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John Romano: What will it take to save MLB's future in Tampa Bay? A hero, please.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The county is angry. The Rays are skeptical. The future is bleak.
There are a few other minor details involving hurricanes, contracts and elections, but that’s the gist of the Rays’ stadium situation today.
St. Petersburg has a broken ballpark it is contractually required to fix but is going to cost a ton of money ...Read more
Troy Renck: Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle turns witty author with 'Hurdle-isms' book
DENVER — Clint Hurdle taught players to hit through wit.
He managed 17 years in the big leagues, suffered 1,345 losses, but won over organizations with his leadership and sense of humor. Hurdle has lived a life worthy of a movie, from Sports Illustrated coverboy to lost prospect to getting sober to leading the Rockies to the World Series.
...Read more
Utilityman Tommy Edman agrees to contract extension with the Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — It took less than three months for Tommy Edman to endear himself to Dodgers fans.
Now he'll be playing in front of them for the next half-decade.
The Dodgers agreed to a five-year, $74 million contract extension with Edman on Friday, the team announced, locking up their key trade deadline acquisition and National League ...Read more
Tom Krasovic: Dodgers' deal with Blake Snell doesn't change Padres' playoff path
SAN DIEGO — The fallout for the Padres from two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell joining the Dodgers on a $182 million contract this week amounts to more of the same.
The Padres knew that barring a few minor miracles, they’ll be playing for a wild card instead of the National League West title in 2025.
While the familiar caveats still ...Read more
Juan Soto reminds Ron Darling of Albert Pujols
NEW YORK — With all of baseball watching to see where free agent outfielder Juan Soto will sign, former Mets right-hander and current SNY broadcaster Ron Darling has been reminded of when another generational Dominican hitter hit free agency.
In the winter of 2011, Albert Pujols signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, leaving ...Read more
Blake Snell's deal with Dodgers makes market more expensive for pitching-strapped Mets
NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to loom large over the Mets as the Amazins’ continue their quest for National League supremacy. The addition of two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell puts every team in the league on notice, but especially the pitching-strapped Mets.
The team that owner Steve Cohen cited when he purchased the...Read more
Dylan Hernández: Dodgers' pursuit of Blake Snell shows how Shohei Ohtani is a change agent
LOS ANGELES — The degree to which Shohei Ohtani has transformed the Dodgers was revealed in greater detail on Tuesday.
By agreeing to a five-year, $182-million contract with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, the Dodgers signaled their intentions to the baseball world.
They're building the sport's next dynasty.
The financial ...Read more
Giants' franchise icon Brandon Crawford announces retirement
Brandon Crawford, arguably the greatest shortstop in the history of the San Francisco Giants, announced his retirement on Instagram.
“Baseball has given me, Jalynne, and the kids more than we ever thought possible, and for that we are so thankful,” Crawford wrote in the post. “I wouldn’t have been able to have the career I did without ...Read more
Dodgers agree to sign two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers won the World Series last season in spite of their shorthanded pitching.
Next year, they hope a reinforced staff can be the key to defending their title.
To that end, the Dodgers made a major move Tuesday night, agreeing to a five-year, $182-million contract with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell pending a ...Read more
What can the Yankees offer Juan Soto besides lots and lots of money?
NEW YORK — Let’s get this out of the way: money is going to be a mighty factor in Juan Soto’s free agent decision.
With Scott Boras representing the 26-year-old and some of baseball’s richest owners pursuing him, the perception is that Soto will take the highest offer, or close to it. But surely suitors, which include the Yankees, Mets,...Read more
Jason Mackey: Pirates now face a fascinating question in right field. Here's how they should proceed.
PITTSBURGH — It's the position most frequently identified with the Pirates, the result of the greatness displayed by Roberto Clemente, as well as Paul Waner and Dave Parker.
Right field has also suddenly become an even bigger question mark relative to the current team after the Pirates non-tendered Bryan De La Cruz and Connor Joe last week.
