Jerod Mayo To Become Next Patriots Head Coach

The New England Patriots are set to hire linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to replace future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick as the next head coach. At 37 years old, Mayo will become the NFL's youngest head coach, taking over a title that Sean McVay had held since being named the Los Angeles Rams' head coach […]

Jalen Hurts Does Very Little Throwing Thursday

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (finger) did not throw the ball much at all, if at all, during the team's practice on Thursday, according to a source. It's a tough injury for Hurts, who dislocated the middle finger on his right throwing hand in the Week 18 loss to the New York Giants. Hopefully he […]

Bills Rule Out Gabe Davis For Wild-Card Game

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has ruled out wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) and safety Taylor Rapp (calf) for Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Davis suffered a knee injury in the Week 18 win over the Miami Dolphins and is now being forced to sit out of the first playoff game […]

Bears To Interview Klint Kubiak For Offensive-Coordinator Position

The Chicago Bears plan to interview San Francisco 49ers passing-game coordinator Klint Kubiak for their offensive-coordinator job, according to sources. The Bears are looking to replace Luke Getsy after they fired him following two seasons running the team's offense. Kubiak is the son of Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak and previously was the Minnesota […]

Jerod Mayo A Strong Candidate To Replace Bill Belichick

New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is a strong candidate to replace Bill Belichick as the team's next head coach, and if Mayo is the choice, the Patriots could simply hire him instead of going through the lengthy hiring process. New England established a firm contractual succession plan in a prior contract and communicated […]

Falcons Request To Interview Ejiro Evero, Mike MacDonald

The Atlanta Falcons have requested permission to interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald for their head-coaching job, according to a league source. In addition to the Falcons, the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers are interested in MacDonald for their head-coaching jobs, so he's […]

Xavien Howard Officially Ruled Out Versus Chiefs

Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) did not practice all week and has officially been ruled out for Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. For a banged-up Dolphins defense, safeties DeShon Elliott (calf) and Jevon Holland (knees) are also questionable. Eli Apple is expected to fill in with Howard now being forced […]

Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Devin Williams

The Milwaukee Brewers and right-handed reliever Devin Williams agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. The deal includes a team option for the 2025 season. Williams' 2024 salary will likely come out to around $7 million. The 29-year-old hard-throwing right-hander should be the first closer off the board in fantasy […]

Gleyber Torres, Yankees Avoid Arbitration

Infielder Gleyber Torres and the New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $14.2 million deal for 2024 on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration. A career-low 14.6 percent strikeout rate helped Torres to a fine offensive season in 2023. He finished with a .273/.347/.453 slash line, an .800 OPS, 25 home runs, 28 doubles, two triples, […]

Michael King Avoids Arbitration With New Club

New San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King and the team agreed to a one-year, $3.15 million deal for 2024 on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration. King was part of the package sent to San Diego when the New York Yankees acquired outfielder Juan Soto in December. The 28-year-old was moved from the bullpen to the […]

Clay Holmes And Yankees Settle At $6 Million

Right-handed reliever Clay Holmes and the New York Yankees settled at $6 million plus performance bonuses for the 2024 season on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. Holmes has been New York's primary closer over the last two seasons and has delivered a strong 2.70 ERA (2.75 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, 44 saves, […]

Zac Gallen Avoids Arbitration With Diamondbacks

Right-hander Zac Gallen and the Arizona Diamondbacks settled at $10.011 million for the 2024 season to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday, according to a source. Gallen will be in his final year of arbitration eligibility going into next season. The 28-year-old made his first All-Star team in 2023 and went 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA […]

Rays Sign Naoyuki Uwasawa To Minor-League Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays signed free-agent Japanese right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league camp on Thursday. Uwasawa comes over from the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball, where he had a 2.96 ERA with only 124 strikeouts in 170 innings pitched in 2023. It remains to be seen […]

Billy McKinney Staying With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent outfielder Billy McKinney, infielder Sergio Alcantara, outfielder Gilberto Celestino, right-hander Ben Heller, infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb, left-hander Michael Plassmeyer, right-hander Ryder Ryan and right-hander Hunter Stratton to minor-league deals with invites to spring training on Thursday. McKinney was traded to the Pirates from the New York Yankees in December and will […]

Brent Suter Agrees With Reds On One-Year Deal

Free-agent left-hander Brent Suter and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year deal on Thursday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. The contract pays him $2.5 million in 2024 with a $3.5 million club option or $500,000 buyout for the 2025 season. The 34-year-old southpaw comes to Cincy after posting a […]

