Mets Not Anointing A Closer After Trading David Robertson

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter said he won't "anoint" a closer after the team traded reliever David Robertson to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night. "All options are on the table. You might be surprised who might emerge," Showalter said. With that said, right-hander Adam Ottavino (39 career saves) has the most closing experience […]

C.J. Cron Returns For Rockies

Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (back) is returning to the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Oakland Athletics. Cron is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth in the lineup against A's left-hander JP Sears. The 33-year-old right-handed power hitter is back in action for the first time in a week […]

Shohei Ohtani In Action Against Blue Jays

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman on Friday after leaving the second half of Thursday's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers due to cramps. Ohtani threw a complete-game shutout on the mound in Game 1 and popped two […]

Aaron Judge Serving As DH In First Game Back

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (toe) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second in the Yankees lineup on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-handed rookie Grayson Rodriguez in his first game back from the injured list. Judge hasn't played since tearing a ligament in his right big toe in early June, […]

Jesus Sanchez Back In Friday's Lineup

Miami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez (neck) is back in action on Friday, starting in center field and batting cleanup against the visiting Detroit Tigers and right-hander Reese Olson. Sanchez left the game early on Wednesday with neck tightness, but it wasn't a serious injury and he'll be available for a series against the Tigers this […]

Yonny Chirinos Making Braves Debut Friday

Right-hander Yonny Chirinos will be making his Atlanta Braves debut on Friday when he draws the start against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Chirinos ended up with Atlanta after he was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays last weekend. The 29-year-old right-hander won't be much of a streamer against the first-place Brewers in fantasy. […]

George Springer Dropped To Fifth In Lineup

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is starting in right field on Friday against Los Angeles Angels right-hander Lucas Giolito, but he's been dropped to fifth in the batting order. Meanwhile, second baseman Whit Merrifield is taking over the leadoff spot for the Jays. Springer has hit leadoff for Toronto this entire season, but he […]

Gunnar Henderson Returns From Injury

Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson (back) is back at shortstop and is hitting leadoff for the O's on Friday against the visiting New York Yankees and right-hander Gerrit Cole. Henderson left Tuesday's game early with lower-back pain and sat out of Wednesday's contest, but he's good to go heading into the weekend after having another […]

White Sox Land Korey Lee In Trade

The Chicago White Sox acquired catching prospect Korey Lee (oblique) from the Houston Astros on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman, according to a source. Lee was ranked by MLB Pipeline as Houston's No. 5 prospect before the trade. The 25-year-old backstop is currently recovering from a strained oblique and has been on […]

Clayton Kershaw To Throw Simulated Game This Weekend

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Friday that left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will throw a two- to three-inning simulated game this weekend, and if he feels good, "we will pencil him into the rotation." Assuming no setbacks this weekend, the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer could make his return to the starting rotation […]

Astros Acquire Kendall Graveman From White Sox

The Houston Astros are in agreement on a deal with the Chicago White Sox on Friday that will send right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman to the Astros, according to sources. It's unclear what the Astros are sending the White Sox in return. Graveman, who had been serving as Chicago's closer with Liam Hendriks (elbow) on the […]

Seahawks, Devon Witherspoon Agree To A Deal

The Seattle Seahawks and first-round rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon agreed to terms on a four-year, $31.86 million fully guaranteed deal on Friday that includes a $20.2 million signing bonus, according to a source. The fifth overall pick of this year's NFL draft becomes the last first-rounder to get a deal done. The 22-year-old defensive back […]

Royals Drawing Interest In Scott Barlow, Carlos Hernandez

The Kansas City Royals continue to draw significant trade interest in relief pitchers Scott Barlow and Carlos Hernandez as the Aug. 1 trade deadline draws near, according to sources. Barlow is more likely to be moved based on club control; he's set to be a free agent after the 2024 season, while Hernandez will be […]

Giants Looking For Middle-Infield Help

The San Francisco Giants are looking for middle-infield help as the Aug. 1 trade deadline quickly approaches, according to sources. They have touched base with the Kansas City Royals about second baseman Nicky Lopez and the St. Louis Cardinals about shortstop Paul DeJong. The Cardinals also have Tommy Edman and Brendan Donovan, who are both […]

Mets Could Move Justin Verlander At Trade Deadline

There is a belief within the industry that the New York Mets could move three-time American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in the coming days, according to two major-league executives. The Mets enter the weekend trailing the Reds by seven games for the final wild-card spot in the National League. Verlander is in the […]

