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 […]

Saints Signing Latavius Murray, Moving On From Mark Ingram

The New Orleans Saints are signing free-agent running back Latavius Murray to a four-year, $14.4 million deal on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The signing will make up for the fact that the Saints will move on from free-agent running back Mark Ingram. Ingram compiled 6,007 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns in eight […]

Packers Expected To Sign Three Defenders

The Green Bay Packers are expected to sign free-agent edge rusher Za'Darius Smith (Ravens) and safety Adrian Amos (Bears) on Tuesday, sources informed of the deals told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Amos' deal will be for four years and $37 million, with $21 million coming in the first two years. Smith will receive a four-year, […]

Could Craig Kimbrel Hold Out Until Midseason?

There is a possibility that free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel and his agent, David Meter, consider holding out until after the MLB draft in June. Kimbrel would then shed the draft-pick compensation attached to him after he rejected the Red Sox's one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer last fall. Contenders might be more interested in giving Kimbrel […]

Dante Fowler Returning To Rams

The Los Angeles Rams re-signed edge rusher Dante Fowler to a one-year deal worth $14 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Rams acquired Fowler via a trade from the Jaguars, and he ended up being an important piece in their run to the Super Bowl. Fowler will receive $12 million in guarantees […]

Corey Dickerson Day-To-Day

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson is listed as day-to-day after tweaking his right ankle on a slide at second base in the third inning of a spring game on Saturday. He doesn't expect to be sidelined for long. The 29-year-old hit a cool .300/.330/.474 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI in 135 games in […]

DJ LeMahieu To Get Time At First Base

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is working on expanding his skill set and is set to play first base in a spring game early next week. LeMahieu is expected to be the backup to either Greg Bird or Luke Voit at first this year, even though the 30-year-old has only played 13 innings at […]

Kyle Seager Injured Friday Night

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager (hand) was taken out of the spring game early on Friday after he injured his glove hand while diving for a ball. Seager said he came out of the game as a precaution, so this injury seems to be very minor. The 31-year-old disappointed last year by hitting just […]

Jameis Winston Wants DeSean Jackson Back

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston said he wants wide receiver DeSean Jackson back in 2019. "He's still one of the best deep-threat targets in the NFL," Winston said Friday on NFL Total Access, "and I hope he comes back." D-Jax had three touchdowns and three 100-yard games in the first four games of 2018, […]

Dolphins Release Danny Amendola

The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Danny Amendola on Friday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 33-year-old veteran lasted just one year in Miami and caught 59 passes for 575 yards and one touchdown in 15 games. Miami will save $6 million by releasing Amendola, and he won't count for anything on the […]

Eric Weddle Agrees With Rams

The Los Angeles Rams agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $12.5 million with free-agent safety Eric Weddle on Friday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Weddle will have a $10.5 million salary. Weddle will help replace Lamarcus Joyner, who will head to free agency after receiving the franchise tag in 2018. The […]

Luis Severino Receives Injection Friday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (shoulder) received a pain-killing injection on Friday and said he no longer has pain when lifting his arm. Severino has been shut down from throwing for the time being and is now likely to begin the year on the disabled list. It hurts his fantasy value slightly, but […]

Jeff McNeil To Split Time Between Outfield, Infield

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that infielder Jeff McNeil will work 50/50 in the outfield and infield for the rest of spring training. McNeil is expected to see most of his time in left field in 2019, but he might be needed on the infield to start the season with both Todd Frazier […]

Aaron Nola To Start On Opening Day

Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said starting pitcher Aaron Nola will start on Opening Day on March 28 against the Braves. Nola proved he's at the cream of the pitching crop last year by going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 224 K's in 212 1/3 innings across 33 starts. He's RotoBaller's No. […]

Joe Musgrove To Throw Sim Game Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said that starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (abdomen) is scheduled for a three-inning simulated game on Saturday. Musgrove, who has yet to pitch in a spring game, will then throw four innings against the Rays on March 15. The right-hander has yet to post an ERA under 4.06 in his three […]

Ryan Braun's Revamped Swing Paying Dividends?

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun said that his improved swing is already paying dividends in batting practice in spring training. The 35-year-old is mostly a late-round target in mixed leagues because of injury concerns. He says he's hitting the ball further in batting practice and hopes it carries over to games. Braun hit .254 with […]