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New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is nursing a minor hip injury that caused him to miss one of the team’s exhibition games. 

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Cespedes Dealing with Hip Soreness

Tuesday, March 15

Newsday‘s Marc Carig relayed the update and cited the injury as the outfielder’s reason for missing the Mets’ game Tuesday against the Miami Marlins.  

“He just said he’s a little stiff, so I said, ‘Take [the trip] off,’” manager Terry Collins said, per Adam Rubin of ESPN. “He’s been playing with it.”

Cespedes has been one of MLB‘s most dynamic power hitters since making his debut with the Oakland A’s in 2012, but he didn’t truly explode until he was dealt to the New York Mets at the 2015 trade deadline. 

In the span of 57 games, Cespedes posted 17 home runs, 44 RBI and what equated to a career-best .604 slugging percentage with a .942 OPS for the National League champions. 

And while Cespedes lingered on the open market for quite some time over the winter, he found middle ground with the Mets and signed a three-year, $75 million deal to remain in the Big Apple. 

“I think it’s important to keep in mind, it’s not always about the amount of money being offered,” Cespedes said upon re-signing, according to the New York Daily News‘ Anthony McCarron. “It’s about wanting to be in a place that you want to play in, that you’re happy in. As you can see, that’s just what happened in my case.”

Considering preliminary indications haven’t pegged Cespedes’ injury as a serious one, the Mets are likely just playing it safe to make sure one of their key cogs isn’t overworked as the regular season approaches. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.  

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday is dealing with lower back tightness suffered on Saturday. It’s unclear when he’ll return to the field.

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Holliday Scratched vs. Astros

Saturday, March 5

Manager Mike Matheny told reporters Holliday wouldn’t play on Saturday due to his back issue. 

Holliday suffered a right quadriceps strain last June, and he proceeded to hit the disabled list before missing 31 games between June 9 and July 16.

And while it appeared as though Holliday would be able to contribute regularly after returning to the diamond, his quad injury flared up and sent him back to the disabled list. Holliday proceeded to miss the entire month of August before returning down the season’s home stretch. All told, Holliday batted .279 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 73 games last season. 

“I have a passion and a love for the organization,” Holliday said during spring training, per ESPN.com’s Mark Saxon. “I take a lot of pride in being a Cardinal and being part of the organization for seven years. I hope that’s the way it goes, but it’s not always the player’s decision.”

Should Holliday miss time, Matheny will need to shuffle his depth around and decide if he wants to flip Brandon Moss into left field from first base or shift Stephen Piscotty from his place in right field. 

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Comcast SportsNet New England reporter Jessica Moran resigned from her position Friday after questions cropped up regarding her relationship with Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell, according to the Boston Globe‘s Mark Shanahan.

“I have stepped away from Comcast SportsNet as I thought it was in my best personal and professional interest to do so,” Moran said in a text message, per Shanahan. “They have been extremely supportive during my tenure at the network—and with this decision—and I am very appreciative of that.”

Moran later clarified via text message to the Boston Globe that she had, in fact, resigned.

According to Shanahan, “There has been speculation among local and national baseball reporters about Farrell’s relationship with Moran.” Shanahan also noted the Red Sox manager is in the midst of divorce proceedings with his wife, Sue Farrell.

“I can confirm that we’re in the process of getting a divorce,” Farrell said during a phone call, according to Shanahan. “As you can understand, this is a tough time for my family.”

CSN New England had employed Moran as a Red Sox reporter since 2009, per Shanahan.

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Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson returned to spring training Friday and resumed throwing as he continues his recovery from left elbow surgery and battles through some left shoulder tendinitis.

Continue for updates. 

Wilson “Looking Iffy” for Opening Day

Friday, March 4

According to the Orange Country Register‘s Jeff Fletcher, Wilson was able to throw, but he has yet to progress to the point where he’s throwing off a mound. 

Wilson underwent season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs in his left (throwing) elbow last August, and recent tests revealed left shoulder tendinitis. 

But based on the potential outcomes the MRI could have produced, the Angels were not concerned with the diagnosis. 

“We were very pleased with the results,” Angels general manager Billy Eppler said, per Fletcher. 

So even if Wilson doesn’t return in time for Opening Day, the way the team has publicly discussed the minor setback is reason to believe the southpaw shouldn’t be on the shelf for long.

After racking up at least 200 innings pitched in four straight seasons between 2010 and 2013, Wilson failed to reach that benchmark during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. 

But if there’s a time for him to rebound, 2016 would appear to be it. 

The 35-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the Angels, per Spotrac, and a solid showing throughout 2016 could allow him to reap the rewards of one more long-term deal before he calls it quits. 

The velocity on Wilson’s fastball has dropped each of the past three seasons, per FanGraphs, but if he can touch somewhere in the range of 91-92 mph on the radar gun while effectively mixing in his curveball and changeup, he could piece together a nice resurgent season. 

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson is nursing a back injury that will require surgery, and it is uncertain when he will be able to return to action.

Continue for updates.

Anderson to Undergo Surgery

Wednesday, March 2

Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reported that Anderson will miss three to five months after undergoing the procedure.

