Yankees No. 5 Rotation Job Up For Grabs

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the team's No. 5 rotation spot will be decided between pitchers Jordan Montgomery, Michael King, Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa and Deivi Garcia, calling it an "open competition." This comes with the news that James Paxton (back) will miss three to four months after undergoing surgery. Montgomery […]

Shane Greene Loses Arbitration Case

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Shane Greene lost his salary arbitration case against the team, according to a source. He'll earn $6.25 million in 2020 instead of the $6.75 million he requested. Greene put up a nice 2.30 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with the Tigers and Braves in 65 relief appearances last year. The right-hander also […]

James Paxton Out 3-4 Months

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy with the removal of a peridiscal cyst on Wednesday and will be out roughly three to four months. It's a severe blow to New York's rotation and Paxton's fantasy value in 2020. The Bombers rotation consists of Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, Masahiro […]

Jose Leclerc To Enter Camp As Closer

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc will open spring training as the team's closer. “To the degree that we are putting the bullpen on paper today, I’d put him down at the back,” general manager Jon Daniels said recently. However, Daniels hedged his comments by saying that Leclerc and his swing-and-miss stuff might play better […]

Felix Pena Cleared To Throw Off Mound

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena (knee), who is working his way back from a torn ACL last year, has been cleared to throw off a mound. Pena made just 22 appearances in 2019 (seven starts) before his knee injury, and he struggled with a 4.58 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 101 and […]

Ross Stripling Also Heading To Angels

The Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers are still working to finalize their deal that is now expected to include starting pitcher Ross Stripling. The Dodgers would send outfielder Joc Pederson and Stripling to the Halos for middle infielder Luis Rengifo and two prospects, but there are still a lot of moving parts here. […]

Braves Not Actively Pursuing Kris Bryant

There have been no recent trade talks between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves involving third baseman Kris Bryant. The Braves have been rumored to be interested in trading for Bryant ever since they failed to re-sign Josh Donaldson. Bryant also became more attractive as a trade commodity when he lost his service-time grievance against […]

Red Sox Getting Alex Verdugo, Brusdar Graterol

The Boston Red Sox are acquiring outfielder Alex Verdugo and pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol in exchange for outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price in a three-team blockbuster trade involving the Dodgers and Twins, according to sources. With Betts now out of Beantown, Verdugo will join Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi in the […]

Twins Set To Acquire Kenta Maeda In Blockbuster Trade

The Minnesota Twins will acquire starting pitcher Kenta Maeda from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster three-team deal that also involves outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price going from the Red Sox to the Dodgers, according to sources. With Price joining the Dodgers rotation, Maeda is being shipped out. The Japanese right-hander […]

Joc Pederson Heading To Angels In Trade

The Los Angeles Angels will acquire outfielder Joc Pederson from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for infielder Luis Rengifo, according to sources. With the Dodgers reportedly acquiring Mookie Betts and David Price on Tuesday night, Pederson and Alex Verdugo (heading to Boston) were expendable. Pederson hit .249/.339/.538 with a career-high 36 home runs and […]

Dodgers Agree To Acquire Mookie Betts, David Price

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox that would send All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price to the Dodgers, according to sources familiar with the deal. The deal is pending medical reviews and could involve a third team. Significant money will be going the way […]

Yonder Alonso Signs With Braves

The Atlanta Braves signed first baseman Yonder Alonso to a minor league deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Alonso hit an atrocious .199/.296/.346 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 121 games between the White Sox and Rockies last season. After clubbing a career-high 28 homers with the A's and Mariners as an […]

Cubs Considering Jason Kipnis

The Chicago Cubs have been in contact with second baseman Jason Kipnis, who is a Chicago native. The Cubs may have an opening at second base this season, so Kipnis would make sense, although he might be better off as a platoon guy after slugging .446 against right-handers last year with the Indians compared to […]

Wilmer Flores Heading To San Francisco

The San Francisco Giants agreed to a multi-year deal with infielder Wilmer Flores on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Flores hit .317/.361/.487 with the Diamondbacks in 2019 and could play either second base or a utility role for the Giants in 2020. He'll be competing with the likes of Mauricio Dubon, Donovan […]

Rangers Sign Greg Bird

The Texas Rangers signed first baseman Greg Bird to a minor league deal on Tuesday. The deal will include an invite to spring training. If Bird can manage to stay healthy -- he's played in only 92 games the last two seasons with the Yankees combined due to multiple injuries -- he should have a […]

