Kenley Jansen Expects To Be Ready For Opening Day

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (back) said he felt good in his return to Grapefruit League action on Thursday night against the Baltimore Orioles and expects to be ready for Opening Day on March 28 next Thursday. Jansen said he didn't feel good until Thursday and that he's been battling lat, shoulder and back […]

Kodai Senga's Ramp-Up Period Could Be Stretched Out

The New York Mets are considering having right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) throw on a once-every-six-days schedule once he's able to ramp up and pitch in games, which means what would for some pitchers be a six-week ramp-up, might last a little longer for Senga. "I feel good. I feel ready," Senga said through an interpreter. […]

NFL Won't Ban The "Tush Push" In 2024

The NFL is leaving the "tush push" as a legal play for the 2024 season. NFL executive Troy Vincent said on Thursday that there will not be any proposal presented this offseason to ban the play for next season. "The Eagles," Vincent said on a conference call, "do it well." The Eagles offense ran the […]

Dolphins Hope To Sign Odell Beckham Jr.

The Miami Dolphins' meeting with free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. went well on Thursday, according to a team source. The Dolphins were pleased with how the meeting went and hope to sign Beckham. The 31-year-old former 12th overall pick by the New York Giants in 2014 out of LSU won't return to Baltimore after […]

Oliver Ortega Undergoes Surgery, Shut Down 3-4 Months

Houston Astros relief pitcher Oliver Ortega (elbow) underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow on Thursday and is expected to be shut down for three to four months, according to the team. Ortega will miss most of the 2024 campaign now. The 27-year-old Dominican hurler made 10 relief appearances for the Minnesota […]

Alek Manoah To Throw Live Batting Practice Friday

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in camp on Friday. Manoah's live BP session on Friday will be the first time facing hitters since he came down with right-shoulder soreness at the beginning of March. The 26-year-old doesn't have any structural damage in his arm, […]

Jordan Romano A Day Or Two Away From Throwing

While Toronto Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson (forearm) played catch in camp on Thursday and felt good, closer Jordan Romano (elbow) is still a day or two away from throwing. The Blue Jays are expected to make decisions on their availability for the beginning of the 2024 regular season by Monday. Opening Day is next […]

Wade Miley Scratched On Thursday

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Wade Miley (groin) was scratched from Thursday night's Cactus League appearance versus the San Francisco Giants due to groin tightness. Miley will throw a bullpen session on Thursday without the up and downs instead and might try to pitch in a spring game this weekend. He said he was going to start […]

Bowden Francis Makes Blue Jays Rotation

The Toronto Blue Jays informed right-hander Bowden Francis on Thursday that he has made their Opening Day starting rotation. The Jays are tentatively targeting the fourth game of the season for Francis' first 2024 start on March 31 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Francis is essentially taking Alek Manoah's (shoulder) spot in Toronto's rotation to […]

Alec Marsh Wins Rotation Spot For Royals

Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh has been named the team's fifth starter to open the 2024 season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Right-hander Jordan Lyles will begin the season in the bullpen. We reported on Wednesday that Marsh was the favorite for the No. 5 spot, and now it's official. The 25-year-old earned the […]

Ceddanne Rafaela Playing Second Base Thursday

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela started at second base for the first time this spring in Thursday's Grapefruit League game. The Red Sox have been mixing Rafaela in at second base this spring, but this is his first start at the keystone. The 23-year-old could see more action there for the BoSox early in […]

Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin To Pitch Thursday

Boston Red Sox relievers Kenley Jansen (back) and Chris Martin (groin) are both scheduled to pitch in Thursday night's Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles. Jansen didn't make his Grapefruit League debut until last Friday due to lat tightness this spring and then was scratched from a spring appearance earlier this week due to […]

Dauri Moreta To Miss 14-16 Months After UCL Surgery

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Dauri Moreta (elbow) underwent UCL surgery on Thursday and will miss the next 14 to 16 months. Moreta injured his right elbow earlier this spring and will now miss all of the 2024 season. There's a chance he won't be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign, either, depending on how […]

David Bednar Making Spring Debut Thursday

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 29-year-old reliever came down with lat tightness earlier this month, which is why he hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game until Thursday. Now that he's getting into spring training action, he's optimistic that he'll […]

