
Articles

Reds Finalize Starting Rotation
The Cincinnati Reds have finalized their starting rotation coming out of Spring Training. The team will go with Homer Bailey, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, and Sal Romano with either Amir Garrett or Brandon Finnegan waiting in the wings as the fifth starter. Cincinnati isn't expected to need a fifth starter at least until April 11. […]
Matt T
Erick Aybar Will Not Make 25-Man Roster
The Minnesota Twins informed shortstop Erick Aybar on Thursday that he will not be including on the 25-man roster for Opening Day. The 34-year-old veteran was in camp on a minor league contract which included an invitation to Spring Training and hit .257 with four runs and five RBI in 35 at-bats. The move signals […]
Matt T
Twins Set Rotation: Jake Odorizzi To Start Opening Day
The Minnesota Twins have tabbed right-hander Jake Odorizzi as their Opening Day starter. Odorizzi, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays, came to Minnesota in an off-season trade and has posted a 2-0 record, 0.87 ERA, and four strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings of work this spring. The Twins will round out their starting rotation with […]
Matt T
Reds Claim Kennys Vargas
The Cincinnati Reds claimed first baseman/designated hitter Kennys Vargas off of waivers on Thursday. Vargas was waived by the Minnesota Twins earlier in the week. Vargas became expendable in Minnesota following the off-season signing of Logan Morrison. Vargas has loads of power in his bat but it is unclear how much playing time he will […]
Matt T
Twins Being Cautious With Eddie Rosario
The Minnesota Twins are still bringing Eddie Rosario (tendinitis) along slowly as he works his way back from triceps tendinitis in his throwing arm. Rosario has yet to play in the field in a game this spring but he did take part in infield drills on Wednesday and, according to reports, Rosario wasn't holding back. […]
Matt T
Trevor May Inching Toward Return From Tommy John Surgery
Minnesota Twins right-hander Trevor May is inching toward a return to the mound. May had Tommy John surgery in March last year, which caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. The 28-year-old has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, as he threw 35 pitches on Tuesday. He is scheduled to throw another 50 pitches on […]
Matt T
Tyler Duffy, Alan Busenitz Optioned To Triple-A
The Minnesota Twins optioned relievers Tyler Duffy and Alan Busenitz to Triple-A on Thursday. The two relievers were key parts of the Minnesota bullpen in 2017, combining to make 84 relief appearances. The Twins focused on strengthening their bullpen this offseason, which pushed Duffy and Busenitz off the big league roster. Neither player helped his […]
Matt T
Michael Lorenzen Strains Muscle
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Michael Lorenzen has strained the teres major muscle near his right shoulder and will not throw for several days. Lorenzen was a candidate to make the starting rotation out of Spring Training but the injury will likely preclude him from further consideration for the rotation. This is the same injury which ended […]
Matt T
Morgan Burnett To Sign With Steelers
Free-agent safety Morgan Burnett is expected to finalize a deal to join the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday morning. The Steelers were expected to make a move to shore up their secondary after releasing safeties Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden earlier in the month. Burnett, who had spent his entire eight-year career with the Packers, is […]
Matt T
Ervin Santana Progressing As Expected
Updating a previous report, Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana is progressing as expected after having surgery on his right middle finger in February. Santana's initial timetable for return was set at eight to 10 weeks but an updated report stated that it may be closer to 12 weeks before he's able to pitch. The veteran […]
Matt T
Nick Gordon Sent To Minors Sunday
The Minnesota Twins optioned shortstop Nick Gordon to minor league camp on Sunday. Gordon had a nice showing this spring, going 9-for-22 for a cool .409 batting average. Gordon has never played above Double-A and wasn't expected to make the big league club coming out of Spring Training. The 22-year-old shortstop is regarded as one […]
Matt T
Brandon Finnegan Threw Bullpen Friday
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan (forearm) threw what was termed a "light bullpen" on Friday. Finnegan left the game last Sunday with spasms in his left forearm, setting off alarms after he was limited to just four starts in 2017. He threw 15 pitches on Friday and is slated to throw again Sunday. If he […]
Matt T
Ervin Santana Still Not Cleared To Throw
Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (finger) has still not been cleared to throw a baseball. Santana had surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand in February and is still in the process of working his way back to the field. According to reports, the swelling has gone down on his knuckle, but doctors […]
Matt T
Steelers Add Jon Bostic
The Pittsburgh Steelers and free-agent linebacker Jon Bostic agreed to a two-year deal on Sunday. Bostic spent the 2017 season with the Indianapolis Colts, appearing in 14 games and notching a career-high 97 total tackles to go along with one sack and one fumble recovery. Bostic will be counted upon to help replace the injured […]
Matt T
Matthew Slater Meets With Steelers
Free agent special teams ace Matthew Slater visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Slater has spent his entire 10-year career with the New England Patriots, making the Pro Bowl as a special teamer seven times. The free agent 32-year-old has been a long-time captain and locker room leader for the Patriots, meaning his loss […]
Matt T
