Bowden Francis Makes Blue Jays Rotation

The Toronto Blue Jays informed right-hander Bowden Francis on Thursday that he has made their Opening Day starting rotation. The Jays are tentatively targeting the fourth game of the season for Francis' first 2024 start on March 31 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Francis is essentially taking Alek Manoah's (shoulder) spot in Toronto's rotation to […]

Alec Marsh Wins Rotation Spot For Royals

Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh has been named the team's fifth starter to open the 2024 season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Right-hander Jordan Lyles will begin the season in the bullpen. We reported on Wednesday that Marsh was the favorite for the No. 5 spot, and now it's official. The 25-year-old earned the […]

Ceddanne Rafaela Playing Second Base Thursday

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela started at second base for the first time this spring in Thursday's Grapefruit League game. The Red Sox have been mixing Rafaela in at second base this spring, but this is his first start at the keystone. The 23-year-old could see more action there for the BoSox early in […]

Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin To Pitch Thursday

Boston Red Sox relievers Kenley Jansen (back) and Chris Martin (groin) are both scheduled to pitch in Thursday night's Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles. Jansen didn't make his Grapefruit League debut until last Friday due to lat tightness this spring and then was scratched from a spring appearance earlier this week due to […]

Dauri Moreta To Miss 14-16 Months After UCL Surgery

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Dauri Moreta (elbow) underwent UCL surgery on Thursday and will miss the next 14 to 16 months. Moreta injured his right elbow earlier this spring and will now miss all of the 2024 season. There's a chance he won't be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign, either, depending on how […]

David Bednar Making Spring Debut Thursday

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 29-year-old reliever came down with lat tightness earlier this month, which is why he hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game until Thursday. Now that he's getting into spring training action, he's optimistic that he'll […]

Kyle Tucker Could Hit Third

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that he's considering hitting outfielder Kyle Tucker third behind outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez this year. Their ability to handle left-handed pitchers factors in, but so does third baseman Alex Bregman's ability to hit with runners in scoring position in the cleanup spot. Tucker still hit in the third-hole 37 […]

Commanders Add James Pierre To Secondary

The Washington Commanders announced on Thursday that they have signed free-agent cornerback James Pierre to an undisclosed deal. Pierre entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic in 2020 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and spent the last four seasons in the Steel City. The 27-year-old defensive back has a total of […]

Patriots Agree With Jaylinn Hawkins On One-Year Deal

The New England Patriots and former Atlanta Falcons/Los Angeles Chargers safety Jaylinn Hawkins agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to a source. Hawkins' deal qualifies for the veteran salary benefit. If he makes the team, he would be paid a base salary based on his credited seasons (four) but count less on […]

Josh Jones Signs With Ravens

Free-agent offensive guard Josh Jones signed an undisclosed deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Jones will head to Baltimore to give the Ravens more offensive line depth after spending the 2023 campaign with the Houston Texans, where played in 13 regular-season games (three starts). The 26-year-old was a third-round selection (72nd overall) by the […]

Giants Restructure Dexter Lawrence's Contract

The New York Giants restructured defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's contract on Thursday to free up some 2024 salary cap space. The move freed up $7.5 million in cap space for the team by converting $10 million of Lawrence's base salary this year into a signing bonus. The 26-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 with […]

Cardinals "Open For Business" With No. 4 Pick In NFL Draft

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort acknowledged that the team is "open for business" when it comes to the No. 4 overall pick in next month's NFL draft. Ossenfort expects talks for the No. 4 overall pick to ramp up at next week's annual league meeting and is willing to listen to any and all […]

Julian Blackmon Visiting With 49ers

Free-agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, according to sources. Blackmon has several suitors this offseason after enjoying a career season in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts, which included 88 tackles (65 solo) five tackles for loss, four interceptions, eight passes defended and two fumble recoveries in 15 starts. […]

Parris Campbell Reaches One-Year Deal With Eagles

Former New York Giants wide receiver Parris Campbell reached an agreement on an undisclosed one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, according to sources. Campbell had a career-high 623 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 63 receptions in his fourth and final year with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 before joining the Giants in […]