Rangers Sign Andrew Knizner

The Texas Rangers signed non-tendered catcher Andrew Knizner to a one-year, $1.825 million deal on Thursday. In his five seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals before being non-tendered this offseason, Knizner hit just .216/.290/.331 with 17 home runs, 76 RBI, four stolen bases and 84 runs scored in 255 games played, mostly as a backup. […]

Luke Weaver, Yankees Agree On One-Year Deal

Free-agent right-hander Luke Weaver and the New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal on Thursday, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. The contract includes a club option for 2025 and can max out at $8.25 million. Weaver wasn't very great in 2023 while posting a 6.40 ERA […]

Dane Dunning Avoids Arbitration With Rangers

Right-hander Dane Dunning avoided salary arbitration with the Texas Rangers on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.325 million deal for the 2024 season, according to a source. Dunning gets a nice raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 29-year-old had the best season of his career in 2023 in his third year […]

Danny Jansen, Blue Jays Settle At $5.2 Million

Catcher Danny Jansen and the Toronto Blue Jays settled on a $5.2 million salary in 2024 to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday, according to a source. Jansen was in his third year of arbitration eligibility. A fractured finger cost Jansen the final month of last season, and the 28-year-old backstop ended up finishing 2023 with […]

Will Smith Avoids Arbitration With Dodgers

Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by settling on an $8.55 million salary for the 2024 season, according to a source. It's a record for a second-time arbitration-eligible catcher. It's also a $3.3 million raise from what he earned in 2023. Smith was a first-time All-Star last season […]

Marcus Stroman, Yankees Agree On Two-Year Deal

Free-agent right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a two-year deal that includes an option for a third year. The deal averages $18.5 million per season. The 32-year-old was an All-Star with the Chicago Cubs last year for the second time in his career and finished by going 10-9 with […]

Astros, Kyle Tucker Settle At $12 Million

The Houston Astros and outfielder Kyle Tucker settled at a $12 million salary for the upcoming 2024 season on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. It's a $7 million raise from a season ago. The 26-year-old has become one of the best left-handed sluggers in the game after slashing .284/.369/.517 with an […]

Astros Avoid Arbitration With Framber Valdez

The Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration on Thursday with left-hander Framber Valdez by settling on a $12.1 million salary for the 2024 season, according to a source. Valdez will almost be doubling his salary for this upcoming season. The 30-year-old southpaw has been as durable as they come in the last two seasons, posting a […]

Corbin Burnes, Brewers Settle At $15.673 Million

Right-hander Corbin Burnes and the Milwaukee Brewers settled at $15,637,500 for the 2024 season to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. Burnes and the Brewers went to an arbitration hearing last year, which caused Burnes to come away with a bad taste in his mouth. The 29-year-old will see a $5.5 million increase in his salary […]

Pete Alonso, Mets Avoid Arbitration

First baseman Pete Alonso and the New York Mets avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $20.5 million deal for the 2024 season, according to a source familiar with the deal. Alonso is fully expected to hit free agency following the conclusion of the 2024 campaign, especially after he hired agent Scott […]

Juan Soto Avoids Arbitration With Yankees

Outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $31.5 million deal on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration for the 2024 season. It's a new record deal for an arbitration-eligible player, beating two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani by $1 million from his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. Soto and […]

Yankees Make Opening Offer To Blake Snell

The New York Yankees have made an opening offer to top free-agent starter Blake Snell. But little to no evidence of significant progress on Snell or two other top rotation targets in Jordan Montgomery and Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease, the Yankees are starting to look more seriously at right-hander Marcus Stroman. The Yankees […]

Najee Harris Upgrades To Full Practice Thursday

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (knee) was upgraded to a full practice participant on Thursday after not practicing with the team on Wednesday. The Steelers have been holding Harris out early in the week while he manages a knee injury, but the 25-year-old will be active for Sunday's big playoff tilt in Buffalo against […]

D'Andre Swift Feeling Better This Week

Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift (illness) is apparently feeling much better this week and was a full participant in the team's first practice of the week on Thursday. Swift was questionable for the Week 18 regular season finale against the New York Giants last Sunday and was eventually held out as a precaution. The […]

Tyler Higbee Limited Again Thursday

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (shoulder) was limited in the team's practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Higbee dislocated his left shoulder in Week 17 and didn't play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers. The 31-year-old is giving himself a shot to be […]