Xavien Howard Fully Cleared For Football Activities

Free-agent cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) was fully cleared for football activities earlier in April, his doctor informed teams in a letter. Howard is currently a free agent and battled a foot injury last year that limited him to 13 games with the Miami Dolphins. In those 13 games, he had 45 tackles (36 solo), an […]

Penei Sewell Becomes Highest-Paid Offensive Lineman

Detroit Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell agreed to terms on a four-year, $112 million contract extension with the Lions on Wednesday that makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. The deal also includes $85 million guaranteed. The Lions were active in keeping several key contributors of their offense around for the long […]

Steelers Restructure Alex Highsmith's Contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers did a simple restructure of the salary of pass-rusher Alex Highsmith's contract on Wednesday to create more than $7 million in salary cap space, according to a source. The Steelers will convert a portion of Highsmith's base salary in 2024 into a signing bonus. The 26-year-old former third-round pick in 2020 out […]

Steelers Not Expected To Pick Up Justin Fields' Fifth-Year Option

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't expected to pick up quarterback Justin Fields' $25 million fifth-year option, according to league sources. The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears last month for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Fields and Russell Wilson will now both be entering the last year of their contracts in 2024. Wilson is fully […]

Ravens Sign Rashod Bateman To Contract Extension

The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Rashod Bateman to an undisclosed contract extension on Wednesday that ties him to the team through the 2026 season. Bateman was able to stay healthy in 2023, but he was overshadowed by rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers and finished with a disappointing 32 catches for 367 yards and just one […]

Bengals Exercise Ja'Marr Chase's Fifth-Year Option

The Cincinnati Bengals exercised the fifth-year option for wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on Wednesday, as expected. Chase is now officially locked up through the 2025 season. The 24-year-old former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in the NFL and set a career-high […]

Lions Agree To Four-Year Extension With Amon-Ra St. Brown

The Detroit Lions agreed to a four-year contract extension with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on Wednesday that is worth $120 million with $77 million guaranteed. The deal makes St. Brown the highest-paid receiver in the league and ties him with Miami's Tyreek Hill in average annual value ($30 million). The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick […]

Blake Snell Placed On 15-Day Injured List

The San Francisco Giants placed left-hander Blake Snell (groin) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday (retroactive to April 23) with a left-adductor strain and recalled right-hander Landen Roupp from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Snell was scratched from his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets and will now miss at […]

Dylan Crews Dealing With Minor Issue

Washington Nationals outfield prospect Dylan Crews (undisclosed) hasn't played for Double-A Harrisburg since last Wednesday but is fine, according to sources. Crews had a minor undisclosed issue that kept him out a few days last week but was held out of the lineup on Tuesday night as a precaution because of rainy weather. The 22-year-old […]

Lane Thomas Likely To Go On Injured List

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee), who is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee on Wednesday, is considered very likely to land on the injured list, according to sources. As a result, rookie infielder Trey Lipscomb is in Washington on Wednesday in case the team puts Thomas on the IL. Lipscomb hit .224 […]

Ryne Nelson To Throw Bullpen Wednesday

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Ryne Nelson (elbow) will throw a bullpen session at Salt River Fields on Wednesday, and it sounds like it could be close to the minimum 15 days on the injured list for him. Nelson was hit by a comebacker on his elbow and was put on the […]

Paul Sewald "Getting Extremely Close"

Arizona Cardinals closer Paul Sewald (oblique) is back in Arizona working with the medical team to determine whether he will need another minor-league rehab assignment or if he's ready to rejoin the D-backs. Manager Torey Lovullo said Sewald is "getting extremely close" to returning from the 15-day injured list. The 33-year-old made his first rehab […]

Alec Burleson Sitting Against Lefty

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson is out of the lineup on Wednesday with the team facing left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Cardinals. It's no surprise, as Burleson will continue to ride the pine when the Cardinals face a southpaw. With the 25-year-old out and Jordan Walker being optioned to Triple-A Memphis, Brendan Donovan […]

Willson Contreras Back In Wednesday's Lineup

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (hand) is back in the team's lineup on Wednesday, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Ivan Herrera is doing the catching and is hitting fifth. Left-hand soreness caused the Cardinals to lift Contreras from Tuesday's game early, but manager Oliver Marmol […]

Jordan Walker Optioned To Triple-A

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 will head to the farm after opening the 2024 campaign with a weak .155/.239/.259 slash line with no home runs, four RBI, six walks and 18 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances over 20 games […]

