Jed Lowrie Begins Baseball Activities

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie (knee) started throwing and hitting programs this week in camp, and he has an outside chance of being ready for Opening Day. If he's not ready, infielder Jeff McNeil will likely start at the hot corner. Despite a career year in his final season in Oakland, Lowrie's fantasy […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Out Three Weeks With Strained Oblique

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the top prospect in baseball, is expected to miss the next three weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his left oblique. He suffered the injury in his final at-bat against the Pirates last Friday and will be shut down for the next week. […]

Aaron Hicks Receives Cortisone Shot

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (back), who hasn't played since March 1, required a cortisone injection in his lower back on Monday, but he's "not really" concerned that the pain would delay his availability for Opening Day. Hicks continues to experience restrictions with his mobility, mainly while hitting and throwing. Manager Aaron Boone said […]

Walker Buehler Expected To Be Ready

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler, who is being slow played in camp by the team after a sharp innings spike in 2018, is expected to be ready for Opening Day. He threw to hitters last Saturday and will again this week, which would be his final preparation before his first spring game by […]

Corey Seager Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said shortstop Corey Seager (elbow, hip) is expected to be healthy and "ready" for Opening Day. Seager missed all of last year after having surgery on his right elbow and left hip, but he's been working with the team in the mornings and taking at-bats on the minor league […]

Clayton Kershaw Feeling Better

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) threw an encouraging 20-pitch bullpen session of all fastballs on Monday and said he "felt great." Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt won't speculate on a timetable for Kershaw to pitch in a game, but the left-hander is likely to throw another bullpen in two or three days. Kershaw […]

Ja'Wuan James Expected To Sign With Broncos

The Denver Broncos are expected to sign free-agent right tackle Ja'Wuan James to the largest contract for a right tackle for four years and $51 million, according to agent Bill Johnson of SportsTrust. James will receive $32 million guaranteed. The Dolphins first-round pick in 2014 (19th overall) finished last year with a 70.8 grade as […]

Chiefs Release Justin Houston

The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran outside linebacker Justin Houston after eight seasons with the team. The Chiefs tried to find a trade partner for Houston's $15.25 million base salary in 2019. They'll save $14 million on the salary cap with the move, leaving $7.1 million in dead money. The 30-year-old had nine sacks and […]

49ers Trading For Dee Ford

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to acquire outside linebacker Dee Ford from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick, sources informed of the situation told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Ford's new contract in San Fran is expected to be a five-year, $87.5 million deal. He specializes in rushing the passer in […]

Redskins Release Zach Brown

The Washington Redskins released linebacker Zach Brown on Wednesday after attempting to trade him this offseason, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The move clears $5.75 million off the books for 2019. The 29-year-old saw his role shrink at the end of the 2018 season but still finished the year as the third-ranked middle […]

Lions Expected To Sign Trey Flowers

The Detroit Lions are slated to sign free-agent defensive end Trey Flowers to a five-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal is worth $90 million and includes $56 million in guarantees. It also includes $40 million fully guaranteed at signing and reunites Flowers with Detroit head coach Matt Patricia. Flowers has been […]

Jason McCourty Returns To Patriots

The New England Patriots re-signed cornerback Jason McCourty to an undisclosed two-year deal on Wednesday, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. McCourty played a pivotal role in New England's Super Bowl run last year and returns to a defense that will mostly be the same in 2019. He had 70 total tackles, a forced […]

Tyrod Taylor Agrees With Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to an undisclosed two-year deal with free-agent quarterback Tyrod Taylor on Wednesday, a source informed of the deal told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Taylor will become the backup to veteran Philip Rivers in Los Angeles. He started 46 games in the last four seasons with the Bills and Browns and […]

Ravens Reach Deal With Mark Ingram

The Baltimore Ravens reached a three-year, $15 million deal with free-agent running back Mark Ingram on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 29-year-old former first-rounder spent eight years with the Saints and comes to a Ravens squad that will lean on the run again heavily in 2019. Gus Edwards and Ingram will form […]

Earl Thomas To Sign With Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will sign free-agent safety Earl Thomas to a four-year, $55 million deal on Wednesday, a source informed of the deal told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal includes $32 million guaranteed and averages $14.33 million over the first three years. Thomas, who will be 30 in May, played in only four games […]

Pedro Strop Has Hamstring Strain

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon announced on Tuesday that closer Pedro Strop is dealing with a mild right hamstring strain. He is able to play catch, but the Cubs will keep him off a mound and out of game-related drills for the next week. Chicago is being especially cautious because of the fact that relief […]

Will Joey Votto's Power Return?

