Jameson Taillon Finishes Strong Spring On High Note

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon appears ready for the regular season after another strong outing on Tuesday in the team's final spring training game. The right-hander tossed three innings of shutout baseball, allowing only two hits and striking out four. He ends the spring with a 2.13 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 1/3 […]

Travis Shaw Poised For Big Year In Milwaukee

Milwaukee Brewers third basemen Travis Shaw is poised for a big year in his second year with the team. After hitting a career-high 31 home runs, 101 RBI and slashing a line of .273/.349/.513, Shaw will look to produce similar numbers behind a much improved Brewers lineup. Shaw is projected to hit cleanup again like […]

Braves and Ronald Acuna Circling Each Other Over Long-Term Deal

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna and his parent club are taking part in the ugly side of the business. The Braves claimed that they talked with him about a deal that would give them control of him through his arbitration years. Acuna denied turning down a deal that would have been worth $30 million. He's […]

Josh Hader Will Get As Many Innings As Possible

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Josh Hader will get as many innings as possible and was referred to as a weapon by Brewers manager Craig Counsell. Hader was brought up through the Brewers organization as a starting pitcher, so he's got the stamina to pitch a ton of innings out of the bullpen. In 47 2/3 innings last […]

Veteran Mike Leake Aims To Bolster Mariners Rotation

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Mike Leake has had an up-and-down spring training, posting a 5.40 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Leake was acquired mid-season from the Cardinals and pitched well, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA for the Mariners in the second half. Leake has spent his entire career in the National League, so a […]

Domingo Santana Will Need To Earn Right Field Spot

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Domingo Santana will need to earn his right field spot this season and will most likely compete with Ryan Braun for time. The acquisitions of Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich this year really cluttered up the Brewers outfield, so it comes as no surprise that there will be some competition. It doesn't […]

Zach Britton Still Progressing Ahead of Schedule

According to Roch Kubatko of MASN.com, manager Buck Showalter was very hesitant to talk about Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton and the status of his rehab from an Achilles injury. It seems like Britton is on track to return earlier than anticipated. If you stashed him away, be ready to activate him sooner than later, […]

Ariel Miranda Hopes To Carry Solid Spring Into The 2018 Season

Seattle Mariners left-hander Ariel Miranda enjoyed a solid spring training, posting a 3.60 ERA in 15 preseason innings. The walks (seven) were on the high side, but he managed to strike out 16 batters. Miranda was at times the ace of the Mariners pitching staff last season after injuries completely depleted the group. This season […]

Lorenzo Cain Projected To Start In Center Field And Lead Off

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain had a solid spring training and will most likely have an everyday role in the outfield, primarily in center field for the Brewers. Cain slashed a solid .419/.479/.535 this spring, which is good news, as the Brewers will almost certainly use Cain as the leadoff hitter this year, so he […]

Edwin Diaz Brings Quality As Mariners Closer

Seattle Mariners closer Edwin Diaz is ready for the regular season after striking out 11 hitters through nine spring training innings. Diaz converted 34 of 38 saves last season, striking out 89 batters through 66 innings. He posted a solid 1.15 WHIP and will be the unquestioned closer to begin the season for Seattle. The […]

Can Kyle Seager Take The Next Step?

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager produced another ho-hum season of 25-plus home runs and 74 or more runs driven in last season. But he hit a career-low .249 and struggled to produce the kind of power numbers the Mariners were hoping for in the first half of the season. After slugging .499 in 2016, […]

Christian Yelich Has Very Strong Spring Training

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich had a very strong spring training in his debut with the Brewers, totaling a .360 batting average, .484 on-base percentage and .560 slugging percentage in 50 at-bats. Yelich also hit two home runs and had 12 RBI. Yelich is pretty much guaranteed to have an everyday position in the outfield, […]

Jonathan Schoop Ready For Regular Season After Hot Spring

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop heads into this season as a hot commodity instead of a sneaky good pick. He showed why this Grapefruit League, bashing six homers. Now the homers are going to really count, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could have over 40 by the end […]

Expectations Need To Be Tempered For Mitch Haniger

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger heads into this season with plenty of national pundits picking him for a breakout season. He certainly has the tools, but Haniger staying healthy all season is an entirely different matter. The Mariners have been cautious with their usage of Haniger this spring, and he hit an uninspiring .200 through […]

Robinson Cano Ready To Roll After Hitting .406 This Spring

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano finished up his spring going 13-for-42 for a .406 batting average. For a veteran like Cano, getting through the preseason healthy is all that really matters. But Cano has been hitting the ball on the screws and looks to improve after a dismal second half to his 2017 season. […]

