Bryce Harper Playing First Base Friday

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Bryce Harper (elbow) is playing first base for the first time in his career on Friday while hitting cleanup against Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. The Phillies teased late last week that Harper could be making his debut at the cold corner soon, and that day has finally come. Due to […]

Drew VerHagen Could Return On Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Drew VerHagen (hip) came through his one-inning minor-league rehab stint well on Thursday. If he recovers well on Friday, he could come off the 15-day injured list on Saturday to rejoin the Cardinals' bullpen. The 32-year-old reliever gave up a run on Thursday for Double-A Springfield, but he looks to be […]

Alejandro Kirk Goes Deep In Win Over Padres

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and a walk in Thursday's 4-0 shutout win over the visiting San Diego Padres to help the team avoid a three-game sweep. The long ball was Kirk's first since June 5, so hopefully it will get him going […]

Diamondbacks Have Inquired About Lucas Giolito

The Arizona Diamondbacks, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers, have inquired about Chicago White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito, according to sources. The White Sox are going to be sellers ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline, and Giolito is one of their most attractive pieces. Arizona has already lost its lead on the National League […]

Austin Riley On A Home Run Binge

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley homered in his third straight game and went 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 7-5 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old slugger has been on fire in the last three ballgames, going 6-for-13 with four home runs, a double, a triple, […]

Blue Jays Acquire Genesis Cabrera From Cardinals

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired left-hander Genesis Cabrera from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in exchange for minor-league catching prospect Sammy Hernandez. Cabrera had been designated for assignment by the Cardinals on Monday. The 26-year-old Dominican southpaw struggled for St. Louis in 32 appearances out of their bullpen this year before being DFA'd, as […]

Miguel Amaya Doing The Catching Against Cardinals

Chicago Cubs rookie catcher Miguel Amaya will draw the start behind the plate on Friday to catch left-hander Justin Steele, and he'll bat ninth in the lineup against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty. Yan Gomes will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh. Amaya has essentially become the Cubs' No. 2 catcher over […]

Brendan Donovan Out Of Friday's Lineup

St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (arm) is not in the team's starting lineup on Friday against the division-rival Chicago Cubs and left-hander Justin Steele. The left-handed-hitting Donovan is once again on a no-throw program for several weeks due to an arm injury, but it won't keep him from hitting in a designated-hitter role. Jose […]

Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar Out Against Lefty

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman and outfielder Lars Nootbaar are both out of Friday's lineup against left-hander Justin Steele and the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Jose Fermin will get the start at second base and bat in the nine-hole, while Andrew Knizner gets the start behind the plate and bats eighth. Willson Contreras will serve […]

Al-Quadin Muhammad To Visit With Jets

Free-agent defensive lineman Al-Quadin Muhammad, who has started in recent seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, has a visit scheduled with the New York Jets on Friday. Muhammad was released by the Bears in February after recording 29 tackles (15 solo) and one sack in 16 games (nine starts) for the Bears last […]

Titans Restructure Kevin Byard's Contract

The Tennessee Titans and Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard agreed to terms on a restructured contract for the 2023 season on Friday, according to a source. Byard's base salary is now $11 million, and there are incentives that can get him back to the $14 million that he was originally owed. The Titans are freeing […]

Falcons Put Caleb Huntley On PUP List

The Atlanta Falcons placed running back Caleb Huntley (Achilles) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday after he suffered an Achilles injury in a Week 15 loss to the New Orleans Saints last year. Huntley was never expected to be ready for the start of training camp next week, although he's consistently been […]

Isiah Pacheco Expected To Be The Starter

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (hand, shoulder) is ahead of the team's recovery timetable after rehabbing from surgeries to fix a broken bone in his left hand and a torn labrum in his shoulder this offseason, although the Chiefs don't know when he'll make his training camp debut. He said he's "feeling great […]

Dawuane Smoot Re-Signs With Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed defensive end Dawuane Smoot (Achilles) to a one-year deal on Friday with a maximum value of $6.25 million. Smoot had a visit with the Baltimore Ravens looming, but the Jaguars stepped up to bring him back into the fold after he suffered a torn right Achilles last December. The 28-year-old has […]

Saints Waive Billy Price

The New Orleans Saints terminated center Billy Price's (undisclosed) contract with a Non-Football Injury designation on Thursday and also placed tight end Miller Forristall on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis. The 28-year-old Price made 11 starts for the Arizona Cardinals last year. He was originally a […]

