James Wood Could DH On Thursday

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that if everything goes according to plan, outfielder James Wood (quadriceps) could serve as the designated hitter in a Grapefruit League game on Thursday. The Nationals have held Wood out of Grapefruit League games early in spring training as a precaution due to left-quad tendonitis, but it looks like […]

Shawn Dubin, Pedro Leon Dealing With Injuries

Houston Astros right-hander Shawn Dubin (shoulder) and outfielder Pedro Leon (knee) are both dealing with injuries in camp, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Dubin has right-shoulder inflammation and has been shut down in spring training, while Leon has a Grade 1 MCL strain in his knee and will be out for a while. Dubin probably […]

Jose Altuve To Play Left Field In A Game Later This Week

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will play in his first Grapefruit League game in left field later this week. Even though the Astros didn't re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman, it appears that the team plans on playing Altuve quite a bit in left field in 2025, which should open […]

Liam Hendriks To Pitch On Wednesday

MLB.com's Ian Browne writes that the Boston Red Sox competition for the closer job will start in spring training on Wednesday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays when right-hander Liam Hendriks and left-hander Aroldis Chapman are both scheduled to pitch. Justin Slaten, who is also competing for the closer's role, is scheduled to throw live […]

Jarren Duran Back In Grapefruit League Lineup

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (calf) is starting in left field and batting leadoff in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves. Duran was scratched from Sunday's spring training game on Sunday, and the team's game on Monday was rained out. The 28-year-old is back in there now, though, after dealing with a […]

Rams Comfortable With Jimmy Garoppolo

The Athletic's Dianna Russini says that the Los Angeles Rams are comfortable with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback. Current QB Matthew Stafford is looking for over $50 million per year on a possible two-year deal worth up to $110 million. Stafford and his agent are currently reaching out to other teams that might be […]

Shohei Ohtani Hits 95 MPH, Adds Cutters In Bullpen Session

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) touched 95 mph during his 25-pitch bullpen session in camp on Saturday while also adding cutters. Roberts said that Ohtani adding cutters was "a big step." The 30-year-old Japanese right-hander didn't pitch at all in his first season with the Dodgers […]

Titans Could Draft And Sign A Quarterback

ESPN's Dan Graziano suggests that the Tennessee Titans, who hold the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft, could draft a quarterback and also sign a bridge QB in free agency, similar to what the Atlanta Falcons did in 2024 when they signed Kirk Cousins and drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. […]

Extension Could Be Coming For T.J. Watt

The Pittsburgh Steelers made All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt the highest-paid defensive player in the league before the 2021 season at around $28 million per year, and ESPN's Dan Graziano suggests the best way for the Steelers to knock down Watt's team-high $30.4 million salary cap number in 2025 is to give him an extension as […]

Browns Will Have To Wait Until After June 1 To Trade Myles Garrett

If the Cleveland Browns soften their stance and decide to trade All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett this offseason, they would have to wait until after June 1 to make it work from a salary cap perspective. Trading Garrett before June 1 would result in a dead-money hit of more than $36 million, which is way higher […]

NFL Could Change Kickoff Rules Again In 2025

NFL Competition Committee chairman and Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay told reporters on Monday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that the league is considering changes that would lead to more kick returns in 2025. The committee will discuss giving teams possession at the 35-yard line instead of the 30-yard line in addition to […]

NFL Team Proposes To Ban The "Tush Push"

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters on Monday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis that an unidentified team has submitted a rule proposal to ban the "tush push." Unless the team withdraws its proposal, NFL owners could vote on the proposal next month at the annual league meeting in Florida. […]

Will Campbell Linked To The Patriots

LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell has been the player most linked to the New England Patriots heading into this year's NFL draft, writes The Athletic's Chad Graff. If Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter is off the board by the time the Patriots pick at No. 4 overall, Graff says that it would come down to […]

Patriots Could Be Aggressive On Trade Market For A Receiver

The Athletic's Chad Graff is guessing that the New England Patriots will aggressively pursue a trade for a wide receiver this offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins, who would have been the top free-agent wideout available. Graff also guesses that New England would prefer to use the […]

Falcons Haven't Started Contract Talks With Matthew Judon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter writes that the Atlanta Falcons have yet to start extension talks with linebacker Matthew Judon. In his first year with the Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots, the four-time Pro Bowler was a disappointment, collecting 41 tackles (25 solo), 5.5 sacks, […]

