Alex Wood Will Be A Starter

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler confirmed that left-hander Alex Wood will be used as a starter to open the 2023 season. Wood struggled in his second season with the Giants last year, going 8-12 with a 5.10 ERA (3.76 FIP), 1.24 WHIP and 23.6 percent strikeout rate in 130 2/3 innings over 26 starts, […]

Cole Hamels Not Expected To Pitch In Cactus League

San Diego Padres left-hander Cole Hamels (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Thursday, but he doesn't expect to begin pitching in games in camp until sometime after the Padres break camp for the regular season. Hamels underwent surgery on his shoulder in September of 2021 that came with an 18- to 20-month recovery. The 39-year-old […]

Giovanny Gallegos Adjusting To Pitch Timer

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos knows that he'll need to pick up his pace on the mound in 2023 given the changes to MLB rules -- pitchers are now mandated to throw a pitch within 15 seconds of receiving the ball from the catcher with the bases empty. Gallegos was one of baseball's […]

Enmanuel Valdez To Play All Over Infield

Boston Red Sox infield prospect Enmanuel Valdez will start at second base in the team's first spring training game on Friday against Northeastern. The Red Sox like what they have in Valdez, whom they acquired from the Houston Astros for catcher Christian Vazquez last August. The 24-year-old hit .296 with a .376 on-base percentage, .542 […]

Marcus Stroman Will Start Cactus League Opener Saturday

Chicago Cubs manager David Ross announced that right-hander Marcus Stroman will make the start on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants in the team's Cactus League opener. If everything goes according to plan, Stroman should also start on Opening Day for the Cubs in his second season with the team. The 31-year-old veteran went 6-7 […]

Jacob deGrom Feels Good After Throwing Session

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (side) said he threw 10 pitches off of a half mound and 13 pitches off a regular mound on Thursday, consisting of all fastballs. He felt good during the session after reporting some left side tightness following a throwing session at spring training early last week. The 34-year-old took […]

Browns Hire Bubba Ventrone As Special Teams Coordinator

The Cleveland Browns hired Bubba Ventrone as their assistant head coach/special teams coordinator on Thursday, according to sources. The 40-year-old played four seasons for the Browns from 2009-12 and will now join head coach Kevin Stefanski's coaching staff after building one of the top special teams units for the Indianapolis Colts. Ventrone will be replacing […]

Broncos Hire Vance Joseph As Defensive Coordinator

The Denver Broncos hired Vance Joseph as their new defensive coordinator on Thursday, according to a source. Joseph returns to the organization after he went 11-21 as the team's head coach from 2017-2018. He spent the last four seasons as the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator under Kliff Kingsbury. The 50-year-old has been a coach in […]

Bruce Arians Likes Kyle Trask

Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians said on the Rich Eisen Show that the team is "in good hands" with quarterback Kyle Trask moving forward after Tom Brady retired following the 2022 season. It comes after new offensive coordinator Dave Canales said that he considers Trask an efficient "point guard" in an offense. Trask, […]

Duce Staley Wants D'Onta Foreman Back

Carolina Panthers new running backs coach Duce Staley praised running backs D'Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear and also said it's important for the team to re-sign Foreman, although the final decision ultimately isn't up to him. Foreman led the Panthers in rushing in 2022 after the team traded Christian McCaffrey to the San […]

Kyler Murray Could Be Back Before Midseason

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell thinks that quarterback Kyler Murray (knee) is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ACL tear late last season. "I think (his return) is going to be earlier than this midseason, so hopefully it's toward the beginning of the season, but I don't want to put any specific dates," […]

Aaron Rodgers Ends Darkness Retreat

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has ended his darkness retreat as he tries to decide his playing future, according to the owner of the facility in Oregon where Rodgers spent the past several days and nights. The 39-year-old remains under contract with Green Bay for $59.465 million guaranteed if he plays in 2023. The […]

Baker Mayfield A Fallback Option For Ravens?