Kyle Tucker Could Hit Third

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that he's considering hitting outfielder Kyle Tucker third behind outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez this year. Their ability to handle left-handed pitchers factors in, but so does third baseman Alex Bregman's ability to hit with runners in scoring position in the cleanup spot. Tucker still hit in the third-hole 37 […]

Commanders Add James Pierre To Secondary

The Washington Commanders announced on Thursday that they have signed free-agent cornerback James Pierre to an undisclosed deal. Pierre entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic in 2020 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and spent the last four seasons in the Steel City. The 27-year-old defensive back has a total of […]

Patriots Agree With Jaylinn Hawkins On One-Year Deal

The New England Patriots and former Atlanta Falcons/Los Angeles Chargers safety Jaylinn Hawkins agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to a source. Hawkins' deal qualifies for the veteran salary benefit. If he makes the team, he would be paid a base salary based on his credited seasons (four) but count less on […]

Josh Jones Signs With Ravens

Free-agent offensive guard Josh Jones signed an undisclosed deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Jones will head to Baltimore to give the Ravens more offensive line depth after spending the 2023 campaign with the Houston Texans, where played in 13 regular-season games (three starts). The 26-year-old was a third-round selection (72nd overall) by the […]

Giants Restructure Dexter Lawrence's Contract

The New York Giants restructured defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's contract on Thursday to free up some 2024 salary cap space. The move freed up $7.5 million in cap space for the team by converting $10 million of Lawrence's base salary this year into a signing bonus. The 26-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 with […]

Cardinals "Open For Business" With No. 4 Pick In NFL Draft

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort acknowledged that the team is "open for business" when it comes to the No. 4 overall pick in next month's NFL draft. Ossenfort expects talks for the No. 4 overall pick to ramp up at next week's annual league meeting and is willing to listen to any and all […]

Julian Blackmon Visiting With 49ers

Free-agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, according to sources. Blackmon has several suitors this offseason after enjoying a career season in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts, which included 88 tackles (65 solo) five tackles for loss, four interceptions, eight passes defended and two fumble recoveries in 15 starts. […]

Parris Campbell Reaches One-Year Deal With Eagles

Former New York Giants wide receiver Parris Campbell reached an agreement on an undisclosed one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, according to sources. Campbell had a career-high 623 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 63 receptions in his fourth and final year with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 before joining the Giants in […]

Justin Verlander Won't Pitch In Grapefruit League Game

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) faced hitters in camp on Wednesday in a live batting practice session. Verlander looked good while throwing 20 pitches, according to manager Joe Espada. However, Verlander will not pitch in a Grapefruit League game or in the two exhibition contests at Minute Maid Park next week before Opening Day […]

Kevin Gausman May Avoid Injured List Stint

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday as he tries to recover from right-shoulder fatigue that has sidelined him from Grapefruit League action. He reported feeling good afterward and is scheduled to make his spring debut on Monday. If he continues to progress, there's a chance […]

David Bednar "Optimistic" He'll Be Ready For Opening Day

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) threw live batting practice on Monday and said that his next step is likely to appear in games. "I'm staying day-by-day as much as I possibly can," Bednar said. "But each day has been feeling good. I'm optimistic." Bednar has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game this […]

Sonny Gray Could Start On First Road Trip

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) will pitch two innings against minor-league hitters on Friday on a back field at the team's spring training complex. If Gray passes that test, he could be slotted in for his first regular-season start on the team's West coast road trip from March […]

Shohei Ohtani Not Facing Discipline

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league, according to an MLB official. Ohtani's long-time interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following accusations of "massive theft." Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a sacrifice fly in the […]

Robert Suarez Picks Up First Save Of The Season

San Diego Padres right-hander Robert Suarez picked up his first save of the 2024 season in Korea on Thursday in the team's 15-11 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Suarez picked up the save by recording four outs. The 33-year-old gave up one hit and struck out two batters to earn his first save […]

Jonathan Aranda Has Broken Finger

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Jonathan Aranda (finger) has a broken right ring finger and will open the season on the injured list. Aranda injured his finger on Tuesday in camp while fielding a ground ball. The 25-year-old will have surgery to have a pin placed in his broken right ring finger and will likely […]

Kodai Senga To Begin Throwing Within A Week

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) is scheduled to begin throwing within a week, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Senga got an MRI exam on Tuesday and doctors cleared him to begin activity. The Mets will wait until he passes their internal strength tests before he does so to make sure he's ready, according […]