Minneapolis, MN

Major League Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez and billionaire businessman Marc Lore completed a new $290 million payment towards their purchase of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, according to The Athletic. This was the second of three installments before they become majority owners, which is expected to happen in 2024. When...

Timberwolves sale: Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore complete new $290 million payment, to be majority owners by 2024

Salt Lake City, UT

Azubuike (coach's decision) went unused off the bench in Monday's 117-103 loss to the Suns. After logging double-digit minutes off the bench behind starting center Walker Kessler in each of the past four games, Azubuike fell out of the rotation entirely Monday. Damian Jones instead stepped in as Kessler's backup but was a team-worst minus-21 during his time on the court. Given that Jones didn't provide the sort of lift for the second unit that head coach Will Hardy was probably expecting, it's possible Azubuike reclaims a rotation spot Wednesday at San Antonio.

Jazz's Udoka Azubuike: Falls outside rotation

Cleveland, OH

Okoro won't return to Sunday's game against Houston due to left knee soreness, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Okoro started Sunday's matchup and tallied four points (1-1 FG, 2-2 FT) and a rebound in nine minutes prior to departing in the first half. It's unclear whether his knee issue will prevent him from playing Tuesday in Atlanta.

Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro: Won't return Sunday

Seattle, WA

The Mariners optioned Topa to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. Acquired from the Brewers in January, Topa had a so-so performance in his first camp with Seattle. The hard-throwing righty turned in a 2.25 ERA and struck out eight batters over eight frames in Cactus League play, but he issued three walks and allowed a .300 average to opposing batters. So long as he steers clear of the health issues that have derailed him the past two seasons, Topa should stand a decent chance of surfacing in Seattle's bullpen at some point in 2023.

Mariners' Justin Topa: Dispatched to minors

Tampa, FL

Saint Petersburg, FL

The Rays optioned Chirinos to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Chirinos will open the season in the minors after losing out to Josh Fleming in the competition for the No. 5 spot in the Rays' rotation. After missing most of the past two seasons while recovering from August 2020 Tommy John surgery, Chirinos reported to camp without any limitations but wasn't able to solidify a rotation spot after logging a 6.57 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB across 12.1 Grapefruit League innings.

Rays' Yonny Chirinos: Headed to Triple-A

Gimenez and the Guardians are finalizing a long-term contract extension, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The particulars of the deal aren't known at this time. Gimenez is coming off a season which saw him bat .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases, winning a Gold Glove and posting a 7.4 bWAR in the process. The 24-year-old is currently not yet arbitration-eligible and is under team control through 2026.

Guardians' Andres Gimenez: Finalizing long-term extension

Indiana State

Milwaukee, WI

Middleton is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pacers due to right knee injury management. Middleton still isn't playing back-to-back sets, so he's expected to sit out either Wednesday's game in Indiana or Thursday's home matchup versus Boston. When he sits, Pat Connaughton and Joe Ingles (knee) will be candidates for increased roles.

Bucks' Khris Middleton: Questionable for Wednesday's game

Cincinnati, OH

Reds manager David Bell confirmed Monday that Votto (shoulder/biceps) will open the season on the 10-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Though Votto made a push late in spring training to be ready to go for Opening Day, the Reds will ultimately give him more time to build up after he underwent surgery last August to repair a torn left rotator cuff and a torn left bicep. Votto hasn't hit any reported snags in his recovery since making his Cactus League debut March 12, so he should be ready to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin a rehab assignment Friday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Tyler Stephenson and Wil Myers both made multiple starts at first base during Cactus League play and should serve as the primary replacements at the position until Votto is cleared to return from the IL.

Reds' Joey Votto: Ticketed for IL

Cleveland Guardians right-handed starter Triston McKenzie has been diagnosed with a strained right teres major muscle in his back and could be sidelined for up to two months, the club announced on Monday evening. He'll be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks and then re-evaluated. McKenzie exited...

Guardians' Triston McKenzie out up to two months with back strain

Baltimore, MD

The Orioles optioned Hall to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. Hall is healthy again after he overcame a lower-back injury to make two extended Grapefruit League relief appearances Monday and Saturday, but the Orioles want him to continue building up as a starter in the minors before a return to the majors is considered. Assuming he stays healthy and productive at Norfolk in the early part of the season, Hall should be among the top candidates for a promotion if a spot in the big-league rotation opens up at any point.

Orioles' DL Hall: Bound for Triple-A

Memphis, TN

Morant is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Magic due to soreness in his right thigh. It looks like Morant will be skipping the first leg of Memphis' upcoming Tuesday-Wednesday, back-to-back set, which will presumably result in another start for Tyus Jones and more usage for Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks. Morant managers should check back closer to Tuesday's 8:00 p.m. ET tip for official word on his status.