...Read more
How Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga found success as a rookie -- and how he's looking to build off it
CHICAGO — Shota Imanaga’s rookie season could not have played out much better.
The 31-year-old lefty dazzled as one of the best starters in baseball, ranking third in the National League with a 2.91 ERA and first with a 6.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 173 1/3 innings. Imanaga’s performance earned him a fourth-place finish in NL Rookie ...Read more
Bill Shaikin: Yes, the Angels are signing players. But what can they expect from Mike Trout?
LOS ANGELES — In the NFL, Patrick Mahomes makes your team a contender. In the NBA, Nikola Jokic makes your team a contender.
In baseball, as the Angels and their fans know all too well, one player does not make your team a contender. Over the past decade, Mike Trout could not do it all by himself, and he and Shohei Ohtani could not do it all ...Read more
Rays change schedule to avoid too many hot, muggy dates in Tampa
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays and Major League Baseball have made some slight adjustments in their 2025 schedule to avoid playing too many games in the summer heat and rain at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay.
The Rays are swapping a home-and-away series with both the Angels and the Twins, moving road games to Tampa in April and May and ...Read more
Rays asked to declare intention on stadium deal by Dec. 1
TAMPA, Fla. — Pinellas County Commission Chairperson Kathleen Peters sent a two-page letter to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday asking the team to put in writing whether it intends to move forward on a $1.3 billion stadium voted on in July or provide a notice of termination by Sunday.
“I am requesting that you officially declare your intention ...Read more
Bill Madden: Hal Steinbrenner hyping his player relationships in bid to lure Juan Soto back to Yankees
NEW YORK — Welcome to Scott Boras’ perfect world.
In Juan Soto, baseball’s Avenging Agent has the perfect free agent, a super slugger just 26 years old and already in his prime, and a perfect storm of competition for his services with all of the large market teams — Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Phillies and Red Sox — anxious and...Read more
Mike Bianchi: With Rays bedeviled in Tampa Bay, Orlando needs to act on Pat Williams' vision
If only Pat Williams were still alive.
We need him now more than ever.
The beloved Orlando dreamer, the sports visionary who co-founded the Magic four decades ago, told us this was going to happen years before he passed away in July.
He told us that if we’d just get off our butts and get to work, we could lure the Tampa Bay Rays to Orlando....Read more
Let's make a deal: Trade ideas for the 'open-minded' Phillies with Alec Bohm, Ranger Suárez, and more
PHILADELPHIA — In Dave Dombrowski’s previous offseasons in charge of the Phillies’ baseball operations, circumstances dictated that he act more like a carpenter than a designer.
Because if you think of the roster as a house, it required upgrades in specific areas. A refurbished master bathroom here, a star shortstop there. So, Dombrowski ...Read more
Tom Krasovic: Jackson Merrill's ROY candidacy shines deserving light on ex-Padre Benito Santiago
SAN DIEGO — The Padres will be thrilled if Jackson Merrill proves as durable as the lithe and baseball-passionate Benito Santiago, who, like Merrill, had a big rookie season with San Diego.
One of the sport’s more athletic catchers, Santiago revolutionized the position by snapping off rapid throws from both knees. He caught more games than ...Read more
Royals trade pitcher Brady Singer to Reds for infielder Jonathan India, outfielder Joey Wiemer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have added more firepower to their lineup.
On Friday, they traded right-handed pitcher Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer.
India figures to be the club’s leadoff hitter in 2025. He has a career .360 on-base percentage in the role....Read more
Popular Stories
- John Romano: What will it take to save MLB's future in Tampa Bay? A hero, please.
- Troy Renck: Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle turns witty author with 'Hurdle-isms' book
- Utilityman Tommy Edman agrees to contract extension with the Dodgers
- Giants' franchise icon Brandon Crawford announces retirement
- Let's make a deal: Trade ideas for the 'open-minded' Phillies with Alec Bohm, Ranger Suárez, and more