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto had a disappointing 2018 season by his standards, hitting .284 with a .417 on-base percentage, .419 slugging percentage, 125 OPS+ and 131 wRC+. The 34-year-old didn't have his typical second-half resurgence and he lacked a lot of power. Votto actually had a better average exit velocity (88.1 mph) last […]

Cardinals Not Expected To Name Closer Soon

The St. Louis Cardinals aren't expected to name a closer anytime soon, even if reliever Jordan Hicks is likely to get the bulk of the ninth-inning opportunities. Lefty Andrew Miller will also factor into the ninth inning. Alex Reyes and Carlos Martinez are wild cards if they find fits in the bullpen as well. Hicks […]

Carter Kieboom Homers Twice Off Astros Ace

Washington Nationals shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom, ranked No. 25 overall by MLB Pipeline, homered twice off Astros ace Justin Verlander in spring training on Tuesday night. Kieboom started with High-A Potomac last year and made it to Double-A Harrisburg by season's end, hitting .262 with five home runs in 273 plate appearances. Kieboom is currently […]

Jacoby Ellsbury To Report To Camp Sunday

New York Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (foot) is expected to report to camp on Sunday, and the team will re-introduce him to baseball activities. He's dealing with plantar fasciitis and hasn't appeared in a major league game since October of 2017 due to various injuries. Even if the oft-injured outfielder is healthy this year, he […]

Didi Gregorius Cleared For Non-Contact Swings

New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (elbow) has been cleared to take dry non-contact swings with his regular bat. He thinks that after a week or two he could resume hitting balls off a tee and in soft toss. Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss around half of the season. For […]

CC Sabathia Throws BP

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (heart) faced hitters in live batting practice on Tuesday for the first time since his December angioplasty, tossing 20 pitches. The 38-year-old southpaw will throw a simulated game on Saturday and could pitch in a spring game after that. Sabathia also had right knee surgery in October and […]

Aaron Judge Working On Two-Strike Approach

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who hit his fourth spring homer on Tuesday, has been working on his two-strike approach in recent games to try and reduce his number of strikeouts. "For me, if there's any way I can simplify my already pretty simple swing, I feel like it's going to raise my contact […]

Alex Reyes In Contention For Bullpen Role

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes is being considered as either a member of the Opening Day bullpen or as a starter at Triple-A Memphis to begin the season, according to manager Mike Shildt. Reyes didn't appear in a Grapefruit League game until March 5 and has made two one-inning relief outings since. Reyes beginning […]

Bills To Sign John Brown, Cole Beasley

The Buffalo Bills are signing free-agent wide receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley on Tuesday. Brown has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager. Beasley is expected to sign for $29 million over four years, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Brown was […]

Ryan Shazier To Remain With Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Tuesday that linebacker Ryan Shazier's (spine) contract will be tolled into the 2019 season. He'll remain on the roster and will eventually be placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. Shazier continues to improve after a scary spinal injury in 2017. "We will continue to support Ryan’s efforts to […]

Jordan Hicks To Sign Four-Year Deal With Cardinals

Free-agent linebacker Jordan Hicks (Eagles) intends to sign a four-year deal worth $36 million with the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal will include $12 million to sign and $20 million guaranteed. The 26-year-old is a three-down linebacker and is a huge upgrade to the middle of the Cardinals defense moving […]

Thomas Davis Signing With Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers are signing free-agent linebacker Thomas Davis to an undisclosed deal. The Panthers all-time leader in tackles spent 14 years in Carolina but served a four-game suspension in 2018 and had 79 tackles and six passes defensed in 12 games. Davis will help upgrade the Bolts at outside linebacker, but he could […]

Teddy Bridgewater To Stay With Saints

The New Orleans Saints are expected to re-sign quarterback Teddy Bridgewater despite the fact that he had a bigger offer from the Dolphins, a source told NFL Network's Jane Slater. Bridgewater preferred New Orleans' locker-room culture and the fact that he could eventually supplant Drew Brees as the starter under center. The 26-year-old started only […]

Anthony Barr Staying With Vikings

Updating a previous report, Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr has agreed to re-sign with the Vikings after saying on Monday that he intended to sign with the Jets, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Barr has been exceptional for the Vikings, so retaining him is a big plus going into the 2019 season. Barr […]