Yankees’ Aaron Judge: ‘You never know’ if 62 homers are possible againVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge flashed a big smile when asked if he could repeat his accomplishments of last year, when he hit an American League-record 62 home runs for the New York Yankees. “You never know,” he said after the Yankees’ first full-squad workout Monday. “I don’t really like...
MLB teams searching for advantages with new rulesVideo
PHOENIX — It’s a brand-new day in the major leagues — potentially an even brighter one for base-stealers like Trea Turner and Ronald Acuna Jr., and most definitely a change of pace for veteran aces like Gerrit Cole or Yu Darvish. The bases are bigger, and the pickoff rules are...
Trea Turner settling in for long future in PhiladelphiaVideo
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The past few years have been a bit of a whirlwind for Trea Turner. They included a World Series title in Washington, a trade to Los Angeles — and then an 11-year, $300 million contract that brought him back to the NL East. The one constant amid...
MLB: Bally network troubles could lead to end of blackoutsVideo
DUNEDIN, Fla. — As baseball prepares for a possible local broadcasting crisis, commissioner Rob Manfred sees an opportunity. Manfred said Thursday that MLB can produce games digitally in conjunction with MLB.TV if Bally Sports regional networks are no longer broadcasting them. In fact, he said this is a chance to...
Jameson Taillon working on new slider in Cubs spring training
MESA, Ariz. — Jameson Taillon had been thinking about a new slider for a couple of years. When his new team also brought up the idea, he was more than ready to give it a shot. So Taillon is working on a new sweeper slider in his first spring training...
Tim McCarver, big league catcher and broadcaster, dies at 81
NEW YORK — Tim McCarver, the All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster who during 60 years in baseball won two World Series titles with the St. Louis Cardinals and had a long run as the one of the country’s most recognized, incisive and talkative television commentators, died Thursday. He...
MLB’s spring training a test run for new rule changesVideo
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Spring training games might be a little ugly this year, particularly during the first few weeks. For MLB, that’s a feature, not a bug. The Grapefruit and Cactus league games in Florida and Arizona over the next month will be used as a petri dish for the...
‘Ghost runner’ in extra innings made permanent by MLB
NEW YORK — Starting extra innings with a runner on second base during the regular season was made a permanent rules change by Major League Baseball on Monday after three seasons of use during the coronavirus pandemic. Known by some as the “Ghost Runner” and by others as the “Manfred...
Derek Jeter joining Fox Sports’ baseball studio team
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have been reunited. Fox Sports announced Sunday during its Super Bowl pregame show that Jeter will be part of the network’s studio coverage for the coming season. Rodriguez hugged Jeter as he came on stage and presented him with a Fox Sports...
Recovering Twins welcome Maeda back, seek healthier season
MINNEAPOLIS — When Kenta Maeda first takes the mound for Minnesota in the 2023 season, his wait between appearances will have passed 19 months. The Twins are more than eager to return the right-hander to their rotation, part of a welcome-back theme surrounding this team entering spring training after an...
Spring training’s start brings pitch clocks, shift limits
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jeff McNeil thinks he’ll adapt quickly to baseball’s big shift — really, an anti-shift. “I’m playing a normal second base now instead of in short right field. I’ve been playing second base my whole life so it shouldn’t be too hard to adjust to,” the New...
MLB prepared to take over local TV broadcasts from SinclairVideo
PALM BEACH, Fla. — About $1 billion of MLB’s revenue is at risk if a cable television company fails to make payments for local broadcasting rights to 14 teams, and the sport is preparing to take over telecasts. “I think you should assume that if Diamond doesn’t broadcast, we’ll be...
AP source: Yu Darvish gets $90M from Padres to stay through ’28
SAN DIEGO — Yu Darvish has agreed to a new contract with the San Diego Padres that guarantees the pitcher an additional $90 million and will keep him with the club through the 2028 season, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said Thursday. The person spoke to The...
Free agent Josh Harrison, Phillies reach 1-year deal
PHILADELPHIA — Free agent infielder Josh Harrison and the Philadelphia Phillies reached agreement on a one-year deal, his MSM Sports agency announced Sunday. The 35-year-old former Pittsburgh Pirates stalwart batted .272 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 119 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. He played...
Mark Madden: Scott Rolen’s Hall of Fame inclusion is laughable
The Baseball Hall of Fame drifted further toward insignificance when third baseman Scott Rolen somehow made the grade. Rolen is a ham-and-egger. Mid, no better. Rolen hit .281 lifetime with 316 home runs and 1,287 RBIs. Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Dave Parker has better statistics in every category but isn’t...
Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame next year
Scott Rolen is headed to the Hall of Fame. Next year, make way for another star third baseman. Adrián Beltré highlights the first-time eligibles for 2024. While Rolen’s election Tuesday capped an impressive six-year rise in his vote total, Beltré has a good chance to go in on the first...
Kevin Gorman: Explaining a ballot that gave a vote to Scott Rolen but not Carlos Beltran
When I became eligible to vote for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time two years ago, I made the decision to select the best players on the ballot. It came with a caveat: Cheaters won’t get a check mark in their first year of eligibility. That...
Guardians manager Terry Francona’s scooter stolen in ClevelandVideo
CLEVELAND — Guardians manager Terry Francona’s beloved ride has been stolen. The scooter that Francona rides from his downtown Cleveland apartment to Progressive Field on game days was swiped over the weekend. Francona’s scooter was parked outside his residence. A team spokesman said police were notified of the theft, which...
Scott Rolen elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame
NEW YORK — Slick-fielding third baseman Scott Rolen was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday with five votes to spare above the 75% needed. The seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner appeared on 297 of 389 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for 76.3%....
Patrick Mahomes aims to lead Chiefs to 5th straight AFC title gameVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ask any coach or player around the NFL, and they are bound to tell you that the speed of the game picks up when the playoffs arrive. There is no longer time to think on the field; decisions more often are made by in-the-moment instincts rather...
Los Angeles Dodgers release Trevor Bauer after suspension cut
NEW YORK — Trevor Bauer was released Thursday by the Los Angeles Dodgers after the pitcher’s unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator. Los Angeles designated Bauer for assignment on Jan. 6, the last day to restore him to the roster, after arbitrator Martin Scheinman...
AP source: Carlos Correa reaches $200M, 6-year deal with Twins
Carlos Correa reversed course for a second time, agreeing Tuesday to a $200 million, six-year contract that keeps him with the Minnesota Twins after failing to complete deals with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal for...
AP source: Marlins, Cueto agree to 1-year deal with option
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins and right-hander Johnny Cueto have agreed on a deal that guarantees him $8.5 million for 2023, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday. That includes a $2.5 million buyout if the Marlins do not exercise a club option for...
Dodgers cut pitcher Trevor Bauer after suspension reducedVideo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are cutting ties with pitcher Trevor Bauer, whose unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced two weeks ago, allowing him to resume his career with the start of the new season. A person familiar with the situation said Friday the 31-year-old...
Reports: Red Sox, Rafael Devers agree to 11-year, $331M extensionVideo
BOSTON — Rafael Devers agreed to an 11-year extension worth $331 million with the Boston Red Sox, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the deal. Locking up Devers, a two-time...
