By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor 
After signing a couple special teams players to keep them around for next season, the Eagles moved on from a long time special teams leader.
On Friday afternoon, the team announced that it had released 2017 special teams captain Chris Maragos.
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
Before 5,609 fans, the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Tampa Bay Rays Friday afternoon in the club's 2019 Grapefruit League opener at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida.
With Manny Machado gone to the San Diego Padres, Maikel Franco and Scott Kingery will battle this spring for the starting third baseman role. Ironically, both players combined to produce the Phillies' three runs en route to their 3-2 victory.
Continue reading "Franco Homers as Phillies Sting Rays in 'Pitch Timer' Debut" »
By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor
While the Eagles did not get the news they were hoping for in regards to the compensatory picks earlier Friday, they made sure to handle some in-house business.
The team signed both kicker Jake Elliot and long-snapper Rick Lovatto to one-year deals.
The signings are not major suprises as both players have fewer than three years of tenure in the league and were Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs). Essentially, that means that the Eagles can choose to sign them to deals. The ERFA system essentially makes it so that a team has three years of a player on a deal similar to a rookie deal that would be signed by later draft picks.
Continue reading "Eagles Sign Elliott, Lovato to One-Year Deals" »
By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor
The NFL announced what teams will receive compensatory draft picks for losing free agents on Friday and the Philadelphia Eagles benefited, though not as much as many expected.
The Eagles will receive two compensatory draft picks in this year’s draft. Each team can only receive a maximum of four picks and the Eagles were in line for another pick until Caleb Sturgis faltered in Los Angeles and was cut by the Chargers mid-season.
The Eagles will receive a fourth-round pick for the loss of Trey Burton, who played a big part in helping the Chicago Bears make the playoffs, as well as a sixth-round pick for the losses of Beau Allen (Tampa Bay).
Patrick Robinson (New Orleans) was placed on injured reserve early in the season, but the signing of Mike Wallace did not go unnoticed by the compensatory pick formula as many hoped.
Continue reading "Eagles Receive Two Compensatory Picks, Total Eight Picks in 2019 Draft" »
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
The Philadelphia Phillies and No. 16-ranked club prospect LHP Cole Irvin, a non-roster invitee, will kick off 2019 Grapefruit League spring training action in opposition of RHP Austin Pruitt and the Tampa Bay Rays Friday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Opening Day: The Rays open their spring training schedule today at 1pm when they host the Phillies in Port Charlotte. #fox35 pic.twitter.com/Pf8OfUCKPr
— Ryan Elijah (@ryanelijah) February 22, 2019
The game will take place just hours after Manny Machado, one of the Phillies' top free agent targets over the past few months, is introduced by the San Diego Padres following his 10-year, $300 million deal. While Bryce Harper still looms in free agency, the Phillies have moved on from Machado, and will take a look at Maikel Franco and Scott Kingery closely this spring at the hot corner. If both impress, a platoon situation could be likely for the 2019 season.
Center fielder Odubel Herrera (slight left hamstring strain) will be out; he took batting practice and threw long toss on Thursday, notes The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro. Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler said there is a "good possibility" Herrera could play in the third or fourth Grapefruit League game, but that they will "take that day by day and not make any predictions at this point."
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies | Tampa Bay Rays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Cole Irvin | RHP | Austin Pruitt | |
| (2018, Triple-A: 14-4, 2.57 ERA) | (2018, MLB: 2-3, 4.65 ERA) | |||
Continue reading "Phillies, Cole Irvin Oppose Rays in 2019 Grapefruit League Opener" »