Phillies, Zack Wheeler Expected To Reach Extension Soon

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Foul Territory on Tuesday that he expects the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler to agree on a contract extension before the start of the regular season. Wheeler will be turning 34 years old this May, but the veteran hurler has been everything the Phillies had hoped he'd be […]

Dinelson Lamet Dealing With Visa Issues

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Dinelson Lamet, who is a non-roster invitee to spring training, isn't in camp with the rest of the pitchers and catchers yet due to visa issues, according to manager Dave Roberts. Other than Lamet, all of the pitchers and catchers are accounted for. Lamet can ill-afford to miss any time in […]

Reds Claim Bubba Thompson Off Waivers From Twins

The Cincinnati Reds claimed outfielder Bubba Thompson off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday and designated right-hander Levi Stoudt for assignment in a corresponding move. Thompson has been passed around this offseason but will return to the Reds after they cut him two months earlier. The 25-year-old former first-rounder played in 92 games for […]

No Restrictions For Garrett Cleavinger

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that left-hander Garrett Cleavinger (knee) is considered fully healthy and won't have any restrictions in spring training. Cleavinger underwent ACL and meniscus surgery on his right knee in May of last year but is good to go for the 2024 campaign. The 29-year-old southpaw made 15 relief appearances […]

Shane Baz To Be Built Up Slowly

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that right-hander Shane Baz (elbow) has completed his rehab. However, his issue is a lack of past workload, so he will be on a slow buildup coming out of spring training. The 24-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery almost 17 months ago and didn't pitch at […]

Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen Expected Back Later This Year

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander is expecting left-hander Jeffrey Springs (elbow) to return around July or August this year, with right-hander Drew Rasmussen (elbow) returning sometime after that. Springs had Tommy John surgery in late April of last year, so when the 31-year-old does return, he'll most likely be on a […]

Daniel Bard Expected To Open On Injured List

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard (knee) is expected to open the 2024 season on the injured list due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. Bard opened last year on the injured list and also ended the 2023 campaign on the injured list due to a right flexor strain. The 38-year-old veteran wasn't […]

Christian Encarnacion-Strand Projected To Start At First Base

Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand emerged as a power right-handed bat after making his major-league debut last year. Free-agent addition Jeimer Candelario, who is a switch-hitter, will also play a lot at first base in 2024, but MLB's Mark Sheldon is projecting Encarnacion-Strand to see the majority of the time at the cold corner. […]

Ryne Nelson, Tommy Henry To Compete For Final Rotation Spot

Arizona Diamondbacks right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly return from last season, while left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez has been added to their starting rotation via free agency. Brandon Pfaadt seemingly has a leg up on the No. 4 spot given the way he pitched in the postseason. The fifth spot will be hard-fought between mainly righty […]

Jordan Lawlar Could Begin In The Minors

Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect Jordan Lawlar, who is ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, will get a lot of repetitions in spring training, but he'll be hard-pressed to beat out Geraldo Perdomo given what the switch-hitter did for the team last year when he made the National […]

Ceddanne Rafaela To Play Center Field If He Makes The Team

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that rookie outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela will be the center fielder in 2024 if he makes the team out of spring training. As of right now, it's to be determined if he opens the year at Triple-A Worcester or the major leagues. "The defensive game is elite. It's a […]

Masataka Yoshida Expected To See Majority Of At-Bats As DH

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that he expects outfielder Masataka Yoshida to get the majority of his at-bats this year at designated hitter. In his first year in the big leagues in 2023, the 30-year-old Japanese outfielder struggled defensively for the BoSox in left field, which has made newcomer Tyler O'Neill the most […]

White Sox Add Dominic Leone, Corey Knebel On Minors Deals

The Chicago White Sox agreed to minor-league deals with right-handers Dominic Leone and Corey Knebel on Tuesday that include non-roster invites to spring training. The White Sox now have 68 players in camp, including 28 non-roster invitees. Leone and Knebel will provide much-needed depth for Chicago's bullpen this year. Leone, 32, pitched for the New […]

Bengals Expected To Use Franchise Tag On Tee Higgins

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that all indications are pointing to the Cincinnati Bengals using their franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. The franchise tag for a receiver for 2024 would cost Cincy $20.7 million. One league source suggested the Bengals could place the tag on Higgins early in […]

Haason Reddick Wants To Stay With Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro pass-rusher Haason Reddick said he never requested a trade and wants to stay in Philadelphia. "I would like to get an extension done here at home. At no point did I ever tell the organization I want to be traded," Reddick said. He has one year left on his deal with no […]