Abdul Carter Won't Work Out At NFL Combine

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (shoulder), who could be the No. 1 overall pick in his year's draft, will not work out at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week because he isn't fully recovered from the shoulder injury that he suffered against Boise State, according to his agents […]

Isaiah Pola-Mao Signs Two-Year Extension

The Las Vegas Raiders re-signed safety Isaiah Pola-Mao to a two-year contract extension worth up to $8.45 million on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Pola-Mao was a restricted free agent and the nephew of Hall of Fame defensive back Troy Polamalu. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of USC eventually latched on […]

Browns Releasing Juan Thornhill

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the Cleveland Browns are releasing veteran safety Juan Thornhill, according to sources. After meeting in recent days, both sides agreed that the best decision was to release Thornhill so that he'll have a few weeks of a head start on free agency this offseason. The 29-year-old had one year […]

Trey Lance Expected To Move On

Dallas Cowboys impending free-agent quarterback Trey Lance is expected to move on in free agency this offseason, as chief executive officer Stephen Jones said that Lance is "probably going to be looking for something different." The Cowboys acquired Lance from the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the 2023 season, but he didn't play […]

Steelers To Consider Trading Minkah Fitzpatrick?

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers might want to consider trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level in two years. Even if the Steelers were to trade the big-money star, they'd still have the NFL's most expensive defense. Pittsburgh is set to have the most expensive defense in […]

George Pickens Could Be A Hold-In At Training Camp

The Athltic's Mike DeFabo writes that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens, who is heading into the final deal of his rookie contract in 2025, could "hold in" at training camp this summer to force the Steelers to either trade him or give him guaranteed money early. DeFabo thinks that it's unlikely the Steelers will […]

Texans Unlikely To Try And Re-Sign Stefon Diggs?

The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander doesn't think the Houston Texans will make a big push to try and re-sign impending free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) this offseason. General manager Nick Caserio has made it sound like the door is open for Diggs to return in 2025, but Alexander thinks Diggs would have to […]

Other Teams Willing To Give Matthew Stafford More Money?

FOX Sports' Peter Schrager reports that there is no bad blood between the Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, but Stafford is merely looking to get paid what he thinks he's worth. It's purely a money issue, and Stafford wants to get paid more than $50 million per year. The Rams recently gave Stafford […]

Andrew Chafin Returns To Detroit

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent left-hander Andrew Chafin to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. Chafin began last year with the Tigers but also spent time with the Texas Rangers. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw reliever had a combined 4-3 record, 3.51 ERA (3.54 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP, […]

Alejandro Rosario Needs Elbow Surgery, Done For The Year

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Alejandro Rosario (elbow) will have season-ending elbow surgery, according to general manager Chris Young. Young said Rosario's injury was an acute ailment that he felt after throwing a bullpen session in camp. The 23-year-old right-hander is ranked as the No. 50 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, but he'll have […]

Tom Murphy Has Mid-Back Disc Herniation

The San Francisco Giants are saying that catcher Tom Murphy (back) is dealing with a mid-back disc herniation. Murphy will receive an epidural injection and be re-evaluated "in the next few weeks." As a result, it looks like Murphy will not be ready to go as the team's backup catcher for Opening Day in late […]

Giancarlo Stanton Returning To New York For More Testing

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) is traveling back to New York for consultation with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad. Stanton hasn't been able to resume baseball activities at spring training due to pain in both of his elbows, which manager Aaron Boone described recently as "akin to tennis elbow." However, it's becoming […]

Connor Wong Still Sidelined On Monday

Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong (shoulder) is absent from Monday's Grapefruit League lineup against the division-rival New York Yankees. Wong is dealing with a sore shoulder in spring training. It's not a serious injury for the 28-year-old, though, and he's expected to play in a game at some point this week. Wong broke out […]

Kutter Crawford Not Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reports that the Boston Red Sox don't see right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) being ready for Opening Day in late March. The good news for the Red Sox is that they do believe right-handers Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) will be ready based on their schedules early in spring […]

Paul Skenes Throws Live Batting Practice On Monday

The Pittsburgh Pirates' Grapefruit League game on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies was rained out, but right-hander Paul Skenes still threw a 45-pitch live batting practice session at LECOM Park, according to the team. The 22-year-old will have to wait to make his spring training debut in a game, but it has nothing to do […]