Reds Re-Sign Derek Dietrich

The Cincinnati Reds re-signed infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training on Wednesday. Dietrich had a career-high 19 home runs and drove in 43 runs in 113 games for Cincinnati in 2019, but he hit just .187/.328/.462 and struck out 74 times. He's useful to the […]

Mike Leake Dealing With Wrist Soreness

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake (wrist) has left wrist soreness and is undergoing a precautionary MRI exam on Wednesday. It's to his non-pitching arm, so Leake should be fine as long as it's not a serious injury. The veteran 32-year-old had a 4.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 127 strikeouts and 27 walks in 32 starts […]

Madison Bumgarner Expected To Start On Opening Day

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo all but said that starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner will start on Opening Day. Bumgarner will make his debut with the D-Backs against the Braves at home on March 26. It's not a great matchup for his first start with Arizona, as the Braves have one of the most imposing lineups […]

Mariners Agree With Taijuan Walker

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with starting pitcher Taijuan Walker on Wednesday, according to sources. Walker can earn up to $3 million in incentives. The 27-year-old was drafted in the first round by the Mariners in 2010, so this is a homecoming for him. He hasn't been able to stay […]

Cameron Maybin Returns To Tigers

The Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year major league deal with outfielder Cameron Maybin on Wednesday. The deal is for $1.5 million with the chance to make extra in incentives. Maybin played for Detroit in 2007 and 2016 and was the team's first-round pick in 2005. He'll turn 33 in April and hit .285 with […]

Red Sox Unsure If Dustin Pedroia Will Report For First Workout

Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke is unsure if second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) will report to spring training before the first full-squad workout on Monday. Pedroia has been held to nine games over the last two seasons due to a left knee injury, and he suffered a significant setback in his rehab late last […]

Darwinzon Hernandez Could Be A Starter

Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that pitcher Darwinzon Hernandez is a relief pitcher right now, but the coaching staff discussed the idea of him starting again at some point. The 23-year-old left-hander made his MLB debut in 2019 by making one start and 28 relief appearances. He posted a 4.45 ERA and 1.75 […]

Red Sox View Brandon Workman As Their Closer

Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke believes that relief pitcher Brandon Workman will be the team's closer entering the regular season, barring something unforeseen. “I think with what he did last year, he deserves that shot to be the closer,” Roenicke said. Workman became Boston's closer late in the year in 2019, posting a stellar […]

Chris Sale Expected To Report On Friday

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (illness) had a flu bug that turned into pneumonia, but he's expected to report to camp on Friday. It's not the start that Sale wanted, but the good news is his left arm is healthy following a year filled with injury and poor performance in 2019. Despite his […]

Cole Hamels Won't Be Ready For Opening Day

Updating a previous report, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Cole Hamels (shoulder) won't have time to build up for Opening Day, according to general manager Alex Anthopoulos. Hamels is dealing with a shoulder issue, but it's nothing serious. However, he'll miss at least three weeks in camp and won't have enough time to build up before […]

Gordon Beckham Gets Invite To Padres Big League Camp

The San Diego Padres signed infielder Gordon Beckham to a minor league deal on Feb. 10 with an invitation to big league camp. The veteran 33-year-old appeared in 83 games for the Detroit Tigers last season, posting a modest .643 OPS across 240 plate appearances. It has never really clicked in the majors for the […]

Tigers Nearing A Deal With Cameron Maybin

Free-agent outfielder Cameron Maybin is reportedly nearing a deal with the Detroit Tigers. Maybin previously spent the 2007 and 2016 seasons with the Tigers. In his limited action with the Yankees last season, Maybin was a solid all-around producer. He had 11 home runs, 32 RBI and nine stolen bases with .285 batting average and a […]

Keone Kela Earns Closer Role For Start Of 2020 Season

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Keone Kela has earned the closer role for the start of the 2020 season, as stated by Pirates manager Derek Shelton. Kela doesn't have all that much competition, but for the manager to name him the closer after just one workout has to be great news in terms of how his offseason […]

Jarrod Dyson Has Agreement With Pirates

Free-agent outfielder Jarrod Dyson has reportedly reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The agreement is still pending a physical, but if all goes well, Dyson should be able to join the team for Grapefruit League action very soon. Dyson had 30 stolen bases and batted .230 last year with the Diamondbacks. His base-stealing upside is […]

Cole Hamels Suffering From Shoulder Discomfort

Atlanta Braves starter Cole Hamels (shoulder) has not reported to Spring Training yet due to an irritation in his shoulder. Initial reports suggest that the injury is not a long-term concern, but there will be a reevaluation in three weeks, so it is not a guarantee that he will be ready for Opening Day. The […]

