
Articles

Ross Stripling's Spring Debut Pushed Back
Oakland Athletics right-hander Ross Stripling (finger) was originally scheduled to make his Cactus League debut with his new team on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he is being pushed back a few days with what manager Mark Kotsay described as a minor cut on his right index finger. Instead, Mitch Spence, a Rule 5 […]
Keith Hernandez
Jung Hoo Lee To Make Cactus League Debut Tuesday
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (side) is scheduled to play center field and bat leadoff on Tuesday in the team's Cactus League contest against the Seattle Mariners. Lee was scratched from making his spring training debut over the weekend due to minor side soreness, but he'll be ready to return on Tuesday. The […]
Keith Hernandez
Nick Ahmed Signs Minor-League Deal With Giants
Free-agent shortstop Nick Ahmed signed a minor-league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Monday. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Ahmed and long-time Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford battled for the National League Gold Glove at the 6 for a while, with Ahmed winning it in 2018-19 while playing for the Arizona […]
Keith Hernandez
Cardinals Sign Brandon Crawford
The St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent shortstop Brandon Crawford to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to league sources. The three-time All-Star with the San Francisco Giants is expected to serve as the backup to 21-year-old rookie shortstop Masyn Winn while the team awaits further clarity on Tommy Edman's recovery from wrist surgery. Crawford spent […]
Keith Hernandez
Enrique Hernandez Returns To Dodgers
Free-agent infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican utility man began the 2023 season with the Boston Red Sox before finishing the year in LA. In total, he hit .237/.289/.357 with 11 home runs, 23 doubles, 61 RBI, four stolen bases and 57 […]
Keith Hernandez
Bo Naylor Scratched With Back Spasms
Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Bo Naylor (back) was scratched from the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday against the San Diego Padres due to back spasms. The Guardians are probably just being cautious with the young catching prospect early in spring training, but we'll have more updates on the 24-year-old backstop's condition once we know […]
Keith Hernandez
Alek Thomas Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (wrist) is dealing with wrist soreness that kept him out of the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday. He has been tracking pitches during live batting practice sessions without swinging in the meantime, and manager Torey Lovullo said the concern is minimal and that Thomas could have played on Monday, […]
Keith Hernandez
Eric Bieniemy To Be UCLA's Offensive Coordinator
Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is heading to the college ranks to be UCLA's new associate head coach/offensive coordinator after finalizing a two-year deal over the weekend, according to sources. It will be a homecoming for Bieniemy, who grew up in the area and was a Bruins assistant from 2003-05. He interviewed for […]
Keith Hernandez
Andy Reid Expected To Become Highest-Paid Coach
The Kansas City Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid are expected to begin negotiations in the coming weeks on a new contract that NFL sources think should make him the highest-paid coach in football. General manager Brett Veach is also in line for a new deal, replacing the final two years on the contracts that […]
Keith Hernandez
Marvin Harrison Jr. Chooses To Skip Combine
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has decided to skip the NFL scouting combine altogether this week. Harrison is the consensus top receiver prospect for the upcoming NFL draft. The 21-year-old is also without an agent, and he's not expected to do any testing at Ohio State's pro day in March, either. Barring something […]
Keith Hernandez
Jayden Daniels Plans To Skip Throwing At Combine
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, one of this year's top draft prospects, plans to throw at his pro day on March 27 instead of at this week's NFL scouting combine, according to sources. Daniels will be in Indianapolis this week for interviews and meetings with teams, but he will not work out at all. USC's Caleb […]
Keith Hernandez
Caleb Williams Not Expected To Throw At Combine
USC quarterback and projected No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is not expected to throw at all during this week's NFL scouting combine, according to sources. Williams will instead throw at his school's pro day on March 20. The 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner in 2022 could go to the Chicago Bears at No. 1 overall […]
Keith Hernandez
Falcons Not Closing Any QB Doors At Combine
The Atlanta Falcons don't plan on closing any doors while evaluating the quarterbacks for the NFL scouting combine, which started on Monday in Indianapolis. Addressing the QB position this offseason is a priority for general manager Terry Fontenot as they look for an upgrade over Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. The Falcons currently hold the […]
Keith Hernandez
Nico Collins Open To Extension Talks
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins made it known that he'd be open to contract-extension talks if the team approached him. After three seasons in the NFL, Collins is now eligible for an extension. He'll be entering the final year of his four-year, $4.871 million rookie contract in 2024, which includes a $902,990 signing bonus […]
Keith Hernandez
Kirk Cousins Showing Encouraging Progress
Minnesota Vikings impending free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins (Achilles) is showing encouraging progress four months after having surgery to fix his torn right Achilles. Cousins posted a video on social media on Monday of him dropping back and throwing passes. The 35-year-old veteran signal-caller is on track in his progress and expects to be able to […]
