Sports
/ArcaMax
Are free-agent signings in the Cards? Don't hold your breath
ST. LOUIS -- Unlike pro hockey, pro football and pro basketball, when the clock starts for free agency and you can see a rash of deals completed on the first eligible day as early as 12:01 p.m. or 4:01 p.m. or 6:01 p.m., depending on the sport, baseball assumes more of a sundial approach.
Free agency began five days after the World Series, ...Read more
Dodgers to shop for starting pitchers, right-handed power as offseason begins
LOS ANGELES -- It's been more than a month since the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered their stunning exit from the postseason.
The reasons for the latest disappointment were dissected and analyzed. The manager was criticized. Players were blamed. The front office was questioned. But there are no obvious roster needs for a team that compiled 106 ...Read more
Giants make their GM move; will managerial hire be far behind it?
The San Francisco Giants haven't hired Bruce Bochy's replacement yet, but they did make a high-profile addition to their front office on Sunday.
The Giants hired Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Scott Harris to serve as the team's general manager under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.
"We're thrilled to be able to bring in ...Read more
Phillies will focus on starting pitching at GM meetings
On one side of Houston's Minute Maid Park, the Washington Nationals sprayed each other with champagne late last month as they closed the baseball season by celebrating a World Series crown. On the other, Gerrit Cole -- one of baseball's premier pitchers -- traded his Astros cap for a hat emblazoned with the logo of his agent and left the stadium...Read more
David Ross' 1st Cubs coaching staff is taking shape. Now Theo Epstein will start renovation work on roster at GM meetings.
CHICAGO -- The reckoning Cubs President Theo Epstein threatened last winter if the team underachieved in 2019 is well underway, with new manager David Ross in place and his coaching staff under construction.
As the general managers meetings begin Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz., Epstein will begin to focus more on the reconstruction of the Cubs ...Read more
A diamond in the rough: As team rebuilds, Orioles have big plans for its main jewel, Camden Yards
BALTIMORE -- Orioles' executives, facing the challenge of marketing a team that has lost 100-plus games in each of the last two years, are banking partly on its remaining superstar -- its popular stadium -- to draw in fans with "major headliner concerts" and other events in the near future.
The club says it is exploring updates to Oriole Park ...Read more
Mike Elias: Orioles have to listen on trade offers this offseason; free-agent spending won't be solution
BALTIMORE -- Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias set the stage Thursday in his appearance on the team-sponsored Hot Stove Radio Show on 105.7 The Fan for an offseason in which the team's top arbitration-eligible players will face uncertain futures, beginning at next week's general manager meetings.
Elias said the Orioles...Read more
'We need to get better' — Michael Hill addresses Marlins offseason and how they plan to improve
MIAMI -- Speaking to reporters at Marlins Park, Michael Hill frequently repeated a straightforward message when discussing Miami's offseason plans.
"We need to get better."
After a 57-105 season -- Miami's 10th consecutive losing campaign -- it's hardly a surprising edict from the Marlins president of baseball operation ahead of next week's ...Read more
Giants' manager search takes a turn, Rays bench coach reportedly still in mix
SAN FRANCISCO -- For the last week, it appeared the Giants were down to three candidates to succeed Bruce Bochy as the team's next manager.
Former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, current Astros bench coach Joe Espada and current Royals quality control coach Pedro Grifol all remained in the mix before the calendar turned to November.
Kapler and ...Read more
Cubs season ticket prices dropping by an average of about 2.5% for 2020, team says
CHICAGO -- The Cubs missed the postseason for the first time in five seasons in 2019, and season ticket holders will see an average price decrease of about 2.5% next year, according to the team.
Cale Vennum, vice president of ticketing, said the decrease, which ranges from 6.5% for some sections to a slight increase for others, has more to do ...Read more
'I have hope now': Orioles' Chris Davis carrying confidence early in offseason
BALTIMORE -- Comparing Chris Davis' 2019 season with his 2018 campaign yields a minimal net gain. But the Orioles' first baseman has felt a massive difference between the offseasons that have followed each.
Davis is barely more than a month removed from a 2019 season in which he set multiple hitless streak records, got into a public verbal ...Read more
Why haven't the San Francisco Giants hired a new manager yet?
SAN FRANCISCO -- Despite knowing since February the organization would be tasked with hiring a new manager this offseason, the Giants are one of two teams left that have yet to finalize a decision.
Of the eight franchises that set out to hire a manager this fall, only the Giants and Pirates are still searching for their desired candidate.
...Read more
Angels decline Kole Calhoun's $14 million contract option
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Angels declined a $14 million option on outfielder Kole Calhoun, the team announced Monday.
Calhoun, 32, made his major league debut with the Angels in 2012. He had a streaky year at the plate in 2019, batting .232 with a team-high 162 strikeouts. But he also ranked second behind Mike Trout with a career-high 33 ...Read more
Padres could be suitor for World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres' cover has been blown.
After two offseasons of essentially sneaking up on baseball by signing Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado in February, the Padres are now seen as players in free agency from the start of the offseason.
And as the 2020 hot stove gets lit, it seems clear they will be cooking again.
Whether the Padres ...Read more
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and White Sox second baseman Yolmer Sanchez win Gold Gloves
CHICAGO -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo added another Gold Glove to his trophy case Sunday while White Sox second baseman Yolmer Sanchez became a first-time winner for the top defensive award.
Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward and Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito also were among the finalists at their respective positions in their respective ...Read more
Dodgers' Cody Bellinger wins Gold Glove as right fielder
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger won a Gold Glove award as a right fielder on Sunday. Bellinger was selected over Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies and Jason Heyward of the Chicago Cubs.
It is the first Gold Glove for the 24-year-old Bellinger. He was the Dodgers' only finalist at any position. ...Read more
3 things to watch when World Series champion Nationals visit the White House
WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals are headed to the White House Monday, broken World Series trophy and all, to celebrate their first championship in franchise history with President Donald Trump.
Bang! Zoom!
That's one of the catchphrases used by the team's primary radio play-by-play announcer, Charlie Slowes, when the Nats win. ...Read more
Alex Gordon a free agent after Royals decline $23 million option
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals declined their mutual option on the contract of veteran left fielder Alex Gordon, the club announced on Friday. Gordon had been the team's longest-tenured and highest-paid player.
Gordon, who has not announced whether he intends to retire, exercised his mutual option for 2020 that would have paid him $...Read more
Starlin Castro to hit free agency after Marlins decline $16 million team option
The Miami Marlins will not pick up Starlin Castro's $16 million team option for 2020, making the second baseman a free agent.
The 29-year-old infielder just finished a seven-year, $60 million contract he signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2013. The Marlins could've brought him back for one more season, but the team will exercise a $1 million ...Read more
Mike Matheny hired as Royals' manager, says something 'very special about to happen' in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals hired Mike Matheny as their 17th manager in franchise history Thursday.
Matheny, 49, a former major league manager with the St. Louis Cardinals, takes over for Ned Yost, who retired after the 2019 season.
"I truly see something very, very special about to happen here," Matheny said after he put on a Royals jersey...Read more
Popular Stories
- Are free-agent signings in the Cards? Don't hold your breath
- Dodgers to shop for starting pitchers, right-handed power as offseason begins
- Giants make their GM move; will managerial hire be far behind it?
- Phillies will focus on starting pitching at GM meetings
- David Ross' 1st Cubs coaching staff is taking shape. Now Theo Epstein will start renovation work on roster at GM meetings.
Social Connections
Comics
