Carlos Martinez Could Pitch In Relief Again

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez, who saw action as the closer late last year, could be moved to a relief role again in 2019. Pitching coach Mike Maddux said he "liked him out of the bullpen a lot." Martinez is slated for a rotation role right now, but the Cardinals have flexibility with […]

A's Signing Robbie Grossman

The Oakland Athletics are signing free-agent outfielder Robbie Grossman to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Grossman hit .273/.367/.384 with five home runs and 48 RBI in his final season with the Twins last year in 129 games. At best, the switch-hitter figures to be in a platoon role in Oakland's […]

Steelers Won't Trade Antonio Brown Within Division

The Pittsburgh Steelers will not trade wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Ravens, Browns, Bengals or Patriots. Most teams are hesitant to trade a star player within their division, so this isn't a surprise. The Patriots continue to dominate the league, so it also makes sense why the Steelers wouldn't want to help them as […]

Aaron Nola Agrees To Four-Year Extension

The Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher Aaron Nola agreed to a four-year, $45 million contract extension through the 2022 season on Wednesday. The deal also includes a club option for the 2023 season for $16 million. Nola, 25, is one of the best young pitching talents in baseball and went 17-6 with a sparkly 2.37 […]

Broncos Trading For Joe Flacco

The Denver Broncos agreed in principle on a trade with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday to acquire quarterback Joe Flacco, according to league sources. The trade can't officially be processed until the new NFL league year begins on March 13. When the deal is officially completed it will likely be for a mid-round pick. Baltimore […]

Sergio Romo Agrees With Marlins

The Miami Marlins agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million deal with free-agent relief pitcher Sergio Romo on Tuesday, according to a league source. The soon-to-be 35-year-old was a versatile piece for Tampa last year, posting a 4.14 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 25 saves while also serving as an opener five times. The slider-heavy right-hander has […]

Danny Salazar Hopes To Pitch Late In Spring Training

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Danny Salazar (shoulder) is playing catch, but his goal is to be back on the mound by the end of spring training. If he's able to achieve that goal, he thinks he will be ready to pitch in a game before the All-Star break. The 29-year-old didn't pitch at all in […]

Corbin Burnes To Compete For Rotation Spot

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, who pitched out of the bullpen last year, was told he'd be a starting pitcher in 2019. "You know, as we get close to the season, the need may be [different], but I came into camp as a starter and I fully intend on being a starter," Burnes said. The […]

Albert Pujols Cleared For All Activities

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (elbow, knee) is in camp already and is cleared for all activities, according to manager Brad Ausmus. Pujols had multiple surgeries last year and is quickly declining at the plate as he enters his age-39 season. The future Hall of Famer still has some pop (19 homers last […]

Zack Cozart Says He's Ready For Season

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Zack Cozart, who missed the second half of 2018 after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, said he's feeling healthy and should be ready for Opening Day. "Honestly, if today was Day 1 of the actual season, I could play," Cozart said Tuesday. He also […]

Cardinals Sticking With Josh Rosen

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said that quarterback Josh Rosen "is our guy" amid speculation that the Cardinals might draft Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick this year. Kingsbury is known to be enamored with Murray and Rosen had a terrible rookie season in the desert as the starter for […]

Jimmy Nelson Throws Bullpen Tuesday

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (shoulder) threw his first bullpen session this spring on Tuesday and used his full arsenal while throwing 45 pitches. Nelson said everything is on track for him to be ready for the start of the season. The 29-year-old missed all of last year after having surgery, but he should […]

Gerardo Parra Lands With Giants

The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent outfielder Gerardo Parra to a minor league deal on Tuesday, according to sources. Parra, 32 in May, hit .284/.342/.372 with six home runs, 53 RBI and 11 stolen bases as a platoon player in his final season in Colorado in 142 games. He makes decent contact and can hit […]

Angels Targeting May For Shohei Ohtani's Return

Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus said that designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (elbow) doesn't have a set timetable, but "we're thinking May." He'll miss at least the first month of the season and possibly more, but Ohtani can still be a difference maker at a reduced cost with his bat after hitting .285/.361/.564 with […]

Bucs An Option For Matt Bryant

Free-agent kicker Matt Bryant said that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a real option for him when free agency kicks off. The 43-year-old believes he could play another three seasons in the NFL. He missed three games last year due to various injuries, but he made 20 of his 21 field goals and 33 of […]

Bryce Harper Down To Giants And Phillies?

USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale thinks it's a two-team race between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies for free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper. The Dodgers and Nationals are "definitely out of it." The Giants don't want to do a long-term deal with Harper, but they're likely willing to give him five or six years at around […]

Rays Not Rushing To Name Closer

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said there is "no urgency" to name a closer entering the 2019 season. He likes the team's bullpen flexibility and will have a bunch of guys sharing the ninth-inning role. Sergio Romo was the team's primary closer last year, but he's likely to depart in free agency, leaving relievers […]

Antonio Brown Ready To Move On

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown said on his official Twitter account on Tuesday that it's "time to move on and forward." Brown has already requested a trade and appears adamant about playing somewhere else in 2019 after continuing to butt heads with the organization and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. There's no guarantee that he'll land […]

Dodgers Unsure On Catching Situation

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said "time will tell" on whether catcher Austin Barnes or Russell Martin will see the lion's share of catching this year. Barnes is younger (29) and has more upside both offensively and defensively, but he's coming off a terrible year with the bat in which he slashed .205/.329/.290 with […]

Lions Open To Drafting Quarterback At No. 8

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn said on Monday that the team is open to selecting a quarterback with the No. 8 pick of this year's draft, even with Matthew Stafford on the roster. "We're in a position now with the eighth overall pick that the whole draft board is really wide open to us. […]

Edwin Encarnacion Expected To Report To Camp

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion is expected to report to spring training this week on Saturday, according to a source. The Mariners have made it known that they'd like to flip Encarnacion after acquiring him from the Indians this offseason, but trade talks haven't advanced in recent days. The veteran's appeal is mostly limited […]

Texans To Release Demaryius Thomas

The Houston Texans are expected to release wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (Achilles) on Tuesday, according to a source. Thomas tore his left Achilles in Week 16 and it's too early to give a timetable on when he might return, but as an aging receiver coming off a serious injury, he's not expected to have many […]

Antonio Brown Guilty Of Reckless Driving

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was found guilty for reckless driving on Tuesday after failing to show up for his court date, according to the magistrate's office. He has paid $426.77 in fines after he was cited on Nov. 8 for driving more than 100 mph in Pennsylvania. It's just another off-field incident in […]

Alex Colome Could Have Leg Up On Closer Duties

The Chicago White Sox are talking more about relief pitcher Alex Colome for ninth-inning duties than they are with Kelvin Herrera. The Pale Hose gave up catcher Omar Narvaez to acquire Colome from the Mariners in the offseason and Colome had 37 and 46 saves for the Rays in 2016 and 2017, respectively. He also […]

Jacob deGrom Won't Negotiate Extension During The Season

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom informed the team that he will not negotiate a long-term contract extension during the season, according to an industry source. The 30-year-old 2018 National League Cy Young winner won't be a free agent until after the 2020 season, but he's seeking a deal that will buy out his […]

Bryce Harper Won't Consider Short-Term Offers

Free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper will not consider or sign a short-term deal this offseason. The Giants may have offered Harper a lucrative short-term deal of late, but he's not expected to consider it. Harper probably wouldn't mind playing closer to his west coast home in Las Vegas, although San Francisco's home park isn't the greatest […]

Matt Duffy Bulks Up

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Matt Duffy bulked up in the offseason, adding 23 pounds to increase his strength and flexibility. Duffy missed all of the 2017 season due to injury but hit .294/.361/.366 with four home runs, 44 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 132 games in his first season with Tampa in 2018. […]

A's Bring Back Brett Anderson

The Oakland Athletics agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent starting pitcher Brett Anderson on Monday. He is scheduled to have a physical on Tuesday, and if he passes he'll be in camp with the team on Wednesday. The 31-year-old signed a minor league deal with Oakland last March and went 4-5 with a […]

Frank Clark Could Receive Franchise Tag

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to keep defensive end Frank Clark, their only elite edge rusher, even if it means using the franchise tag on him. They'll slap the tag on him if they can't work out a long-term deal first. The franchise tag would mean he'd earn around $18 million in 2019. Clark had […]

Duke Johnson Expendable After Kareem Hunt Signing?

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey said that running back Duke Johnson isn't "expendable yet" after the team signed Kareem Hunt on Monday. However, Dorsey also made it sound like he hadn't made up his mind completely on the subject. Hunt is expected to face a lengthy suspension from the league for domestic violence, so […]