If the Baltimore Ravens were to part ways with quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason, they would acquire enough draft capital to take a top quarterback in this year's or next year's draft. They could also add a veteran stopgap such as Los Angeles Rams impending free-agent QB Baker Mayfield, who has ties with new Ravens […]

Lamar Jackson Wants A Fully Guaranteed Deal

Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent quarterback Lamar Jackson wants a fully guaranteed deal in line with the five-year, $230 million contract the Cleveland Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson in March of last year. The Ravens, though, are balking at guaranteeing the full amount, according to team sources. Jackson turned down a five-year, $250 million contract in […]

Noah Davis To Start Cactus League Opener Saturday

Colorado Rockies right-hander Noah Davis will start the team's Cactus League debut in spring training on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his major-league debut for the Rockies last year, Davis only threw one inning in relief and allowed two earned runs on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out two. The […]

Miguel Vargas To Play Some Defense Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Vargas (finger) will play defense in camp on Thursday, but he's not cleared yet to hit. Vargas is still recovering after suffering a hairline fracture to his right pinkie last week while fielding ground balls. When healthy, the 23-year-old should see most of his playing time for the Dodgers at […]

Kole Calhoun Signs Minor-League Deal With Mariners

Free-agent outfielder Kole Calhoun signed a minor-league deal with the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, pending a physical. Calhoun has already reported to big-league spring training with the team and will try to impress the coaching staff during Cactus League games. The 35-year-old veteran left-handed hitter spent the 2022 season with the Texas Rangers and slashed […]

CJ Abrams Gains Some Weight

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams' offseason work included speed work and swing and pitch recognition. He also gained six to seven pounds and now weighs 190 pounds heading into the 2023 season. Abrams said the added weight will help him with power while playing through his first full big-league season. The 22-year-old was acquired by […]

Mark Canha Over Gastritis Issues

New York Mets outfielder Mark Canha (stomach) was dealing with gastritis last year and was unable to keep weight on. "I was lighter last year at the beginning because I had trouble eating and feeling good," Canha said. His gastritis has subsided, though, and he's back to feeling healthy again. Canha's goal is to hit […]

Luis Severino Slims Down

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino made changes to his diet in the offseason and dropped 15 pounds during the winter as he enters the final year of his contract in 2023. Severino made only three starts from 2019-21 due to various injuries, including Tommy John surgery, but he had a nice 3.18 ERA […]

Starling Marte To Take Live BP On Thursday

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is scheduled to take live batting practice on the field in spring training on Thursday. It's a good sign that Marte is progressing on pace. According to sources, the Mets already know what Marte's spring schedule is going to be and when he'll get into his first game. […]

Bryce Harper Cleared For "Dry Swinging"

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow) has been cleared for "dry swinging"" and is due to arrive in Phillies camp on or around March 8-9, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Harper continues to recover from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Even though he'll rejoin the team at spring training soon, […]

Browns Interview Leon Washington For Special Teams Coordinator

The Cleveland Browns interviewed New York Jets special teams assistant coach Leon Washington for their vacant special teams coordinator position on Wednesday, according to a source. Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone is also a top candidate for the Browns position. Cleveland is looking to replace Mike Priefer, who held the position since 2019 […]

Tim Anderson Feels "Back To Normal"

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (groin) was hitting .356/.393/.503 at the end of May last year while swinging and missing less than ever despite remaining aggressive at the plate. But a groin injury interrupted his hot streak, and he was never able to get back on track. He was unable to re-establish his same […]

Rays Signing Ben Gamel To Minor-League Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a deal to sign free-agent outfielder Ben Gamel to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, pending a physical. The left-handed hitter has played parts of seven seasons in the majors and was with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. He'll bring the Rays' […]

Tanner Houck Open To Extension With Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have discussed a long-term extension with right-hander Tanner Houck after locking in Garrett Whitlock to a four-year, $18.75 million deal 11 months ago. The talks with Houck didn't get very far last year, though, and haven't resulted in a deal or offer from Boston. He'll turn 27 in June and is […]

Titans Release Zach Cunningham Wednesday

The Tennessee Titans released veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham (elbow) on Wednesday, according to a source. The Titans officially cut him with a failed-physical designation. It comes after Cunningham landed on Injured Reserve twice in 2022, ultimately ending the year on the sidelines with an elbow injury. The 28-year-old only suited up in six games in […]

Ethan Small To Serve As Long Reliever

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said that left-hander Ethan Small will work as a long reliever in spring training, with his status as a lefty working in his favor. Small made two starts in his MLB debut in 2022 and allowed five earned runs on eight hits while walking eight and striking out seven in […]

Spencer Strider Looks Good In Live BP

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider retired all three batters he faced, including striking out Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr., in a live batting practice session on Wednesday. It was Strider's first action of spring training. The 24-year-old right-hander was excellent for the Braves in his rookie season in 2022, going 11-5 with a […]

Nick Nelson To Start Grapefruit League Opener

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that right-hander Nick Nelson will start the team's Grapefruit League opener at home against the New York Yankees on Saturday. In his first season with the Phillies in 2022, Nelson went 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA (3.04 FIP), 1.48 WHIP, one save and 22.6 percent strikeout rate in a […]