David Bednar Still The Closer For Pirates

Despite the offseason addition of left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman and his seven All-Star selections, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander David Bednar remains the team's primary closer heading into the 2024 season. Bednar, who has been an All-Star each of the last two years himself, received a call from manager Derek Shelton after Chapman's signing, reassuring him of […]

Raisel Iglesias Makes Spring Debut Friday

Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias made his Grapefruit League debut on Friday in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. He entered in the fourth frame and had a scoreless inning of work, with his only blemish being a two-out double to infield prospect Jackson Holliday. In his first full season with the Braves in 2023, […]

Connor Norby Expected To Play In Games Soon

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that infield prospect Connor Norby (side) won't play in Grapefruit League action on Saturday, but he's expected to get back into the spring training lineup in the next three to four days. There's still time for Norby to get ready for the start of the 2024 season, but even […]

Lars Nootbaar Has Revamped Swing

In his first season with a projected starting role in 2024, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar retooled his swing in the offseason with the help of Nolan Arenado after a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw him miss round 40 games due to injuries. Nootbaar revamped his swing mechanics in hopes of adding more power. […]

Ricky Tiedemann To Face Live Hitters Soon

Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann (hamstring) is feeling good after throwing a bullpen on Thursday, and it sounds like the next step is for him to face live hitters in camp soon. It should leave him plenty of time for a full ramp-up through March and into Opening Day late in March. The […]

Michael Penix Says He's Healthy

Washington quarterback Michael Penix said on Friday at the NFL scouting combine that he thinks he's put questions about his health behind him and he's ready to be somebody's franchise signal-caller. Penix believes his medical exams for all 32 NFL teams went smoothly and he's ready to throw for those in attendance in Indianapolis. ESPN's […]

Justin Fields Could Fetch Second- Or Third-Rounder

According to NFL executives, if the Chicago Bears indeed decide to trade quarterback Justin Fields this offseason, the majority opinion is that Chicago would receive a second- or third-round pick in the upcoming draft. It's looking more likely that Fields will be dealt and the Bears will take USC QB Caleb Williams with the first […]

Commanders To Release Charles Leno

The Washington Commanders have informed starting left tackle Charles Leno (hip) that they are releasing him on Friday, according to a source. Leno is scheduled to undergo hip surgery next week. The 32-year-old also missed the final three games of the 2023 season and was placed on Injured Reserve due to a calf injury. Washington's […]

Rams Missing An Outside Rusher

The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue writes that the Los Angeles Rams have pieces of their pass rush in place between Aaron Donald, Kobie Turner and Byron Young, but they are missing an experienced outside rusher to make the group more cohesive. LA also needs help at cornerback, but Rodrigue thinks an outside linebacker is the team's […]

Brian Allen A Cut Candidate For Rams

The Los Angeles Rams will incur $3.15 million in dead money if they cut center Brian Allen before June 1, but would save $4.9 million against the 2024 salary cap, according to Over the Cap. Allen didn't start or play any significant minutes for the Rams in 2023, but starting center Coleman Shelton has only […]

Chargers Could Use A Center

The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that the center position might be the Los Angeles Chargers' most glaring offseason need in 2024. They have needs all over the roster as new head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz enter their first seasons. In addition to the offensive line, the Bolts need upgrades at tight […]

Eagles Release Kevin Byard

The Philadelphia Eagles released safety Kevin Byard on Friday, according to a source. The Eagles acquired Byard from the Tennessee Titans last October in exchange for a fifth- and sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft along with safety Terrell Edmunds. The move to release Byard will free up over $13 million in salary cap […]

Jonathan Brooks Ahead Of Schedule In His Recovery

Texas running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) said that he's ahead of schedule in regards to his rehab/recovery from his ACL injury last year and he'll be ready by July 1, which means he'll be ready for his first training camp in the NFL this summer. Brooks is almost four months removed from tearing his ACL […]

Darren Waller Considered Retirement

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller reportedly considered retirement after a disappointing first season in New York in 2023, according to sources. Waller was injured again last year and had just one touchdown in 12 games played in the Big Apple. The 31-year-old veteran will not walk away, though, and has chosen to return […]

Falcons In Play For Baker Mayfield?

