Reynaldo Lopez Could Be Favorite For Final Rotation Spot

MLB's Mark Bowman writes that it feels like Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez might be the early favorite to start the year as Atlanta's fifth starter behind Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Chris Sale. However, how long Lopez remains a starter remains to be seen. He hasn't thrown more than 66 innings in […]

Kerry Carpenter Dealing With Hamstring Strain

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) suffered a mild left-hamstring strain while doing baserunning drills in camp on Thursday. He will complete rehab daily and progress back to baseball activities as tolerated. Carpenter's injury isn't very serious, but he's going to be held out of at least the first couple Grapefruit League games this weekend […]

White Sox Claim Peyton Burdick Off Waivers From Orioles

The Chicago White Sox claimed outfielder Peyton Burdick off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday and placed right-hander Matt Foster (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. The White Sox will be Burdick's third team of the offseason, and he'll have his best shot at making the Opening Day roster with […]

John Brebbia In A Walking Boot

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher John Brebbia (calf) said he strained his right calf walking back to the mound after moving toward first base on a grounder during a live batting practice session at camp the other day. Brebbia was able to finish the BP session and said his pitching is unaffected, even though he's […]

Jasson Dominguez To Start Hitting On Monday

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez (elbow) will start hitting on Monday, likely starting with tee work. However, Dominguez, a switch-hitter, will only hit from the right side for the first "couple of weeks" after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last year. "I'm sure it's a […]

Dolphins Plan To Release Emmanuel Ogbah

The Miami Dolphins plan to release veteran linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah on Friday, according to a source. The Dolphins signed Ogbah to a four-year, $65 million deal after he had back-to-back nine-sack seasons in 2020 and 2021. The 30-year-old former second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2016 out of Oklahoma State played in only nine […]

Colts Could Address Cornerback In First Round

Given the fact that the Indianapolis Colts' secondary was repeatedly torched last year due to its inexperience and injuries in the cornerback room, The Athletic's James Boyd suggests that it wouldn't be a surprise if the team addressed that issue with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft. […]

Mo Alie-Cox An Easy Target As Cap Casualty

The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox is an easy target if the team wishes to create more salary cap space this offseason. He's entering the final year of a three-year, $17.6 million contract extension that he signed in 2022. Alie-Cox is due the last $5.9 million of that in […]

Texans Could Add To Their Secondary

The Houston Texans exceeded everyone's expectations in 2023 when they went 10-7 to win the AFC South and win a playoff game under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and with rookie first-round quarterback C.J. Stroud. Ryans' defense has room for improvement, though, as they ranked 22nd in the league against the pass, giving up 234.1 […]

Robert Woods A Possible Cut Candidate

The Houston Texans will have an estimated $65.4 million in salary cap space in 2024, so they are in good shape. But if they are going to cut someone to gain even more cap space this offseason, The Athletic's Mike Jones speculates it could be veteran wide receiver Robert Woods. While Woods has been regarded […]

NFL Salary Cap Set At Record $255.4 Million In 2024

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones is reporting on Friday that the 2024 NFL salary cap has been set at a record-breaking $255.4 million, according to sources. It is up more than $30 million from last year's cap number of $224.8 million and is well beyond all the recent estimates. On top of the record salary cap, […]

Rams Hiring Game-Management Coordinator

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay hired John Streicher as a new addition to the team's 2024 coaching staff with the title of game-management coordinator, with McVay citing his timeout mismanagement as the kind of thing that Streicher will help him avoid. It was a big part of the story in the team's postseason […]

Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield Begin Extension Talks

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and impending free-agent quarterback Baker Mayfield have started "preliminary talks about a new contract" this offseason. General manager Jason Licht is expected to meet with Mayfield's representation during the NFL scouting combine next week. After the 28-year-old Mayfield had a career season in his first year in Tampa in 2023, it's […]

Saints Restructure Derek Carr's Contract

The New Orleans Saints restructured quarterback Derek Carr's contract on Friday for salary cap purposes, a move that was expected to give the team around $23 million in cap relief for the 2024 season, according to sources. Carr is due $30 million in base salary this year, so converting a portion of that into a […]

Kyle Manzardo Likely To Start At Triple-A

The Athletic's Jason Lloyd writes that Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo will probably start the 2024 season at Triple-A Columbus. Guardians officials reiterated this offseason the difficulty of hitting in Cleveland in April and how a slow start can bury young hitters. The 23-year-old grew up in Idaho, so he probably knows a thing […]