Cubs Still In Talks With Other Teams Regarding Kris Bryant

The Chicago Cubs are still engaged in talks with other teams about the possibility of trading third baseman Kris Bryant, the 2016 National League MVP. The Cubs have spoken with the Rangers, Rockies, Nationals and Phillies in recent weeks, according to sources. There is no evidence that trade talks have progressed, but the Cubs haven't […]

Eric Pardinho Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Eric Pardinho (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday and will miss the entire 2020 season. Pardinho, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had a nice 2.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 35 strikeouts and 16 walks in seven games and one relief outing (37 2/3 innings) for Low-A Lansing […]

Trevor Cahill Signs With Giants

The San Francisco Giants signed starting pitcher Trevor Cahill to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Tuesday, according to a source. Cahill made 37 appearances (11 starts) for the Angels in 2019 and wasn't all that effective, going 4-9 with a bloated 5.98 ERA and 1.47 WHIP while striking out […]

Cubs Add Jason Kipnis

The Chicago Cubs signed second baseman Jason Kipnis to a minor league deal on Tuesday. Kipnis can make $1 million plus incentives if he makes the team out of spring training. The left-handed swinging infielder has a good shot to make the team as a part-time second baseman. The Chicago native hit .245/.304/.410 with 17 […]

Tony Wolters Loses Arbitration Case

Colorado Rockies catcher Tony Wolters lost his salary arbitration case on Tuesday and will earn $1.9 million in 2020 instead of the $2.475 million he was requesting, according to a source. Wolters had his best offensive season in four years in the majors in 2019 by hitting .262/.337/.329, but he's still mostly a defensive backstop […]

Charlie Morton Could Retire After 2020

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton said that he could consider retirement after the 2020 season, depending on his performance and his health. "If I throw really well and I feel really good, it’s going to be a tough decision. But if either one of those things happen, where I’m not pitching really well, […]

Chris Sale Has No Arm Issues Entering Spring Training

Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale is fully healthy and will enter Spring Training without any arm issues, according to Red Sox general manager Brian O'Halloran. However, Sale will have the start of his Spring Training schedule delayed due to an illness that he is currently dealing with, but the left-hander will resume his normal […]

Kevin Pillar Nearing Deal With Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are closing in on signing outfielder Kevin Pillar to a major league contract, Ken Rosenthal reports. Pillar spent the beginning of the 2019 season with the Blue Jays prior to being traded to the Giants, where the 31-year-old enjoyed career bests of 21 home runs, 88 RBI, 83 runs scored and […]

Dellin Betances Believes He'll Be Ready For Opening Day

New York Mets reliever Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) told reporters on Tuesday that he will be ready for Opening Day. The 31-year-old endured a miserable 2019 season that was plagued with injuries, limiting him to only one appearance. Nevertheless, if Betances is ready for the start of the 2020 season, he will likely serve as […]

Red Sox, Pirates Interested In Kevin Pillar

The market for outfielder Kevin Pillar is heating up, with the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates among the interested teams. Pillar spent time with the Blue Jays and Giants in 2019 and hit .259/.287/.432 with a career-high 21 home runs, 88 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 161 games. Most of the damage he […]

Cubs Close To Adding Jason Kipnis

The Chicago Cubs are close to signing second baseman Jason Kipnis to a non-roster, minor league deal on Tuesday. Kipnis doesn't have the same bat as when he was elected to his second All-Star team in 2015 with the Indians, but he could bring a nice left-handed bat to the keystone in a platoon role […]

Wade Davis Will Enter Season As Closer

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black made it clear that relief pitcher Wade Davis will be the team's closer, with Scott Oberg as the primary setup man. "In a perfect world, Wade is our closer and Scotty pitches in front of him in some capacity," Black said. "That's based on Wade's great track record... That's our […]

Mariners Sign Carlos Gonzalez

The Seattle Mariners signed outfielder Carlos Gonzalez to a minor league deal on Tuesday that will pay him $750,000 if he makes the major league roster. Gonzalez will also receive an invite to big league camp in spring training. The three-time All-Star has a shot to make the team's Opening Day roster, but he will […]

Brendan Rodgers Not Expected To Return Until May

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black said that infielder Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) is still recovering from labrum surgery in his right shoulder and isn't expected to be a factor at the big league level until around May. Until then, some combination of Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson will handle the second base duties. Rodgers hit just […]

Byron Buxton Could Play In Spring Games In Mid-March

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that outfielder Byron Buxton (shoulder) is swinging the bat and is ahead of schedule for what Baldelli expected. The team will play it cautious with the speedy outfielder, but he could get into spring training games by mid-March. The second overall pick in 2012 still has enticing speed and […]