Indians Give Terry Francona Two-Year Extension

The Cleveland Indians signed manager Terry Francona to a two-year contract extension through the 2022 season on Wednesday. His current deal was set to expire after the 2020 season. The soon-to-be 60-year-old has led the Tribe to three straight American League Central titles and the World Series in 2016. The club has made the playoffs […]

Nationals Not Ready To Bring Up Carter Kieboom

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the team isn't ready to call up shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom just yet, and they want him to get repetitions and at-bats at Triple-A Fresno to begin the season. Kieboom is the team's No. 2 prospect and No. 25 overall, per MLB Pipeline. He's only 21 years old […]

Daniel Robertson Back In Lineup Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Daniel Robertson (illness) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday, batting sixth and starting at third base against Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez. Robertson was removed from the last game with an illness, but it obviously proved to be a minor issue. The 25-year-old has only two hits in […]

Yasiel Puig Sitting Out Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Outfielder Jesse Winker is starting in right field and is hitting leadoff against Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. Matt Kemp is in left field and is batting third. Puig is off to a slow start in his first year in Cincy with […]

Byron Buxton Hoping To Play Wednesday

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is dealing with a contusion on his ribs and a sore back after crashing into the outfield wall on Tuesday night, but his head checked out fine after the game. He is hoping to play on Wednesday, but the Twins might give him the day off with a scheduled off […]

Byron Buxton Injured Tuesday

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was removed from the game early on Tuesday and is being evaluated for back pain after crashing into the center field wall. Buxton was hitless with a run scored and three strikeouts in four plate appearances in this one before departing. He has four hits (three doubles) in 14 plate […]

Yandy Diaz Tweaks Ankle Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Yandy Diaz tweaked his ankle on Tuesday, but manager Kevin Cash doesn't think the injury is very serious. Diaz was already scheduled to have the day off on Wednesday anyway. The 27-year-old had a double, run scored, walk and two strikeouts in five plate appearances in Tuesday's win over the […]

Ravens Expect Marshal Yanda To Play In 2019

The Baltimore Ravens expect Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda to play in 2019. There had been speculation that Yanda was considering retirement, but the Ravens fully believe he'll be their starting right guard this year. It would be a big blow to the Ravens, an extremely run-first team under new franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson, […]

X-Rays Negative On Brandon Nimmo

X-rays came back negative on New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo's hand after he was hit by a pitch on Tuesday and removed from the game. He'll be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Nimmo had a run, single, RBI and walk in five plate appearances before leaving the game Tuesday night and now has just two hits […]

Matt Adams Dealing With Back Spasms

Updating a previous report, Washington Nationals first baseman Matt Adams was removed from the game on Tuesday with back spasms. Adams struck out in his only plate appearance against the Phillies and starter Zach Eflin on Tuesday before he was taken out and replaced by Ryan Zimmerman. Adams is hitless on the year with three […]

Edwin Encarnacion Has Soreness In Hand

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion was scratched from the lineup Tuesday night due to soreness in his left hand. The move was strictly precautionary, and he could be back in the lineup on Thursday after the off day on Wednesday. The veteran slugger has five hits in his first 21 at-bats (.238) with a […]

Shawn Armstrong Could Return Next Homestand

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong (oblique) will make a few minor league rehab outings and could return from the injured list on the team's next homestand. With closer Hunter Strickland (lat) out two months, Seattle's save's picture is wide open and includes arms like Chasen Bradford, Roenis Elias, Matthew Festa, Cory Gearrin, Nick Rumbelow […]

Todd Frazier To Start Rehab Assignment Thursday

New York Mets corner infielder Todd Frazier (oblique) will start a rehab assignment with High-A St. Lucie on Thursday. Frazier could be ready to return from the injured list sometime next week if everything goes according to plan. With rookie first baseman Peter Alonso raking so far, though, it's fair to wonder how much Frazier […]

Chiefs Sign Blake Bell

The Kansas City Chiefs signed free-agent tight end Blake Bell to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. The former fourth-round pick in 2015 had eight receptions for 67 yards and no scores in 10 games with the Jaguars in 2018. He has all of 30 catches for 357 yards and no touchdowns in his four years […]

Russell Wilson Gives Seahawks Deadline For Extension

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has given the team an April 15 deadline to complete negotiations for a long-term contract extension, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. April 15 is the first day of the team's offseason workout program. The star QB has one year left on his four-year, $87.6 million contract. […]

