Homer Bailey Will Start Opening Day

The Cincinnati Reds have tabbed veteran right-hander Homer Bailey as their Opening Day starter according to manager Bryan Price. Many onlookers expected this to be the case based on how the team's starters were arranged but Price made it official on Friday. Price explained his decision by saying, "He's best-suited for it. This is a... Read More

Jason Castro Scratched Due To Lineup Error, Not Injury

Updating a previous report, Minnesota Twins catcher Jason Castro was scratched from Spring Training action on Friday due to a lineup error, not an injury. It appears he was mistakenly put in the starting lineup but was actually scheduled to have the day off. Mitch Garver, who took his place, was the intended starter all... Read More

Jason Castro Scratched Friday

The Minnesota Twins scratched starting catcher Jason Castro from Friday's lineup. The team has not yet offered a reason for why they scratched the veteran backstop. Backup catcher Mitch Garver took Castro's place behind the plate and would presumably assume most of the playing time if this is a multi-day issue for Castro. Castro missed... Read More

Reds Finalize Starting Rotation

The Cincinnati Reds have finalized their starting rotation coming out of Spring Training. The team will go with Homer Bailey, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, and Sal Romano with either Amir Garrett or Brandon Finnegan waiting in the wings as the fifth starter. Cincinnati isn't expected to need a fifth starter at least until April 11.... Read More

Erick Aybar Will Not Make 25-Man Roster

The Minnesota Twins informed shortstop Erick Aybar on Thursday that he will not be including on the 25-man roster for Opening Day. The 34-year-old veteran was in camp on a minor league contract which included an invitation to Spring Training and hit .257 with four runs and five RBI in 35 at-bats. The move signals... Read More

Twins Set Rotation: Jake Odorizzi To Start Opening Day

The Minnesota Twins have tabbed right-hander Jake Odorizzi as their Opening Day starter. Odorizzi, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays, came to Minnesota in an off-season trade and has posted a 2-0 record, 0.87 ERA, and four strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings of work this spring. The Twins will round out their starting rotation with... Read More

Reds Claim Kennys Vargas

The Cincinnati Reds claimed first baseman/designated hitter Kennys Vargas off of waivers on Thursday. Vargas was waived by the Minnesota Twins earlier in the week. Vargas became expendable in Minnesota following the off-season signing of Logan Morrison. Vargas has loads of power in his bat but it is unclear how much playing time he will... Read More

Twins Being Cautious With Eddie Rosario

The Minnesota Twins are still bringing Eddie Rosario (tendinitis) along slowly as he works his way back from triceps tendinitis in his throwing arm. Rosario has yet to play in the field in a game this spring but he did take part in infield drills on Wednesday and, according to reports, Rosario wasn't holding back.... Read More

Trevor May Inching Toward Return From Tommy John Surgery

Minnesota Twins right-hander Trevor May is inching toward a return to the mound. May had Tommy John surgery in March last year, which caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. The 28-year-old has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, as he threw 35 pitches on Tuesday. He is scheduled to throw another 50 pitches on... Read More

Tyler Duffy, Alan Busenitz Optioned To Triple-A

The Minnesota Twins optioned relievers Tyler Duffy and Alan Busenitz to Triple-A on Thursday. The two relievers were key parts of the Minnesota bullpen in 2017, combining to make 84 relief appearances. The Twins focused on strengthening their bullpen this offseason, which pushed Duffy and Busenitz off the big league roster. Neither player helped his... Read More

Michael Lorenzen Strains Muscle

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Michael Lorenzen has strained the teres major muscle near his right shoulder and will not throw for several days. Lorenzen was a candidate to make the starting rotation out of Spring Training but the injury will likely preclude him from further consideration for the rotation. This is the same injury which ended... Read More

Morgan Burnett To Sign With Steelers

Free-agent safety Morgan Burnett is expected to finalize a deal to join the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday morning. The Steelers were expected to make a move to shore up their secondary after releasing safeties Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden earlier in the month. Burnett, who had spent his entire eight-year career with the Packers, is... Read More

Ervin Santana Progressing As Expected

Updating a previous report, Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana is progressing as expected after having surgery on his right middle finger in February. Santana's initial timetable for return was set at eight to 10 weeks but an updated report stated that it may be closer to 12 weeks before he's able to pitch. The veteran... Read More

Nick Gordon Sent To Minors Sunday

The Minnesota Twins optioned shortstop Nick Gordon to minor league camp on Sunday. Gordon had a nice showing this spring, going 9-for-22 for a cool .409 batting average. Gordon has never played above Double-A and wasn't expected to make the big league club coming out of Spring Training. The 22-year-old shortstop is regarded as one... Read More

Brandon Finnegan Threw Bullpen Friday

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan (forearm) threw what was termed a "light bullpen" on Friday. Finnegan left the game last Sunday with spasms in his left forearm, setting off alarms after he was limited to just four starts in 2017. He threw 15 pitches on Friday and is slated to throw again Sunday. If he... Read More