Grizzlies' Ja Morant: Doubtful Tuesday

Green Bay, WI

At some point this offseason, the Packers made the decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers and one reason that happened is apparently because he wouldn't return their calls. When Rodgers left town following the conclusion of the 2022 season, both sides seemed open to the idea of the quarterback possibly returning in 2023. Before that could happen though, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst wanted to get Rodgers on the phone to talk about the future of the team. However, those conversations never happened because Rodgers was apparently ducking every phone call he got from the Packers.

Aaron Rodgers apparently refused to return any phone calls from the Packers general manager this offseason

Chicago, IL

Murphy scored a shorthanded goal in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Vancouver. Murphy opened the scoring in the first period Sunday, beating Collin Delia with a wrister from the point while the Blackhawks were shorthanded. The goal is Murphy's first since Jan. 26, a stretch of 24 games, and just his fifth point in that span. The 30-year-old blueliner has six goals and 11 points through 71 games this season.

Blackhawks' Connor Murphy: Tallies in loss

Saint Louis, MO

Manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Carlson is likely to begin the season working as a utility outfielder and bench piece, John Denton of MLB.com reports. It appears the 24-year-old will be the odd man out to open the season with prospect Jordan Walker making St. Louis' Opening Day roster. Carlson should still see a fair amount of action between the three outfield spots and designated hitter, but it seems Walker, Tyler O'Neill and Lars Nootbaar will begin the campaign as the primary outfield options.

Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: More limited role on tap

Coulombe was acquired by the Orioles from the Twins on Monday for cash considerations, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports. Coulombe was going to come up short in his bid for a bullpen spot with the Twins, but he's been given a reprieve with the O's trading for him and promptly adding him to their relief corps. The veteran left-hander holds a 2.92 ERA over 41 appearances over the last three seasons.

Orioles' Danny Coulombe: Acquired by Orioles

Buffalo, NY

The Buffalo Bills haven't broken ground on their new $1.4 billion stadium just yet, but we do have a better idea of what the building is going to look like after the team released some new renderings Monday. Not only did the team release several images of what the outdoor...

Bills release stunning new renderings of their proposed $1.4 billion stadium that's scheduled to open in 2026

Minnesota State

Smith agreed to a one-year contract with Cincinnati on Monday, Peter Schrager of NFL Network reports. Smith appeared in eight games a season ago with Minnesota and finished with 25 catches for 182 yards and a pair of scores. He should have a chance to make an immediate impact with the Bengals if he can stay healthy, as he'll join the likes of Devin Asiasi, Tanner Hudson and Nick Bowers in the team's tight end corps, which no longer includes free-agent departure Hayden Hurst.

Bengals' Irv Smith: Latches on with Bengals

Detroit, MI

Bogdanovic (Achilles) won't play in Wednesday's game versus the Thunder. Bogdanovic will miss his 13th straight game Wednesday with left Achilles tendinopathy. While his next chance to suit up is Friday's matchup with Houston, it seems likely that the veteran forward will be shut down for the season soon with Detroit out of the playoff hunt.

Pistons' Bojan Bogdanovic: Ruled out against Thunder

Suzuki (oblique) has been cleared to play three innings in the outfield in a minor-league spring training game Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Suzuki is on track to open the season on the 10-day injured list, but now that he's been cleared to hit and play the outfield over the past couple days, he may be trending toward a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The second-year player is expected to begin getting at-bats in as part of a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Saturday or Sunday.

Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Plays defense Monday

Iowa State

Wick cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Wick appeared on track to make the Opening Day roster, but the Cubs had other plans. Even so, he'll be a candidate to emerge with the big-league squad later on in the season after posting a 4.22 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with a 69:29 K:BB over 64 innings a season ago.

Cubs' Rowan Wick: Outighted to Triple-A

Los Angeles, CA

O'Hoppe has been informed he's made the Opening Day roster, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. O'Hoppe was a strong candidate regardless, but he is at least in part going to make the Angels out of spring training because Max Stassi (hip) will open the year on the injured list. The backstop has been solid in spring play with a .799 OPS over 36 plate appearances, and he likely will see the majority of the reps behind the plate while Stassi is on the shelf.

Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Makes Opening Day roster

Maryland State

Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson received the non-exclusive franchise tag this offseason after the two sides could not agree to terms on a long-term deal. The non-exclusive designation allows Jackson to negotiate with other teams, but there has been no report of another club approaching the 2019 NFL MVP nearly two weeks into the new league year.

Lamar Jackson announces he has requested a trade, says Ravens not 'interested in meeting my value'

Indianapolis, IN

We may be in the middle of the offseason, but Monday was a dramatic day in the NFL. As head coaches took their seats at the NFL owners meetings to speak with reporters, one of the best players in the world, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, revealed on Twitter he had requested a trade.

Amid Lamar Jackson trade request, Colts owner Jim Irsay says he doesn't believe in fully guaranteed contracts

NewsBreak

NBA Trade rumors: Alex Caruso available for multiple picks; Jazz consider three players untouchable

Another day, another set of trade rumors as the NBA's deadline approaches. We are now less than two weeks away from the final buzzer, and we're...

NBA Trade rumors: Alex Caruso available for multiple picks; Jazz consider three players untouchable

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