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Ivy Ceballo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

Rays' Wander Franco taken off 40-man roster

Sports / Baseball /

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wander Franco was taken off the Rays’ 40-man roster on Thursday and placed on administrative leave through June 1, the Tampa Bay Times has learned.

The decision was made in joint agreement by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.

The move is really just a matter of paperwork, as the 23-year-old All-...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

How the saga of Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter unfolded -- and why it's not over

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The tip arrived two weeks ago, and it threatened to engulf Major League Baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, in scandal. The name of the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger and pitcher had surfaced in a federal investigation of illegal sports gambling — millions of dollars in payments were allegedly made from his bank account to ...Read more

Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/TNS

Vahe Gregorian: How 3-time World Series champion Will Smith became linchpin of Royals' offseason

Sports / Baseball /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Before relief pitcher Will Smith sprouted into what he jokingly calls a “rabbit’s foot” good-luck charm, he long wondered if he was exactly the opposite: cursed never to play in any World Series, much less become the first player to win three in a row for three different franchises.

Before he earned his abiding sense ...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Orange County bookie at center of gambling scandal thought link to Shohei Ohtani would help business

Sports / Baseball /

As a gambler, Mathew Bowyer bet big, often unsuccessfully, listing nearly half a million dollars in losses to two Las Vegas casinos in his 2011 bankruptcy.

As bookmaker, the Orange County man wagered that a client’s relationship with baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani would pay off by boosting Bowyer’s reputation in the gambling world.

Bowyer, ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Dodgers and Will Smith agree to a long-term contract extension

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — In what's been a week of uncertainty and speculation surrounding the Dodgers, the team secured some important long-term clarity Wednesday afternoon.

On the eve of their regular-season home opener, the Dodgers and catcher Will Smith agreed to a long-term contract extension for 10 years and $140 million, ensuring a key piece of ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Bill Plaschke: Do you still believe in Shohei Ohtani? I'm not sure.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — It still doesn't feel right.

It still doesn't make sense.

No matter how much Shohei Ohtani and his advisors attempt to clean it up, something in all this gambling garbage still stinks.

When a smiling Ohtani strides on to the Dodger Stadium field for their home opener Thursday, I want to believe.

I want to believe the game's ...Read more

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images North America/TNS

Who is Shohei Ohtani's new interpreter with Dodgers? They call him 'Will the Thrill.'

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wore a grim expression while talking to reporters in Seoul last Wednesday.

The team had just fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who had been accused by representatives of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani of engaging in a "massive theft" of the Dodgers two-way player's funds to allegedly pay off at ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Dodgers nearing long-term contract extension with catcher Will Smith

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — In what's been a week of uncertainty and speculation surrounding the Dodgers, the team was close to locking up some important long-term clarity Wednesday afternoon.

On the eve of their regular-season home opener, the Dodgers and catcher Will Smith are nearing a long-term contract extension for 10 years and $140 million, ...Read more

Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Phillies' season opener against Braves postponed to Friday due to rain in forecast

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — For the second straight year, the Phillies have rescheduled their home opener at Citizens Bank Park because rain is in the forecast. The team announced Wednesday that its opening day against the Atlanta Braves, which was originally scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Thursday, will now be held on Friday at 3:05 p.m. Gates will open at 12:35...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Bookie in Shohei Ohtani betting scandal has Las Vegas ties

Sports / Baseball /

LAS VEGAS — The bookmaker at the center of the Shohei Ohtani betting scandal was a high-stakes sports bettor in Las Vegas, a source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookie who is the target of a federal investigation, reportedly was wired millions of dollars from the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s bank ...Read more

Dustin Satloff/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mets' opening day game vs. Brewers postponed until Friday due to threat of rain

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — The anticipation for the 2024 Mets campaign will have 24 extra hours to build.

The club announced the postponement of the opening day matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon, moving the game from Thursday to Friday at 1:40 p.m. ET because of rain in the forecast.

Left-hander Jose Quintana will ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Mike Sielski: The honeymoon is over. It's World Series or bust for the 2024 Phillies.

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — Even at the time, Oct. 3, 2022 was a pretty consequential date in the history of the Phillies. It has become only more consequential since, especially now at the precipice of the 2024 season.

You might remember the date: 10/3/22. Check that: You almost certainly remember the date. The Phillies beat the Houston Astros, 3-0, at ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

MLB's top 2024 storylines include Shohei Ohtani's interpreter scandal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's rookie year and MLBPA drama

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — The 2024 MLB season promises plenty of drama, on and off the diamond.

Shohei Ohtani’s twist-filled interpreter scandal, the MLB Players Association’s intense internal feud and a much-hyped heavyweight fight for the National League crown represent only a few of the topics dominating discussions before baseball season gets into ...Read more

Getty Images/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dylan Hernández: Gambling and theft allegations raise one big question. Who is Shohei Ohtani?

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Guided by two pages of notes in a black folder, Shohei Ohtani offered a step-by-step account of how he discovered his former interpreter had allegedly stolen from him to cover gambling losses.

Ohtani said he never bet on sports. He said he never authorized payments to an illegal bookmaker. He said he was a victim of theft.

More...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Dodgers players surprised by Shohei Ohtani's composure: 'Betrayal is hard'

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Kiké Hernández stood in the corner of a jam-packed Dodger Stadium interview room Monday and watched as Shohei Ohtani forcefully denied speculation that he bet on sports or knew that his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was accused of stealing $4.5 million from him to pay off debts owed to an allegedly illegal Orange County ...Read more

Shohei Ohtani leaves unanswered questions after blaming his interpreter in gambling scandal

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani's calm, deliberate delivery Monday of his version of events surrounding the payment of his longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara's gambling debts leaves no doubt where he stands on the matter.

He does not and never has placed bets on any sport. He was oblivious to the alleged theft by Mizuhara of millions of dollars ...Read more

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

'Forgotten' Angels hoping to defy expectations in their post-Ohtani world

Sports / Baseball /

The usual buzz surrounding the Angels was noticeably absent this spring, the departure of the supernova that was Shohei Ohtani giving their training camp the feel of a county fairgrounds the day after the circus left town.

Gone was the Japanese media throng that greeted Ohtani in the parking lot every morning, followed the two-way star's every ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Shohei Ohtani says he 'never bet on baseball' in first remarks since Ippei Mizuhara accusations

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Facing a packed room of reporters, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani gave prepared remarks Monday in an attempt to shed light on the accusations that his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, engaged in a "massive theft" of the ballplayer's funds to place bets with an illegal bookmaker, saying he was "saddened and shocked" by the ...Read more

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Bill Plaschke: Greatest team or biggest flop? The 2024 Dodgers will decide their place in history

Sports / Baseball /

They opened the season surrounded by strangers in a tiny, rattling dome in South Korea.

They played two games witnessed in Los Angeles only by those fans willing to awaken in the middle of the night.

By the time they embarked on the 6,000-mile flight home, all hell had broken loose.

Shohei Ohtani, their new global superstar, was linked to ...Read more

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Shohei Ohtani to speak Monday in wake of allegations against ex-interpreter

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani's silence is set to last at least one more day.

As reporters huddled Sunday around Ohtani's new locker in the Dodgers home clubhouse, the two-time MVP emerged briefly before the team's Freeway Series game against the Angels and said he would address the media Monday.

A Dodgers public relations official later ...Read more