Andrew Velazquez Starting In Center Field Monday

Los Angeles Angels infielder Andrew Velazquez is starting in center field and batting ninth in the team's Cactus League contest on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians. Most of Velazquez's major-league experience has come on the infield, but the 28-year-old needs to become more versatile if he wants to stick on the major-league roster. In a […]

Nick Ahmed Returns To Lineup Monday

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed (forearm) is back in the Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Kansas City Royals, starting at shortstop and batting sixth in the lineup. This will be Ahmed's spring debut after he missed some time in camp with right forearm inflammation. The 32-year-old veteran was limited to just 17 games […]

Steven Okert Makes Third Spring Appearance Sunday

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Steven Okert (triceps) made his third Grapefruit League outing on Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, striking out one in a scoreless inning of work. So far in spring training action, the 31-year-old left-hander hasn't allowed a run in his three innings of work while striking out […]

Ryan Thompson Makes Spring Debut

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Thompson (triceps) made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles and walked one in a scoreless inning of work in relief. Thompson ended the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list due to right triceps inflammation, but he's healthy now and should be just fine for the […]

Leody Taveras Has Low-Grade Oblique Strain

Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras (oblique) has a "low-grade" left oblique strain, according to general manager Chris Young. It sounds like Taveras will be ready in a couple of weeks and he isn't being ruled out for the Opening Day roster. Young spoke highly of Bubba Thompson's ability to contribute, even if his defense is […]

Jack Flaherty Starting Against Astros Monday

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty (calf, illness) is making the Grapefruit League start on Monday against the Houston Astros. Flaherty has been dealing with a minor calf issue and was scratched from his scheduled spring debut on Sunday with flu-like symptoms. The 27-year-old starter is expected to go around three innings in his first […]

Dylan Carlson Serving As DH On Monday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (arm) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros and right-handed starter Hunter Brown. Carlson is on a no-throw program through at least Monday after suffering from arm fatigue in spring training recently. The 24-year-old switch-hitter could be […]

Jordan Addison Battling Back Strain

USC wide receiver Jordan Addison (back), who has potential to be the first receiver taken in this year's draft, shut it down at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday due to a minor back strain. He will finish his workouts for NFL scouts at his school's pro day on March 21. The 21-year-old's […]

Anthony Richardson Turns Heads At Combine

University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson set the QB record in the vertical jump at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday with a leap of 40.5 inches. Richardson put on a show, also breaking the record for QBs in the broad jump (10-foot-9) while also running the third-fastest 40-yard dash (4.44 seconds) of […]

Bryce Young Measures 5-Foot-10 1/8 Inches

University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who is considered the potential No. 1 overall pick of this year's NFL draft, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday. He also weighed in at 204 pounds and was measured with 9.75-inch hands. The 21-year-old's lack of size if […]

Saints Restructure Demario Davis' Contract

The New Orleans Saints restructured the contract of linebacker Demario Davis on Saturday by converting his 2023 base salary into a signing bonus. With restructures to Davis and tight end Taysom Hill, the Saints created $12.724 million in salary cap space for this season, according to a source. Davis is a big part of what […]

49ers Could Be Interested In Baker Mayfield

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch conceded this week that the timing of quarterback Brock Purdy's injured right elbow could force the team's hand to look for a veteran to throw into the mix at the position. The Niners aren't expected to break the bank, but SI.com's Albert Breer thinks they could go after […]

Giants Plan To Use Franchise Tag On Daniel Jones

If the New York Giants can't get a long-term deal done with impending free-agent quarterback Daniel Jones before Tuesday's deadline to use the franchise tag, they plan to use the tag on Jones. That's where things appear to be headed now after the two sides have met the last few days at the combine, but […]

Whit Merrifield Dealing With Quad Tightness

Toronto Blue Jays infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield (quadriceps) has been out of Grapefruit League games since Friday due to right quadriceps tightness. His injury is considered minor, but the Blue Jays are just being extra cautious with him. Merrifield went through a full workout on Saturday and has more than enough time left in camp to […]

Taj Bradley Fine After Being Hit By Comebacker

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley (calf) said he checked out fine on Saturday after leaving the Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees as a precaution when he was hit on the side of his right calf by a comebacker. In his two spring outings so far, the 21-year-old has tossed two […]

