Yoshinobu Yamamoto To Start Cactus League Opener On Thursday

The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reports that Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make the start in the team's Cactus League opener on Thursday versus the Chicago Cubs. Yamamoto is also expected to start L.A.'s regular-season opener in Tokyo, Japan, against the same Cubs on March 18 and be opposed by fellow countryman Shota Imanaga. […]

Hurston Waldrep Bringing His Curveball Back

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Justin Toscano writes that Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep is working to bring his curveball back this spring. Waldrep, the team's first-round selection in 2023, has a fastball, elite splitter and a slider that he's developed, in addition to the curve that he's reintroducing in spring training. It should give the […]

Sean Murphy Eager To Rebound In 2025

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is eager for a rebound in 2025 after a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw him slash just .193/.284/.352 with 10 home runs, 25 RBI and 19 runs scored in 233 at-bats. But it was only the year prior in 2023 that he was the National League's starting catcher in the […]

Buck Farmer Joins Braves Bullpen

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent veteran reliever Buck Farmer to a minor-league deal last Sunday, and he was immediately at Braves camp on Monday. Farmer will help make up for the losses of right-hander Joe Jimenez (knee), who could miss all of 2025 after having knee surgery last October, and left-hander A.J. Minter, who signed […]

Chris Sale To Start Grapefruit League Opener On Saturday

The Athletic's David O'Brien reports that Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale will start this year's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. Barring an unexpected development, Sale, last year's National League Cy Young winner, will also start the regular-season opener on March 27 at the San Diego Padres. Sale was amazing in his […]

Aaron Judge Open To Playing In 2026 World Baseball Classic

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge said he's open to playing in next year's World Baseball Classic, which would be his first time participating in the event. "I think that'd be pretty fun. It'd be cool to represent your country. [Team USA] made it to the finals, but they didn't win it. So we gotta […]

Jacob Melton Dealing With Mild Back Soreness

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that outfield prospect Jacob Melton (back) is dealing with some mild back soreness at camp. We can probably consider Melton day-to-day for now. The 24-year-old could be delayed getting into Grapefruit League games in spring training, but it doesn't sound like an injury that will cause him to get […]

Jose Altuve To Play Outfield In First Spring Game

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday that second baseman Jose Altuve will play the outfield in his first Grapefruit League game. Altuve will work exclusively with the outfielders the next four to five days. Even though the Astros didn't re-sign Alex Bregman, it looks like the 34-year-old All-Star could still make the move […]

Chargers To Play In Brazil In Week 1 In 2025

The NFL announced on Wednesday that the Los Angeles Chargers have been selected as the NFL's designated team for the second-ever regular-season game in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as part of the international game slate for the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Chargers' opponent on Friday, Sept. 5, will be announced at a […]

Raiders Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Tre'von Moehrig

Las Vegas Raiders impending free-agent safety Tre'von Moehrig is expected to generate plenty of interest in free agency this offseason after recording career-highs in tackles (104), pass breakups (10) and QB hits (three) in 17 starts in his fourth year in the NFL with the Raiders. Moehrig is among the free agents that the Raiders […]

Colts Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Dayo Odeyingbo

ESPN's Stephen Holder writes that it's unlikely the Indianapolis Colts will commit more than $20 million to impending free-agent defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo via the franchise tag when they already have a lot invested in their defensive line, even though Odeyingbo led the Colts with 33 QB pressures in 2024 and has 16 sacks in […]

Eagles Release Nick Gates

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they have released center Nick Gates (groin). In his lone season with the Eagles in 2024, Gates played in only nine games (one start) and finished the year on Injured Reserve due to a groin injury. The 29-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Nebraska was a reserve […]

49ers Release Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

The San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) on Tuesday. Flannigan-Fowles played in only 12 games (three starts) for the 49ers in 2024 due to a calf injury but was a core special teams player for the organization who played in 73 games in the last five seasons after entering the league as an […]

Browns Release Nyheim Hines

The Cleveland Browns released running back Nyheim Hines (knee) on Tuesday. Hines has not played in an NFL game due to a torn ACL since 2022, when he split time with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills. The Browns were hoping that the 28-year-old would be ready at some point in 2024, but that never […]

Chris Godwin's Void Date On Contract Is Extended

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) agreed on Tuesday to move the void date of his current contract to the final day of the new league year on March 12. Godwin's previous contract was due to void soon, which would have triggered $18 million in dead money against the team's 2025 […]

