Giants Acquire Erik Kratz

The San Francisco Giants acquired catcher Erik Kratz from the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in exchange for minor league infielder C.J. Hinojosa. The 38-year-old Kratz was third on Milwaukee's catching depth chart in spring training, but he could be the backup to Buster Posey in San Francisco. Hinojosa is a versatile defender with good contact […]

Cardinals Excited About Alex Reyes

The St. Louis Cardinals are excited about the potential of pitcher Alex Reyes as he enters the 2019 season fully healthy. The right-hander is ranked as the team's top prospect for the fourth straight year after the 24-year-old's career was interrupted by a pair of arm surgeries over the last few seasons. Reyes will open […]

Hanley Ramirez To Make Opening Day Roster

Cleveland Indians first baseman Hanley Ramirez has made the team's Opening Day roster, manager Terry Francona confirmed on Sunday. Han-Ram signed a minor league deal in February and entered Sunday hitting .278/.316/.528 with two home runs and eight RBI in 36 spring at-bats. He'll be an option for at-bats at first base but won't be […]

Brad Peacock To Be Fifth Starter

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch confirmed on Friday that Brad Peacock will serve as the team's No. 5 starter to open the season. The 31-year-old right-hander started only one game last year after making 21 starts in 2017. He went 3-5 with a 3.46 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 96 K's and 20 walks in his […]

Carlos Martinez Not Ready To Throw Off Mound

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder) resumed throwing on Wednesday after taking a few days off for the birth of his daughter, but manager Mike Shildt said it will be "another couple weeks" before Martinez will throw off a mound. The team won't rush a decision on whether to use him as a […]

Rich Hill Dealing With Strained Knee

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill said on Friday that he has a strained left knee and doesn't know if he'll start the year in the rotation. The veteran left-hander said he felt the knee injury at the end of his Sunday start. Because of Hill's injury, it's now likely that Hyun-Jin Ryu will […]

Jimmy Nelson Has Elbow Soreness

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson reported some elbow soreness after pitching into the fourth inning in a minor league game on Thursday, and he was to be examined by the team's head physician on Friday. Manager Craig Counsell expressed optimism that Nelson's injury wasn't serious. The team is hoping Nelson is just experiencing soreness […]

Aaron Hicks Hasn't Resumed Baseball Activities

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks' chronic back pain hasn't eased to the point where he has been able to resume baseball activities. The switch-hitter had hoped to be activated from the injured list on April 4, but manager Aaron Boone said that timetable was "probably too ambitious." Hicks' power and speed combination is attractive […]

Jed Lowrie Still Not Running At Full Speed

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie hasn't attempted to run at full speed five weeks after suffering a sprained left knee capsule. He ran earlier this week on an anti-gravity treadmill, but he doesn't seem close to a full slate of sprints or baseball activities. As a result, Lowrie won't be ready for Opening […]

Reds Send Nick Senzel To Minor Leagues

The Cincinnati Reds sent third baseman/outfielder Nick Senzel to the minor leagues on Friday. The Reds had been working Senzel in center field this spring and he hit .308 in major league camp. Agent Joel Wolfe told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday that his client was sent down to prevent his major league service time […]

Lions Reach Agreement With Rashaan Melvin

The Detroit Lions signed free-agent cornerback Rashaan Melvin to a one-year, $3.5 million deal on Friday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Melvin played for the Patriots in 2015 when head coach Matt Patricia was the defensive coordinator. The 29-year-old has been mostly a starter the last three seasons with the Colts and Raiders and […]

Matt Kalil Signs With Texans

The Houston Texans signed free-agent offensive tackle Matt Kalil to an undisclosed deal on Friday. The former fourth overall pick in 2012 was cut from the Panthers a week ago. The 29-year-old made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season with the Vikings but has ended on Injured Reserve in two of the last three […]

Mike Glennon Signs With Raiders

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent quarterback Mike Glennon to a one-year, $2 million deal on Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 29-year-old will be with his fourth different team in the last four seasons and will serve as Derek Carr's backup in silver and black. Glennon has played in 27 games (22 starts) […]

Max Scherzer Looks Good In Final Tune-Up

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer allowed three runs in seven innings against the Marlins in his final Grapefruit League start before the regular season on Friday, striking out 12 and walking none. No pitcher had recorded as many strikeouts in a spring training game in nearly four years, when Tyson Ross had 12 K's […]