Justin Verlander Won't Pitch In Grapefruit League Game

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) faced hitters in camp on Wednesday in a live batting practice session. Verlander looked good while throwing 20 pitches, according to manager Joe Espada. However, Verlander will not pitch in a Grapefruit League game or in the two exhibition contests at Minute Maid Park next week before Opening Day […]

Kevin Gausman May Avoid Injured List Stint

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday as he tries to recover from right-shoulder fatigue that has sidelined him from Grapefruit League action. He reported feeling good afterward and is scheduled to make his spring debut on Monday. If he continues to progress, there's a chance […]

David Bednar "Optimistic" He'll Be Ready For Opening Day

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) threw live batting practice on Monday and said that his next step is likely to appear in games. "I'm staying day-by-day as much as I possibly can," Bednar said. "But each day has been feeling good. I'm optimistic." Bednar has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game this […]

Sonny Gray Could Start On First Road Trip

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) will pitch two innings against minor-league hitters on Friday on a back field at the team's spring training complex. If Gray passes that test, he could be slotted in for his first regular-season start on the team's West coast road trip from March […]

Shohei Ohtani Not Facing Discipline

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league, according to an MLB official. Ohtani's long-time interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following accusations of "massive theft." Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a sacrifice fly in the […]

Robert Suarez Picks Up First Save Of The Season

San Diego Padres right-hander Robert Suarez picked up his first save of the 2024 season in Korea on Thursday in the team's 15-11 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Suarez picked up the save by recording four outs. The 33-year-old gave up one hit and struck out two batters to earn his first save […]

Jonathan Aranda Has Broken Finger

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Jonathan Aranda (finger) has a broken right ring finger and will open the season on the injured list. Aranda injured his finger on Tuesday in camp while fielding a ground ball. The 25-year-old will have surgery to have a pin placed in his broken right ring finger and will likely […]

Kodai Senga To Begin Throwing Within A Week

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) is scheduled to begin throwing within a week, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Senga got an MRI exam on Tuesday and doctors cleared him to begin activity. The Mets will wait until he passes their internal strength tests before he does so to make sure he's ready, according […]

Commanders Sign Clelin Ferrell

The Washington Commanders announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent defensive end Clelin Ferrell to an undisclosed deal. Ferrell was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 in the first round (fourth overall) out of Clemson and spent his first four years with the Black and Silver before recording 28 tackles (15 solo), 3.5 […]

River Cracraft Re-Signs With Dolphins

Free-agent wide receiver River Cracraft announced on social media that he re-signed an undisclosed deal with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday. Cracraft will return to Miami in 2024 for his third year with the team. In the last two seasons in South Beach, he had 18 receptions on 26 targets for 223 yards and three […]

Kyle Finnegan Is Healthy

Washington Nationals right-hander Kyle Finnegan (back), who hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 12 due to a tight back, is healthy. He was originally going to pitch on Wednesday night, but he and the team decided to push him back to Thursday. When healthy, Finnegan should be the favorite for saves for […]

Yankees Talking With Jordan Montgomery Again

According to sources, free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the New York Yankees are back in contact, although a gap in contract talks still exists. Montgomery's camp compares him to Aaron Nola, who got $172 million over seven years with the Philadelphia Phillies. But Montgomery has actually been better since 2021 and was even better in […]

Edwin Arroyo Done For The Season

Cincinnati Reds shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo (shoulder), the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday to fix a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The 20-year-old injured the shoulder diving back to first base last week in a Cactus League game and will now miss all of 2024. It's […]

Reds Acquire Santiago Espinal From Blue Jays

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Santiago Espinal from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Chris McElvain. The move comes on the same day that the Reds announced second baseman Matt McLain (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list and could need surgery. Noelvi Marte is also suspended for half […]

John Brebbia Goes Through Drills Wednesday

Chicago White Sox right-hander John Brebbia (calf) went through fielding drills in camp on Wednesday after pitching an inning in a minor-league game on Tuesday. Brebbia strained his right calf during fielding drills in spring training in late February and is still working his way back from it. The 33-year-old is up in the air […]

Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter Fired Over Allegation Of "Massive Theft"

The Los Angeles Dodgers' interpreter for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was fired on Wednesday after questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaking operation set off a series of events. Ippei Mizuhara incurred gambling debts to a bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, according to […]