Raiders Sign Kyle Philips

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free-agent wide receiver Kyle Philips to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Philips, a former fifth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of UCLA will head to the AFC West after spending all of the 2024 campaign on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022 and 2023, […]

Byron Murphy Cannot Receive Franchise Tag

The Minnesota Vikings and cornerback Byron Murphy agreed to a contract restructure on Tuesday that will push back the void date on his contract to the day before the start of the new league year, a league source told ESPN's Dan Graziano. It means that the Vikings cannot use the franchise tag on Murphy in […]

Ravens Have Had "Zero Tolerance" For Sexual-Misconduct Situations

The Baltimore Ravens are letting the NFL's investigation play out before making a decision on kicker Justin Tucker, who has been accused by 16 massage therapists of improper sexual conduct. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh said before the 2022 season that "we're kind of zero tolerance" with players accused of sexual misconduct. Tucker has three […]

Broncos Could Try To Sign Zack Baun In Free Agency

The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that the Denver Broncos could look to sign Philadelphia Eagles impending free-agent linebacker Zack Baun this offseason. Baun was a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2020 when Sean Payton was still the head coach. He didn't have a single sack in his first three NFL seasons as […]

Broncos Could Target Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill

The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton could target New Orleans Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill (knee) this offseason. Johnson signed with the Saints when Payton was still the head coach in 2020 and had seven touchdowns in Payton's final season in 2022. The 28-year-old played in […]

Jameson Taillon Hoping To Regain Some Velocity

Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon threw long toss like he did in his high-school days this offseason in hopes of being able to regain some velocity heading into the 2025 season. The 33-year-old veteran had one of the better seasons of his eight-year MLB career last year in Chicago, going 12-8 with a 3.27 ERA […]

Cubs Could Pair Justin Turner, Michael Busch At First Base

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney writes that the Chicago Cubs could pair the recently-signed Justin Turner, who hits right-handed, with left-handed-hitting Michael Busch at first base in 2025 while also getting him additional at-bats as the designated hitter. Turner has mainly played third base in his 16-year MLB career, but it's unclear how much the Cubs […]

Will Smith Won't Play Until Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher Will Smith (ankle) probably won't make his Cactus League debut until next week. Smith is dealing with a minor ankle injury, but the Dodgers aren't going to push him early on in spring training. The 29-year-old has been able to catch bullpen sessions and take batting […]

Joe Ross Being Built Up As A Starter

The Philadelphia Phillies are building up right-hander Joe Ross as a starting pitcher in spring training in case he's needed to begin the 2025 regular season in the rotation due to an injury. But if pitchers Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez are all healthy heading into Opening Day in […]

Shota Imanaga Named Opening Day Starter

The Chicago Cubs announced on Tuesday that left-hander Shota Imanaga will start on Opening Day on March 18 in Tokyo, Japan, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Imanaga exceeded expectations in his first year in the big leagues in 2024, making the All-Star team while going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.02 WHIP and […]

Transition Tag More Plausible For Trey Smith

Both ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adam Teicher think it's unlikely that the Kansas City Chiefs would place the franchise tag on impending free-agent right guard Trey Smith, which would cost just over $25 million in 2025, but Schefter thinks the transition tag is much more plausible. The franchise tag for Smith would make him the […]

Aaron Rodgers Could Jump At The Chance To Play For Rams

ESPN's Adam Schefter believes that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to be a post-June 1 cut by the Jets, would be thrilled by the idea of going to the Los Angeles Rams to play for head coach Sean McVay. However, for that to even be a possibility, the Rams and current […]

Vikings In No Rush To Place Franchise Tag On Sam Darnold

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the Minnesota Vikings are in no rush to place the franchise tag on impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold despite his career year in 2024. It doesn't mean they won't eventually use it on the 27-year-old signal-caller, and it doesn't rule out the team giving him a multi-year extension. Another option […]

Andy Dalton, Panthers Agree On Two-Year Deal

The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Andy Dalton agreed on a two-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday that includes $6 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran signal-caller will remain in Carolina, where he's developed a close relationship with starter Bryce Young. Dalton, 37, ended […]

Bengals Trying To Land Extensions For Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Cincinnati Bengals will attempt to sign wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson to long-term contract extensions this offseason, according to sources. Higgins will hit free agency on March 12, but a team source thinks Cincy will use the franchise tag on him for […]