Howie Kendrick Sees Live Pitching Thursday

Washington Nationals second baseman Howie Kendrick (hamstring) saw live pitching from reliever Tony Sipp on Thursday for the first time since he strained his left hamstring earlier this spring. Manager Dave Martinez is optimistic that both Kendrick and Sipp could be ready for Opening Day, but both players still have hurdles to clear. Kendrick is […]

Dexter Fowler Hitting The Ball Harder

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler, who could hit anywhere from second to seventh this year, hit two home runs in the spring game on Thursday against the Yankees and has been making consistent hard contact in camp. He entered Thursday with one extra-base hit in his first 40 spring at-bats, but Fowler has put […]

Matt Carpenter To Play In One More Spring Game

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter, who dealt with back tightness last weekend, plans to play in just one more Grapefruit League game before getting the rest of his at-bats in a minor league setting next week. He plans on being ready for Opening Day next Thursday against Milwaukee. Carpenter had five hits, including three […]

Good News For Greg Bird

New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird was relieved to find out that X-rays and a CT scan on his right elbow came back clean on Friday. Bird was hit by a pitch on his right elbow in a spring game on Wednesday. He did not swing or take ground balls on Friday, but he […]

Clint Frazier Optioned Friday

New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. The 24-year-old played in just 69 games last year (15 in the majors) due to the effects of a concussion, and he hit just .130 over 46 at-bats with two doubles, one triple, five RBI and three stolen bases in 17 Grapefruit […]

Yu Darvish, Pedro Strop On Track For Opener

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (finger) and relief pitcher Pedro Strop (hamstring) both threw successful bullpen sessions on Friday and should be ready for the season opener next Thursday. Strop will return to game action either Monday or Tuesday against Boston, which will mark his first outing since March 9. Darvish's next test will […]

Justin Upton, Zack Cozart Should Be Ready

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton (knee) and third baseman Zack Cozart (calf) will continue to get extra playing time over the next few days in camp so that they are ready for the season opener next Thursday against the A's. Manager Brad Ausmus thinks both players will avoid the injured list, but the team […]

Shohei Ohtani Completes Final Spring Workout

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) took part in his final spring workout on Friday and will head to Anaheim on Saturday to continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The Japanese two-way star threw 55 times on flat ground, including 35 throws from 50 feet, and he also took 10 swings […]

Joey Gallo Homers In Minor League Game

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo (groin) homered, grounded out and walked twice as the designated hitter in a Triple-A game on Friday after being sidelined since March 14 with a strained right groin. The left-handed slugger said he was pain-free and ran at about 80 percent. Gallo will continue to receive at-bats in minor league […]

Willie Calhoun Yet To Report To Triple-A

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun was disappointed to learn he was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and has yet to report to the team. A player has 72 hours to report to a team, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Calhoun still has a lot of potential at the major league level, but he's going to […]

Brewers, Braves In Mix For Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves seem to be the two teams in the mix for free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel with Opening Day next Thursday. The Brewers make even more sense with both relievers Corey Knebel (elbow) and Jeremy Jeffress (shoulder) injured and questionable for the start of the season. Atlanta's bullpen is inexperienced and […]

Bradley Zimmer To Start Season On Injured List

Cleveland Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer continues to advance in his rehab from right shoulder surgery last July, but he will begin the regular season on the injured list. “[Zimmer] has done a terrific job of rehabbing and things,” manager Terry Francona said. “He’s light years ahead of where we thought he’d be at this time. […]

Jason Kipnis Out 7-10 Days With Calf Strain

Cleveland Indians second baseman/outfielder Jason Kipnis won't do any baseball activities for seven to 10 days after an MRI exam showed a low-grade right calf strain. He has battled tightness in his right calf for the last week and was taken out of Wednesday's spring game after the pain continued. Eric Stamets had some tightness […]

Francisco Lindor To Start On Injured List

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) will start the season on the injured list. The All-Star has been out since Feb. 6 with a moderate right calf strain but has checked off almost every box in order to get back into major league games. The earliest he can return to the lineup is now April […]

Justin Verlander Seeking Extension Before Season Starts

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane said on Friday that both the Astros and starting pitcher Justin Verlander are talking about a contract, and an extension would likely have to be completed before the club breaks camp for the regular season on Sunday. A two-year deal "for more than $60 million" is possible, according to MLB […]

Chris Sale, Red Sox Agree On Long-Term Extension

Updating a previous report, the Boston Red Sox agreed on a long-term contract extension with starting pitcher Chris Sale on a deal that is believed to span from 2020 to 2024, a source told MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal on Friday. The deal is expected to be worth slightly less than $150 million and is likely […]