Astros Make Offer To Hunter Pence

The Houston Astros have made an offer to outfielder Hunter Pence, according to MLB sources. Pence was drafted by Houston and played for them from 2007 to 2011. He's a four-time All-Star, including in 2019 with the Rangers when he hit .297 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI in a resurgent season. The 36-year-old […]

Sean Rodriguez Signs With Marlins

The Miami Marlins agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Sean Rodriguez on Tuesday, according to a source. The 34-year-old played every position in 2019 for the Phillies except catcher, and he even threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings on the mound. That's about where the good ended for S-Rod, though, as he hit only […]

Diamondbacks Sign Jon Jay, Edwin Jackson

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jon Jay and pitcher Edwin Jackson to minor league deals on Monday. Jay will make $1.5 million if he's on the major league roster with another $1.75 million in incentives, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale. The 34-year-old (35 in March) played in just 47 games for the White Sox […]

Mariners Sign Marco Gonzales To Extension

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract extension with starting pitcher Marco Gonzales on Monday. The extension will begin in 2021 and contains a team option for the 2025 season. He'll make $1 million this year in the final year of his two-year deal. The left-hander was tied for the American League […]

Luke Voit Fully Recovered From Core Surgery

New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit is reportedly in the best shape of his life after recovering from core surgery this offseason. Plenty of players report being in unusually great shape coming into spring training, but it's significant that Voit feels good. Core injuries pushed Voit’s hard-hit rate down to a career-worst 89.7 mph […]

Twins Could Be Interested In Taijuan Walker

The Minnesota Twins could be interested in signing starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. The Mariners are also known to be interested in a reunion with the former first-round pick. Walker, 27, has made just four starts over the last two seasons because of Tommy John […]

Twins Add Jhoulys Chacin

The Minnesota Twins signed starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Sunday. Chacin was 3-12 with a rough 6.01 ERA with the Brewers and Red Sox in 2019, but the 32-year-old has been in the league for 11 years and should provide a nice veteran presence […]

Mookie Betts Expected To Be Traded

Trade talks involving Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts continue to progress, and it's now expected that he's traded either Monday or Tuesday. There seems to be good momentum for the Dodgers landing the superstar outfielder, but the Padres are still in the mix and were still talking to Boston as of Sunday. If he […]

Mets Not Discussing Trades For Dominic Smith

The New York Mets currently don't have any active trade talks involving first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith, according to sources. The assumption is that Smith would be a likely trade candidate now that the Mets signed first baseman Matt Adams on Friday. They also have All-Star Peter Alonso entrenched as the everyday starter at the position. […]

Melky Cabrera Wants To Play Another Couple Years

Free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera is interested in playing for another couple of years. Cabrera played in 133 games for the Pirates last season and was productive, hitting .280/.313/.399 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 378 at-bats. The 35-year-old switch-hitter typically hits for a high average with his high-contact profile -- he's a career […]

Cubs, Rockies Have Discussed Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado Swap

The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies have discussed a one-for-one trade that would send third baseman Kris Bryant to Colorado in exchange for Nolan Arenado. The Rockies would pay at least some of Arenado's salary ($234 million over the next seven years) in the proposed deal. Apparently Arenado would also love to play for the […]

Dodgers Won't Deal Gavin Lux To Land Mookie Betts

The Los Angeles Dodgers will not trade shortstop prospect Gavin Lux (baseball's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline) in order to land Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, but they are willing to deal outfielder Alex Verdugo. The depth that the Dodgers have in their minor league system is why they are a serious contender […]

Mets Sign Matt Adams to Minor League Contract

The Mets signed first baseman Matt Adams to a minor league contract on Friday, also extending him an invite to 2020 spring training. In 2019, Adams hit .226 with 20 home runs and 56 RBI with the Nationals. If he makes the MLB roster, Adams would serve as first base insurance for the Mets and […]

Derek Holland Signs With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed pitcher Derek Holland to a minor league deal on Friday, according to an industry source. He'll receive an invite to spring training and can opt out of his deal if he's not on the Opening Day roster. Holland made 51 relief appearances for the Cubs and Giants in 2019, posting an […]

Curtis Granderson Hangs Up His Cleats

Former New York Yankees and New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson announced his retirement on Friday after a successful 16-year career. The 38-year-old was a lifetime .249 hitter with 344 home runs and 937 RBI. He began his career with the Tigers and also played for the Blue Jays, Brewers and Marlins. Grandy hit just […]