Trayce Thompson Designated For Assignment, Dodgers Claim Cory Mazzoni

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson was designated for assignment by the team on Tuesday. They now have seven days to trade or release Thompson. If they don't and he clears waivers, he can be sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma. The move was prompted by the Dodgers claiming reliever Cory Mazzoni off waivers from the […]

Mike Zunino Enjoys Solid Spring At The Plate

Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino will head into Opening Day on a nice roll at the plate after hitting .395 in 43 spring at-bats. He hit five home runs, drove in 12 runs and only struck out 11 times. Zunino will be a classic feast-or-famine fantasy gamble after popping 25 home runs and driving in […]

Manny Machado Heads Into Regular Season On Fire

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado is laser-focused. He's not going to let playing a different position affect him as he gears up for his free-agent season. His spring training numbers (.357/3/17) show that. If he stays healthy all season, and there's no reason to think otherwise, he could put up some monster numbers. It's going […]

Taylor Motter Finishes Second On Mariners In Spring RBI

Seattle Mariners infielder Taylor Motter finished up his spring strong, hitting .297 and coming in second on the team with 14 runs batted in. Motter played in 25 spring games, the most on the team, and will need to be more consistent this season to be effective. He started off hot last season, racking up […]

Dan Vogelbach Presents Short-Term Fantasy Option For Opening Week

Seattle Mariners first baseman/designated hitter Dan Vogelbach should see plenty of at-bats in the first week of the season thanks to his sparkling spring training performance. Vogelbach hit .407 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 16 runs batted in through 54 at-bats. Vogelbach should see some time as free-agent acquisition Ryon Healy works his […]

Mark Melancon May Not Be Ready For Opening Day

San Francisco Giants closer Mark Melancon is not a guarantee to be ready for Opening Day on Thursday. Manager Bruce Bochy wouldn’t expand on what is wrong with Melancon, but the closer will play catch on Tuesday and Wednesday. A decision will then be made about his status for Thursday. Melancon is already beginning to […]

Zack Cozart to Hit Leadoff on Tuesday

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Zack Cozart will bat leadoff and play second base in LA's spring training game on Tuesday. Cozart is not expected to hit leadoff or play second regularly, but this provides a good look at the Angels plans on days that Ian Kinsler does not play. The Angels chose not to […]

Jose Ramirez Says He's OK

Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (finger) tweeted "I'm OK" after Tuesday's spring training game. Ramirez was forced to leave the game with a laceration to his left middle finger, putting his Opening Day availability slightly in doubt. Ramirez's tweet doesn't necessarily mean he'll play on Opening Day, but it's certainly a good sign that he won't […]

A.J. Puk Has Elbow Ligament Concerns

Oakland Athletics pitching prospect A.J. Puk could potentially have elbow ligament issues, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports Network. A week ago, Puk was shut down after being diagnosed with biceps soreness. This was after he was having a great spring that gave manager Bob Melvin consideration on whether Puk should stay with the […]

Jeff Samardzija To Begin Playing Catch

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (pectoral) will begin throwing on Wednesday. Samardzija may be ahead of schedule and it’s possible that he only misses a couple of weeks. With Madison Bumgarner (hand) already sidelined, the Giants are hoping to have Samardzija back sooner than later.

Lewis Brinson Makes Marlins Opening Day Roster

Miami Marlins outfielder and top prospect Lewis Brinson will officially open the regular season in the big leagues, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Brinson, who joined the Marlins in the Christian Yelich deal, enjoyed an extremely successful spring training, batting .328 with three homers and 10 RBI. The South Florida native could even begin the […]

Jordan Hicks Makes the Opening Day Roster

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Jordan Hicks has made the Opening Day roster. After his impressive Grapefruit League play, the team decided to bring the 21-year-old along to St. Louis, where he'll reportedly be part of the late-inning mix. On a team without a designated closer, Hicks has the upside to work his way into […]

Rob Refsnyder Traded to the Rays

The Cleveland Indians traded outfielder Rob Refsnyder to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. The move was made necessary when the club acquired left-handed relief pitcher Jack Leathersich off waivers from the Pirates. Refsnyder was hoping to make the Cleveland Opening Day roster as a reserve, but he struggled mightily in Cactus […]

Cleveland Signs Adam Rosales

The Cleveland Indians signed free-agent infielder Adam Rosales to a minor league contract. Rosales was with the Philadelphia Phillies for most of spring training, but was cut last week. He'll provide depth at Triple-A Columbus for now but should see work as a utility infielder in the major leagues at some point this season. He's […]

Brian Ellington Optioned To Triple-A

The Miami Marlins have optioned pitcher Brian Ellington to Triple-A, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. In 2017, Ellington went 1-1 with a 7.25 ERA in 44 innings as part of a very shaky Marlins' bullpen. Ellington enjoyed much better success in 2016 after finishing 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 33 innings. Miami is extremely […]