Masataka Yoshida Unlikely To Hit Leadoff

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora threw cold water on Sunday on the idea of outfielder Masataka Yoshida hitting leadoff in his first MLB season. Instead, he's likely to hit near the middle of the batting order to open up the 2023 campaign. The 29-year-old was able to get on base frequently while playing in […]

Brayan Bello Back On The Mound Sunday

Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (forearm) is back on the mound on Sunday for the first time since he experienced forearm tightness earlier in spring training. Bello is set to throw 20 pitches in a bullpen session on Sunday. The Red Sox took precaution and shut down the 23-year-old for a week after he […]

Justin Steele Scratched Sunday With Arm Fatigue

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (arm) was scratched from his Cactus League debut on Sunday due to general arm fatigue. The plan is to give him a few days to rest before he throws a bullpen session. Javier Assad will now start in Steele's place on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. As of right […]

Seiya Suzuki To Have Tests Done Sunday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique), who was scratched from the team's Cactus League debut on Saturday due to left oblique tightness, will have tests done on Sunday to determine the severity of his injury. The Cubs are expecting an update on his status on Monday. The good news for the 28-year-old is that it's […]

Yordan Alvarez Still Not Swinging A Bat

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) sill isn't swinging a bat in spring training, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez is dealing with left hand soreness in camp, which is something he also dealt with in 2022, so it's certainly something to keep a close eye on for one of the best all-around hitters […]

Padres, Manny Machado Finalizing 11-Year Extension

The San Diego Padres and star third baseman Manny Machado are finalizing an 11-year, $350 million contract extension on Sunday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Machado has helped turn around the franchise and was planning on opting out of his previous deal after the 2023 season. The 30-year-old All-Star had six years and […]

Ken Giles Auditions For Padres

Free-agent relief pitcher Ken Giles threw a bullpen session for the San Diego Padres on Friday at their spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. He will continue to throw bullpens every Tuesday and Friday for interested teams until he gets signed. Giles also threw for interested clubs at Arizona State on Feb. 8, but nothing […]

James Paxton To Make Spring Debut On Friday

Boston Red Sox left-hander James Paxton (lat) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut next Friday as the Red Sox begin to start mixing regular starters in. Paxton made just one start in 2021 and missed all of the 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and he also dealt with a lat […]

Trevor Larnach Could Begin The Year In Minors

Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach must demonstrate a lot in spring training in order to win a roster spot in 2023. The addition of infielder Donovan Solano means more time in the outfield for Joey Gallo and few designated hitter at-bats to go around. With the Twins roster being jam-packed, even a great spring from […]

Nate Pearson Preparing For Bulk Role

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson has missed most of the last two seasons due to injury, which is why he isn't being stretched out as a starter in spring training this year, but instead he's preparing for a bulk role. Pearson was sitting at 96-97 mph during live batting practice this week, and pitching […]

Yusei Kikuchi Has A New Curveball

Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is starting the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, is featuring a new curveball in camp this spring. Kikuchi is trying to win the fifth spot in the starting rotation in spring training this year. He struggled in his first season with the Blue […]

Brandon Belt To Be Eased In At Spring Training

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) has played in seven spring training games in the last two years while managing a knee issue. The Blue Jays and the 34-year-old agreed to a plan to ease him into camp this year as a precautionary measure after he had knee surgery last September. Belt said […]

Noah Syndergaard Ready To Be Dominant Again?

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Noah Syndergaard thinks he can get back to being a dominant starter again in 2023 in his first season in LA. The 30-year-old was very average with the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies last year in just a year removed from Tommy John surgery. "My recovery game is second to […]

Pirates Haven't Made An Offer To Bryan Reynolds

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds said he doesn't have an idea on whether he expects contract-extension talks to be productive with the team because the team has yet to make a new offer. Reynolds also said he's not going to set any deadline to complete a deal, so it sounds as though he'd be open […]

Chiefs Promote Matt Nagy To Offensive Coordinator

As expected, the Kansas City Chiefs officially promoted Matt Nagy to offensive coordinator on Friday. The move comes after former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy left the team to become the Washington Commanders' new offensive coordinator/assistant head coach. Nagy is being elevated from his previous role as senior offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach, and he was previously the […]

CJ Abrams Expected To Begin Year Near Bottom Of Lineup

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said he thinks both infielders CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia could be top-of-the-order hitters eventually, but they are both expected to hit near the bottom of the regular lineup when the 2023 season begins. When Abrams joined the team in mid-August in 2022, he hit mostly seventh, eighth or even […]

