Mark Zagunis On Track To Earn Roster Spot

Chicago Cubs outfielder Mark Zagunis appears to be the team's final bench player heading into Opening Day on Thursday. He went 2-for-3 with two walks in spring action on Sunday to list his Cactus League average to .357. "He's healthy," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said, "and he's combining his really outstanding plate discipline […]

Yu Darvish To Throw Bullpen Thursday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (finger) said he is scheduled for a bullpen session on Thursday. He's currently lined up to start the third game of the season on March 31 against the Rangers. The Japanese right-hander pitched with a bandage on his finger for parts of five innings in a minor league game […]

Carlos Martinez, Jedd Gyorko Put On Injured List

The St. Louis Cardinals placed starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder) and third baseman Jedd Gyorko (calf) on the 10-day injured list on Monday. Joining them there will be relief pitchers Brett Cecil (hand) and Luke Gregerson (shoulder) and outfielder Justin Williams (hand). Martinez dealt with arm issues in a disappointing 2018 campaign as well, so […]

Greg Holland Named D-Backs Closer

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Greg Holland will serve as the team's closer this year, with Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano serving as late-inning setup men. The 33-year-old does have the most closing experience in Arizona's bullpen with 189 career saves over eight big league seasons. The right-hander posted a league-leading 41 saves in 2017 with […]

X-Rays Negative On Jose Ramirez

Updating a previous report, X-rays on Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (knee) came back negative on Sunday after he fouled a pitch off his left knee. The All-Star third baseman was carted off the field in the spring game in the third inning against the White Sox. There is no immediate timetable for his […]

Jeremy Maclin Calls It A Career

Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin announced on Sunday that he is retiring from the NFL after 10 years. Maclin was drafted in the first round in 2009 and spent six seasons with the Eagles alongside DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy. He is the 10th leading receiver in Philly franchise history after compiling 343 […]

Rob Gronkowski To Retire

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski announced on Sunday that he is retiring. The 29-year-old Gronk finished on a high note in the postseason and goes out on top with another Super Bowl ring, but he struggled to gain separation from defenders in the regular season and finished with 47 catches for 682 yards […]

Eric Lauer Named Opening Day Starter

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Eric Lauer will take the ball on Opening Day on Thursday, March 28, against the Giants. Second-year lefty Joey Lucchesi will pitch the second game. The 23-year-old Lauer will become the second youngest pitcher in Padres history to start the opener. He has 10 shutout innings across his last three […]

Yusei Kikuchi To Occasionally Serve As Opener

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi will pitch one inning every fifth start or so as an opener as the team looks for ways to limit Kikuchi's innings in his rookie season. The Mariners will likely call up one of their young starting candidates like Justus Sheffield or Erik Swanson to follow Kikuchi in those […]

Jose Ramirez Carted Off Field Sunday

Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez was carted off the field on Sunday in spring action after fouling a pitch off the inside of his left leg in the third inning against the White Sox. The All-Star immediately dropped to the ground and stayed down for several minutes before being joined by the team's medical […]

Indians Sign Brad Miller

The Cleveland Indians signed free-agent infielder Brad Miller to a major league contract on Sunday. Miller signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers on Feb. 27 but opted out of his contract on March 21. He will start the season on the Opening Day roster with both shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) and second baseman […]

Bryse Wilson, Kyle Wright Make Rotation

Atlanta Braves rookie starting pitchers Bryse Wilson, 21, and Kyle Wright, 23, will follow Julio Teheran in the starting rotation for the opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Wright is the team's No. 2 prospect, while Wilson comes in at No. 7, per MLB Pipeline. Touki Toussaint was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on […]

Jacob deGrom Not Optimistic About Extension

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom isn't optimistic that he'll strike a long-term contract extension with the team before his deadline of Opening Day on Thursday, March 28. The reigning National League Cy Young allowed no hits in three innings in his final spring tune-up against the Braves on Saturday. The 30-year-old is under […]

Cowboys Sign George Iloka

The Dallas Cowboys signed free-agent safety George Iloka to an undisclosed one-year deal on Saturday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The seven-year safety played the first six seasons of his career with the Bengals but disappointed with only 16 tackles in 16 games (three starts) for the Vikings in 2018. It's looking like Iloka […]

Byron Buxton Expects To Be Fine

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton expects to be fine after he was removed from the spring game on Friday after suffering a contusion to the right side of his face after colliding with Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Buxton singled in his first at-bat of the game to raise his spring average to a team-leading […]