Leonard Johnson Reverts To Injured Reserve

New York Giants cornerback Leonard Johnson (knee) has reverted to Injured Reserve after he was waived with an injury designation on July 19. He went unclaimed on waivers. The 25-year-old had surgery to fix a torn ACL before last year's NFL draft, and he's not healthy enough to play this summer. Johnson had signed with […]

Jets Sign Alex Erickson, Dane Cruikshank

The New York Jets signed free-agent wide receiver Alex Erickson and safety Dane Cruikshank to undisclosed deals on Thursday. Erickson played in only two games with the Washington Commanders last year and wasn't used at all on offense, although he returned four punts for 25 yards. In seven NFL seasons, he has 96 receptions on […]

Astros, Rays Considering Trading For Michael Lorenzen

The Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays are considering trading for Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Lorenzen, whose trade value is peaking at the exact right time with the deadline quickly approaching on Aug. 1. Including his fantastic outing on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, Lorenzen has tossed 18 2/3 scoreless innings over his last […]

No Timeline For Esteury Ruiz

There is no timeline for Oakland Athletics outfielder Esteury Ruiz's (shoulder) return, but he has started throwing and is taking batting practice. Manager Mark Kotsay said late last week that Ruiz was further along in his rehab from a right-shoulder subluxation than the team expected and had already started hitting off a tee. It sounds […]

Max Fried Has Rehab Start Pushed Back

Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried's (forearm) third minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday was postponed due to rain. There will be a doubleheader on Friday, but the Braves haven't decided which game Fried will start. Instead, the 29-year-old will toss five innings a day later. If he can avoid any setbacks on Friday, […]

Allan Winans To Make MLB Debut Saturday

Atlanta Braves right-hander Allan Winans will make his major-league debut after six seasons in the minor leagues when he gets the start on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Winans signed for $10,000 back in 2018 out of Campbell University. The 27-year-old gets the call after going 7-3 with a 2.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 25 walks […]

Lions Put Hendon Hooker On NFI List

The Detroit Lions placed rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee), tight end Derrick Deese Jr. (undisclosed) and defensive lineman Zach Morton (undisclosed) on the Non-Football Injury list on Thursday. Hooker tore his ACL in college last November, and his rookie season in the NFL is expected to be more of a redshirt year, so it's not […]

Mariners Could Pursue Trade For Mark Canha

Other teams have asked the New York Mets about the availability of outfielder Mark Canha, and a possible match could be with the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners are familiar with Canha from his years in the American League West with the Oakland Athletics and pursued him in free agency two winters ago. The disappointing Mets […]

Astros Hope To Have Yordan Alvarez Return Monday

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said earlier this week that the hope is for outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (oblique) to return to the major-league lineup on Monday for the start of a series against the division-rival Texas Rangers. Alvarez played in his first minor-league rehab game on Wednesday and has a routine off day […]

Mets Calling Up Mark Vientos

The New York Mets are calling up rookie designated hitter Mark Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday to replace outfielder Starling Marte, who was put on the 10-day injured list due to migraines, according to a source. The 23-year-old Vientos had just eight hits in 45 at-bats (.178) with a homer and five RBI for […]

Tommy Pham Could Go On Injured List

Updating a previous report, New York Mets outfielder Tommy Pham (groin) felt his right groin stiffen up on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox and was removed from the game early, according to manager Buck Showalter. The skipper said that Pham could go on the injured list, but he'll go for tests first. Pham tweaked […]

Ji Hwan Bae Nearing A Rehab Assignment

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Ji Hwan Bae (ankle) took ground balls on Wednesday and is playing catch. The Pirates expect that he will begin a minor-league rehab assignment when the team returns from its West-Coast road trip. The 23-year-old was injured on July 1 and was hitting only .238 (51-for-214) with two home runs, nine […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Doing Baseball Activities

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) has been running, taking grounders and hitting, and the team is hopeful that he'll continue to get repetitions to be in a position to take at-bats before he's activated from the 10-day injured list. A minor-league rehab assignment is possible once he recovers from lower-back inflammation. Because he's […]

Jose Urquidy Could Return In Early August

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (shoulder) made his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday and allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out two over 45 pitches in three innings. He gave up two unearned runs while walking one and striking out two in two innings in […]

Jose Altuve Nearing A Rehab Assignment

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique), who landed on the injured list on July 6, took batting practice on the field on Monday and is nearing a minor-league rehab assignment. Altuve missed the first 43 games of the year with a fractured right thumb and has managed to play in only 32 games in […]