Ervin Santana Still Not Cleared To Throw

Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (finger) has still not been cleared to throw a baseball. Santana had surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand in February and is still in the process of working his way back to the field. According to reports, the swelling has gone down on his knuckle, but doctors... Read More

Steelers Add Jon Bostic

The Pittsburgh Steelers and free-agent linebacker Jon Bostic agreed to a two-year deal on Sunday. Bostic spent the 2017 season with the Indianapolis Colts, appearing in 14 games and notching a career-high 97 total tackles to go along with one sack and one fumble recovery. Bostic will be counted upon to help replace the injured... Read More

Matthew Slater Meets With Steelers

Free agent special teams ace Matthew Slater visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Slater has spent his entire 10-year career with the New England Patriots, making the Pro Bowl as a special teamer seven times. The free agent 32-year-old has been a long-time captain and locker room leader for the Patriots, meaning his loss... Read More

Twins Acquire Jake Cave, Designated Kennys Vargas For Assignment

The Minnesota Twins acquired outfielder Jake Cave from the New York Yankees on Friday, sending right-handed pitcher Luis Gil to New York in exchange. To make room for Cave, the team has designated first baseman Kennys Vargas for assignment. Vargas' days in Minnesota were numbered from the moment they signed Logan Morrison as a free... Read More

Reds Reassign Dilson Herrera, Others

The Cincinnati Reds have reassigned second baseman Dilson Herrera, catcher Chadwick Tromp, and infielder/outfielders Darnell Sweeney and Patrick Kivlehan to minor league camp. Herrera is the biggest name of the group and was once considered the team's second baseman of the future but shoulder surgery in July of 2017 is still preventing him from playing... Read More

Nick Senzel Still Part Of Plans

The Cincinnati Reds and third baseman Eugenio Suarez agreed to a long-term contract extension on Friday. The team announced that Suarez has signed a seven-year, $66 million extension, which will keep him in Cincinnati through the end of the 2024 season. General manager Dick Williams was asked what the extension means for top prospect Nick... Read More

Kennys Vargas Not Expected To Make Final Roster

Minnesota Twins first baseman/designated hitter Kennys Vargas will likely be the odd man out when the team has to trim the roster down to 25 players. Vargas was originally expected to be the team's backup first baseman but the mid-spring signing of Logan Morrison will likely leave Vargas without a spot on the active roster,... Read More

Miguel Sano Scratched With Knee Bruise

The Minnesota Twins scratched third baseman Miguel Sano from the lineup on Friday after he came down with a bruised right knee. Fortunately, the issue is not related to the injury which caused Sano to undergo offseason surgery to have a titanium rod inserted in his left shin. Sano is having a nice spring, batting... Read More

Tyrod Taylor Named Starting Quarterback

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson told the media on Thursday that Tyrod Taylor will be the team's starter in 2018. Jackson went on to state, "He's going to be the starting quarterback. There is no competition." The Browns are widely expected to use one of their first-round picks on a rookie quarterback but it... Read More

Browns Cut Jason McCourty

The Cleveland Browns are releasing cornerback Jason McCourty on Thursday, according to sources. McCourty appeared in 14 games with Cleveland in 2017, his only season with the team. He was far and away the team's best cornerback and finished the season with 65 total tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and 14 passes defended. The... Read More

Fitzgerald Toussaint Signs One-Year Deal With Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint have agreed to a one-year deal. The Steelers did not tender Toussaint, who was a restricted free agent, but they will bring him back to town to compete for a backup role. He will likely battle with second-year running back James Conner for second-string behind starter Le'Veon... Read More

Sammie Coates Released By Browns

The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Sammie Coates on Thursday. Coates spent just one season in Cleveland, catching six passes for 70 yards in 12 games. Coates was a third-round draft selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers but has caught just 28 passes for 516 yards and two touchdowns in 32 career games over three seasons.... Read More

Jake Odorizzi Completes Successful Bullpen

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi turned in a successful bullpen session on Thursday, according to reports. Odorizzi had his most recent scheduled spring training start on Tuesday cancelled for what the team called "maintenance purposes." Odorizzi's ability to throw an uneventful bullpen on Thursday lends credence to that initial report that he was not dealing... Read More

Brandon Finnegan Experiencing Minimal Soreness

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan (biceps) is still experiencing "minimal soreness" in his pitching arm but he was able to play catch on Wednesday. Finnegan is not expected to throw off the mound until the soreness is gone but it appears he's trending in the right direction. Finnegan was removed from a Cactus League game... Read More

Scooter Gennett Dealing With Sore Right Shoulder

The Cincinnati Reds have scratched second baseman Scooter Gennett (shoulder) for Thursday's Cactus League game. Gennett is dealing with a sore right shoulder, but the team doesn't expect him to miss more than a day. Infielder Brandon Dixon has taken Gennett's place at second base and is batting eighth. Dixon is a non-roster invitee who is... Read More