Ryan Walker To Be Giants Closer

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Wednesday that right-handed reliever Ryan Walker will open the season as the team's closer. Walker took over as the Giants' closer in the second half last year and never looked back after Camilo Doval was removed from the ninth-inning role. All in all, the 29-year-old was excellent […]

James McArthur To Be Delayed In Camp After Elbow Surgery

MLB.com's Anne Rogers reports that Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever James McArthur (elbow) had right-elbow surgery in the offseason, specifically having two screws put in his arm to stabilize an olecranon fracture. McArthur has just resumed his throwing program/progression and will be delayed at the start of spring training as a result. The 28-year-old could […]

Alec Marsh Might Be Delayed Due To Shoulder Tightness

MLB.com's Anne Rogers reports the Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh (shoulder) experienced right-shoulder tightness this offseason. Marsh is back on track and is throwing every day, but he might be delayed in spring training slightly in regards to facing hitters, according to manager Matt Quatraro. The Royals are taking it day-to-day with the 26-year-old […]

Shane McClanahan 100% With No Restrictions

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (elbow) told Bally Sports Florida's Ryan Bass on Wednesday morning that he is "100%" ready to go for spring training with zero restrictions. McClanahan was seen on Wednesday throwing warm-up tosses before his first bullpen session of spring training. The 27-year-old southpaw starter had Tommy John surgery in August […]

Drew Smith Re-Signs With Mets

Right-handed reliever Drew Smith (elbow) agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to re-sign with the New York Mets on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The deal includes a club option for the 2026 season. Smith continues to rehab from a hybrid internal-brace/Tommy John surgery last July. There is a chance the 31-year-old reliever […]

Marlins Agree To One-Year Deal With Cal Quantrill

The Miami Marlins agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with free-agent right-hander Cal Quantrill on Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. Quantrill will give the Marlins a young and durable rotation arm who has a propensity for generating ground balls and who isn't far removed from a nice stretch with the Cleveland Guardians […]

Sandy Alcantara Throws Live Batting Practice On Wednesday

Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) was seen throwing live batting practice in camp on Wednesday. It was Alcantara's first live BP session of spring training as he finishes the final steps of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he had in early October of 2023. The 29-year-old missed all of the 2024 campaign […]

Brewers Name Freddy Peralta As Opening Day Starter

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on Wednesday that right-hander Freddy Peralta will be the team's Opening Day starter in 2025 on March 27 against the New York Yankees. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise for the Brew Crew with right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) likely to open the year on the injured list. […]

Michael Kopech Behind Schedule, Could Open Season On Injured List

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-handed reliever Michael Kopech (forearm) is behind schedule in his ramp-up to open spring training, and the skipper is unsure if Kopech will have to start the 2025 regular season on the injured list. Kopech dealt with right-forearm inflammation this winter, although some in the Dodgers organization […]

Dodgers Plan To Use Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki In Tokyo Series

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on MLB Network that the team's plan is to use both Japanese right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki in the season-opening series from March 18-19 in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs. "The expectation is for both those guys to pitch," Roberts said. It's likely that Yamamoto […]

Shohei Ohtani Won't Pitch In Cactus League Games

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn't have a start date yet for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) to starting throwing full bullpen sessions this spring. Roberts says that Ohtani will be pitching "sooner rather than later," but he won't pitch in any Cactus League games. The 30-year-old Japanese hurler is recovering from surgeries […]

Robert Stephenson To Throw Off Mound On Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) said that he's throwing off a mound on Wednesday for the first time since having Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure back in May of last year. Stephenson hopes to be back with the Angels by early July or right around the All-Star break. The 31-year-old […]

Anthony Rendon To Have Hip Surgery

The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher reports that Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon (hip) is having hip surgery. General manager Perry Minasian said it's a "long-term" thing. Rendon has played in fewer than 60 games in five straight seasons with the Angels, and this year looks like more of the same. The 34-year-old […]

Ben Joyce To Get Another Year To Grow Into Closer Role

The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $10 million deal on Tuesday, which will give 24-year-old right-hander Ben Joyce another year to grow into the closer role for the Angels. While Jansen will most likely be L.A.'s primary ninth-inning arm, he's also 37 years old and an injury risk, so […]

Zach Neto Ahead Of Schedule

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) said he got "good news" from doctors on Tuesday and is ahead of schedule after having right-shoulder surgery. However, Neto is still unsure if he will be ready for Opening Day in late March. He has yet to be cleared to throw but has been hitting off a […]