Anderson Once Again Experiencing Back Issues

MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick pointed out that Anderson underwent back surgery in 2014. According to McCullough, the procedure two years ago was for a herniated disk.

Anderson rebounded from an injury-plagued 2014 to pitch a career-high 180.1 innings while notching a 10-9 record and 3.69 ERA last season.

“We saw the dedication [last year] to the core and back program, which gave us confidence that that would be behind him,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, per McCullough. “And felt really good about the risk that we took last year. We’re optimistic that there’s even another gear in there.”

The fact that Anderson’s back has flared up again is a cause for concern.

The matter is compounded by the fact that L.A.’s pitching staff is dealing with several medical issues at the moment, per NBC Sports’ Drew Silva:

Considering Anderson’s confidence was on the rise following a healthy and productive first season in Los Angeles, it’s unfortunate for the Dodgers that he has taken a step back at this juncture in 2016.

Another back injury will also hurt Anderson’s potential earning power. The southpaw told the Los Angeles Times‘ Dylan Hernandez he passed up “some multiyear offers” over the fall, instead opting to sign a one-year qualifying offer with the Dodgers.

Now a prospective free agent following the 2016 season, Anderson will need to return from the procedure and perform at a high level to try to snag another long-term contract.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson is coming off the best season of his career, and the team’s front office has decided to reward the 30-year-old with a new contract. 

According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Donaldson and the Blue Jays agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth just under $29 million to avoid arbitration on Monday. The Blue Jays announced the deal on Wednesday, via Davidi.

Donaldson tweeted his reaction:

On Thursday, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the two sides were “going to work toward a multiyear deal” even though Donaldson was already under team control through 2018.     

To say Donaldson’s 2015 season was a revelation would be selling it short. Although his stock was trending up following a 2014 All-Star selection with the Oakland A’s, Donaldson broke out and captured American League MVP honors as he helped the Blue Jays nab the franchise’s first AL East title since 1993. 

“We tore down a lot of thresholds this organization has had,” Donaldson said after winning the MVP Award, according to ESPN.com. “For us to come out on top…I definitely think that helped.”

Donaldson played 158 games and led the league in runs (122), RBI (123) and total bases (352) while drilling a career-best 41 home runs and batting a stellar .297. Donaldson’s mark of 7.7 offensive wins above replacement also ranked third overall behind Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, each of whom tallied an offensive WAR of 8.9. 

Donaldson ranked third in the majors in total WAR (8.8) among position players—behind National League MVP Harper (9.9) and Trout (9.4).

It would have been understandable if the Blue Jays had opted to retain Donaldson’s services via the arbitration process until their period of team control expired, but his accelerated growth proved worthy of a long-term commitment.

The fresh deal also mitigates the risk that would have accompanied paying Donaldson through arbitration, as CBS Sports’ David Brown wrote in January:

Look ahead to free agency in 2019: After listening to the Jays rip him in arbitration, is it going to make Donaldson more willing to take a “hometown discount” to stay in Toronto? Yeah, it’s not likely that Donaldson will be signing a contract extension with the Jays at that point, and it’s probable that other teams would outbid the Jays in free agency.

Now that Donaldson is locked up, Toronto can focus on trying to reach the World Series for the first time since 1993. The 2015 season proved to be a monumental step forward for a franchise that hadn’t reached the postseason in over two decades, but Donaldson and Co. figure to be eyeing a much bigger leap in the months ahead. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless noted otherwise. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.com. 

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Major League Baseball has cleared Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish of any potential wrongdoing relating to his brother’s alleged illegal gambling operation in Japan, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Jeff Wilson reported. 

According to the Japan Times (via the New York Daily News), Darvish’s brother, Sho Darvish, was arrested last October after a lengthy investigation allegedly pegged him as the ringleader of a gambling operation that fielded bets on MLB games. 

Citing a source, the New York Daily News‘ Anthony McCarron reported MLB’s investigation was “part of standard operating procedure.”

When the story initially broke, Darvish denied any wrongdoing in a statement provided by his representatives at Wasserman Media Group. 

“I am not and have never been involved with gambling activities,” Darvish said, per McCarron. “While I understand that Major League Baseball must conduct an investigation, I am certain that they will find that I had no involvement in this matter whatsoever.”

Now that he’s been cleared, Darvish can refocus all of his attention on returning to the mound better than ever. After making three All-Star appearances in his first three MLB seasons, Darvish was sidelined for the entire 2015 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. 

Should Darvish flash vintage form when he hits the rubber again, the Rangers figure to wield one of MLB’s most dynamic one-two pitching punches.

Along with southpaw Cole Hamels, Darvish can help elevate the Rangers to title-contending status in the American League one year after they made a late-season run that resulted in the AL West crown. 

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Major League Baseball is exploring the possibility of making the designated hitter a staple of the National League as soon as 2017, according to Newsday‘s David Lennon.   

Continue for updates. 

MLB Will Explore DH During CBA Negotiations

Thursday, Jan. 21

Commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly said the idea is “gaining momentum,” per Lennon. 

