Jonathan India Eyes Big League Arrival In 2021

Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India has been heralded as one of the organization's top prospects ever since he was chosen with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. Even with the oddity of the 2020 season behind him, India is inching closer to making his Major League debut, something that could happen later […]

Cincinnati Scratches Sonny Gray Tuesday, Injury Not A Factor

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray had initially been slated to start Tuesday's Cactus League outing versus the Dodgers, but the team opted to have him throw a side session instead. From Gray himself, there was no injury-related reason for the decision, it appears that he merely just wanted to do further side work to […]

Pedro Baez Lands On COVID-19 Injured List

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Pedro Baez has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list following a positive test for the virus Tuesday. Baez was a major addition to the Houston bullpen this off-season, likely setting him up to be the setup man ahead of Ryan Pressly. Baez was remarkably consistent during a seven-year tenure with […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Battles Flu-Like Symptoms, Faces Absences

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (illness) was held out of Tuesday's lineup and figures to miss at least one more day as he battles flu-like symptoms. It sounds as if San Diego is just being cautious with their star, as manager Jayce Tingler said, "If we were in-season, 100 percent he would be […]

Danny Santana Builds Up Arm Strength In Camp

Boston Red Sox utilityman Danny Santana (arm) has not yet appeared in Grapefruit League action as he continues to build up his arm strength. Santana was able to work out with the club Tuesday, but there has been little update provided as to when he could appear in game action. With the flexibility of his […]

Baltimore Eyes DJ Stewart Return Next Week

Baltimore Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart (hamstring) is reportedly improving in his quest to return to action due to a hamstring ailment. Manager Brandon Hyde anticipates having Stewart ready for Opening Day, with the expectation being that Stewart could rejoin the Grapefruit League lineup at some point next week. Stewart is likely to fill the role […]

Rich Hill, Michael Wacha Set To Open Year In Rotation

The Tampa Bay Rays are operating as if veteran left-hander Rich Hill and right-hander Michael Wacha will begin the 2021 season as members of their five-man starting rotation. The role of each was previously unclear, particularly with the team's bevy of exciting young arms. Hill is coming off an eight-start stretch in '20 that saw […]

Dan Bailey Released By Vikings

Kicker Dan Bailey is set to hit the open market after having been released by the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. Bailey uncharacteristically struggled last season, converting a career-low 68.2 percent of his field-goal attempts (15-for-22). While just one of those misses came from inside 40 yards, Bailey was just 2-for-5 from 50 yards and beyond, […]

Tennessee Releases Malcolm Butler

Cornerback Malcolm Butler was released by the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday, voiding the final two years of what was originally a five-year pact. The move can be viewed as a cost-cutting measure, albeit one that comes after Butler started all 16 regular-season contests and accrued a career-high 100 tackles last season. Butler's release paves the […]

Tennessee Does Not Franchise Tag Jonnu Smith For 2021

Tight end Jonnu Smith is on track toward becoming a free agent after the Tennessee Titans did not place their franchise tag on him Tuesday. Smith started 53 of the 60 games that he has appeared in with Tennessee since 2017, having racked up 16 receiving touchdowns, eight of which came this past year, setting […]

Lavonte David Inks Two-Year Contract Extension

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not have placed the franchise tag on linebacker Lavonte David, but he will be returning for 2021 -- and beyond. The specifics of the deal are a bit convoluted, as three voidable years have been tagged to the back end, but ultimately, David is set to earn $25 million over […]

Kenyan Drake, Haason Reddick Set To Become Free Agents

Running back Kenyan Drake and linebacker Haason Reddick both did not have the franchise tag utilized on them by the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday, paving the way for the duo to become free agents. The decision on Reddick is hardly a surprise after the investment that the front office made in bringing J.J. Watt aboard. […]

JuJu Smith-Schuster Heads Toward Free Agency

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is officially set to become a free agent after the Pittsburgh Steelers chose not to use their franchise tag on the wideout Tuesday. Smith-Schuster is coming off having hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns during 2020, hauling in 97 receptions all while sharing targets in a crowded Pittsburgh WR corps. Should […]

Detroit Opts To Not Franchise Tag Kenny Golladay

Wide receiver Kenny Golladay is heading to free agency after the decision by the Detroit Lions to not place the franchise tag on their former star wideout. Golladay spent the vast majority of 2020 on the sidelines due to a persistent hip injury. After having led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2019, Golladay was […]

Aaron Jones Heads To Free Agency, Green Bay Remains In Play

Running back Aaron Jones is set to become a free agent after the Green Bay Packers opted not to utilize their franchise tag on the star back. Jones was selected to his first career Pro Bowl this past year, amassing a career-high 1,104 yards rushing with nine scores on the ground and another two through […]