Austin Riley Takes Batting Practice On Wednesday

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (hand) was seen taking batting practice at Braves camp on Wednesday. It's a nice sight for the Braves after Riley's 2024 season was cut short last year due to a fractured hand that he suffered on Aug. 18. The 27-year-old avoided surgery, though, and appears to be full go […]

Brandon Woodruff A Full Participant At Spring Training, To Face Hitters On Friday

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) said he's a full participant as spring training gets underway this week and hasn't had any setbacks after missing all of last season. Woodruff's next big milestone will be this Friday when he faces hitters for the first time since having surgery to fix the anterior capsule in his […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Feeling Good

The word at Pittsburgh Pirates camp is that third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) is feeling good entering spring training. PittsburghPG's Noah Hiles writes that he couldn't help but notice Hayes walking around on Wednesday with a big smile on his face. The 28-year-old fell apart in 2024 and played in only 96 games, slashing .233/.283/.290 […]

Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart, Darick Hall All Options At First Base

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington mentions Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart and Darick Hall as options that the Pirates will consider at first base now that Spencer Horwitz is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a wrist injury that required surgery. Those three players should see the most reps at first base in […]

Cardinals Talking To Five Teams About Nolan Arenado

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said he's been limited to talking to five teams that fit third baseman Nolan Arenado's wishes, and that group of teams hasn't grown as the official start of spring training nears. Mozeliak did not name the specific teams, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold lists […]

Travis Kelce To Take His Time On Retirement Decision

On his New Heights podcast, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said that he is planning to take his time this offseason as he decides whether to retire from professional football following a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. "I'm gonna take some time to figure it out. And I […]

Patriots Have League-High $110 Million In Salary Cap Space

ESPN's Adam Schefter writes that the New England Patriots will be a team to closely follow this offseason, mainly because they have a league-high $110 million in salary cap space. They'll have plenty of financial flexibility to upgrade a roster that needs to improve at almost every position as Mike Vrabel takes over head-coaching duties. […]

Franchise Tag Could Be In Play For Tee Higgins

ESPN's Adam Schefter writes that the Cincinnati Bengals could work to re-sign impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins before he officially becomes a free agent or put the $26 million franchise tag on him, which is lower than what he'd likely receive on the open market. The Bengals could also choose to tag and trade […]

Dolphins Hire Bobby Slowik As Senior Pass-Game Coordinator

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Miami Dolphins hired former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik as a senior passing-game coordinator on Tuesday, according to sources. The 37-year-old was a hot head-coaching candidate last offseason after leading Houston to the postseason with then-rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. However, after a decline in offensive production in […]

Seahawks Still Deciding On Tyler Lockett's Future

When asked whether wide receiver Tyler Lockett would be on the roster for the 2025 season, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team is "working through that" and will make a decision in the next month or so. It's not a ringing endorsement for the 32-year-old veteran pass-catcher after he fell to 49 […]

Jonathon Brooks Could Miss All Of 2025

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith […]

Jets Were Willing To Stick With Aaron Rodgers Under Certain Stipulations

The New York Jets are fully expected to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2025, but The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that the team presented the future Hall of Famer with a plan to move forward with him as their QB. The Jets' plan included stipulations about outside media work during the season and […]

Spencer Horwitz To Miss Time In Spring Training With Wrist Injury

Sources tell Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Andrew Destin that Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (wrist) will miss time in spring training with a right-wrist injury. The severity of Horwitz's wrist injury is unclear, but it will certainly put his status up in the air for Opening Day in late March. The 27-year-old was dealt from the […]

Alex Bregman Likely To Land With Red Sox, Cubs, Or Tigers

ESPN's Buster Olney writes that free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman is likely to sign with either the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs or Detroit Tigers soon. Sources with the Houston Astros are skeptical he'll re-sign. If Bregman chooses the Red Sox, he could be moved to second base. The 30-year-old is the last big remaining […]

Dodgers Won't Place Any Restrictions On Roki Sasaki

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez writes that while the Los Angeles Dodgers will closely monitor Japanese rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki in his first year in the big leagues in 2025, they won't put any restrictions on him. Gonzalez is eager to see how one of the most lauded pitching development programs goes about extracting greatness from Sasaki. […]