Andres Munoz Is "Ahead Of Schedule"

Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Andres Munoz (foot) is "ahead of schedule," according to manager Scott Servais, but he's still a week or longer away from making his Cactus League debut. The Mariners were concerned about how much volume the high-leverage reliever could handle early in the year, but the coaching staff is now more encouraged […]

Kenta Maeda To Pitch Saturday In Spring Debut

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut in spring training this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins are ready to get a look at Maeda. The 34-year-old veteran right-hander last pitched in the majors in August of 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of […]

Kyle Wright To Throw Bullpen On Friday

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright (shoulder) is still scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday. Wright completed a short box bullpen (catcher moved up) this week and didn't suffer any setbacks. The 27-year-old right-hander reported to spring training behind the other pitchers in camp after requiring a cortisone injection in his shoulder in […]

Gavin Lux Has More Bat Speed

Los Angeles Dodgers middle infielder Gavin Lux has shown more bat speed after working on his swing mechanics at Driveline during the offseason. Lux hit fewer fly balls in 2022 and finished terribly due to neck and back issues, but overall it was a solid season, as he finished with a .276/.346/.399 slash line, career-high […]

Broncos Hire Joe Lombardi For Offensive Staff

The Denver Broncos hired Joe Lombardi on Thursday to be part of their offensive staff under new head coach Sean Payton, according to a source. His official title is to be determined, but it's possible he'll be named the new offensive coordinator. It will be Lombardi's third assistant coaching stint with Payton. Lombardi served as […]

Rams, Bobby Wagner Agree To Part Ways

The Los Angeles Rams and nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner mutually agreed to part ways on Thursday, according to sources. The Rams are in need of more salary cap space this year and Wagner wants to win. The 32-year-old veteran will now be among the bigger defensive names on the open market this offseason. […]

Davis Webb Hired As Broncos QBs Coach

NFL veteran quarterback Davis Webb, who spent last year backing up Daniel Jones with the New York Giants, is being hired as the Denver Broncos' quarterbacks coach, according to sources. The 28-year-old will now be coaching the 34-year-old Russell Wilson in his first NFL coaching job. Webb was offered a coaching job with the Buffalo […]

No Future In Detroit For D'Andre Swift?

The Athletic's Colton Pouncy isn't sure there's a future between the Detroit Lions and running back D'Andre Swift, whose rookie contract will be up after the 2023 season. Swift has an extensive injury history, and he'll likely demand too much money to return beyond next season. The Lions have a good thing going at the […]

Javonte Williams Could Miss Multiple Games In 2023

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (knee) could be held out of multiple games to open the 2023 season, according to a source. Williams suffered a torn ACL and LCL in the Week 4 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and missed the rest of the season. Many fantasy managers expected last season […]

Brad Keller Unveils New Curveball

Kansas City Royals right-hander Brad Keller has unveiled a new-look curveball in spring training this year as he looks to win a spot in the starting rotation. Keller's 5.24 ERA in the previous two seasons was the seventh-highest among pitchers who threw 200-plus innings in that time. KC moved Keller to the bullpen last year, […]

MacKenzie Gore Starting Grapefruit League Opener

Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore will start the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Gore was acquired from the San Diego Padres last August as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto to the west coast. The 23-year-old southpaw didn't pitch at all for the Nationals after the […]

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 […]