Padres Sign International Shortstop Leodalis De Vries

A year after signing catcher Ethan Salas for $5.6 million, the San Diego Padres signed switch-hitting shortstop Leodalis De Vries, another player widely considered the top prospect in his international class. De Vries has good speed and the upside to hit 20-plus home runs. He received a $4.2 million signing bonus and has modeled parts […]

Christopher Morel Likely To Serve In Super-Utility Role

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell and general manager Carter Hawkins said on Saturday that outfielder Christopher Morel will likely be used in a super-utility role again in 2024 rather than focusing on just one position. Morel has been working some at first base this winter and he's played every position but first base and catcher […]

Brendan Donovan Won't Be Limited In Spring Training

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan (elbow) has two weeks left in his throwing program and is expected to have no limitations for the start of spring training. Donovan has been rehabbing his right elbow after having surgery in August to fix a flexor tendon in his elbow. Before the 26-year-old's season ended early, […]

Nolan Gorman Feeling Good With Spring Training Approaching

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed-hitting infielder Nolan Gorman said he has been working with a nutrition program that has increased his flexibility and decreased his back inflammation. Gorman has battled back pain since a 2020 weight-lifting injury but wants to adhere to the program and play more games in 2024. The 23-year-old also finished the 2023 […]

Tommy Edman Could Be Delayed Heading Into Camp

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman (wrist) said that he might be slightly delayed on the hitting side heading into spring training. He's going through a progression and expects to be ready for Opening Day, but he hasn't had any bat-to-ball contact this winter other than wiffle balls in his rehab. Edman had arthroscopic […]

Rico Dowdle Has Four Touches In Blowout Loss

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle probably would have seen a lot more work if Sunday's blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers occurred in the regular season, but he only saw four touches (two carries, two catches) for 25 scrimmage yards in the 48-32 wild-card loss. It was a disappointing finish for Dowdle and […]

Tucker Kraft Contributes Two Catches Against Dallas

Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Tucker Kraft only managed to catch two of his three targets for 15 yards in the 48-32 surprising wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Meanwhile, fellow rookie tight end Luke Musgrave was also targeted three times, but he produced much more with three receptions for 52 yards […]

Titans Request To Interview Brian Johnson

The Tennessee Titans requested to interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson for their vacant head-coach opening, according to a source. That interview should happen at some point after the Eagles play their wild-card game on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition to Johnson, the Titans plan to interview Houston Texans offensive […]

Jim Harbaugh Meeting With Chargers On Monday

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will be in Los Angeles on Monday to meet with the Chargers about their head-coaching job, according to sources. The 60-year-old head coach spent the last week celebrating Michigan's National championship, but now he's focused on his future, which could be with the Chargers. The Las Vegas Raiders are also […]

Raheem Mostert Won't Need Offseason Surgery

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (ankle, knee) and safety Jevon Holland (knee) aren't going to need surgery in the offseason. For Mostert, he missed the team's final two regular season games before returning in Saturday night's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round. In his return in the frigid conditions in […]

Tyler Higbee Likely Has Torn ACL

An MRI exam will be done Monday to confirm that Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) tore his right ACL on an ugly-looking hit by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's wild-card game. If the 31-year-old indeed has a torn ACL in his knee, he probably won't […]

Tua Tagovailoa Remains Confident After Loss To Chiefs

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa isn't worried about a contract extension and remains confident in himself after a 26-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal. "I don't feel any pressure at all. I have full trust in […]

Falcons Request To Interview Antonio Pierce

The Atlanta Falcons have requested permission to interview Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce for their head-coaching job, according to sources. Pierce interviewed for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching gig on Saturday. The Raiders have not conducted any known head-coach interviews to this point, but it was reported on Saturday that Pierce is the […]

Chargers Complete Interview With Mike MacDonald

The Los Angeles Chargers completed an interview with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald for their head-coaching job on Saturday night. In addition to MacDonald, the Bolts interviewed San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for the same position. With the Ravens having a first-round bye in the playoffs, MacDonald also interviewed with the Atlanta […]

Jaire Alexander 50/50 To Play Against Cowboys

Green Bay Packers star cornerback Jaire Alexander (ankle), who was listed as questionable for Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, is viewed as 50/50 to play. Alexander's 2023 season has been full of injuries, and he suffered an ankle injury in practice on Thursday that has him up in the air to play […]

Don Martindale To Speak With Jaguars Next Week

Former New York Giants defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale has been a popular figure in defensive-coordinator searches, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are among the teams interested. The two sides are expected to speak about Jacksonville's vacant defensive-coordinator position next week. The Jaguars have an opening after firing Mike Caldwell following the regular season. Caldwell was […]

Chargers, Raiders Have Interest In Jim Harbaugh

Sources say it's believed that the Los Angeles Chargers will speak next week with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has indicated to associates there's a real possibility he could leave Michigan after just winning the National Championship to become the Chargers' head coach. The Las Vegas Raiders also continue to weigh the potential pursuit […]

Commanders Targeting Ben Johnson As Next Head Coach

The Washington Commanders are approaching their search for a new head coach with openness and flexibility, but they are targeting Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their top choice, according to sources. The Carolina Panthers are also hoping to land Johnson. Washington already hired San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters as their […]

Antonio Pierce The Leading Candidate For Raiders Full-Time Job

Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce has emerged as the leading candidate to become the team's full-time head coach with the support of key players there, according to league sources. There will be other options for Raiders owner Mark Davis to consider, but as one source said, "I would be blown away if […]

Five Strategies To Help You Win Your Fantasy Football Playoff Leagues

If you won a fantasy football title in the regular season and are looking for more hardware -- or if you want redemption after a bad year -- the fantasy football season isn't over just yet! You can add to the excitement of the NFL playoffs by assembling a team of your own in an […]

Bears Plan To Interview Liam Coen For Offensive-Coordinator Position

The Chicago Bears plan to interview Kentucky offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Liam Coen for their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to a source. Coen was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 when the team finished last in total offense and 27th in passing and rushing, but it also came with quarterback Matthew Stafford […]

Noah Brown, Robert Woods Expected To Play Saturday

Houston Texans wide receivers Noah Brown (back) and Robert Woods (hip) are expected to be active for Saturday's wild-card playoff contest versus the Cleveland Browns despite being listed as questionable on Thursday's final injury report, according to a league source. As long as pre-game warmups go smoothly, the Texans should have both Brown and Woods […]

Chargers Interview Todd Monken For Head-Coaching Job

The Los Angeles Chargers confirmed on Friday that they interviewed Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their head-coaching job. In his return to the NFL in 2023, Monken helped run one of the best offenses in the league with the help of MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson at quarterback. The Ravens offense ranked sixth in […]

Denzel Ward Expected To Play Against Texans

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (knee) is expected to play in Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans despite injuring his knee in practice on Thursday. Ward was listed as questionable on the final injury report, but he is set to play, which will be a big boost to a Cleveland secondary that will […]

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 […]