Matt Festa Signs With Padres

Free-agent right-hander Matt Festa signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Festa comes over to the Friars after parts of four seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In 2023, he threw nine relief innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits (one […]

Ross Stripling Working On New Pitch

San Francisco Giants right-hander Ross Stripling is working on a new pitch for the 2024 season -- the deathball, which is a type of gyro slider that is designed to drop late. The pitch looked filthy while Stripling was throwing it live on Thursday while he worked out north of Houston. Stripling said he's looking […]

Guardians Sign Tyler Beede To Minor-League Deal

The Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent right-hander Tyler Beede to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Saturday. The 30-year-old pitched for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2023 and had a 4.08 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 75 innings pitched. The former first-rounder wasn't very good in his four […]

Adam Frazier Latches On With Royals

Free-agent veteran infielder Adam Frazier signed a guaranteed one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, according to a source. He'll get $2 million in 2024 and will have an $8.5 million mutual option for the 2025 season that includes a $2.5 million buyout. The 32-year-old veteran will give the rebuilding Royals […]

Hector Neris, Cubs Agree To One-Year Deal

Free-agent right-handed reliever Hector Neris and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract that includes an option for the 2025 season, according to a source familiar with the deal. The $9 million team option converts to a player option at 60 games. The total maximum value of the deal with […]

Willie Gay Jr. Questionable For Chiefs Defense

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (neck) and safety Mike Edwards (concussion) are both questionable to play on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game. Gay was limited on Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out of practice on Friday. Edwards missed practice Wednesday, was limited on Thursday and put in a […]

Padres Invite Ethan Salas To Big-League Camp

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas was one of 32 player to receive an invitation to major-league spring training on Friday. The 17-year-old is already the top catching prospect in the game after reaching Double-A San Antonio in 2023. He hit .248/.331/.421 with nine home runs, 41 RBI, five stolen bases and 40 runs […]

Orioles View DL Hall As A Starter Long-Term

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that the team views left-hander DL Hall as a starting pitcher in the long-term. Elias said that Hall could remain in the bullpen in 2024, depending on how spring training goes, before he's eventually stretched out over the next year. There's also a possibility that Hall is stretched […]

Robbie Ray To Throw From 120 Feet This Weekend

San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (elbow) is scheduled to throw from 120 feet on Saturday as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery that he had last May. Ray is slowly progressing from his surgery and is hoping to start throwing off a mound early in spring training and eventually make his season and team […]

Cubs, Red Sox Express Interest In Ryne Stanek

The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are two big-market teams that have expressed interest in veteran free-agent reliever Ryne Stanek this winter. In his third season for the Houston Astros and seventh overall in the big leagues, Stanek had a 4.09 ERA (4.60 FIP), 1.24 WHIP, 21 walks and 51 strikeouts in 50 2/3 […]

Jordan Westburg Not A Lock For Opening Day Roster

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg said he doesn't think he's a lock to make the team's Opening Day roster, so he will come to spring training ready to compete for a spot this year. "100%. I don't think I solidified anything in my role. I'd love to win a job," Westburg said. He's probably right […]

Dillon Tate Looking Healthy Ahead Of Spring Training

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he saw right-hander Dillon Tate (forearm) in Sarasota, Florida, a few days ago and said Tate looks "unbelievable" and healthy. The skipper is hoping that Tate will be a contributor again in 2024 after a forearm injury kept him out for the entire 2023 season. Barring a setback, the […]

Giants Sign Tommy Romero To Minor-League Deal

The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent right-hander Tommy Romero to a minor-league deal on Thursday. Romero made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Rays and also saw action with the Washington Nationals, allowing 12 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits (seven home runs) while walking nine and striking out seven in 8 […]

Rangers Sign Jared Walsh, Matt Duffy To Minor-League Deals

The Texas Rangers signed free-agent first baseman Jared Walsh, infielder Matt Duffy and left-hander Blake Taylor to minor-league deals with invitations to major-league spring training on Thursday. Walsh was a first-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he hit .277 (147-for-530) with a career-high 29 home runs in 144 games. However, he […]

Rockies Sign John Curtiss To Minors Deal

The Colorado Rockies signed free-agent reliever John Curtiss to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training on Thursday, according to a source. Curtiss is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season after having arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow last August. Before his injury, the 30-year-old right-hander allowed […]

