Blake Snell, Brendan McKay Haven't Been Throwing Off A Mound

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitchers Blake Snell (elbow) and Brendan McKay (shoulder) are among the two-thirds of the team's pitchers that haven't been throwing off a mound during the coronavirus shutdown. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder hasn't seen video of either pitcher, but he expects them to be ready to go with "zero limitations" whenever the […]

James Paxton Adding Fastball Spin

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton has altered his fastball grip to produce a higher spin rate with the pitch. Paxton tends to throw his fastball up in the zone, and the pitch is complemented by a solid curveball. As a result, if Paxton successfully adds spin to his fastball then he’s likely to […]

Phillies Expected To Conduct Spring Training At Home Park

The Philadelphia Phillies are another team that is expected to conduct a shortened spring training at their home stadium at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Several MLB teams have already opened their home stadiums to players on the 40-man roster for limited workouts during the coronavirus pandemic. Nothing is official yet, but the league is […]

Scooter Gennett Content To Sit Out 2020 Season

Free-agent second baseman Scooter Gennett said that he's fine with sitting out the 2020 season. Gennett hasn't gotten what he considers a fair offer for his services on the open market this year. The 30-year-old made the All-Star team two years ago with the Cincinnati Reds when he hit .310 (second in the league) with […]

Diamondbacks Opening Stadium For Workouts

The Arizona Diamondbacks are opening Chase Field on Friday for individual workouts for the first time since baseball was shut down due to COVID-19. Several players arrived on Thursday for workouts at the team's spring training facilities at the Salt River Fields. Players are preparing for a potential spring training 2.0 that would take place […]

Cardinals Reopen Spring Facility; No Furloughs Planned

The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have reopened their spring training facility (Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida) for "very limited" access to baseball activities. They have also notified all full-time staff that they will continue to be paid their full salaries through the end of June, and that there are no planned […]

Giancarlo Stanton Taking Batting Practice

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) has been taking batting practice as he continues to recover from a calf strain suffered early in spring training. The Yankees have been optimistic that Stanton would be healthy for the start of the season, and taking BP is a strong sign in that direction. Stanton is sometimes […]

Aaron Judge Not Yet Swinging

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has yet to resume swinging, indicating that he still hasn’t had an additional CT scan. Judge is scheduled to undergo a CT scan sometime soon, but he hasn’t swung pain-free since the beginning of spring training and is unlikely to start swinging before getting a clean scan. Until […]

Brent Honeywell Undergoes Another Elbow Surgery

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brent Honeywell (elbow) underwent a decompression procedure on his right ulnar nerve on Wednesday in Los Angeles. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. The Rays are saying that scar tissue was removed from the area of the nerve. Honeywell is scheduled to begin strength and mobility exercises on […]

Rays Opening Stadium For Player Workouts Next Week

The Tampa Bay Rays will open Tropicana Field on Monday, May 25, for limited and mostly individual player workouts. It will be the first official action at a team facility since March 17 during an optional workout at the Port Charlotte spring training facility before it was shut down due to COVID-19. Players will be […]

Kevin Kramer Out 4-6 Months After Surgery

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Kevin Kramer underwent hip surgery and will be out for four to six months. With the 2020 season not likely to start until at least early July because of COVID-19, this effectively will end Kramer's chances of playing this year. The 26-year-old has played in only 43 major league games the last […]

Tim Melville Released

The Colorado Rockies released starting pitcher Tim Melville on Monday after he bounced around in the minors for most of his time with the team. Melville was recalled by the Rockies late last season and went 2-3 with a 4.86 ERA in seven starts. The 30-year-old right-hander was on a minor league contract in 2020 […]

Starling Marte's Wife Dies Of Heart Attack

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Starling Marte announced on his social media on Monday that his wife, Noelia, has died of a heart attack. "It is a moment of indescribable pain. On behalf of my family, I am grateful for the expressions of esteem and solidarity in this difficult time," Marte wrote. The 31-year-old outfielder was traded […]

Francisco Rodriguez Not Ready To Retire

Free-agent relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez last pitched in the major leagues for the Detroit Tigers in June of 2017, but he's hoping to make his way back onto a major league roster. The 38-year-old has pitched in the Nationals minor league system, an independent team in the United State and in Mexico since his release […]

Bartolo Colon Wants To Play One More Season

Free-agent starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, who hasn't thrown a pitch in the major leagues since September of 2018, is hoping to pitch one more season in the majors, and he would prefer it being with the New York Mets if he was given the choice. Colon has pitched 21 seasons in the big leagues and […]

