
Articles

Bo Bichette Trained In Variety Of Ways In The Offseason
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette took a longer break than normal from baseball activities to reset after the 2023 season. He also trained in other ways, taking up swimming, pilates and Muay Thai. Bichette is happy with the shape he's in at camp as a result and said he's "in a good place to […]
Keith Hernandez
Casey Mize Getting More Movement On His Fastball
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize said on Thursday that he's getting around 18 inches of induced vertical break compared to around 15 inches in the past on his fastball. "We just think the fastball up can be more of a weapon," Mize said. The fastball should pair well with his splitter, but Mize also talked […]
Keith Hernandez
Luis Rengifo, Mickey Moniak Are Candidates To Lead Off
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that he envisions second baseman Luis Rengifo or outfielder Mickey Moniak batting leadoff this year. Washington also sees first baseman Nolan Schanuel as the No. 2 hitter in front of outfielder Mike Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon. Meanwhile, shortstop Zach Neto will hit ninth in the batting […]
Keith Hernandez
Justin Verlander Showing Encouraging Progress
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander's (shoulder) bullpen session went well on Wednesday. "I am encouraged where he's at right now," according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander is behind the other pitchers at spring training after having a setback with his right shoulder during the offseason. The good news, though, is that the 41-year-old future Hall […]
Keith Hernandez
Broncos Surely To Add At Quarterback Position
The Denver Broncos are likely to soon move on from quarterback Russell Wilson, the veteran signal-caller who went 11-19 as their starting QB in the two seasons since his blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks. Releasing Wilson would leave the Broncos with $85 million in dead money and also a gaping hole at a position […]
Keith Hernandez
Tim Patrick An Obvious Choice To Be Cut
The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes that Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (Achilles) stands out as an obvious cut candidate as the team enters the offseason at around $24 million over the salary cap threshold. Patrick has missed each of the last two years with injuries suffered during training camp -- first a torn ACL […]
Keith Hernandez
Linebacker A Position Of Need For Cowboys
The Athletic's Saad Yousuf writes that linebacker is a position of need for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, as well as running back, defensive line and offensive line with uncertainty surrounding Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz's future. At linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch's future is uncertain, at best, and 2023 rookie DeMarvion Overshown has yet to […]
Keith Hernandez
Michael Gallup A Possible Cut Candidate
The Athletic's Jon Machota suggests that wide receiver Michael Gallup is a potential cut candidate this offseason. The 27-year-old has three years left on the five-year, $57.5 million extension he signed in March of 2022. He was coming off a season-ending knee injury when he signed that deal, and he hasn't been the same player […]
Keith Hernandez
Browns Need To Give Deshaun Watson More Weapons
The Cleveland Browns' vertical passing game didn't really take off until quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) was already out for the year with a shoulder injury in November of last year. Cleveland feels good having receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku leading their pass-catching group, but the rest of the bunch has plenty of […]
Keith Hernandez
Nick Chubb Could Be Salary Cap Casualty
The Cleveland Browns want to keep running back Nick Chubb (knee) around, but he's also recovering from two surgeries on his injured knee this offseason and is due to carry a salary cap charge of just under $16 million in 2024, the final year of his contract and his age-28 season. The Browns would take […]
Keith Hernandez
Bengals Need More Help For Trey Hendrickson
Outside of pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals didn't have much of a pass rush in 2023. Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks and 79 pressures. Sam Hubbard was second on the team in sacks at six, while B.J. Hill was second in pressures with 42. The Bengals could also lose defensive tackle DJ Reader, who tore […]
Keith Hernandez
Khari Blasingame A Candidate For Release
Chicago Bears fullback Khari Blasingame is the team's next candidate to be released this offseason after the Bears already released safety Eddie Jackson and guard/center Cody Whitehair in cost-cutting moves. The moves to release Jackson and Whitehair saved nearly $22 million against the 2024 salary cap. Releasing Blasingame would result in $1.6 million in savings […]
Keith Hernandez
Gio Urshela Chooses The Tigers
Free-agent infielder Gio Urshela and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Thursday, according to sources. The 32-year-old veteran should help the Tigers at third base and can also play the outfield and at first base. His ability to hit left-handers suits what the Tigers have been seeking over the winter. […]
Keith Hernandez
Ricky Tiedemann To Start Spring Opener
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann will make the start in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. The 21-year-old is the team's top prospect entering the 2024 campaign and is fully expected to make his major-league debut this year, but he's expected to begin the season with Triple-A […]
Keith Hernandez
Cavan Biggio Taking Batting Practice Thursday
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Cavan Biggio (shoulder) is taking batting practice on the field at spring training on Thursday. Biggio has been dealing with left-shoulder tendinitis in camp, but the issue never sounded serious, and he has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day in late March. The 28-year-old probably won't play in […]