Keith Hernandez
Evan Carter Takes Part In Intrasquad Game
Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (forearm) faced right-hander Jon Gray in an intrasquad game in camp on Monday and looks to be swinging the bat fine. Carter was hit by a pitch on his left forearm in the Cactus League game on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants and left the game early as a […]
Keith Hernandez
Red Sox Could Get Something Done With Jordan Montgomery
The Boston Red Sox remain in play to sign free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery, as one National League executive said on Sunday that "we hear the Red Sox and Scott Boras had a good meeting recently and may get some deal eventually done on Jordan Montgomery." The 31-year-old southpaw hasn't found a team that is willing […]
Keith Hernandez
Yoshinobo Yamamoto To Make Spring Debut On Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. After signing a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers this offseason, Yamamoto is expected to serve as the team's ace to open the 2024 season. The 25-year-old will be eased into the big leagues […]
Keith Hernandez
Yuki Matsui Day-To-Day With Back Inflammation
San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui's (back) MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural damage in his back, according to manager Mike Shildt. Matsui is considered day-to-day. Matsui was scratched from spring training action over the weekend due to tightness in his back, but it appears the injury isn't very serious. It's unclear when the […]
Keith Hernandez
Extension Unlikely For Royce Lewis Right Now
Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis is open to a contract extension with the team, but as of right now, that is looking unlikely to happen. The first overall pick in 2017 is a client of agent Scott Boras, but Lewis said he'd be "an idiot" to not listen if the Twins wanted to discuss […]
Keith Hernandez
Hunter Renfroe Dealing With Lower-Back Tightness
Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe (back) has been dealing with some lower-back tightness in camp, according to manager Matt Quatraro, which is why he hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game yet. Renfroe will take part in the team's workout on Monday, though, and he's scheduled to make his spring training debut on Wednesday. […]
Keith Hernandez
Jasson Dominguez Takes Swings Off Tee Monday
New York Yankees rookie outfielder Jasson Dominguez (elbow) took 20 swings off a tee on Monday in camp, his first time swinging a bat since having Tommy John surgery in September of last year. Dominguez expects to do the same thing again on Wednesday. Up to this point, the 21-year-old outfielder had only been shagging […]
Keith Hernandez
Carlos Rodon Debuts A New Cutter
New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon debuted a new cutter during his Grapefruit League outing on Sunday. Rodon now features a cutter, fastball, changeup, slider and a curveball in his repertoire. In addition to adding a new pitch, the 31-year-old southpaw has reportedly been touching the high-90s with his heater during live batting practice sessions […]
Keith Hernandez
Justin Verlander To Increase Intensity In Next Bullpen
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday with more intensity to move him forward in his rehab, according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander came into spring training behind the team's other pitchers after his right shoulder didn't bounce back properly in the offseason, but he's been throwing low-intensity bullpen […]
Keith Hernandez
Julio Rodriguez Has Inflammation In His Hand
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (hand) is dealing with inflammation on the top of his left hand in camp. Rodriguez's hand has been checked out and isn't serious, so he should be able to return to Cactus League play by this weekend. Fantasy managers that already drafted Rodriguez shouldn't be too worried, but it is […]
Keith Hernandez
Garrett Cooper Signs With Cubs
Free-agent first baseman Garrett Cooper signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training, according to a source. Cooper will compete for playing time at first base this spring alongside newcomer Michael Busch and Matt Mervis. The 33-year-old veteran was an All-Star in 2022 with […]
Keith Hernandez
Matt McLain Progressing Well
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that second baseman Matt McLain (oblique) is progressing well and is going through a lot of core/medicine-ball work. The next step for McLain is light swinging. McLain tweaked his right oblique early in spring training and was shut down for five to seven days, so he should resume light […]
Keith Hernandez
X-Rays Come Back Negative On Evan Carter
Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (forearm) left the team's Cactus League game early on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants after being hit by a pitch on his left forearm, but X-rays came back negative and he is considered day-to-day on Monday. It's good news for the 21-year-old, but the Rangers could hold him out […]
Keith Hernandez
Max Muncy In Better Shape
Los Angeles Dodgers corner infielder Max Muncy appears to be in improved physical condition at spring training this year. Both manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes gave credit to Muncy for taking on the challenge to improve himself in the offseason. "Our hitting guys are raving about him," Gomes said. The 33-year-old veteran […]
Keith Hernandez
Oneil Cruz Making Spring Debut Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (ankle) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles and is batting leadoff and playing shortstop. It's great to see Cruz playing in games again after he fractured his left ankle early last season. The 25-year-old's injury required season-ending surgery in 2023. Cruz is fully healthy […]
Keith Hernandez