Michael Busch Expected To Play First Base In Chicago

The Chicago Cubs acquired infielder Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte earlier this week from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for lefty Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope. The Athletic's Keith Law thinks Busch is a natural first baseman and will almost certainly play there for the Cubs. He also has experience at second […]

Joey Votto Says He's Made "Major Improvements"

Free-agent first baseman Joey Votto said he's feeling better physically than he has in years after two months of rehab and strength training since the end of the 2023 season and believes that will be seen on the field, saying he's made "major improvements." Votto hasn't really gotten any bites in his first foray into […]

Danny Young Signs Minors Deal With Mets

Free-agent left-hander Danny Young signed a minor-league deal with the New York Mets on Friday, according to a source. Young will be invited to big-league spring training and would earn $825,000 if he's in the majors in 2024. The 29-year-old southpaw gave up one run in 11 innings pitched with two walks and 12 strikeouts […]

White Sox Sign Rafael Ortega To Minor-League Deal

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor-league deal. Ortega spent most of his time in 2023 in the minors with the New York Mets and Texas Rangers but also played in 47 games with the Mets, going 25-for-114 (.219) with a home run, eight RBI and six stolen bases in […]

Braves Agree To Multi-Year Extension With Alex Anthopoulos

The Atlanta Braves agreed to a multi-year contract extension with president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos on Friday that will keep him with the team through the 2031 season. Anthopoulos was promoted to his current role in February of 2020 after joining the Braves as an executive vice president and GM in […]

Braves Sign Charlie Culberson As A Pitcher

The Atlanta Braves signed Charlie Culberson to a minor-league deal on Friday as a pitcher. The 34-year-old former infielder/outfielder is returning to the Braves after playing in just one game at the major-league level for them in 2023. He also spent three seasons in Atlanta from 2018-20, hitting .265/.314/.454 with 17 home runs and 66 […]

D'Andre Swift Well On His Way To Playing Monday

Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift (illness) was held out of the Week 18 loss to the New York Giants last Sunday, but he's now put in two straight full practices on Thursday and Friday and should be just fine to play in Monday night's wild-card postseason tilt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We're fully […]

DeVonta Smith Looks Ready To Return

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (ankle) was a full participant in practice for the second straight day on Friday. Smith hasn't had any restrictions during practice yet this week and looks primed to play on Monday night in the wild-card playoff contest versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after sitting out the Week 18 loss […]

Jalen Hurts Practices In Full Friday

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (finger) was a full participant in practice on Friday, a day after he was limited on Thursday. Hurts dislocated the middle finger on his throwing hand in the Week 18 loss to the New York Giants, but X-rays came back negative and the 25-year-old should be good to go for […]

Baker Mayfield Limited In Friday's Practice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (ankle, ribs) was listed as a limited participant in the team's practice on Friday. Mayfield was a non-participant on Thursday after injuring his ankle in the Week 18 win over the Carolina Panthers. With one more day of practice leading up to Monday night's wild-card playoff game against the […]

Mark Andrews Limited To Individual Drills Friday

The Baltimore Ravens designated Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews (ankle) to return from Injured Reserve on Friday, and he was limited to individual drills at practice on Friday. Andrews' return to practice comes two months after he suffered a serious left-ankle injury, but he looked fine running routes and cutting during individual drills. "I […]

Ravens Hoping Dalvin Cook Can Contribute In Playoffs

Baltimore Ravens running backs Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon III weren't explosive to end the regular season, combining to average 4.0 yards per carry over the last seven games. Edwards also fumbled in his last two games, and Gordon fumbled for the 19th time in his career in Week 18. It all means […]

Brock Wright Could Have Bigger Role In Wild-Card Tilt

Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (hip), who missed the final three games of the regular season due to a hip injury, practiced in full all week and has been cleared to play on Sunday night in the wild-card playoff contest against the Los Angeles Rams. Wright managed just 13 receptions for 91 yards and […]

Jameson Williams Cleared To Play Against Rams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) practiced in full all week and was removed from the final injury report on Friday for wild-card weekend. The second-year pass-catcher will be active on Sunday night to face the visiting Los Angeles Rams, and he's expected to serve as the No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown […]

Kalif Raymond Ruled Out For Lions

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) did not practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the wild-card playoff game on Sunday night versus the Los Angeles Rams. Raymond injured his knee in the Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears and isn't ready to play in the first round of the […]