Keith Hernandez
Mitch Keller To Start On Opening Day
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that right-hander Mitch Keller will start on Opening Day on March 28 against the Marlins in Miami. This doesn't come as a surprise at all, especially after the club announced a five-year, $77 million extension with Keller earlier on Thursday. The 27-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and […]
Keith Hernandez
Shohei Ohtani Could Make Spring Debut Next Week
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) won't play in Cactus League games this weekend but could be in the lineup next week, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers aren't rushing their prized free-agent acquisition into spring training games after he had right-elbow surgery following the 2023 season. The 29-year-old Japanese superstar said […]
Keith Hernandez
Kyle Bradish Feeling "Good"
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) is doing well at spring training. "He feels good. Everything's going well. Progressing nicely, and he's feeling good after he's playing catch," Hyde said. Bradish is recovering from a partial UCL tear in his right elbow and was able to extend out to playing […]
Keith Hernandez
J.P. France Throws Off Mound
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) said he threw a little off the mound on Wednesday and it went well. France was limited to flat-ground throwing during the first week of camp due to right-shoulder inflammation. It appears that the 28-year-old starter is making some progress, but he's not going to be available to pitch […]
Keith Hernandez
Gunnar Henderson Feeling Better
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson (oblique) is going to miss around the first week of spring training games due to his left-oblique aggravation, but he's feeling better. Henderson said he has increased his hitting and fielding workload recently in camp. "Glad to go nip this thing out that way," Henderson said. The 22-year-old reigning […]
Keith Hernandez
Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi, Others Now Competing For Rotation Spot
New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that the team prefers that their yet-to-debut pitching prospects like Mike Vasil, Christian Scott and Dominic Hamel pitch in the minors more before being asked to make their big-league debuts in the wake of right-hander Kodai Senga's (shoulder) injury. The rotation competition with Senga expected […]
Keith Hernandez
Kodai Senga Expected To Begin Season On Injured List
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) has a mild strain of his posterior capsule in his right shoulder and will be shut down until symptoms subside, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. Senga is expected to begin the 2024 regular season on the injured list. We don't have a specific timetable for […]
Keith Hernandez
Jon Berti Now In Utility Role
Miami Marlins infielder Jon Berti was the team's projected starting shortstop for the 2024 season before they signed shortstop Tim Anderson to a one-year, $5 million deal on Thursday. Anderson now has a clear path to everyday playing time in Miami at the 6. Berti is far better suited for a utility role. The 34-year-old […]
Keith Hernandez
Tim Anderson Joins The Marlins
Free-agent shortstop Tim Anderson and the Miami Marlins agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal, pending a physical, on Thursday, according to sources. After a disastrous year with the Chicago White Sox in 2023, Anderson had to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal in order to try and get his value back up in South […]
Keith Hernandez
Mitch Keller, Pirates Agree To Five-Year Extension
Right-hander Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a five-year, $77 million contract extension on Thursday, according to sources. After a breakout season in which he struck out a career-high 210 batters, the 27-year-old Keller will anchor Pittsburgh's starting rotation for the team that drafted him in the second round in 2014 out of […]
Keith Hernandez
Graham Ashcraft Adds A Changeup
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Aschcraft (toe) has added a changeup to his arsenal of a fastball, cutter, slider and sinker. He did not make any mechanical adjustments in the offseason, but he's worked on improving how he times his delivery. Ashcraft is slightly behind the others pitchers in camp after having surgery in the offseason […]
Keith Hernandez
Gavin Lux Expects To Play In Spring Opener Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux (knee), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training last year, said he expects to be in the lineup on Thursday against the San Diego Padres for the Cactus League opener on Thursday. Lux ditched the knee brace he had been wearing on his surgically repaired right knee […]
Keith Hernandez
Terron Armstead Plans To Return In 2024
Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead is fully expected to return in 2024 to play another season. Armstead left his playing future in doubt in January after the team was eliminated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round of the playoffs, but it appears that he plans to continue playing. His 2024 salary, […]
Keith Hernandez
Justin Fields Says He Wants To Stay In Chicago
During an appearance on the St. Brown Bros podcast, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the Bears secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, said on Wednesday that he wants to stay in Chicago. "If it was up to me I would stay […]
Keith Hernandez
Eric Hosmer Announces Retirement
First baseman Eric Hosmer announced his retirement from professional baseball on social media on Wednesday. Hosmer never latched on with another team after he was released by the Chicago Cubs last May. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter played in just 31 games in 2023 and went 22-for-94 (.234) with two homers and 14 RBI before getting […]
Keith Hernandez