Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly was scratched from a scheduled live batting practice over the weekend due to mid-back tightness, according to a report from Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Kelly and manager Torey Lovullo indicated at the time that the decision was mostly precautionary, but Kelly was still sent for an MRI in order to determine the severity of the issue.
To be clear, while this is only a few data points, the r-squared between these two data elements is over 50 percent, i.e., over half the variation in league-average HR/FB alone is explained just by the mean drag coefficient for the year. The chart is also incredibly blatant (one goes up, the other goes down), with the main thing ruining being, in part, 2025 - where the ball's coefficient of restitution changed in addition to its drag coefficient.
"Shaved up a bone spur, kind of took out part of my clavicle, took out the bursa," Stewart said nonchalantly, hopeful that the rather gory specifics of the operation will finally lead to better health moving forward.
Right-hander was scratched from his scheduled Spring Training start yesterday due to lower back tightness and underwent an MRI yesterday to determine the severity of the issue. Those results came back today, and The Athletic's Dan Hayes reports that the MRI revealed only inflammation in Ryan's lower back. That's a "best case scenario" for Ryan, in the words for Hayes. It should allow the right-hander to avoid a lengthy layoff and, while the Twins' exact plans for Ryan as he nurses that inflammation aren't yet clear, it seems reasonable to expect the right-hander's ability to be available for Opening Day to be unaffected by this injury. That's great news for the Twins, who have already lost right-hander Pablo Lopez to the injured list for the year as he prepares to undergo Tommy John surgery.
A recently discovered 1909 Sweet Caporal T206 Honus Wagner card, which had been pulled from a then newly released tobacco pack and kept in the same family for over a century, has been sold via Goldin Auctions for $5.124 million (including buyer's premium). It's the third-most expensive T206 Wagner behind the copy purchased for $6.606 million in August 2021 and the copy sold privately for $7.25 million in August 2022.
The Rockies made a pair of additions in the first base department in late January. The club added Edouard Julien in a trade with the Twins, then picked up T.J. Rumfield in a deal with the Yankees. Even after bringing in two first base options in one day, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta didn't close the door on more acquisitions at the position.
Padres reliever underwent surgery to fix a ruptured left quad last September, and as of November, Adam wasn't sure if he'd be fully recovered in time for Opening Day. However, the early days of Spring Training have been promising for the right-hander. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that Adam pitched a live batting practice for the first time today, and Adam is making slow but steady progress in fielding drills.
I love being here. I'm from Southern California. I've had a great time with fans. You guys treat me great. Everyone's treating my family good....I'm not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I got two years left. I'm just an employee. I just do my job, and if they want me back, they want me back. But I think Andrew [president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman] and everyone knows that I love being here.
TAMPA, Fla. - When Gerrit Cole took the mound at 11 a.m. Friday to face hitters for the first time since March 6 of last year, Steinbrenner Field was virtually empty, aside from a handful of reporters, a few team officials and three personal VIPs seated behind the Yankees' on-deck circle: his wife, Amy, and two young sons, Caden and Everett.
Many in the industry expect a lockout and some even worry about the potential for lost games in 2027. Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of The New York Post report that the league has put aside a war chest of about $2 billion, roughly $75MM per team, from a central fund to help weather a potentially lengthy stoppage. The MLBPA has made similar preparations but the report doesn't provide specifics for that side.
It's been a wacky month for 2025 Toronto Blue Jays pitchers. Kevin Gausman is openly pondering retirement. Chris Bassitt, now a member of the Baltimore Orioles, still isn't over the team's World Series loss. José Berrios continues to apologize for abandoning the team during their postseason run. And now, Max Scherzer is reportedly close to returning to Canada for one final swan song in 2026.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Yency Almonte to a Minor League contract and have brought him into Major League Spring Training. This marks a return to the Dodgers' organization for Almonte, who also spent 2022-23 with L.A. and posted the best year of his career in his first season with them. During the 2022 season, Almonte posted a 1.02 ERA in 35.1 innings while striking out 24.4% of hitters and walking 7.4%.