Sam LaPorta Listed As Questionable For Wild-Card Game

Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) is officially listed as questionable to play in Sunday night's wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. After missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, LaPorta went through a full practice on Friday for the first time this week, giving him a chance to suit up this […]

Dodgers Expected To Use Six-Man Rotation In 2024

The Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation in 2024 will likely function as a six-man rotation in terms of affording pitchers extra rest between starts. It's a tactic the Dodgers have been using for a while. Last year, left-hander Clayton Kershaw made only four starts on "regular" rest and 20 on five days of rest or […]

Padres Have Considered Bringing Gary Sanchez Back

The San Diego Padres have considered re-signing catcher Gary Sanchez, but there is a big gap in contract talks. Sanchez kept the Padres' offense afloat in the middle of last season and was one of their biggest offensive contributors despite not even starting the year with the club. Despite the strong season for the Friars, […]

Trade Of Masataka Yoshida Considered Unlikely

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly listening on outfielder Masataka Yoshida, but for now a trade isn't seen as especially likely. The Red Sox have also checked in on free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler, but there's suspicion they'll be outbid again, maybe by the rival Toronto Blue Jays. Former Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez and […]

Guardians Unlikely To Trade Shane Bieber

Although one general manager said the Cleveland Guardians are still talking about star right-hander Shane Bieber, the latest word is that a trade involving Bieber is very unlikely. The Guardians have a shot to win the weak American League Central division in 2024. The 28-year-old had a down season in 2023, mainly due to an […]

Christian Watson Questionable Against Cowboys

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) is questionable to face the Dallas Cowboys on the road on Sunday in the wild-card playoff contest. It looked like Watson was close to playing in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears for the first time since straining his right hamstring […]

AJ Dillon Doubtful For Wild-Card Game

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that running back AJ Dillon (neck, thumb) is doubtful to play in Sunday's wild-card playoff contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Dillon missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday after missing the Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears due to a stinger he suffered in Week 17. He's […]

Giants Interview Dennard Wilson For Defensive-Coordinator Position

The New York Giants recently interviewed Baltimore Ravens secondary coach Dennard Wilson for their vacant defensive-coordinator job, according to a source. Wilson is one of the league's top passing-game coordinators and he previously spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles. In his first year in Baltimore, Wilson helped defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald put together a defensive […]

Tyler Higbee To Be Questionable For Wild-Card Game

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (shoulder) will be listed as questionable for the team's wild-card contest on Sunday night versus the Detroit Lions, according to head coach Sean McVay. Despite dislocating his left shoulder in Week 17 and sitting out the meaningless Week 18 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, Higbee […]

Bills-Steelers Game Won't Be Moved

The NFL is monitoring weather conditions for all of the games on super wild-card weekend and the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers have been told it's status quo for their contest on Sunday at 1:00 pm ET. The forecast for Sunday's game in Orchard Park is expected to be in the 20s, and the National […]

Ravens Designate Mark Andrews To Return From Injured Reserve

The Baltimore Ravens designated tight end Mark Andrews (ankle) to return from Injured Reserve on Friday. Andrews suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Nov. 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals but he's returned to practice and could have a chance to return during the postseason, especially since the Ravens have a first-round bye and don't play […]

No A.J. Brown At Practice On Friday

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) was not seen at practice on Friday for the second straight day this week. Brown injured his knee in the Week 18 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, and although it's not believed to be a serious injury, he has yet to practice this week and […]

Travis Kelce Not Planning To Retire Anytime Soon

Regardless of how the Kansas City Chiefs perform in the playoffs, tight end Travis Kelce expects to be back with the team in 2024. "I have no reason to stop playing football, man," the 11-year veteran and future Hall of Famer said. "I love it, we still have success and I come in with the […]

Chiefs-Dolphins Could Be One Of Coldest Games Ever

As of Thursday, the National Weather Service and AccuWeather listed a low of around minus-eight degrees on Saturday night for the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins wild-card playoff game. The wind chill could mean temperatures feel like they're between minus-20 and minus-30 degrees, which would make it one of the coldest games in NFL […]

Falcons, Panthers Two Potential Landing Spots For Bill Belichick

The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are two potential landing spots for future Hall of Fame head coach Bill Belichick after he and the New England Patriots mutually agreed to part ways after 24 years together. Belichick is third all-time with 302 career wins and is one of just three coaches in NFL history with […]