Justin Dunn Shut Down For A Couple Months

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Justin Dunn (shoulder) was examined in New York and will be shut down for a couple of months after being diagnosed with inflammation in the subscapularis in his right rotator cuff. The good news for Dunn is that surgery wasn't recommended, and there's still a possibility that he could pitch in 2023. […]

Jon Gray Could Pitch Again On Wednesday

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray (back) said on Saturday that he expected to throw on the side on Sunday, and he could try to pitch in a Cactus League game as early as Wednesday. The 31-year-old right-hander was scratched from his spring start on Friday due to back tightness, but it was a cautionary […]

Dylan Carlson Won't Throw Until Monday

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that outfielder Dylan Carlson (arm) is on a "no-throw" plan until at least Monday after injuring his arm in a Grapefruit League game on Thursday. Carlson can continue to hit, but the Cardinals want to rest his arm through the weekend. This doesn't appear to be a very […]

Rockies Reach Agreement With Mike Moustakas

The Colorado Rockies reached a non-roster agreement with free-agent infielder Mike Moustakas on Sunday after he was released by the Cincinnati Reds in January. It's a minor-league deal for Moustakas. According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, Colorado's current plan is for Moustakas to play second base with Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) likely out for […]

Lance McCullers Jr. Not Playing Catch Yet

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) has yet to resume playing catch at spring training, according to manager Dusty Baker. McCullers won't be ready to go for Opening Day after a recent MRI exam showed a small muscle strain in his right forearm. It makes the 29-year-old right-hander a risky fantasy selection, but […]

Yordan Alvarez Still Not Swinging

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) still isn't swinging a bat at spring training, according to manager Dusty Baker. General manager Dana Brown said on Tuesday that Alvarez "should definitely be back for Opening Day," but the longer he goes without swinging, the greater the chance that he might need an injured list stint […]

Justin Dirden Impressing Dusty Baker

Houston Astros outfielder Justin Dirden has been impressing manager Dusty Baker in spring training. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder isn't on Houston's 40-man roster, but he's already hit two home runs in the Grapefruit League. "We're impressed with him and that's why he's here," said Baker. "He's getting a lot of playing time, getting a lot […]

Hunter Brown Fine-Tuning His Slider

Houston Astros top pitching prospect Hunter Brown, MLB Pipeline's No. 43 overall prospect, appears headed toward a spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2023 season with Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) injured. Brown struggled with his command in his Grapefruit League start on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, and he said refining the […]

James Paxton Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day

Boston Red Sox left-hander James Paxton (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which is the least serious. However, he'll be shut down for a bit in spring training and seems unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster. The Red Sox's rotation will be thin to open the season, with both […]

Marco Gonzales Fans Three Against D-Backs

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Marco Gonzales turned in a nice performance on Friday in Cactus League play in the 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gonzales picked up the win and allowed three hits while walking two and striking out three in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. It was a nice bounce-back outing in spring training […]

Tom Murphy Homers Friday Night

Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy went 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored in Friday's 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Cactus League play. Murphy hadn't done much in his first three spring games, but he broke out at the plate on Friday. The 31-year-old backstop is returning after having season-ending surgery […]

Ozzie Albies Playing Second Base Saturday

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (shoulder) is starting at second base and is hitting fifth in the batting order on Saturday in the team's Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins. Albies had a clean-up procedure on his right shoulder last October and had been serving as the designated hitter in spring games up […]

Dodgers The Early Favorites For Shohei Ohtani?

Some folks around major-league baseball see the Los Angeles Dodgers as the very early favorite to sign Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani if he reaches free agency after the 2023 season. The Dodgers are perennial winners in a geographically desirable area for Ohtani, and they also cut up to $40 million out of […]

Rangers Sign Will Smith

The Texas Rangers signed free-agent left-hander Will Smith to an undisclosed one-year major-league contract on Saturday. Smith will join the team's spring training workouts on Saturday. The 33-year-old reliever pitched for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros in 2022, posting a 3.97 ERA (4.26 FIP), 1.41 WHIP, five saves and 65 strikeouts in 59 relief […]

Andrew Painter Going For Tests On Elbow

Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter (elbow) felt some tenderness in his right elbow and went for tests on Friday. The Phillies will know more on Saturday, so check back then for updates. The 19-year-old right-hander is extremely impressive and came into spring training with a shot to win an Opening Day rotation spot. Although […]