Rangers Aggressively Pursuing Jordan Hicks

The Texas Rangers are aggressively pursuing relief pitcher Jordan Hicks. He'll be a free agent at the end of this season and will be moved only if the Cardinals can't sign him to a contract extension before Tuesday's trade deadline. Hicks and the Cardinals were reportedly close to agreeing on a contract extension several days […]

Willie Calhoun Designated For Assignment By Yankees

The New York Yankees reinstated outfielder Willie Calhoun (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated him for assignment. If Calhoun clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any major-league team. The 28-year-old only managed to play in 44 games for the Yankees this year, and he was slashing .239/.309/.403 with five […]

Brandon Woodruff Throws Four Innings In Rehab Start

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) made a minor-league rehab start for High-A Wisconsin on Thursday and allowed an earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out three in four innings of work. Woodruff was able to increase his pitch count to 52 pitches in his second rehab start. The 30-year-old will […]

Zach Eflin Still Day-To-Day

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said it's still "day-to-day" with right-hander Zach Eflin (knee) as to whether he will make his next start on Tuesday against the New York Yankees. Eflin was forced to leave his last outing early on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins with left-knee irritation, but his MRI exam thankfully didn't […]

Yandy Diaz To Return On Friday

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that corner infielder Yandy Diaz (groin) will be in the lineup on Friday against the Houston Astros as the designated hitter and will avoid an injured-list stint due to groin tightness. Diaz was forced from Tuesday's game against the Marlins with a left-groin injury and sat out on […]

Sam Howell Expected To Open The Season As The Starter

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell will open the year as the team's starter under center, but ESPN's Dan Graziano sees it being an unsettled situation that switches back and forth throughout the year, and Washington could be in the hunt for a QB again next offseason. Howell, a fifth-rounder last year, played in just one […]

Anthony Richardson To Start In Week 1?

ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will offer enough as a runner that he'll be the team's best option under center in Week 1 over Gardner Minshew. Richardson also might not need as much refining as a passer as many thought he would. He was the fourth overall pick for a […]

C.J. Stroud Expected To Start In Week 1

ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks that Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will show enough this summer and in the preseason to convince the team to start him in Week 1. The Texans know what they have in Davis Mills, which is a big reason they drafted Stroud at No. 2 overall this year. Mills has […]

Clayton Tune's Mobility Could Give Him A Chance

Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback Colt McCoy is expected to open Week 1 as the starter under center with Kyler Murray (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL. However, if Murray takes a while to come back, ESPN's Dan Graziano wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals take a look at rookie fifth-rounder Clayton Tune, whose mobility […]

Baker Mayfield With An Edge In QB Competition?

ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield's experience will give him the edge in the team's QB competition this summer against Kyle Trask. Mayfield, the first overall pick in 2018, has gone 32-29 as an NFL starter over five years with three different teams. Meanwhile, Trask has thrown nine career passes since […]

George Fant Signs One-Year Deal With Texans

The Houston Texans signed free-agent offensive tackle George Fant to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $4 million on Friday, according to a league source. Fant chose the Texans over other NFL teams' offers after he worked out in Houston earlier this week. The Texans are adding some tackle insurance with fourth-year offensive […]

49ers Likely To Keep Trey Lance?

The San Francisco 49ers carried three quarterbacks last year and still didn't have enough to get through the NFC Championship game. They will likely keep three QBs again this year, even if a quarterback-needy team makes a substantial offer for Trey Lance this summer. Veteran Brandon Allen is a solid fourth option and would likely […]

Amari Cooper Expected To Practice Friday

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (undisclosed) is expected to practice on Friday after missing three days of training camp practice with a "minor tweak." Cooper has been watching from the sidelines in recent days with a minor undisclosed injury, but he'll get back on the practice field on Friday to continue developing chemistry with […]

Willson Contreras Should Be Able To Play Friday

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (head) has a pretty good cut on the top of his head that doctors were able to glue, rather than stitch, together after he was hit by a backswing of Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ on Thursday. Contreras said he passed all of his concussion tests and his headache […]

Orioles Interested In Michael Lorenzen

The Baltimore Orioles remain focused on pitching upgrades ahead of next Tuesday's MLB trade deadline, according to sources, and Detroit Tigers All-Star right-hander Michael Lorenzen is one starter that they are interested in. The Orioles currently have a 1.5-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, but they're looking for rotation […]