Luis Rengifo, Mickey Moniak Are Candidates To Lead Off

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that he envisions second baseman Luis Rengifo or outfielder Mickey Moniak batting leadoff this year. Washington also sees first baseman Nolan Schanuel as the No. 2 hitter in front of outfielder Mike Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon. Meanwhile, shortstop Zach Neto will hit ninth in the batting […]

Justin Verlander Showing Encouraging Progress

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander's (shoulder) bullpen session went well on Wednesday. "I am encouraged where he's at right now," according to manager Joe Espada. Verlander is behind the other pitchers at spring training after having a setback with his right shoulder during the offseason. The good news, though, is that the 41-year-old future Hall […]

Broncos Surely To Add At Quarterback Position

The Denver Broncos are likely to soon move on from quarterback Russell Wilson, the veteran signal-caller who went 11-19 as their starting QB in the two seasons since his blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks. Releasing Wilson would leave the Broncos with $85 million in dead money and also a gaping hole at a position […]

Tim Patrick An Obvious Choice To Be Cut

The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes that Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (Achilles) stands out as an obvious cut candidate as the team enters the offseason at around $24 million over the salary cap threshold. Patrick has missed each of the last two years with injuries suffered during training camp -- first a torn ACL […]

Linebacker A Position Of Need For Cowboys

The Athletic's Saad Yousuf writes that linebacker is a position of need for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, as well as running back, defensive line and offensive line with uncertainty surrounding Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz's future. At linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch's future is uncertain, at best, and 2023 rookie DeMarvion Overshown has yet to […]

Michael Gallup A Possible Cut Candidate

The Athletic's Jon Machota suggests that wide receiver Michael Gallup is a potential cut candidate this offseason. The 27-year-old has three years left on the five-year, $57.5 million extension he signed in March of 2022. He was coming off a season-ending knee injury when he signed that deal, and he hasn't been the same player […]

Browns Need To Give Deshaun Watson More Weapons

The Cleveland Browns' vertical passing game didn't really take off until quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) was already out for the year with a shoulder injury in November of last year. Cleveland feels good having receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku leading their pass-catching group, but the rest of the bunch has plenty of […]

Nick Chubb Could Be Salary Cap Casualty

The Cleveland Browns want to keep running back Nick Chubb (knee) around, but he's also recovering from two surgeries on his injured knee this offseason and is due to carry a salary cap charge of just under $16 million in 2024, the final year of his contract and his age-28 season. The Browns would take […]

Bengals Need More Help For Trey Hendrickson

Outside of pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals didn't have much of a pass rush in 2023. Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks and 79 pressures. Sam Hubbard was second on the team in sacks at six, while B.J. Hill was second in pressures with 42. The Bengals could also lose defensive tackle DJ Reader, who tore […]

Khari Blasingame A Candidate For Release

Chicago Bears fullback Khari Blasingame is the team's next candidate to be released this offseason after the Bears already released safety Eddie Jackson and guard/center Cody Whitehair in cost-cutting moves. The moves to release Jackson and Whitehair saved nearly $22 million against the 2024 salary cap. Releasing Blasingame would result in $1.6 million in savings […]

Gio Urshela Chooses The Tigers

Free-agent infielder Gio Urshela and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Thursday, according to sources. The 32-year-old veteran should help the Tigers at third base and can also play the outfield and at first base. His ability to hit left-handers suits what the Tigers have been seeking over the winter. […]

Ricky Tiedemann To Start Spring Opener

Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann will make the start in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. The 21-year-old is the team's top prospect entering the 2024 campaign and is fully expected to make his major-league debut this year, but he's expected to begin the season with Triple-A […]

Cavan Biggio Taking Batting Practice Thursday

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Cavan Biggio (shoulder) is taking batting practice on the field at spring training on Thursday. Biggio has been dealing with left-shoulder tendinitis in camp, but the issue never sounded serious, and he has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day in late March. The 28-year-old probably won't play in […]

Mitch Keller To Start On Opening Day

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that right-hander Mitch Keller will start on Opening Day on March 28 against the Marlins in Miami. This doesn't come as a surprise at all, especially after the club announced a five-year, $77 million extension with Keller earlier on Thursday. The 27-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and […]