Right now it looks likely that impending free-agent quarterback Baker Mayfield will re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, but NFL Network's Tom Pelissero mentions the Atlanta Falcons as a dark-horse candidate to get involved. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that re-signing Mayfield is an "extremely high priority" after the former first overall […]

Anthony DeSclafani Delayed In Camp

Minnesota Twins pitchers Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) and Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) have been delayed in camp but are ramping up their throwing. Trainer Nick Paparesta said that both pitchers still have time to be ready for Opening Day. DeSclafani is dealing with right-elbow soreness, while Thielbar is dealing with a left-hamstring strain. DeSclafani, 33, was acquired […]

Gary Sanchez Could Make Spring Debut On March 14

The Milwaukee Brewers are targeting March 14 for catcher Gary Sanchez (hand) to make his Cactus League debut. Sanchez's 2023 season came to an early end due to a fractured hand, and something came up in his physical (unrelated to last year's injury) that delayed his official signing with the Brew Crew this offseason. It […]

Wade Miley "50-50" To Be Ready For Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on Friday morning that left-hander Wade Miley (undisclosed) is "50-50" to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. "We'll let you know more in about 10 days," Murphy said. It's unclear exactly what is wrong with Miley, but the soft-tossing southpaw may not be a part […]

Yuki Matsui Resumes Playing Catch

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui (back) has resumed playing catch in camp on Friday. The 28-year-old reliever was shut down from throwing last weekend due to inflammation in his back, but it wasn't a serious concern and he's already back to throwing. It remains unclear when he'll be able to get into another Cactus […]

Luis Urias To Throw On Friday

Seattle Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said that infielder Luis Urias (shoulder) is going to start trying to throw in infield drills in camp on Friday, but he'll be limited. The hope is that Urias can be ready for Opening Day in late March. The 26-year-old is being held back in spring training due to […]

Matt Brash Could Resume Throwing Next Week

An MRI exam on Seattle Mariners right-hander Matt Brash (elbow) confirmed that he's dealing with medial right-elbow inflammation, and he could resume throwing in camp next week, according to general manager Justin Hollander. It's great news after a recent report earlier this week suggested that Brash could be dealing with a serious arm injury. The […]

Ronald Acuna Jr. Scratched With Knee Soreness

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Baltimore Orioles "as a precaution" due to right-knee soreness. While the injury isn't considered serious, it's certainly something to keep an eye on with the best player in baseball, especially after Acuna suffered a torn ACL in the same […]

Patrick Corbin Incorporating A New Cutter

Washington Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin looked better in his second Grapefruit League outing on Thursday while incorporating more of his newest pitch, a cutter. He needed 49 pitches to complete 1 2/3 innings last Saturday, but on Thursday he cruised through three innings on 41 pitches (32 strikes) and didn't allow a run or walk […]

Tanner Rainey Not Worried About Velocity

Washington Nationals right-hander Tanner Rainey, who returned late last year from Tommy John surgery, had a perfect inning in his Grapefruit League outing on Thursday and threw only nine pitches (six strikes). His fastball topped out at 92 mph, though, which was a bit alarming since he averaged 97 mph on his fastball before his […]

Kyle Finnegan Evolving With New Sweeper

Washington Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan tried out a new sweeper for the first time in a Grapefruit League game on Wednesday. "Finnegan's always been toying around with trying to get a third pitch," manager Davey Martinez said. "Cause everything he throws is hard. So, he wanted to create some kind of deception, more or less." […]

Joey Gallo Dealing With Sore Quad

Washington Nationals outfielder/designated hitter Joey Gallo (quadriceps) has a sore quadriceps in camp and is only hitting right now, according to manager Dave Martinez. The skipper doesn't think it's a huge deal and thinks Gallo might be able to get into Grapefruit League games next week if all goes well. Martinez described it as the […]

Tristan Beck Needs Surgery On His Arm

San Francisco Giants right-hander Tristan Beck (arm) said he will undergo vascular surgery at Stanford University on Monday to address the aneurysm in his upper right arm. Beck was dealing with an arm injury in camp and was diagnosed with the aneurysm this week. Now that he's being forced to have surgery, there's a good […]

Justin Verlander To Throw Another Bullpen Sunday

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session in camp on Sunday, and the Astros will determine Verlander's next step after that. The next step in his progression will be to get cleared to face live hitters, but the Astros aren't going to rush the 41-year-old, especially given all of his injuries […]

Gunnar Henderson Taking Live Batting Practice

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson (oblique) is taking live batting practice in camp on Friday for the first time since dealing with a sore oblique muscle early in spring training. Henderson said it shouldn't be much longer before he makes his Grapefruit League debut. Barring a setback of some sort, the 22-year-old youngster will […]

Kerry Carpenter To Run The Bases Friday

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring), who has been facing live pitching on the back fields at camp, will continue his return-to-play progression by running the bases on Friday. Carpenter has been dealing with a left-hamstring strain that he suffered last week. While the 26-year-old has been held out of Grapefruit League games, he could […]