Shohei Ohtani To Hit Off Tee Friday

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled to hit off a tee for the first time on Friday. It's good news for the Japanese two-way star, but he won't be ready for game action until sometime in May and will not pitch at all in 2019 after having Tommy John surgery on […]

Clayton Kershaw Taking A Few Days Off

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw said he is "going to take a few days right now" but offered no specifics on what "not feeling right" means. He would not elaborate when asked if his issues were back-related and he said he should resume playing catch in the next few days and go from […]

Billy McKinney, Devon Travis Candidates For Leadoff Spot

Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that outfielder Billy McKinney and second baseman Devon Travis are the two guys he's considering for the leadoff spot right now, but he'll use the spring to make the final determination. McKinney is in a battle with Teoscar Hernandez for playing time in left field this year, but […]

Three Teams Interested In Antonio Brown

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said that three teams have already reached out on a potential Antonio Brown trade. The identity of the teams is unknown, but Colbert is adamant that the Steelers won't just give Brown away. The two sides met last week and agreed that a trade was the best course of […]

Mike Soroka To Be Shut Down 4-5 Days

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka's shoulder is bothering him again, and he also had some pain while lifting weights a month ago. He will be shut down from throwing for the next four to five days. Soroka is one of Atlanta's more promising young pitchers, but he was shut down early last year due […]

Matt Chapman Could Play In Games Early Next Week

Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman (shoulder, thumb) has been making good progress from his offseason surgeries and could play in Cactus League games by early next week. Chapman really showed his upside in his second year in the big leagues, hitting .278/.356/.508 with an .864 OPS, 24 home runs and 68 RBI in 145 […]

Marwin Gonzalez Agrees With Twins

The Minnesota Twins agreed to a two-year, $21 million deal with free-agent infielder Marwin Gonzalez on Friday, according to league sources. The soon-to-be 30-year-old utility player had a down year in 2018 after putting up career numbers with the Astros the season prior. He can play all over the infield and in the outfield, giving […]

Tyler Eifert Recovered From Ankle Surgery

Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent tight end Tyler Eifert suffered an ugly ankle injury last September that required season-ending surgery. The 28-year-old former first-round pick in 2013 posted a video on Twitter on Thursday that showed him doing ladder drills. Because of his extensive injury history -- Eifert has played in a total of 14 games […]

Justus Sheffield Will Be Delayed Due To Blister

Seattle Mariners top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield, who was acquired in the trade that sent James Paxton to the Yankees, will have his Cactus League debut delayed a day or two due to a small blister on his finger. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday. The left-hander is MLB Pipeline's No. 43 […]

Ervin Santana Heading To White Sox

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent starting pitcher Ervin Santana to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Friday. The veteran right-hander made just five starts in 2018 with the Twins due to finger issues and was terrible when he was on the mound. However, he went 16-8 with a 3.28 […]

Sonny Gray Scratched Due To Elbow Stiffness

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray has been scratched from his spring training outing on Saturday due to right elbow stiffness. Tanner Roark will make the start in his place against the Indians. It's a bad start to Gray's tenure with the Reds after being traded over from the Yankees this offseason. The 29-year-old right-hander […]

Nationals Moving On From Bryce Harper

The Washington Nationals are officially moving on from free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper. "Nothing's certainly changed on our end," owner Mark Lerner told NBC Sports Washington's Todd Dybas Friday. "We've moved on. As I said back then and we had to. There was no way we could wait around. Bryce, I'm sure will make his decision […]

Phillies Waiting For Price To Drop On Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel

The Philadelphia Phillies are unlikely to engage free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel or starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel unless either pitcher's current asking price drops, according to those close to the situation. Keuchel is believed to be seeking a five-year deal, while Kimbrel is looking for something similar. The Phillies see themselves as favorites to land outfielder […]

Le'Veon Bell's Trainer Refutes Weight-Gain Reports

Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent running back Le'Veon Bell's trainer responded to "ridiculous" speculation about Bell's shape by pointing out that he is feeling better in February than guys who played in 2018. "He’s going to be the same Le'Veon Bell — only better, quicker and faster," Bell's trainer said. Bell sat out all of the […]

Jonathan Villar Likely To Stay At Second Base

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Villar is likely to spend most of his time at second base in 2019, with former All-Star Alcides Escobar the favorite to play shortstop. Escobar, 32, was signed to a minor league deal but will most likely make the team if he stays healthy. Villar played 36 games at second […]