Corbin Carroll Hitting Seventh On Wednesday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is starting in center field but has been moved to the seven-hole on Wednesday for the matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Kyle Gibson. The 23-year-old will be down near the bottom of the D-backs' lineup for the first time this year as manager Torey Lovullo looks to […]

X-Rays On Cody Bellinger Come Back Negative

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that X-rays on outfielder Cody Bellinger (rib) were negative, but the team has to see how he is on Wednesday before they can determine how long he might be out. Bellinger left Tuesday's game early with a right-rib contusion not long after he ran into the wall in center […]

Jason Heyward Still Dealing With "Residual Soreness"

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward (back) isn't swinging a bat and is still dealing with "residual soreness," according to manager Dave Roberts. Heyward is still more than a week from starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 34-year-old veteran left-handed hitter was put on the 10-day injured list all the way back on April 3 […]

Braxton Garrett To Make Rehab Start Friday

Miami Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch side session on Tuesday that went "great," according to the team. He will now through four innings or 60 pitches in a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday. Garrett had to pause his rehab assignment after dealing with dead arm, but he's back up […]

Kris Bryant Won't Return Wednesday

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (back) is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list for a lower-back strain on Wednesday, but that won't be happening. Manager Bud Black said that Bryant isn't doing any baseball activities yet. Bryant hasn't undergone anymore tests, though, and there has been no discussion of surgery. Given all the […]

Framber Valdez Could Start A Game In Mexico City

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) will throw a bullpen session with the team in Chicago this week and he could start one of the two games against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, either this Saturday or Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. The 30-year-old southpaw was able to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session […]

Robert Stephenson To Have Tommy John Surgery

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) said he will have Tommy John surgery with the internal brace on April 30 and he's expecting to have a rehab timeline of 12 to 18 months. The exact nature of his surgery hadn't been revealed until Stephenson talked to the media on Tuesday for the first […]

Mike Trout In The Leadoff Spot Against Orioles

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is in center field and hitting out of the leadoff spot on Tuesday versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. It's a notable development, as Trout will be hitting leadoff for the first time since August of 2020. Perhaps it will get the 32-year-old All-Star going, as […]

Blaze Alexander Still Out On Tuesday

Arizona Diamondbacks rookie infielder Blaze Alexander (hamstring) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday as they get set to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Alexander injured his right hamstring on Sunday and will miss his second straight game as a result. The 24-year-old was reportedly available off the bench in Monday's game, though, […]

Cubs Designate Garrett Cooper For Assignment

The Chicago Cubs designated outfielder Garrett Cooper for assignment on Tuesday, according to a source. Cooper wasn't exactly slumping at the plate, but the Cubs think he's expendable in order to bring up first base prospect Matt Mervis as another right-handed bat. The 33-year-old Cooper was hitting .270/.341/.432 with a home run, double, triple, six […]

Matt Mervis Making Season Debut Tuesday

Chicago Cubs first base prospect Matt Mervis was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and is serving as the designated hitter and batting eighth in his season debut for the Cubs against the Houston Astros and right-hander J.P. France. The Cubs' No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, could see regular playing time at DH […]

Ian Happ Back In Action Against Astros

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (hamstring) is back in left field and is hitting second for the Cubs on Tuesday against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander J.P. France. Happ tweaked his hamstring last Friday and sat out Saturday and Sunday. But after the team's scheduled off day on Monday, the 29-year-old switch-hitter is ready […]

Justin Steele Does Fielding Practice Tuesday

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) went through some fielding practice on Tuesday before the team's game against the visiting Houston Astros. Steele suffered his strained left hamstring while fielding a ball on Opening Day before landing on the injured list, so the Cubs want to make sure he's good before he throws in an […]

Kyle Hendricks, Drew Smyly Placed On Injured List

The Chicago Cubs placed pitchers Kyle Hendricks (back) and Drew Smyly (hip) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and recalled infielder Matt Mervis, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and left-hander Luke Little from Triple-A Iowa in corresponding moves. The 34-year-old Hendricks has been downright bad so far in 2024, posting a 12.00 ERA in his first […]

Rafael Devers To Serve As DH On Wednesday

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is giving third baseman Rafael Devers (knee) one more day to rest his knee on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians and said Devers will serve as the designated hitter on Wednesday. Devers was originally set to return to Tuesday's lineup, but the Red Sox are being cautious since he […]