Rich Hill Believes He'll Be Ready If Baseball Returns

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Rich Hill (elbow) believes he'll be ready to go if baseball returns in July. The veteran starter's rehab has been compromised a bit due to the pandemic, though he was able to toss a 65-70 pitch bullpen session earlier on Friday. Injuries have been a concern with Hill- he's missed time […]

Jordan Hicks Could Be Ready To Go Shortly After Season Starts

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks (elbow), who likely would've been out until at least the All-Star break under a normal season in 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last June, could be back within a short time from the start of a reconfigured 2020 season. The 23-year-old has been […]

Blake Snell Not Willing To Take Less Pay For More Risk

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell said the risk of returning to play in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic is "just not worth it," at least not for significantly less than his original $7 million salary for this season. "Y’all gotta understand, man, for me to go, for me to take a pay cut […]

Aaron Hicks Swinging

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (elbow) has been swinging a bat and working through a throwing program as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The Yankees are optimistic that Hicks can be major league ready by this summer, and his progress so far suggests that he’s comfortably on pace for that target. If Hicks […]

James Paxton Throwing Simulated Games

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) has been throwing simulated games as he recovers from offseason back surgery. Paxton’s rehab has gone well so far, and it seems like the 31-year-old is in line to be healthy for Opening Day, whenever that may be. When healthy, Paxton is a solid fantasy option who […]

Aaron Judge Expected To Be Ready This Summer

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has continued to heal from a stress fracture in his rib and is expected to be ready at some point this summer after undergoing additional tests. That the Yankees are relatively optimistic about Judge’s chances of playing this season after he’s had additional tests is encouraging, but fantasy […]

Matt Harvey Still Trying For A Comeback

Free-agent starting pitcher Matt Harvey, who worked out for the Blue Jays in February but wasn't offered a contract, is still looking for a new team in 2020. Harvey's chances of landing with another team this year have been hurt by COVID-19. He's still only 31 years old and now injury-free, but Harvey admits he's […]

World Baseball Classic Being Moved To 2023

The World Baseball Classic is going to be moved from March of 2021 to March of 2023, pending approval by the tournament board, according to a source. One source said "it is not a priority right now" amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the country. The tournament had been set for March 9-23 in 2021 in […]

Owners Approve 2020 Season Proposal

Major League Baseball owners have approved a proposal that commissioner Rob Manfred plans to present to players on Tuesday on a return-to-play scenario that hopes to have baseball back in home stadiums by early July, according to sources familiar with the situation. The meeting between MLB and the Players Association on Tuesday will set the […]

MLB Draft Will Be Only Five Rounds

The 2020 Major League Baseball draft will only be five rounds, according to sources. All of the players who go undrafted will be eligible to sign for a maximum of $20,000. There was a proposal to the union for the draft to extend to 10 rounds, but the sides couldn't come to an agreement. A […]

Justin Turner Hasn't Talked Extension With Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said that he hasn't discussed a contract extension with the team with the season currently postponed due to COVID-19. Turner, 35, is heading into the final year of his deal in 2020, so there's a chance he could move on from LA without playing at all this year […]

Adam Wainwright Still Wants To Play

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright said that "as long as (the Cardinals) will have me, I'd love to play again next year." Wainwright is 38 years old and is preparing to enter his 15th season with the Cardinals in 2020 if the season ever gets underway. The veteran right-hander isn't the All-Star he […]

Forrest Whitley Wasn't Ready This Spring

Houston Astros starting pitching prospect Forrest Whitley, who is the team's only consensus top-100 prospect in 2020, was "not physically ready" to compete for a major league role when he arrived to spring training, according to pitching coach Brent Strom. The former first-round pick (17th overall) in 2016 has been slowed by injury, ineffectiveness and […]

Astros Interested In Extension For George Springer

Houston Astros owners Jim Crane "made it clear" to outfielder George Springer and his representatives that the team is interested in a contract extension. Springer will become a free agent after the 2020 season, and he'll be one of the most coveted free-agent outfielders, alongside Mookie Betts, if he reaches the open market. The 30-year-old […]

Edwin Diaz Throws To Live Batters On Thursday

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz continued to prepare for the 2020 season by throwing to live batters on Thursday in Puerto Rico. His fastball reportedly hit 97 mph and his slider reached 91 mph. Diaz had a disastrous 2019 in which he posted a 5.59 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP to go with seven […]