Jed Lowrie's MRI Shows No Structural Damage

The MRI exam on New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie's sore left knee showed no structural damage on Thursday, according to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. The GM said the Mets will be cautious with Lowrie and "bring him along slowly." Lowrie first felt soreness while running and it bothered him while doing "high-explosive" […]

Mets, Jacob deGrom's Agents To Meet About Extension

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom's agents, Jeff Berry and Matt Ricatto, and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen will meet in Florida, according to a source. deGrom set a deadline of Opening Day for the team to agree to a long-term contract extension with him. As of last week, deGrom said the Mets had […]

Ross Stripling Going Back To Windup

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling will go back to a windup in his delivery full time in 2019 after abandoning it after the spring of 2017. "I think the reason you bring it back, it gives you a little more rhythm and it gives hitters a different timing. Out of the stretch, it’s easy […]

Clayton Kershaw Frustrated After Bullpen Session

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was given the day off on Thursday by manager Dave Roberts after he was discouraged with the way he was feeling during a bullpen on Wednesday. The ace lefty also wasn't happy with his live batting practice on Monday. Roberts said Kershaw didn't mention a specific injury and […]

White Sox Not Bidding On Bryce Harper

The Chicago White Sox will not bid on free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper, according to a source. The White Sox also lost out on their primary target on Tuesday when Manny Machado agreed to a 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres. Harper, a six-time All-Star and 2015 National League MVP, is expected to command a […]

Jorge Soler Says He's Fully Healthy

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Soler (foot) showed up healthy and ready to go in camp this week. He was hitting .265 with 18 doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI in mid-June last year when he fractured the first metatarsal bone in his left foot and missed the rest of the season. Soler (27 […]

Mike Soroka Won't Pitch In Early Spring Games

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that starting pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) will not pitch in early spring training games. The young hurler finished last year on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation and will be brought along slowly. The good news is the 21-year-old doesn't have any limitations, but the team is just being […]

Sean Manaea Ahead Of Schedule

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea (shoulder) continues to play catch as he begins his throwing program and is well ahead of schedule of where he was initially projected after his shoulder injury was diagnosed last year. There's still no guarantee that Manaea will even pitch in 2019, but it's looking more likely that he'll […]

Cardinals Easing Andrew Miller Into Spring Action

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said he doesn't think relief pitcher Andrew Miller will pitch in the first couple of Grapefruit League games this weekend. Given the knee issues the left-hander dealt with last year, the Cardinals are also being careful with him in fielding drills in camp. So far Miller's knee and arm […]

Kyle Gibson Being Eased Into Spring Action

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (illness) may not appear in a spring training game for another week or so as the team brings him along slowly after his bout with E. coli last month. Gibson should be just fine for Opening Day. The 31-year-old right-hander had his best season in the majors in 2018, […]

Miguel Sano Cleared For Light Activity

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano (foot) has been cleared for "light activity" in camp. Sano is dealing with a minor laceration on his foot, but he'll be fine for Opening Day. The 25-year-old dealt with an injury last year and was also demoted to the minors, hitting just .199/.281/.398 with 13 home runs and […]

Bengals Hire Lou Anarumo As Defensive Coordinator

The Cincinnati Bengals hired New York Giants defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo as their next defensive coordinator on Thursday. New head coach Zac Taylor and Anarumo worked together in their time with the Dolphins. Anarumo has only been a coordinator on an interim basis with Miami, so this will be his first full-time gig as […]

Steelers GM Supports Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said he supports quarterback Ben Roethlisberger 100 percent as the team's unquestioned leader amid criticism from disgruntled receiver Antonio Brown. "I have no problem with him. He can call me out and that’s fine. What he does I totally respect because I’ve seen him too many times win games […]

Jed Lowrie Undergoing MRI

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie (knee) is not at camp on Thursday and is in New York getting an MRI exam on his sore left knee. The team is awaiting the results. It could be nothing serious but it could also be something that would put him in danger of missing the start […]

Odubel Herrera Looks To Be Fine

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera (hamstring) took batting practice and threw long toss on Thursday, and manager Gabe Kapler said Herrera is penciled in to play in the third or fourth Grapefruit League game next week. Herrera tweaked his leg running the bases this week, but it doesn't seem to be very serious. Barring any […]