Addison Russell To Get Second Chance With Cubs

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said that shortstop Addison Russell is getting a "conditional second chance" after being suspended 40 games last October for violating the league's domestic-violence policy. "If he continues to meet the high standards we’ve laid out for him, put the work in, he will be eligible to return […]

Opening Day A Realistic Target For Yu Darvish

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) is set to begin long tossing in a few days and is a week away from throwing a bullpen session for the first time this offseason. The right-hander said being ready for Opening Day is a realistic goal based on his progress so far. The Japanese starter was […]

Kris Bryant Says He's Healthy

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (shoulder) said he's healthy with spring training approaching. “The shoulder is perfectly healed. Feels great,” Bryant said. “Everything about it feels right back to where I was before.” The star third baseman made two trips to the disabled list due to inflammation in his left shoulder last year that […]

Chris Sale Feels Normal

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (shoulder) said he feels back to normal already this offseason after dealing with left shoulder fatigue that landed him on the disabled list twice late in the 2018 season. “I feel normal again. I’m able to throw free and easy and feel loose and kind of have that […]

Rays Finalize Deal With Avisail Garcia

The Tampa Bay Rays finalized their one-year, $3.5 million deal with free-agent outfielder Avisail Garcia on Friday. He can earn an extra $2.5 million in performance incentives based on plate appearances. The 27-year-old is convinced his disappointing 2018 campaign was the result of knee and hamstring injuries that caused him to develop bad habits with […]

Cowboys Fire Offensive Coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys fired offensive coordinator Scott Linehan on Friday. The decision was mutual, according to head coach Jason Garrett. Dallas' offense finished 22nd in the league in both total offense and scoring offense, averaging just 21.2 points per game. It wasn't until the team traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper that the offense started […]

Cody Allen Expected To Sign With Angels

Free-agent relief pitcher Cody Allen is in serious discussions with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year deal, according to sources. The agreement is believed to be in place and is only pending a physical. With Blake Parker now in Minnesota, Allen could be the favorite to close in Anaheim over options like Ty Buttrey, […]

Dustin Pedroia Begins Running Program

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) is "doing great" as he begins his running program this week, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Pedroia's left knee has been an issue since the start of the 2017 season, and he played in just three games in 2018. The veteran believes he'll be […]

Spencer Ware Upgraded To Full Practice

Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (hamstring) practiced in full on Thursday after being limited in Wednesday's session. Ware sat out the divisional round after being limited in practice all week, but it looks like he's set to return for the AFC Championship against the Patriots on Sunday. He has been out since early […]

J.J. Watt Undergoes Knee Cleanup

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (knee) underwent a minor knee cleanup procedure right after the season, according to a source. Watt is fine for now, and the procedure was just a little maintenance for an injury that bothered him during the season. After playing in only eight games in 2016 and 2017 due to […]

Yankees Closing In On Adam Ottavino

The New York Yankees are closing in on free-agent relief pitcher Adam Ottavino on Thursday, according to sources. If the agreement is completed, the deal is expected to be in the three-year, $25 million range. Ottavino had an excellent year in 2018 and was Colorado's best reliever, posting a 2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, six saves […]

Alex Reyes Making Progress In Rehab

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes (elbow, lat) had a light mound session to work on his mechanics on Tuesday during the team's instructional league in Florida. “Alex has continued steady progress with his throwing progression,” general manager John Mozeliak shared in an email after Reyes’ workout. “He is utilizing our ‘Pitching and Performance Staff’ […]

Leonard Fournette In Good Place After Meeting With Team's Brass

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone is optimistic on running back Leonard Fournette's outlook after he met with the second-year back last week. Marrone called the meeting "encouraging" and said, "I think he's in a really good place." Fournette missed nine games due to injury in 2018 and was also suspended in Week 13 for […]

Three Orioles Starters Expected To Be Healthy

Baltimore Orioles starting pitchers Alex Cobb (fingers), Andrew Cashner (knee) and Dylan Bundy (ankle) will report to spring training without any physical limitations that interrupted or cut short their 2018 seasons. All three have their issues and all three probably should be avoided in mixed leagues. Cobb is the most attractive in AL-only leagues, while […]

Spencer Ware Limited Wednesday

Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (hamstring) was limited in practice on Wednesday. Ware was limited in practice all week before sitting out in the divisional round, but he could return to face the Patriots in the AFC Championship. He has been out since Dec. 9 and would merely be backing up lead-back Damien […]