Carl Edwards Jr., Cubs Agree On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor-league deal on Friday, according to a source familiar with the deal. Edwards had a 3.69 ERA in 31 2/3 innings with the Washington Nationals last season. His deal with the Cubs includes an invitation to spring training. Edwards will be reuniting […]

Rangers Bringing Back Travis Jankowski

Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young announced on Friday that the team is re-signing outfielder Travis Jankowski to a one-year, $1.7 million deal plus performance bonuses for the 2024 season. Jankowski will return to give the World Series-champion Rangers outfield depth for the upcoming campaign. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter batted .263/.357/.332 with a home run, […]

J.P. France Working On New Pitch

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France intimated that he's adding a new pitch this offseason, but he wants to keep it "on the low down" before eventually debuting it in spring training. France was forced into starting-rotation duty in 2023 due to all of Houston's injuries and finished with 158 1/3 innings, including the playoffs, after […]

Hunter Brown Working On Mechanical Issues

Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown, who threw 50 more innings last year than he had in any other season, wasn't as effective late in 2023 due to subtle mechanical changes after the All-Star break because fatigue was setting in. Brown finished the first half with a 4.12 ERA and 3.32 FIP but stumbled to a […]

Blue Jays High On Spencer Horwitz

While Toronto Blue Jays first base prospect Spencer Horwitz lacks high-end power and could be limited to first base in the big leagues, but his on-base ability is rare and is something that should translate well to the majors after he had a .450 on-base percentage at Triple-A Buffalo in 2023. He has also beat […]

Damiano Palmegiani Has Path To Big Leagues In 2024

Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Damiano Palmegiani, who is ranked as the team's No. 18 prospect on MLB Pipeline, offers a positional fit at third base, power potential and the ability to crush left-handed pitching. At some point in 2024, the Blue Jays will need all three of those things, making Palmegiani a candidate to […]

Bowden Francis Could Compete For No. 5 Rotation Spot

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect Bowden Francis, who came to Toronto in 2021 alongside Trevor Richards in the Rowdy Tellez trade, held his own in 2023 and posted a 1.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts and just eight walks in 36 1/3 innings in his first taste of the big leagues. His curveball is a […]

Blue Jays' Interest In Jorge Soler Is Real

The Toronto Blue Jays have serious interest in free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler. He became a free agent this offseason after opting out of the final year of his three-year contract with the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old right-handed slugger clubbed 36 home runs with an .853 OPS in 580 plate appearances in 2023 and is […]

Jeimer Candelario To Be Everyday Player For Reds

Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Jeimer Candelario was signed this offseason to be a steady presence in a very young lineup, despite an already crowded infield picture in Cincinnati. He has played in 746 major-league games, and no other Reds position player has appeared in more than 380 games. "Adding a guy like Jeimer takes some […]

Wilyer Abreu Likely To Start In Right Field

Boston Red Sox rookie outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who impressed in limited action late in 2023, appears likely to serve as the team's starting right fielder to begin the season, although fellow rookie outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela could also factor into the outfield picture in Boston. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has also said this offseason that […]

Trevor Story Looking Primed For Big Season?

Boston Red Sox hitting coach Peter Fatse has liked what he's seen out of shortstop Trevor Story this offseason. "He looks great," Fatse said. "He's moving well, and those are the signs you want to see at this point. He's explosive, I think his offseason program was really good and it's the first time in […]

William Smith The Leading Candidate To Close For Royals

At the moment, Kansas City Royals left-hander William Smith is the team's leading candidate to open the 2024 season as the closer after they signed him to a one-year, $5 million contract early in free agency. Smith, who turns 35 years old in July, has won three straight World Series titles with three different teams. […]

Panthers Won't Retain Chris Tabor

The Carolina Panthers have informed interim head coach/special teams coordinator Chris Tabor that he will not be retained despite the two years left on his contract. He will now be free to seek employment elsewhere, according to a source. Carolina interviewed Tabor for the full-time head-coaching position before officially hiring Dave Canales on Thursday. The […]

Saints To Speak With Brian Johnson About Offensive-Coordinator Position

The New Orleans Saints will interview former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson for their vacant offensive-coordinator position next week, according to a source. In addition to the Saints, Johnson has already interviewed for the same position with the Cleveland Browns and is expected to interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent the last […]

Bills To Interview Thad Lewis For Offensive-Coordinator Job

The Buffalo Bills plan to interview Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis for their offensive-coordinator job, according to a source. Lewis is expected to get other looks for offensive-coordinator positions around the league, too, based on his work with quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2023. He's in the mix for the same position with the […]