Joe Boyle Could Have Edge For No. 5 Rotation Spot

Oakland Athletics general manager David Forst indicated that pitchers Paul Blackburn and JP Sears, along with newcomers Alex Wood and Ross Stripling, will likely top the starting rotation depth chart in 2024. It leaves the team's fifth and final rotation spot up for grabs, with rookie right-hander Joe Boyle, who impressed in his short big-league […]

Jordan Diaz, Abraham Toro To Have Edge At Third Base

The Oakland Athletics don't have a true established option at third base entering spring training, which could lead to somewhat of a competition in camp. Jordan Diaz and newcomer Abraham Toro figure to have the edge entering spring training, with Toro's switch-hitting ability creating the possibility for a platoon situation. Another name to watch is […]

Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr. On Track To Return In Second Half

Houston Astros right-handers Luis Garcia (elbow) and Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) are on track to return to the active roster in the second half of the 2024 season, according to general manager Dana Brown. Garcia is recovering from Tommy John surgery last May after allowing 12 earned runs with 10 walks and 31 strikeouts in […]

Nationals Sign Jesse Winker To Minor-League Deal

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent outfielder Jesse Winker to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Monday, according to a source. Winker will give the Nationals an experienced left-handed bat for their outfield mix this spring after he slashed a disappointing .199/.320/.247 with just one home runs, 23 RBI and 16 […]

Eric Bieniemy Interviewed With Several Teams

Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy very quietly was a candidate for several offensive-coordinator jobs around the NFL after it was announced that he wouldn't be returning to Washington on new head coach Dan Quinn's staff, ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show. When asked which teams were looking at Bieniemy to […]

Cowboys Officially Hire Mike Zimmer As Defensive Coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys officially hired former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator on Monday. The 67-year-old is the third-winningest head coach in Vikings history and has long been respected for his defensive prowess. He will be replacing Dan Quinn, who left to serve as the Washington Commanders' new head coach. […]

Kyle Crick Could Miss All Of Spring Training

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that reliever Kyle Crick (calf) could miss all of spring training due to a calf strain. As such, it's unlikely that Crick will make the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training. The 31-year-old right-hander opted out of his minor-league deal with the Tampa […]

No Health Concerns For Alek Jacob

San Diego Padres right-hander Alek Jacob (elbow) doesn't have any lingering health issues headed into spring training with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp this week, according to manager Mike Shildt. Jacob finished last season on the 60-day injured list due to a flexor strain in his right elbow but should be ready for the […]

Kris Bubic To Throw A Bullpen Session This Week

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week at spring training. It's a notable development, as it will be the 26-year-old southpaw's first time throwing off a mound since he had Tommy John surgery last April. He isn't going to be ready to pitch in the first […]

Amir Garrett Agrees To Minors Deal With Giants

Free-agent reliever Amir Garrett agreed to a minor-league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, according to sources. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training and would pay him $1.35 million if he's in the majors. The 31-year-old left-hander spent last season with the Kansas City Royals, where he posted a 3.33 […]

Junior Caminero Not Expected To Make Opening Day Roster

Tampa Bay Rays rookie infielder Junior Caminero isn't expected to make the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training. Caminero made his major-league debut in 2023 as a September call-up and went 8-for-34 (.235) with a home run and seven RBI in just seven games played. This news makes sense, considering the fact that […]

Jake Odorizzi Throwing Without Restrictions

Free-agent right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder), who was an All-Star starter in 2019, is throwing without restrictions and is looking to sign a major-league deal in the coming weeks. The 33-year-old has pitched off a mound this offseason in front of evaluators from 10 to 12 big-league teams. Odorizzi had an arthroscopic debridement surgery on his […]

Brett Baty To Have "Some Level Of Competition"

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that the team will have "some level of competition" at third base during spring training, but also that they are confident in Brett Baty. Stearns also mentioned Mark Vientos, Joey Wendle and Zack Short. Baty, 24, won't have to contend with infield prospect Ronny Mauricio […]

Cade Cavalli Not Expected To Face Hitters This Spring

Washington Nationals rookie right-hander Cade Cavalli (elbow) will be 12 full months removed from Tommy John surgery by mid-March, but the team intends to bring him along at a slower pace and he's not expected to face hitters or pitch in spring training games. The 25-year-old was ticketed for the 2023 Opening Day starting rotation […]

Blake Treinen Expects To Have "Normal" Spring Training

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Blake Treinen (shoulder), who has been limited to just five appearances in the last two years due to shoulder issues, said he expects to have a "normal" spring training. General manager Brandon Gomes said earlier this month that Treinen is trending toward a return this year, so as long as […]