Diamondbacks Sign Wilmer Flores

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent infielder Wilmer Flores to a one-year, $4.25 million deal on Wednesday, according to league sources. He will make a base salary of $3.7 million with a $500,000 buyout on a 2020 club option worth $6 million. Flores was mostly a part-time player with the Mets in 2018, hitting .267/.319/.417 with […]

Lions Choose Darrell Bevell To Be Offensive Coordinator

The Detroit Lions hired former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as their next offensive coordinator on Wednesday. The Lions ranked 23rd in rushing yards per game (103.8), 20th in passing yards (223.5) and 24th in points per game (19.38) in 2018. Bevell ran the offense for Seattle from 2011 to 2017 and was out […]

White Sox Make $125 Million Offer To Manny Machado

The Chicago White Sox's offer to free-agent shortstop Manny Machado was for $175 million over seven years. With just the White Sox and Phillies believed to be interested in Machado, the White Sox decided to take a low-ball approach and go from there. One of the best shortstops both offensively and defensively was seeking $300 […]

Jaguars Expected To Hire John DeFilippo

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to hire former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo as their next offensive coordinator on Wednesday, according to sources. DeFilippo was fired midseason after running a very bland scheme with plenty of playmakers in Minnesota. He drew rave reviews for working with both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles on the […]

Rich Scangarello To Become Broncos Offensive Coordinator

San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello is back visiting with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, and sources say his interview with head coach Vic Fangio went well. Scangarello is expected to become the team's next offensive coordinator, barring a snag in talks. Scangarello has never coordinated an offense in the NFL but is an […]

Broncos Hire Ed Donatell As Defensive Coordinator

The Denver Broncos reached an agreement on Tuesday to make former Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Ed Donatell their next defensive coordinator, according to a source. Donatell served behind Vic Fangio in Chicago, who is now Denver's head coach. Expect Fangio to have most of the say with defensive play-calling moving forward. Denver still has […]

Panthers Unsure If Cam Newton Will Have Surgery

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said he has "no idea" on whether quarterback Cam Newton (shoulder) will need offseason surgery. Newton's right shoulder hampered him down the stretch and he was shut down for the final two games with the team eliminated from postseason contention. We'd be surprised if he didn't undergo right shoulder surgery […]

Gregg Williams To Become Jets Defensive Coordinator

The New York Jets are finalizing a deal to make former Cleveland Browns interim head coach Gregg Williams their next defensive coordinator on Tuesday, according to a source. Williams was previously the defensive coordinator in Cleveland before he was promoted to interim head coach when they fired Hue Jackson midway through the 2018 season. He […]

Colts Want To Re-Sign Adam Vinatieri

The Indianapolis Colts want to re-sign impending free-agent kicker Adam Vinatieri, according to a source. Despite a missed kick and extra point in the divisional round loss to the Chiefs, the 46-year-old had a fantastic season, making 85.2 percent of his 27 field-goal tries in 2018. Vinatieri has said he's open to another season, so […]

Carson Wentz Remains Eagles QB

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson reiterated that quarterback Carson Wentz remains the team's QB of the future, not Nick Foles. Wentz's season-ending injuries the last two years and Foles' improbable Super Bowl run in 2017 and his short playoff run this year has many questioning who is the better signal caller for the team. […]

Leonys Martin Feels 100 Percent

Cleveland Indians outfielder Leonys Martin was cleared to resume all baseball activities last Nov. 20 after dealing with a life-threatening bacterial infection, and he said he is now feeling 100 percent healthy. Martin played in just six games with the Indians before his illness hit, and he played in 78 games with the Tigers before […]

Mark Ingram Wants To Stay In New Orleans

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram, who is due to become a free agent in the offseason, would like to stay with the team moving forward. “I’m not looking just to up and leave New Orleans. My squad, you know we got a good squad. I feel like we could do this type of […]

Tyler Boyd Almost Done With Rehab

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (knee) said he has roughly two weeks left of rehabbing the sprained MCL he suffered in Week 14. Boyd should be fine for organized team activities in the spring and will go into training camp at 100 percent. The 24-year-old had a career year in 2018, catching 76 passes […]

Nathaniel Hackett Hired By Packers

The Green Bay Packers hired former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new offensive coordinator on Monday, according to sources. Hackett is known as more of a run-first offensive mind, but he'll also challenge and engage veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers in an offense that struggled in 2018. Green Bay ranked 12th in yards […]

Rays Closing In On Avisail Garcia

The Tampa Bay Rays are closing in on free-agent outfielder Avisail Garcia, according to sources. Garcia played in just 93 games due to injury in 2018 in his final year with the White Sox and hit a disappointing .236/.281/.438 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI. If he signs with Tampa, he should see consistent […]