Teams Are Showing Interest In Hunter Renfroe

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that trade interest in San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe has picked up. With the Padres agreeing to terms with first baseman Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers will now move to a corner outfield spot. With Manuel Margot patrolling center field, that leaves a battle between Renfroe and Jose Pirela […]

Angels Add Chris Carter on Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Chris Carter to a minor league deal on Sunday. Carter will effectively take the place of recently-traded first baseman C.J. Cron, who was dealt to the Rays on Saturday. Carter will compete with Jefry Marte, Luis Valbuena and Albert Pujols for at-bats at first base and […]

Scott Kazmir Says He's Fully Healthy

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Scott Kazmir, 34, said he's fully healthy and is ready to surprise people in 2018. The former three-time All-Star left-hander is determined to win a spot in the starting rotation this spring. He'll be competing with young pitchers Luiz Gohara, Max Fried and Sean Newcomb for the final two spots in […]

Rays To Open Season With Four-Man Rotation

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team will open the year with a four-man rotation that will last until mid-May, which means starting pitcher Matt Andriese will work out of the bullpen in a mult-inning role to begin the season. This isn't good for Andriese to begin the year, but the trade of […]

Guillermo Heredia Could Be Cleared Monday

Seattle Mariners outfielder Guillermo Heredia (shoulder) is set to meet with doctors Monday and could be cleared for full participation in camp. Heredia should be fine for Opening Day unless he has a setback. He has very minimal power, though, and hits way too many groundballs. Heredia also isn't much of a threat to steal […]

Erasmo Ramirez Shut Down For Two Weeks

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez (lat) is dealing with a minor lat strain and has been shut down for two weeks. Ramirez has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day, but this isn't a good start for the right-hander. Ramirez pitched well in the rotation as he returned to his former team, […]

Yasmani Grandal Expected To Be Primary Catcher

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal is expected to see the majority of playing time behind the dish in 2018 over Austin Barnes, according to manager Dave Roberts. "Yasmani obviously had more opportunities, more at-bats, more playing time [in 2017]— and I see that again," Roberts said. "But Austin has earned the right to get […]

Chris Owings, Socrates Brito Behind In Camp

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Chris Owings (finger) and outfielder Socrates Brito (pinkie) are slightly behind their teammates in camp, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Owings needed a second surgery on his fractured right middle finger in November, but he's on track for Opening Day. Brito injured his finger in winter ball in the Dominican and is […]

Yasmany Tomas Cleared For Workouts

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Yasmany Tomas (hernia) has been cleared for workouts in camp by the team's medical staff after a pair of core muscle/sports hernia surgeries last year, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Tomas likely was never fully healthy in 2017, and his season officially ended in July, as he finished with a .241 average, […]

Ian Desmond Expected To Mainly Play Left Field

Colorado Rockies first baseman/outfielder Ian Desmond said he's expected to mostly play left field this year. "I will be ready to play first base if they need me to, but right now, from what I understand it’s going to be mostly left field," Desmond said. Pegged as a breakout candidate with the move to Coors […]

Kirby Yates Has Twisted Ankle

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Kirby Yates (ankle) is dealing with a twisted ankle, but the injury isn't believed to be a long-term one. Yates was extremely effective for the Friars in 2017, posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 56 2/3 frames. He misses plenty of bats, but the home run […]

Wil Myers Expected To Play Right Field

San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers will take fly balls in right and left field this spring, but the majority of his playing time will be in right field, where he played with the Rays. Outfielders Jose Pirela and Hunter Renfroe will be in competition for the left field job. With the signing of first […]

Kevin Siegrist Scouted By Mets

The New York Mets have scouted free-agent relief pitcher Kevin Siegrist, according to a source. The Mets are still in the market for relievers and could use a lefty specialist in their bullpen. Siegrist was a dominant lefty arm in recent seasons, but his value is down this offseason after he posted a 4.81 ERA […]

Robbie Erlin, Colin Rea Hoping To Compete For Rotation Spots

San Diego Padres starting pitchers Robbie Erlin (elbow) and Colin Rea (elbow) are taking things cautiously in camp this year as they come back from Tommy John surgery, but they are both among the 10 candidates vying for the team's five starting rotation spots. "Both of those guys, we like where they are right now," […]

Joe Mauer Wants To Stay With Twins

Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer, who is in the final year of an eight-year, $184 million deal, would like to continue his playing career with the Twins after the 2018 season. “If I can still contribute, I’m planning to keep going. I’d like that. I really enjoy playing this game, and I want to […]