Guardians Have Uninspiring Mix In Right Field

The Cleveland Guardians have an uninspiring mix of outfielders Ramon Laureano, Will Brennan and Deyvison De Los Santos competing for the right field job this year. De Los Santos has massive power, but he's only 20 years old and has not logged an at-bat at Triple-A and has plenty of swing and miss in his […]

Myles Straw, Esteven Florial Competing For Center Field Job

Cleveland Guardians hitting coach Chris Valaika said this week that outfielder Myles Straw is competing for the center field job this spring, and The Athletic's Jason Lloyd gets the sense that the team would love to see Estevan Florial claim the job in spring training. Ramon Laureano has plenty of experience in center field, but […]

Steven Kwan To Stick In Left Field

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, who has won a Gold Glove in each of the last two seasons, will remain as the team's left fielder in 2024, according to manager Stephen Vogt. Kwan hit .268/.340/.370 with five home runs, 36 doubles, seven triples, 54 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 93 runs scored in 718 plate […]

Anthony Volpe Looking To Change His Bat Path

The biggest point of emphasis for shortstop Anthony Volpe coming into the 2024 season was changing his bat path, he told The Athletic's Chris Kirschner. Last year, Volpe had an uppercut swing through the zone. It led to him hitting 21 home runs but also led to inconsistency at the plate throughout his rookie season. […]

Ben Rortvedt Looks To Be Odd Man Out

New York Yankees catcher Ben Rortvedt, who worked almost exclusively as right-hander Gerrit Cole's personal catcher last year when he won the American League Cy Young, is likely to either be traded or outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the year with Jose Trevino and Austin Wells expected to split the playing time behind the […]

Shohei Ohtani Expected To Make Spring Debut Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) will make his Cactus League debut with the team at some point next week. The Dodgers are slow-playing the two-time American League MVP this spring after he had right-elbow surgery last year. It will keep the 29-year-old Japanese sensation from pitching in […]

Vaughn Grissom To Be Slow-Played Due To Injury

Boston Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury in camp and will be slow-played early in Grapefruit League action. However, manager Alex Cora expects Grissom to be ready for Opening Day in late March. It's a minor injury, but it's notable for a player trying to make an impact with […]

Jarren Duran To Be Held Out Of Games Initially

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (toe) is not going to play in Grapefruit League games until March 1, as he's still recovering from his toe surgery last August in which he had the flexor tendon in his left big toe repaired. Duran is believed to be fully recovered from his surgery, but the Red […]

Ricky Tiedemann Scratched With Left-Hamstring Tightness

Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann (hamstring) has been scratched as the starter for Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Philadelphia Phillies due to left-hamstring tightness. The team doesn't think the injury is serious, but manager John Schneider said he'll have a better idea on Saturday. The Blue Jays aren't going to pitch […]

Marco Luciano Dealing With Hamstring Issue

San Francisco Giants shortstop Marco Luciano (hamstring) is dealing with a minor hamstring issue, but if he comes out of Friday's workout fine, he will be in the Cactus League lineup on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. It's something to keep an eye on early in spring training, but it doesn't sound like anything too […]

Jung Hoo Lee Out With Side Soreness

San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (side) is dealing with some minor side soreness and will not be in the team's Cactus League game on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs as a precaution. Lee's injury isn't very serious, and he expects to be ready to play in spring games in a couple of days. […]

Sal Frelick To Play Third Base In Spring Opener

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick will bat leadoff and play third base in the team's Cactus League opener on Saturday against the San Diego Padres. Given all of the outfield depth that Milwaukee has at the big-league level, the Brewers have had Frelick working out on the infield in camp, and they are going to […]

Vinnie Pasquantino Starting Cactus League Opener

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (shoulder) is playing first base and batting second in the team's Cactus League opener on Friday versus the Texas Rangers. It's good news after Pasquantino had season-ending shoulder surgery last June. The power-hitting left-hander played in only 61 games in his second year in the majors due to […]

Jordan Montgomery Not Lowering Contract Demands

Even with spring training having already started, free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery and his agent, Scott Boras, have not dropped their asking price, according to an industry source. Along with the Texas Rangers, who he won a World Series ring with last year, the Boston Red Sox have been interested in the southpaw this offseason. By […]

Wyatt Langford Hitting Third In Spring Opener

Texas Rangers outfield prospect Wyatt Langford is starting in left field and is batting third in the team's Cactus League opener on Friday against the Kansas City Royals. Fellow rookie outfielder Evan Carter is in right field and is hitting second. Langford, 22, was the fourth overall pick in last year's draft and has a […]