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Chris Owings (2B/SS/OF, ARI) – Waiver Wire Pickups
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (elbow) is hoping to play catch around Feb. 6. Morrow had 22 saves in his first season in Chicago in 2018, but his elbow injury cost him the entire second half of the season, and it looks like he won't be ready for Opening Day in 2019. The right-hander... Read More
The Atlanta Braves re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis to a one-year, $6 million deal on Tuesday, according to a source. The 35-year-old will return to Atlanta after earning his first All-Star nod in 2018. He finished with a slash line of .297/.366/.440 with 14 home runs, 93 RBI, 78 runs and one stolen base in 162... Read More
The Texas Rangers agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal will be for less than $5 million and he will be the team's third baseman. With Adrian Beltre a free agent, the Rangers needed to find a third baseman, so Cabrera will fill in at... Read More
The Detroit Tigers invited top pitching prospect Casey Mize to spring training, according to a source. Mize is the team's No. 1 prospect and had a 3.95 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings in five starts in the Rookie League and at High-A Lakeland after being the first overall pick last... Read More
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said second baseman Ketel Marte will play center field and other positions this year. It was the expected course of action with A.J. Pollock to depart in free agency and after the acquisition of infielder Wilmer Flores, who will play the keystone. The position versatility will be nice, but... Read More
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (knee) hinted on Monday that he's open to playing another year after his $60 million, three-year contract is up after the 2020 season. But the catch is that he'd only want to play for St. Louis. The veteran catcher had a bone spur removed from his left knee in... Read More
The St. Louis Cardinals are interested in discussing a contract extension with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt that would keep him with the team past the 2019 season. "Whenever a good player comes to the Cardinals, if they have a year left on their contract, we always think down the road," owner Bill DeWitt said. "We'd... Read More
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who was traded from the New York Yankees on Monday in exchange for second base prospect Shed Long and a competitive-balance draft pick, agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2022 season. He will be paid $30.5 million over three years with... Read More
The Cincinnati Reds officially acquired starting pitcher Sonny Gray from the New York Yankees on Monday in exchange for second base prospect Shed Long, according to league sources. The deal could also include the Reds sending a draft pick to the Yankees, and Cincy could be finalizing an extension for Gray as part of the... Read More
The Minnesota Twins plan to use starting pitcher Martin Perez in their rotation in 2019. It makes the left-hander more attractive for fantasy purposes, but only as a dollar late-round flier in deep AL-only leagues. Perez was 2-7 last year for the Rangers with an ugly 6.22 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 85... Read More
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas said on Sunday that he's open to a possible contract extension before he hits free agency after the 2019 season. He's open to continuing negotiations into the regular season if need be. Mikolas hadn't pitched in the majors since 2014 before last year, and he surprised everyone by... Read More
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who is still only 22, hired a nutritionist in the offseason and has been eating healthier after a challenge from team management after his first full season in the majors. “I feel healthy right now,” Devers said Saturday at the team’s annual Winter Weekend event. I think I’m... Read More
Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (wrist) and starting pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) are both expected to report to spring training without physical limitations. However, both are expected to be eased into the Grapefruit League schedule. Swanson's left wrist bothered him pretty much all year until he was shut down in the final week, and he... Read More
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Cody Allen will be the team's closer in 2019, according to general manager Billy Eppler. “He has a history of pitching in big games and big spots," Eppler said. Allen was recently signed to a one-year deal after a disappointing 4.70 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 2018, although he did... Read More
Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler said designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) will have his next follow-up appointment soon. Ohtani is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but they are unsure beyond that on his timetable for hitting. Ohtani, the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year, won't pitch at all in 2019,... Read More
St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said first baseman Jose Martinez "could play every day" and will push for playing time in 2019. Mozeliak said he expects Martinez to contribute in some way every game. While Martinez hit .305/.364/.457 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI in 2018, he's more suited for a designated... Read More
The Boston Red Sox have had contract-extension talks with shortstop Xander Bogaerts this offseason, according to multiple sources. He can become a free agent after the 2019 season and had a breakout year in 2018, hitting .288 with a .360 on-base percentage, .522 slugging percentage and 23 home runs. Bogaerts makes a lot of contact... Read More
The Los Angeles Dodgers have increasing interest in signing free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock, but there is no indication that any deal is close at this time. Pollock has the ability to play center field and would help balance a lefty-heavy Dodgers lineup. The 31-year-old would be a top-of-the-order hitter for the Blue and provides fantasy... Read More
The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a deal for New York Yankees starting pitcher Sonny Gray on Sunday. Infield prospect Shed Long and a draft pick are expected to be sent to the Yankees, with a possible third piece also involved. Gray struggled mightily in his two seasons with the Yankees and was demoted to the... Read More
The Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with free-agent starting pitcher Martin Perez. The deal also includes a team option for 2020. The 27-year-old left-hander has pitched the last seven seasons with the Rangers and went an ugly 2-7 with a 6.22 ERA in 2018, missing some time with an injury to... Read More
The Cincinnati Reds are making progress in trade talks for New York Yankees starting pitcher Sonny Gray, according to insider Jon Heyman. The Reds are considering dealing two prospects and a draft pick to acquire Gray. The Braves, Brewers and Giants are also thought to be considering a trade for Gray. If Gray were to... Read More
Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said that shortstop Addison Russell is getting a "conditional second chance" after being suspended 40 games last October for violating the league's domestic-violence policy. "If he continues to meet the high standards we’ve laid out for him, put the work in, he will be eligible to return... Read More
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) is set to begin long tossing in a few days and is a week away from throwing a bullpen session for the first time this offseason. The right-hander said being ready for Opening Day is a realistic goal based on his progress so far. The Japanese starter was... Read More
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (shoulder) said he's healthy with spring training approaching. “The shoulder is perfectly healed. Feels great,” Bryant said. “Everything about it feels right back to where I was before.” The star third baseman made two trips to the disabled list due to inflammation in his left shoulder last year that... Read More
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (shoulder) said he feels back to normal already this offseason after dealing with left shoulder fatigue that landed him on the disabled list twice late in the 2018 season. “I feel normal again. I’m able to throw free and easy and feel loose and kind of have that... Read More
The Tampa Bay Rays finalized their one-year, $3.5 million deal with free-agent outfielder Avisail Garcia on Friday. He can earn an extra $2.5 million in performance incentives based on plate appearances. The 27-year-old is convinced his disappointing 2018 campaign was the result of knee and hamstring injuries that caused him to develop bad habits with... Read More
Free-agent relief pitcher Cody Allen is in serious discussions with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year deal, according to sources. The agreement is believed to be in place and is only pending a physical. With Blake Parker now in Minnesota, Allen could be the favorite to close in Anaheim over options like Ty Buttrey,... Read More
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) is "doing great" as he begins his running program this week, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Pedroia's left knee has been an issue since the start of the 2017 season, and he played in just three games in 2018. The veteran believes he'll be... Read More
The New York Yankees are closing in on free-agent relief pitcher Adam Ottavino on Thursday, according to sources. If the agreement is completed, the deal is expected to be in the three-year, $25 million range. Ottavino had an excellent year in 2018 and was Colorado's best reliever, posting a 2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, six saves... Read More
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes (elbow, lat) had a light mound session to work on his mechanics on Tuesday during the team's instructional league in Florida. “Alex has continued steady progress with his throwing progression,” general manager John Mozeliak shared in an email after Reyes’ workout. “He is utilizing our ‘Pitching and Performance Staff’... Read More