Graham Ashcraft Looks Good In Live BP Session

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (ankle) had to leave his last live batting practice session early after he was hit by a comebacker on his right ankle. However, he threw another live batting practice session on Friday and looked like himself. The 25-year-old appears to be just fine. In his first taste of MLB action […]

Kyle Hendricks Feels Good After Throwing Friday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) felt good on Friday after throwing a 10-pitch, touch-and-feel bullpen session for the first time throwing off a mound since July 5 of last year. Hendricks expects to throw two more touch-and-feel bullpens before a series of full bullpen sessions. "I can be patient when I need to […]

German Marquez Set For Live BP Session Saturday

Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Saturday. Marquez is taking things slow early in spring training after coming into camp dealing with a sore left hamstring. It's not a serious issue, so the 28-year-old should be just fine for Opening Day, barring a setback in […]

Alek Manoah Has Contract Renewed

The Toronto Blue Jays have renewed starting pitcher Alek Manoah's contract. He'll earn $745,650 in 2023, according to an industry source. The MLB minimum this year is $720,000. Manoah took a renewal last year as well and made $706,200 rather than accepting the team's scale-based raise. The 25-year-old right-hander finished third in the American League […]

Cole Waites Hopes To Resume Throwing Monday

San Francisco Giants right-hander Cole Waites (lat) said he will be re-evaluated on Sunday and hopes to begin throwing again in camp on Monday. Waites is recovering from a right lat strain that he suffered before spring training, so he's a bit behind the other starters in camp. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut in […]

Caleb Smith Being Stretched Out As A Starter

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Caleb Smith is being stretched out as a starter in spring training, according to pitching coach Oscar Marin. The 31-year-old southpaw served as a reliever in 2022 with the Arizona Diamondbacks before a torn elbow ligament ended his season. However, Smith didn't need surgery on his elbow and reported to camp healthy […]

Rony Garcia Working As Reliever This Spring

Detroit Tigers right-hander Rony Garcia will be working out of the bullpen this spring, but the door isn't closed forever for him in a starting role. "His best route to this team will be in that bridge role of being stretched out to two and three innings," manager A.J. Hinch said. In his third MLB […]

Kyle Wright Encouraged After First Bullpen

Atlanta Braves right-hander Kyle Wright (shoulder) said he "felt really good" after his first bullpen session of spring training on Friday. Wright ended up throwing 23 fastballs. The 27-year-old entered camp behind the other pitchers due to a right shoulder injury that required an injection last month. It's unknown if he'll be ready for the […]

Saints Restructure Tyrann Mathieu's Contract

The New Orleans Saints restructured safety Tyrann Mathieu's contract on Friday, clearing another $4.668 million in 2023 salary cap space. Perhaps the Saints are clearing more cap space in order to make a run at signing free-agent quarterback Derek Carr, who is seeking $35 million per year on his next deal. In his first year […]

Lions Release Michael Brockers

The Detroit Lions released defensive lineman Michael Brockers on Friday. In his 11th NFL season and second with the Lions in 2022, Brockers was limited to six games (five starts) as a healthy scratch for most of the second half of the season. The 32-year-old finished with just four tackles (one solo) and a pass […]

Colt McCoy Undergoes Undisclosed Procedure

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy (undisclosed) had a "minor" undisclosed procedure after the 2022 season, according to new head coach Jonathan Gannon. The head coach also added that McCoy "looks good" and will be ready to go for 2023. But not having starter Kyler Murray (knee) on the field for offseason workouts as offensive coordinator […]

Cowboys May Move On From Tyron Smith

Dallas Cowboys eight-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tyron Smith (knee) may have played his last snap with the team. If he does return, though, Smith could return to the left tackle spot and play Tyler Smith at left guard, which was the plan going into last season. However, Tyron Smith's inability to stay healthy has […]

Lions Sign Aaron Glenn To A Contract Extension

The Detroit Lions are signing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to a contract extension, according to a source. Glenn interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals this offseason and is set to be extended for multiple years in Detroit. The Lions finished with the league's 32nd-ranked defense in 2022, but Glenn was […]

NFL Evaluators Torn On Anthony Richardson

University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is an interesting player heading into this year's NFL draft. "I can't remember a bigger variance league-wide on a feeling about a QB than Anthony Richardson," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said. Richardson has plenty of ability, but some NFL front offices are legitimately torn on where he should be drafted […]