Howie Kendrick Could Return Thursday

Washington Nationals second baseman Howie Kendrick (hamstring) is taking batting practice on Tuesday, and manager Dave Martinez said that the veteran infielder could come off the injured list when eligible on Thursday without going on a minor league rehab assignment. Kendrick will give the Nats a nice veteran presence as a utility infielder, but he […]

Royals Acquire Andrew Susac

The Kansas City Royals acquired catcher Andrew Susac from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. Susac has hit just .221/.283/.373 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in five big league seasons with the Giants, Brewers and Orioles and will merely be depth for KC with Salvador Perez out for the […]

Jonathan Loaisiga To Start Wednesday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga will start on Wednesday against the Tigers, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 24-year-old right-hander is the team's No. 2 prospect (No. 65 overall) and posted a shiny 2.89 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 67 punchouts in 56 innings (14 starts) in three minor league stops in 2018. He'll […]

CC Sabathia Could Return This Month

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (heart) threw a four-inning simulated game on Monday, and manager Aaron Boone thinks the veteran left-hander could return in mid-April or just after. Sabathia was also serving a short suspension to begin the year for throwing at the Rays' Jesus Sucre in his last start in 2018. Sabathia […]

Dellin Betances To Face Hitters Soon

New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder) will face hitters soon and is likely to return quickly after he reaches that step in his recovery from a right shoulder impingement. The hard-throwing righty's injury isn't too serious, so he should be able to make his season debut this month, barring setbacks. Even in the […]

Luis Severino Not Throwing Off A Mound

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (shoulder) continues to play long toss but has yet to throw off a mound. The Yankees are being cautious with their ace after he developed rotator-cuff inflammation. He's unlikely to be ready to make his season debut until sometime in May, but he needs to be owned in […]

Ryan McMahon Out Against Southpaw

Colorado Rockies second baseman Ryan McMahon is sitting against Rays left-handed pitcher Blake Snell on Tuesday. Garrett Hampson will man the keystone and bat second, while Mark Reynolds will start at first base and hit seventh. Infielder Pat Valaika is serving as the designated hitter in the American League park and will hit ninth. Both […]

Greg Bird Taking Reps At Third Base

New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird was taking repetitions at third base before the game on Tuesday. Bird hasn't played third base since high school, but the injury to Miguel Andujar (shoulder) has caused the Yankees to think about other options. It's unlikely that Bird would even see enough starts at the hot corner […]

Blue Jays Call Up Anthony Alford

The Toronto Blue Jays called up outfielder Anthony Alford from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday. Toronto has a need in center field after trading Kevin Pillar to the Giants on Tuesday, so Alford should see plenty of playing time to open the season. The 24-year-old is the team's No. 11 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but lower-body […]

Gary Sanchez, Troy Tulowitzki, Greg Bird Sitting Out

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and first baseman Greg Bird are all resting on Tuesday. Austin Romine is catching and hitting ninth, Gleyber Torres is at the 6 and batting cleanup and Luke Voit is starting at first and hitting third against Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann. Zimmermann flirted with a no-hitter […]

Miguel Andujar Hoping To Avoid Surgery

New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar said the team put him through a strength test on his shoulder and it "came back with good results. The strength is there." He is optimistic that he can avoid surgery through physical therapy and rehab. Andujar will be out for at least two weeks and possibly longer, […]

Jaguars Sign Benny Cunningham

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free-agent running back Benny Cunningham to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. The 28-year-old didn't have much of a role the last two seasons with the Bears, running the ball just 20 times while catching 21 passes. He'll join a mediocre list of depth behind Leonard Fournette that includes Alfred Blue (signed […]

Browns Won't Give Duke Johnson Away

The Cleveland Browns have been getting calls on running back Duke Johnson, but they won't just give him away. Johnson basically landed on the trade block this offseason when the team signed Kareem Hunt, even though he'll be suspended for eight games in 2019. Johnson comes cheap this year and is one of the more […]

Austin Meadows, Ji-Man Choi Sitting Against Lefty

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows and first baseman Ji-Man Choi are not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. Guillermo Heredia is starting in right field and batting sixth, while Yandy Diaz is at first base and hitting leadoff. Christian Arroyo is at the hot corner and is batting ninth. […]

Blue Jays Acquire Socrates Brito

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Socrates Brito from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in exchange for minor league outfielder Rodrigo Orozco. The 26-year-old Brito might actually have more of a chance at playing time in Toronto than he did in San Diego. He's a career .202/.229/.351 hitter in 82 games over three seasons […]