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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Derek Law Agrees With Nationals On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent reliever Derek Law agreed with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to sources. The deal would pay Law $1.5 million with $500,000 in incentives for games pitched if he's in the majors. The contract also includes three opt-out clauses. The 33-year-old veteran […]

Stone Garrett Mostly A Full Participant At Camp

Washington Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett (ankle, leg) is mostly a full participant in camp right now, but he's not all the way back yet since breaking his left fibula and suffering damage to his ankle while crashing into the wall at Yankee Stadium last summer. He is running at full speed and has taken live […]

Brady Singer Set To Make Spring Debut On Wednesday

Kansas City Royals right-hander Brady Singer (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut next Wednesday, Feb. 28, against the Seattle Mariners. Singer isn't limited at all at spring training this year despite ending the 2023 season on the injured list with a back strain. The 27-year-old former first-round pick by the Royals in […]

Red Sox Interested In Gio Urshela

The Boston Red Sox are among the teams interested in adding free-agent infielder Gio Urshela, according to a source. In addition to Boston, the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, and Miami Marlins have been looking at Urshela. His market has been slow to develop this offseason. The 32-year-old veteran is best […]

Nick Pivetta To Make Spring Debut On Tuesday

Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Pivetta pitched as a starter and reliever in 2023 but appears to be a lock for the Opening Day starting rotation this year. The 31-year-old Canadian finished his year strong and ultimately went 10-9 […]

Jose Caballero Expected To Be Primary Shortstop

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that infielder Jose Caballero is still expected to be the team's Opening Day shortstop despite the addition of Amed Rosario on a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Tuesday. Rosario is going to bounce around between the middle infield and corner outfield against left-handed pitching. The […]

Amed Rosario To Serve In Utility Role

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that the plan is to play infielder Amed Rosario at both middle-infield positions and in the corner-outfield spots in 2024 after signing him to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Tuesday. Rosario will give the Rays more insurance at the 6 with Wander Franco potentially […]

Eduardo Rodriguez To Start Cactus League Opener

Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez will start the team's Cactus League opener on Friday against the Colorado Rockies, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The Diamondbacks added Rodriguez to their starting rotation in the offseason by signing him to a four-year, $74 million deal in free agency, and he'll slot in behind Zac Gallen and Merrill […]

Austin Wells To Work Strictly At Catcher

There has been no talk at spring training of New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells working out at other positions, according to manager Aaron Boone. "Right now, I just want him to focus on our staff," Boone said. After trading away Kyle Higashioka in the Juan Soto trade in the offseason, the Yanks now have […]

Gleyber Torres Expected To Hit Between Fourth And Sixth

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone sees second baseman Gleyber Torres hitting between fourth and sixth in the lineup this year, and also in the leadoff spot when needed. Boone thinks Torres is highly motivated heading into the final year of his current deal and thinks he can improve as a defender as well. Hitting […]

Dodgers Haven't Had Extension Talks With Will Smith

There have been no extension talks between the Los Angeles Dodgers and catcher Will Smith so far this year. Smith's numbers dropped slightly in 2023, but he was also playing a majority of the season with a broken rib and also missed time due to a concussion. Still, he was able to finish third among […]

Dustin May Hopes To Return Sometime In August

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Dustin May (elbow) is in the early stages of a throwing program progression at camp and is hoping to be back sometime in August. He's finally in a spot where his elbow isn't giving him trouble. May said that even when he came back from Tommy John surgery, he kept waiting […]

Brandon Woodruff Placed On 60-Day Injured List

The Milwaukee Brewers placed right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed catcher Gary Sanchez. Woodruff was able to begin a throwing program last week and is over four months removed from having surgery on the anterior capsule in his right shoulder […]

Joey Bart Unlikely To Make Opening Day Roster

San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, appears unlikely to make the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training and is out of minor-league options. As a result, it makes him a candidate to be traded or dropped from the 40-man roster in late March. The […]

Patrick Bailey Has Bulked Up

San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey bulked up in the offseason to prepare for his second major-league season in 2024. Bailey struggled down the stretch in his rookie campaign in 2023 and finished with a .233/.285/.359 slash line, seven home runs, 18 doubles, a triple, 48 RBI and 29 runs scored in 353 plate appearances […]

Spencer Howard, Daulton Jefferies Could Be Rotation Options

With San Francisco Giants right-hander Keaton Winn (elbow) dealing with elbow soreness in camp, it's possible that pitchers Spencer Howard or Daulton Jefferies could make the club's Opening Day roster as starting rotation options. Howard, 27, and Jefferies, 28, are both in camp this year as non-roster invites for the Giants. Howard hasn't had success […]

Keaton Winn Dealing With Elbow Soreness, Not Too Worried

San Francisco Giants right-hander Keaton Winn (elbow) felt some right-elbow soreness during his last bullpen session, but an MRI exam came back clean and he'll be shut down in camp for a few days. With Robbie Ray (elbow) and Alex Cobb (hip) out for the first half of the 2024 season, Winn is currently the […]

Rangers Could Carry Three Catchers On Opening Day Roster

The Texas Rangers are considering carrying three catchers on their Opening Day roster this year, according to manager Bruce Bochy. It could be one of their last roster decisions of spring training. Jonah Heim is the club's clear starting backstop, with Andrew Knizner the favorite to serve as his backup. The Rangers are very mindful […]

Jonah Heim Won't Make Spring Debut Until Feb. 28

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim won't make his first Cactus League start until Feb. 28. Heim isn't injured, but the Rangers are giving him extra recovery time this spring after a long season in 2023 that culminated in the franchise's first-ever World Series championship. There's no need for the Rangers to rush Heim into Cactus […]

Brandon Marsh Progresses To Jogging

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) has progressed to jogging at spring training. Marsh had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early February and was expected to need three to four weeks before making a full recovery. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter obviously won't be ready for the start of Grapefruit League games this weekend, […]

Keynan Middleton To Throw Live Batting Practice Session

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Keynan Middleton (illness) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session at camp on Wednesday. Middleton is entering his first year with the Cardinals after signing with them in free agency for one year and $5 million, but he reported to camp late and was also held back last week […]

Dylan Carlson Expected To Run The Bases Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (ankle), who had season-ending left-ankle surgery last year, is expected to run the bases on Wednesday in addition to hitting in live batting practice and taking fly balls. Manager Oliver Marmol described Carlson's base-running as "checking the final box." The 25-year-old left-handed hitter probably won't play right away when […]