Twins Acquire Jake Cave, Designated Kennys Vargas For Assignment
The Minnesota Twins acquired outfielder Jake Cave from the New York Yankees on Friday, sending right-handed pitcher Luis Gil to New York in exchange. To make room for Cave, the team has designated first baseman Kennys Vargas for assignment. Vargas' days in Minnesota were numbered from the moment they signed Logan Morrison as a free […]
Matt T
Reds Reassign Dilson Herrera, Others
The Cincinnati Reds have reassigned second baseman Dilson Herrera, catcher Chadwick Tromp, and infielder/outfielders Darnell Sweeney and Patrick Kivlehan to minor league camp. Herrera is the biggest name of the group and was once considered the team's second baseman of the future but shoulder surgery in July of 2017 is still preventing him from playing […]
Matt T
Nick Senzel Still Part Of Plans
The Cincinnati Reds and third baseman Eugenio Suarez agreed to a long-term contract extension on Friday. The team announced that Suarez has signed a seven-year, $66 million extension, which will keep him in Cincinnati through the end of the 2024 season. General manager Dick Williams was asked what the extension means for top prospect Nick […]
Matt T
Kennys Vargas Not Expected To Make Final Roster
Minnesota Twins first baseman/designated hitter Kennys Vargas will likely be the odd man out when the team has to trim the roster down to 25 players. Vargas was originally expected to be the team's backup first baseman but the mid-spring signing of Logan Morrison will likely leave Vargas without a spot on the active roster, […]
Matt T
Miguel Sano Scratched With Knee Bruise
The Minnesota Twins scratched third baseman Miguel Sano from the lineup on Friday after he came down with a bruised right knee. Fortunately, the issue is not related to the injury which caused Sano to undergo offseason surgery to have a titanium rod inserted in his left shin. Sano is having a nice spring, batting […]
Matt T
Tyrod Taylor Named Starting Quarterback
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson told the media on Thursday that Tyrod Taylor will be the team's starter in 2018. Jackson went on to state, "He's going to be the starting quarterback. There is no competition." The Browns are widely expected to use one of their first-round picks on a rookie quarterback but it […]
Matt T
Browns Cut Jason McCourty
The Cleveland Browns are releasing cornerback Jason McCourty on Thursday, according to sources. McCourty appeared in 14 games with Cleveland in 2017, his only season with the team. He was far and away the team's best cornerback and finished the season with 65 total tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and 14 passes defended. The […]
Matt T
Fitzgerald Toussaint Signs One-Year Deal With Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint have agreed to a one-year deal. The Steelers did not tender Toussaint, who was a restricted free agent, but they will bring him back to town to compete for a backup role. He will likely battle with second-year running back James Conner for second-string behind starter Le'Veon […]
Matt T
Sammie Coates Released By Browns
The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Sammie Coates on Thursday. Coates spent just one season in Cleveland, catching six passes for 70 yards in 12 games. Coates was a third-round draft selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers but has caught just 28 passes for 516 yards and two touchdowns in 32 career games over three seasons. […]
Matt T
Jake Odorizzi Completes Successful Bullpen
Minnesota Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi turned in a successful bullpen session on Thursday, according to reports. Odorizzi had his most recent scheduled spring training start on Tuesday cancelled for what the team called "maintenance purposes." Odorizzi's ability to throw an uneventful bullpen on Thursday lends credence to that initial report that he was not dealing […]
Matt T
Brandon Finnegan Experiencing Minimal Soreness
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan (biceps) is still experiencing "minimal soreness" in his pitching arm but he was able to play catch on Wednesday. Finnegan is not expected to throw off the mound until the soreness is gone but it appears he's trending in the right direction. Finnegan was removed from a Cactus League game […]
Matt T
Scooter Gennett Dealing With Sore Right Shoulder
The Cincinnati Reds have scratched second baseman Scooter Gennett (shoulder) for Thursday's Cactus League game. Gennett is dealing with a sore right shoulder, but the team doesn't expect him to miss more than a day. Infielder Brandon Dixon has taken Gennett's place at second base and is batting eighth. Dixon is a non-roster invitee who is […]
Matt T
Browns, Rams, 49ers All Looking At Terrelle Pryor
Free-agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor appears to have several teams interested in his services for the upcoming season. A tweet by NFL Network's Michael Silver indicated that the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are all attempting to add Pryor to their rosters. Pryor had a big season in 2016 with the […]
Matt T
Browns Sign Cornerback T.J. Carrie
The Cleveland Browns and cornerback T.J. Carrie have agreed to a four-year, $31 million contract. Carrie spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders after being selected in the seventh round of the draft. Carrie will return to Ohio, where he played college ball at Ohio University. Carrie played in […]
Matt T
Eddie Rosario Throws Wednesday Without Issue
Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario (triceps) got through a Wednesday throwing session without incident. The young outfielder had been sidelined over the past week with tendinitis in his right triceps, which prevented him from playing the field. Rosario was able to complete two sets of 20 throws at 60 feet without any problems. Rosario is […]
Matt T