Gleyber Torres 100 Percent Healthy

New York Yankees shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres (elbow) has been in camp with the team and is 100 percent healthy after having Tommy John surgery last year on his non-throwing elbow. Manager Aaron Boone said Torres has no restrictions in camp. Torres hit .287/.383/.480 in 55 games in the minors last year and has a […]

Shohei Ohtani Will Pinch Run And Pinch Hit

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani will be available to pinch run and pinch hit on days that he isn't pitching. “Normally I would never have a pitcher pinch run but with three-man bench we’re gonna tap into Shohei’s ability to come off bench," Scioscia said. Ohtani is the […]

Felix Hernandez Throws First Bullpen

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez said he felt good after throwing 27 pitches in his first bullpen session Saturday. He is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on March 3 against the Cubs. King Felix is far from the fantasy ace he once was, as he made just 16 starts last season due […]

Scooter Gennett Wins Arbitration Case

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett won his salary arbitration case and will earn $5.7 million in 2018 instead of the $5.1 million the Reds proposed. Gennett was one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball in 2017, going from being a pinch hitter to one of the most productive second basemen in the […]

Jake Faria And Matt Andriese In Position To Benefit From Jake Odorizzi Trade

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitchers Jake Faria and Matt Andriese are set to benefit from the trade of Jake Odorizzi to the Twins. It had appeared that they would battle for the fifth spot in the rotation but now there is possibly room for both of them. They will be chased by prospects, which will […]

Nathan Eovaldi Appears To Be In Good Spot To Make Rotation

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi missed all of the 2017 major league season after Tommy John surgery. He has talent but has been erratic so far in his career. In 2014, he gave up a league-high 223 hits but only walked 43 batters in 199 2/3 innings with a record of 6-14. In […]

C.J. Cron Traded To Tampa Bay, Rays Designate Corey Dickerson For Assignment

The Los Angeles Angels traded first baseman C.J. Cron to Tampa Bay for a minor leaguer to be named later. Cron hit .248 with a career-high matching 16 homers, 56 RBI and a .742 OPS in 100 games last season. The Rays also designated All-Star outfielder Corey Dickerson for assignment in a corresponding move. Dickerson started off […]

Eric Hosmer Signs With San Diego

The San Diego Padres signed free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer to an eight-year deal worth $144 million. The deal is front loaded towards the first five seasons, and Hosmer will be able to opt out in the offseason after that fifth year. Hosmer hit .318/.385/.498 with 31 doubles, 25 homers, 94 RBI, 98 runs and […]

Jake Odorizzi Traded To Minnesota For Minor Leaguer

The Tampa Bay Rays traded starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi to Minnesota for a Single-A shortstop by the name of Jermaine Palacios. Odorizzi was the Rays No. 2 starter who went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts with the Rays last year. He punched out 127 batters in 143 1/3 innings. Minnesota also represents a […]

Rangers No Longer Signing Seung-hwan Oh

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that the Texas Rangers have called off a previously reported deal with free-agent relief pitcher Seung-hwan Oh after an MRI discovered damage in his throwing arm. This will have major consequences for the Texas bullpen, as Oh was expected to serve as the either the team's closer or eighth-inning setup man. […]

Rajai Davis Signs With Cleveland

The Cleveland Indians signed outfielder Rajai Davis to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Davis has an opt-out in his deal that allows him to become a free agent again on March 22 if he has not been added to the 40-man roster by then. Now 37, Davis will try to […]

Dustin Pedroia Feels Great

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) said he's been feeling great after his knee surgery. "I feel great. I don’t hurt. I’m ready...It’s been pretty enjoyable to not be in pain," Pedroia said. It's good news to see that the veteran is feeling good, but Boston will surely play it safe and slow […]

Chris Tillman Expected To Make Decision Soon

Free-agent starting pitcher Chris Tillman is expected to sign with a team in the next 48 to 72 hours, and he's had significant talks with the Orioles, Twins and two other teams, according to an industry source. There remains mutual interest between Tillman and the Orioles in a reunion. Baltimore remains focused on adding to […]

Manny Machado Reiterates Desire To Move To Shortstop

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said shortstop is where his heart is and playing there will play a role as he approaches free agency next offseason. The Orioles have not had any extension talks with Machado, but he'd like to remain with the team if possible. Machado has been mentioned heavily in trade talks […]

Tony Watson Agrees To Terms With Giants

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the San Francisco Giants have finalized a contract with free-agent relief pitcher Tony Watson. It has been rumored over the last couple of weeks that this could be a match, and the Giants have found a way to stay under the luxury tax, according to Heyman. Watson started […]