Joe Kelly Not A Lock To Be Healthy By Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) remains engaged in a throwing program, but he is reportedly not close to returning to game action, which shrouds his availability for Opening Day in doubt. Kelly battled right shoulder inflammation (which landed him on the IL) last year, although he finished the year with just three […]

Chicago Aims For Jake Marisnick To Return Within Week

Chicago Cubs outfielder Jake Marisnick (calf) is expected to make his Cactus League debut between March 13-15, as he has dealt with a calf setback to this point. Marisnick saw extremely limited time with the Mets last season, but he impressed in the at-bats that he was given, collecting a 159 OPS+ across 16 games. […]

Jon Lester Returns To Spring Camp, Faces No Setback

Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Jon Lester (thyroid) returned to Spring Training on Monday, following surgery that was performed on his thyroid gland last week. Having already been cranked up to a 50-pitch allotment, it doesn't appear as if the southpaw has been sidetracked by the absence, which does not figure to impact him long-term. After […]

Dinelson Lamet Ramps Up To 98 MPH In Sim Game

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet (elbow) tossed another sim game Sunday, this time displaying his slider against opposing batters. After receiving a PRP injection that ended his 2020 campaign, there was some concern that the pitch may have to be dialed back some heading into '21, especially if the righty was to avoid […]

Myles Straw Emerges As Astros Likely Leadoff Hitter

Houston Astros outfielder Myles Straw has stuck out as manager Dusty Baker's likeliest choice to hit in the No. 1 slot in the lineup come Opening Day. Straw is taking over on a full-time basis for George Springer, who signed with the Blue Jays during the off-season. Straw's speed is a rare commodity in 2021, […]

Mike Soroka Tosses Two Scoreless During Sim Game

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Mike Soroka (Achilles) worked two innings during a simulated game Sunday, not allowing a run in his first ramp up toward game action. Working his way back from a torn right Achilles tendon, Soroka's availability for Opening Day remains unclear. Despite looking solid in three appearances during 2020, fantasy managers can […]

Nick Madrigal Progresses Toward Opening Day

Chicago White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal (shoulder) made his Cactus League debut Monday, going 0-for-2 versus the Dodgers. But that's not the story. Madrigal said afterward that he was "ahead of schedule" in his return from October shoulder surgery. With that in mind, combined with the fact that Madrigal has already returned to game […]

Tim Lopes Lands On 60-Day Injured List

Milwaukee Brewers utilityman Tim Lopes (oblique) has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to an oblique injury, putting him out for the foreseeable future. Lopes had been a long shot to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster, with the injury sealing that fate. Over the past two years with Seattle, Lopes compiled a […]

Trevor Rosenthal Battles Groin Strain During Camp

Oakland Athletics right-handed pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (groin) has yet to appear in a Cactus League game during 2021 and it was announced Monday that it's been due to a groin strain. Manager Bob Melvin noted that the team will ease Rosenthal back into the mix, but the hope is that the ailment is minor. Rosenthal […]

Jacob deGrom Named Mets Opening Day Starter

New York Mets right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom has been officially tabbed as the team's starting pitcher for April 1 vs. the Nationals, per manager Luis Rojas. The move comes as no surprise as deGrom has established himself among the game's elite, having led the National League in strikeouts each of the past two years. The […]

Chris Archer Nears Return To Game Action

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Chris Archer has come out of an intrasquad/sim contest healthy, with manager Kevin Cash impressed by the spin of his slider, speculating that Archer could be back on the mound Friday. A fascinating fantasy asset on the heels of having undergone surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome, Archer's highest level […]

Maikel Franco Drawing Interest From Orioles, Others

Free-agent third baseman Maikel Franco has entered the first week of March without an organization to call home for the 2021 year. After having been non-tendered by the Royals at the end of last season, Franco has labored on the market; although it appears that the Orioles and other clubs have expressed interest in bringing […]

Jose Alvarez Joins Giants Bullpen Mix

Left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2022 campaign. Alvarez has combined to produce a 3.32 ERA over the past six seasons, which he has spent with the Angels and Phillies. Utilized primarily as a left-handed specialist, he has held same-side […]

Jarred Kelenic Sustains Adductor Strain In Knee

Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 adductor strain in his left knee, an ailment that should be expected to sideline him for the coming days. Any setbacks during spring camp figure to significantly affect Kelenic's outlook as it pertains to cracking the Mariners' Opening Day roster, even as […]

Houston Inks Jake Odorizzi To Two-Year Deal

Right-handed starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi and the Houston Astros have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract that also includes a player option for 2023. Odorizzi was the top arm still available on the free-agent market, with Houston incentivized to act quickly after potentially losing promising starter Framber Valdez (finger) for the remainder of the year. […]