MLB

Jeff Passan, ESPNDec 23, 2023, 06:05 PM ET Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Open Extended Reactions Left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a five-year, $28 million contract, sources told ESPN, the first money spent by

Associated Press Dec 21, 2023, 06:31 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK — Alex Verdugo complied with the New York Yankees‘ rule against facial hair by a lot more than a whisker. He clipped off his red beard two months before spring training. “My mom loves it,” he said Thursday, showing off his impeccably

Associated Press Dec 23, 2023, 12:35 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK — The New York Mets must pay a record luxury tax of nearly $101 million after a fourth-place finish in their division, among an unprecedented eight teams that owe the penalty for the 2023 season. Owner Steve Cohen’s Mets finished with a

Dec 22, 2023, 07:41 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Despite Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto choosing to join the Dodgers in a high-profile move worth a total investment of $375 million, Mets owner Steve Cohen said he would not change a thing about how the team pursued the prized free agent pitcher. “I think the whole

Associated Press Dec 22, 2023, 09:50 PM ET Ryan Minor, the Baltimore Orioles infielder who became part of baseball history when he replaced Cal Ripken at the end of his record-setting consecutive games streak in 1998, has died. He was 49. The University of Oklahoma — where Minor starred in baseball and basketball — said

Jeff Passan, ESPNDec 22, 2023, 11:15 AM ET Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Open Extended Reactions They’ve been plotting this for years. Plans, of course, fall apart all the time, whether they’re for dinner or a meeting or taking over the entire

Dec 21, 2023, 11:18 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Star Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has agreed to terms to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to ESPN sources and multiple reports, ending a frenzied free agency with the second-largest guarantee to a pitcher in baseball history. The deal is worth $325 million for 12 years,

Associated Press Dec 21, 2023, 05:13 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK — Yoshinobu Yamamoto already has New York Yankees pinstripes with No. 18, a numeral prized by many Japanese pitchers. “I gave him that jersey. It’s his if he wants to keep it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday. Some Japanese pitchers covet

Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff WriterDec 21, 2023, 09:32 AM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016. Open Extended Reactions Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers guaranteed Shohei Ohtani more money than the entire American League Central

Associated Press Dec 20, 2023, 05:08 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MILWAUKEE — – The New York Mets acquired right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for minor league pitcher Coleman Crow. The trade was the first between the teams since former Brewers president of baseball operations David

Associated Press Dec 20, 2023, 08:49 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DETROIT — Right-hander Jack Flaherty and the Detroit Tigers have finalized a $14 million, one-year contract in a deal that allows the 28-year-old right-hander to earn an additional $1 million in performances bonuses with a franchise that has invested a lot in improving next

Associated Press Dec 18, 2023, 05:15 PM ET Open Extended Reactions ATLANTA — First baseman Matt Carpenter was released Monday by the Atlanta Braves, who acquired him last week from San Diego. The decision costs the Braves in effect $4 million. Atlanta obtained Carpenter along with left-hander Ray Kerr from the Padres on Friday for

Associated Press Dec 19, 2023, 03:05 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK — Jeter is back with the Yankees — Jeter Downs. New York claimed the 25-year-old shortstop off waivers from the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Downs, the 32nd overall pick by Cincinnati in the 2017 amateur draft, is named after former Yankees captain

ESPN News Services Dec 19, 2023, 04:07 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Andrew McCutchen, who needs just one home run to reach 300 for his career, will return to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year, $5 million deal, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. McCutchen, 37, will be entering his 16th season after entering

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterDec 19, 2023, 07:00 AM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions When agent Scott Boras has multiple puns ready about a free agent of his, it usually means he has a good one. That certainly is the case for 28-year-old

Associated Press Dec 18, 2023, 02:48 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has already notched a win for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-time AL MVP’s video pitch helped recruit pitcher Tyler Glasnow to reach a $136,562,500, five-year deal with the team. Ohtani agreed to his own record-breaking $700 million, 10-year

Jeff Passan, ESPNDec 18, 2023, 09:11 AM ET Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Open Extended Reactions YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO’S BAG of tricks is an actual bag. Inside it, he carries a yoga mat, wooden blocks, tiny soccer balls and mini-javelins. When he’s ready,

Associated Press Dec 18, 2023, 11:16 AM ET Open Extended Reactions BALTIMORE — The Maryland Stadium Authority approved a lease extension for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Monday in one of the final steps formalizing a long-term agreement between the team and the state. The deal was set to go before the state’s