Shohei Ohtani Could Make Spring Debut Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) won't play in Cactus League games this weekend but could be in the lineup next week, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers aren't rushing their prized free-agent acquisition into spring training games after he had right-elbow surgery following the 2023 season. The 29-year-old Japanese superstar said […]

Kyle Bradish Feeling "Good"

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) is doing well at spring training. "He feels good. Everything's going well. Progressing nicely, and he's feeling good after he's playing catch," Hyde said. Bradish is recovering from a partial UCL tear in his right elbow and was able to extend out to playing […]

J.P. France Throws Off Mound

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) said he threw a little off the mound on Wednesday and it went well. France was limited to flat-ground throwing during the first week of camp due to right-shoulder inflammation. It appears that the 28-year-old starter is making some progress, but he's not going to be available to pitch […]

Gunnar Henderson Feeling Better

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson (oblique) is going to miss around the first week of spring training games due to his left-oblique aggravation, but he's feeling better. Henderson said he has increased his hitting and fielding workload recently in camp. "Glad to go nip this thing out that way," Henderson said. The 22-year-old reigning […]

Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi, Others Now Competing For Rotation Spot

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that the team prefers that their yet-to-debut pitching prospects like Mike Vasil, Christian Scott and Dominic Hamel pitch in the minors more before being asked to make their big-league debuts in the wake of right-hander Kodai Senga's (shoulder) injury. The rotation competition with Senga expected […]

Kodai Senga Expected To Begin Season On Injured List

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) has a mild strain of his posterior capsule in his right shoulder and will be shut down until symptoms subside, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. Senga is expected to begin the 2024 regular season on the injured list. We don't have a specific timetable for […]

Jon Berti Now In Utility Role

Miami Marlins infielder Jon Berti was the team's projected starting shortstop for the 2024 season before they signed shortstop Tim Anderson to a one-year, $5 million deal on Thursday. Anderson now has a clear path to everyday playing time in Miami at the 6. Berti is far better suited for a utility role. The 34-year-old […]

Tim Anderson Joins The Marlins

Free-agent shortstop Tim Anderson and the Miami Marlins agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal, pending a physical, on Thursday, according to sources. After a disastrous year with the Chicago White Sox in 2023, Anderson had to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal in order to try and get his value back up in South […]

Mitch Keller, Pirates Agree To Five-Year Extension

Right-hander Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a five-year, $77 million contract extension on Thursday, according to sources. After a breakout season in which he struck out a career-high 210 batters, the 27-year-old Keller will anchor Pittsburgh's starting rotation for the team that drafted him in the second round in 2014 out of […]

Graham Ashcraft Adds A Changeup

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Aschcraft (toe) has added a changeup to his arsenal of a fastball, cutter, slider and sinker. He did not make any mechanical adjustments in the offseason, but he's worked on improving how he times his delivery. Ashcraft is slightly behind the others pitchers in camp after having surgery in the offseason […]

Gavin Lux Expects To Play In Spring Opener Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux (knee), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training last year, said he expects to be in the lineup on Thursday against the San Diego Padres for the Cactus League opener on Thursday. Lux ditched the knee brace he had been wearing on his surgically repaired right knee […]

Terron Armstead Plans To Return In 2024

Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead is fully expected to return in 2024 to play another season. Armstead left his playing future in doubt in January after the team was eliminated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round of the playoffs, but it appears that he plans to continue playing. His 2024 salary, […]

Justin Fields Says He Wants To Stay In Chicago

During an appearance on the St. Brown Bros podcast, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the Bears secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, said on Wednesday that he wants to stay in Chicago. "If it was up to me I would stay […]

Eric Hosmer Announces Retirement

First baseman Eric Hosmer announced his retirement from professional baseball on social media on Wednesday. Hosmer never latched on with another team after he was released by the Chicago Cubs last May. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter played in just 31 games in 2023 and went 22-for-94 (.234) with two homers and 14 RBI before getting […]

Derek Law Agrees With Nationals On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent reliever Derek Law agreed with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to sources. The deal would pay Law $1.5 million with $500,000 in incentives for games pitched if he's in the majors. The contract also includes three opt-out clauses. The 33-year-old veteran […]

Stone Garrett Mostly A Full Participant At Camp

Washington Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett (ankle, leg) is mostly a full participant in camp right now, but he's not all the way back yet since breaking his left fibula and suffering damage to his ankle while crashing into the wall at Yankee Stadium last summer. He is running at full speed and has taken live […]