Although the potential change could ruffle the feathers of baseball purists, Lennon cited several reasons MLB is seeking to implement the DH in the NL:

Manfred previously joked that instituting a leaguewide DH slot “would deprive us of the entertainment Bartolo Colon has given us this year,” per Sports on Earth’s Anthony Castrovince, but evidence suggests stripping pitchers of the right to bat could benefit the game. 

According to Castrovince, pitchers cumulatively posted a slash line of .132/.160/.170 during the 2015 season and “struck out once every 2.65 plate appearances—the worst such rate in history.”

A counterargument can be made centering around core strategic tenets evaporating from the game. Castrovince noted making double switches is already more difficult in the American League since managers have to swap out effective hitters for other effective hitters. 

Debate will undoubtedly rage regarding potential tactical shifts and how they’ll affect the future of the sport, but the potential for an injection of offense is certainly enticing—particularly if it preserves pitchers’ longevity.   

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After dealing Craig Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox in November, the San Diego Padres appear to have found their new closer.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Padres and reliever Fernando Rodney agreed to terms on a major league deal Wednesday, making him the favorite to lock down the team’s closer role in spring training.

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported Rodney signed a one-year deal with an option and performance bonuses that can max it out at $7 million. However, Sanchez added Rodney’s salary for 2016 is in the $1.5 million range.

After going 5-5 with 16 saves in the first half of the 2015 season with the Seattle Mariners, Rodney was traded to the Chicago Cubs on August 27. And while Rodney only made 14 appearances with the Cubs after being designated for assignment by Seattle, he went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, 15 strikeouts and four walks. 

“He still has the good fastball, outstanding changeup, and he’s a great teammate,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said when the Cubs acquired Rodney, per the Associated Press (via MLive.com). 

The 38-year-old is entering his 14th year of MLB service, and the Padres could desperately use some of the 2014 magic Rodney displayed with the Mariners. En route to his second career All-Star appearance, Rodney captured a league-best 48 saves while posting a 2.85 ERA.

“While Rodney’s career has been somewhat of a roller coaster, the veteran has posted a cumulative 2.80 ERA over the past four seasons and still averaged a very healthy 94.7 mph on his fastball between time with Seattle and Chicago last season,” Steve Adams wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. 

As Maddon noted, Rodney primarily operates with a two-pitch arsenal.

According to FanGraphs, the veteran tossed fastballs 61.4 percent of the time last season while mixing in his changeup on 38 percent of his pitches. A meager 0.6 percent of Rodney’s pitches were sliders—a component that has faded in and out of his repertoire since his 2002 debut. 

Although Rodney’s not much more than a stopgap solution at 38 years old, he’s a low-risk, high-reward closing option for a Padres team in need of back-end stability after dealing Kimbrel. And as the 2012 and 2014 seasons indicate, there’s still some gas left in Rodney’s arm. 

With a bounce-back season on his mind, Rodney may end up paying dividends for the Padres as a bargain-bin signing. 

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Scott Kazmir failed to live up to expectations after the Houston Astros acquired him at the 2015 trade deadline, and the lefty decided to make those struggles a thing of the past by bolting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. 

The Dodgers announced the signing of Kazmir on Twitter. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the deal is for $48 million over three years with an opt-out after the first year. 

Kazmir spoke about the deal on his Twitter account after the announcement:

Joel Sherman of the New York Post provided some thoughts on the signing from tactical and financial perspectives:

A three-time All-Star, Kazmir sputtered with the Astros after a terrific first half with the A’s. Although he went just 5-5 before getting dealt, he posted a 2.38 ERA that would have ranked as the lowest mark of his career (minimum 10 starts) had it spanned the course of the regular season. 

But once Kazmir moved to a new locale, his numbers took a turn for the worse. 

“I mean personally, me, very disappointed,” Kazmir said of his half-season with the Astros on Sept. 29, per the Houston Chronicle‘s Evan Drellich. “Just on recently just not contributing like I wanted to. Of course, being a competitor (you feel that way).”

Now Kazmir will hope that a fresh start shifts his numbers back toward the more productive end of his personal spectrum. And considering he’s only a season removed from his last All-Star selection, the 31-year-old should have plenty of gas left in the tank.  

The second half of his 2015 season undeniably tarnished what once looked like a potential career-year, but if Kazmir can return to form, that poor three-month stretch will wind up looking like an anomaly on an otherwise solid resume. 

The Dodgers badly needed to bolster their rotation after seeing Zack Greinke leave for Arizona. Clayton Kershaw can hide a lot of problems on his own, but depth is so important over a 162-game season. 

Kazmir isn’t at the level of Greinke, though he’s hardly a bad alternative. The 31-year-old has proven himself to be reliable with at least 29 starts each of the last three years with his ERA total going from 4.04 in 2013 to 3.10 last year. 

The Dodgers can slot Kazmir in behind Kershaw and ahead of Brett Anderson to give the rotation a solid trio at the top. They are also going to get reinforcements during the year when Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu return, so things aren’t as dire in Los Angeles as they once seemed. 

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