be a reliever with his new team, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Red Sox saw something in Graterol's medicals that they did not like, and they viewed him as a reliever […]

Joc Pederson, A.J. Pollock To Platoon In Left Field

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders Joc Pederson and A.J. Pollock are set to platoon in left field this year. Pollock's fantasy value was hurt the most when the Dodgers trade with the Angels for Pederson fell through, although LA could still ship Pederson somewhere else before the start of the season. If Pederson stays with the […]

Tommy Milone Signs With Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles signed starting pitcher Tommy Milone to a minor league deal on Thursday, according to an industry source. Milone will be a non-roster invite in spring training. The 32-year-old lefty, 33 on Sunday, went 4-10 with a weak 4.76 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 23 outings (six starts) for the Mariners last year […]

Shelby Miller Down 30 Pounds

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shelby Miller, who is in camp as a non-roster invite, is down 30 pounds from last year when he tipped the scales at 255 pounds. It's that time of the year: When we'll hear plenty of best-shape-of-my-life stories. The former first-round pick in 2009 is motivated, though, after posting a hideous […]

Eduardo Rodriguez Loses Arbitration Case

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez lost his salary arbitration case and will make $8.3 million in 2020 instead of the $8.975 million that he requested, according to a source. Boston will be relying on Rodriguez even more this season after they traded David Price to the Dodgers. The 26-year-old (27 in April) left-hander […]

Alex Verdugo Up In The Air For Opening Day

Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo (back, oblique), who was acquired from the Dodgers in the blockbuster deal including Mookie Betts and David Price, might not be ready for the start of the season, according to a source. Verdugo is still battling a back injury that shut his 2019 season down in August. His potential […]

Jose Soriano Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

Los Angeles Angels pitching prospect Jose Soriano (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery last week and will miss the entire 2020 season. Still just 21 years old, Soriano is the Angels No. 9 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The right-hander dominated the Midwest League in 2019, posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while striking out 84 […]

Titans Bring Anthony Firkser Back

The Tennessee Titans agreed on a one-year contract extension with tight end Anthony Firkser on Thursday. Firkser was on track to become an exclusive-rights free agent in March. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. The Harvard alum had two big touchdown catches in the playoffs and hauled in 14 passes for 204 yards and […]

Ben Roethlisberger's Rehab All Good

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said that "all signs are good to this point" with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (elbow), who will have a medical checkup on Feb. 21. The team's medical staff has constantly been working with Big Ben, and Colbert said Roethlisberger could be better than he was a year ago. The 37-year-old […]

Yonny Chirinos In Great Shape

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that pitcher Yonny Chirinos looks "awesome" after losing 15 pounds while working out this offseason. Chirinos went 9-5 with a 3.85 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 114 strikeouts and only 28 walks in 133 1/3 innings over 26 outings (18 starts) in 2019 for the Rays. He was slightly better […]

Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors Are False

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn refuted a Wednesday night report that the team is in talks to trade quarterback Matthew Stafford. "100% False!!" Quinn wrote in a text message to the Free Press. Stafford is entering his 12th season in the NFL and threw for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions while setting […]

Dustin Pedroia Won't Report On Monday

Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) won't report with the rest of the position players on Monday. It is now unlikely that Pedroia will be in spring training this year because of the significant setback he had with his left knee last month. The four-time All-Star and former […]

No Timetable For Mitch Haniger's Return

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger (hernia) has yet to arrive to spring training, and manager Scott Servais said there remains no timetable for Haniger's return following his sports hernia surgery. Haniger broke out in 2018 as an All-Star, but he fell back to Earth in 2019, mainly because of multiple injuries. He played in just […]

Tommy Pham Played Through Torn UCL

San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham (elbow) said that he was able to play through a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow last season. Pham received stem-cell injections and platelet-rich plasma therapy throughout the offseason. San Diego acquired Pham from the Rays in the offseason, and he's expected to help set the table […]

D.J. Stewart Making Progress In Rehab

Baltimore Orioles outfielder D.J. Stewart (ankle) did some light running at Orioles camp on Wednesday after having surgery on his ankle in October. The former first-round pick had microfracture surgery on his right ankle, and he's expected to return to baseball activities toward the end of spring training. Stewart hit .238 with a .698 OPS […]

Mariners Bringing Taijuan Walker Along Slowly

Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said that the team will bring starting pitcher Taijuan Walker along slowly this spring to build his endurance and stamina, but the right-hander is healthy. Originally a first-round pick of the Mariners in 2010, Walker has thrown only 14 innings the last two seasons due to issues from Tommy John […]

Brendan Rodgers Slightly Ahead In Rehab

Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) is slightly ahead of schedule in his rehab from surgery to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder and has moved to throwing from 120 feet. It's good news, but Rodgers won't be ready for the start of the regular season and likely won't be a factor […]

Luis Urias Aiming For Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urias (wrist) said he wants "to be ready for Opening Day" and wasn't sporting a cast or brace on his surgically repaired left wrist at the team's spring clubhouse on Wednesday. The 22-year-old had surgery on Jan. 28 to fix a broken hamate bone in his left hand/wrist. The Brewers envisioned […]