Miguel Sano Begins Rehab Process

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano (Achilles) started his rehab process on Saturday after he had the boot protecting the laceration on his right lower Achilles removed on Friday. However, the five sutures are still in place that were required to close the wound. The 25-year-old worked to continues his upper-body and cardio work while […]

JaCoby Jones To Miss Opening Day

Detroit Tigers starting center fielder JaCoby Jones suffered a left shoulder sprain on Saturday while diving for a ball and will miss Opening Day. He's expected to open the year on the 10-day injured list. Mikie Mahtook and Niko Goodrum have both seen time in center this spring as potential backup options to Jones. Prospect […]

Rich Hill To Miss Two Weeks

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill suffered a medial collateral ligament strain in his left knee in his spring start last Sunday and is expected to miss two weeks, according to manager Dave Roberts. The left-hander tried to throw a bullpen on Tuesday but experienced pain, and an MRI exam showed a Grade 1 […]

Braves Pitchers Rehabbing Sunday

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (elbow) will throw live batting practice on Sunday, which will be the first time he's faced hitters since his elbow started bothering him after his Feb. 24 spring debut. Reliever A.J. Minter (shoulder) will throw an inning in a minor league game in his first outing since he faced […]

Mark Trumbo To Start On Injured List

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo will open the season on the injured list after working his way back all spring from right knee surgery, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Trumbo was just 2-for-12 (.167) with a walk in six spring games after he made his Grapefruit League debut on March 13. Doctors initially recommended a […]

Alex Cobb Could Miss Opening Day

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Alex Cobb was forced from his spring start on Saturday with a right groin strain, and he's now questionable to start on Opening Day against the Yankees on Thursday. There are no plans for him to undergo an MRI exam and he expects to test his groin in a side session […]

Yankees Option Tyler Wade

The New York Yankees optioned infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday morning, meaning that outfielder Mike Tauchman appears to have made the Opening Day roster. Tauchman was acquired from the Rockies on Saturday. Manager Aaron Boone sees the 28-year-old Tauchman as being capable of playing all three outfield positions for depth. The team's […]

Rhys Hoskins On Track For Opening Day

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/first baseman Rhys Hoskins (shoulder) is still on track to be ready for Opening Day despite battling left shoulder soreness, according to manager Gabe Kapler. Hoskins took a round of batting practice and hit off a high-velocity machine in the cages on Sunday and said he "felt good." He's expected to play in […]

Giants Acquire Erik Kratz

The San Francisco Giants acquired catcher Erik Kratz from the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in exchange for minor league infielder C.J. Hinojosa. The 38-year-old Kratz was third on Milwaukee's catching depth chart in spring training, but he could be the backup to Buster Posey in San Francisco. Hinojosa is a versatile defender with good contact […]

Cardinals Excited About Alex Reyes

The St. Louis Cardinals are excited about the potential of pitcher Alex Reyes as he enters the 2019 season fully healthy. The right-hander is ranked as the team's top prospect for the fourth straight year after the 24-year-old's career was interrupted by a pair of arm surgeries over the last few seasons. Reyes will open […]

Hanley Ramirez To Make Opening Day Roster

Cleveland Indians first baseman Hanley Ramirez has made the team's Opening Day roster, manager Terry Francona confirmed on Sunday. Han-Ram signed a minor league deal in February and entered Sunday hitting .278/.316/.528 with two home runs and eight RBI in 36 spring at-bats. He'll be an option for at-bats at first base but won't be […]

Brad Peacock To Be Fifth Starter

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch confirmed on Friday that Brad Peacock will serve as the team's No. 5 starter to open the season. The 31-year-old right-hander started only one game last year after making 21 starts in 2017. He went 3-5 with a 3.46 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 96 K's and 20 walks in his […]

Carlos Martinez Not Ready To Throw Off Mound

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder) resumed throwing on Wednesday after taking a few days off for the birth of his daughter, but manager Mike Shildt said it will be "another couple weeks" before Martinez will throw off a mound. The team won't rush a decision on whether to use him as a […]

Rich Hill Dealing With Strained Knee

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill said on Friday that he has a strained left knee and doesn't know if he'll start the year in the rotation. The veteran left-hander said he felt the knee injury at the end of his Sunday start. Because of Hill's injury, it's now likely that Hyun-Jin Ryu will […]

Jimmy Nelson Has Elbow Soreness

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson reported some elbow soreness after pitching into the fourth inning in a minor league game on Thursday, and he was to be examined by the team's head physician on Friday. Manager Craig Counsell expressed optimism that Nelson's injury wasn't serious. The team is hoping Nelson is just experiencing soreness […]