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Mets complete first major offseason deal after officially announcing Frankie Montas signing
NEW YORK — Frankie Montas has passed his physical and is officially the newest member of the Mets. The team announced the two-year contract worth $34 million for the right-hander Wednesday night.
“We are excited to bring Frankie into the organization and add a quality arm to our major league rotation,” president of baseball operations ...Read more
Female pitcher Ayami Sato makes history as first woman to play Canadian pro baseball
A 34-year-old female pitcher has broken through baseball’s gender barrier by signing with an independent men’s league team, becoming the first woman to play Canadian pro baseball.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs are honoured to announce the signing of Ayami Sato, one of the best pitchers in the world, who will make history as the first woman to ...Read more
Paul Sullivan: Official return of Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer to the radio booth makes Cubs fans long for summer
CHICAGO — Pat Hughes was reciting the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue” on a chilly December morning when I realized we’d gone way off topic.
The reason for the call was the official announcement that Hughes and Ron Coomer had signed a multiyear extension to continue broadcasting Chicago Cubs games for WSCR-AM 670. The two-...Read more
Scott Boras: Juan Soto has 'begun the process of eliminating teams'
NEW YORK — Juan Soto is starting to narrow his options.
Scott Boras made that known on Tuesday, stating that the superstar free agent has begun to rule out interested teams. While the agent didn’t specify who is out of the running, the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers are the teams publicly known to be the most serious about ...Read more
Former Mets pitcher John Franco on Juan Soto: 'One of the few guys you could build a team around'
NEW YORK — When Steve Cohen took over the Mets shortly after the 2020 season, the expectation was that the club would annually go after the top free agents on the market and would look to acquire some of the game’s best players. That expectation has become a reality.
This year, the Mets are considered finalists to land Juan Soto, the ...Read more
Paul Sullivan: Latest nutty idea from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred -- the Golden At-Bat -- proves how little he cares about baseball fans
CHICAGO — The world has gone crazy, we’ve recently discovered, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Major League Baseball offices in New York.
In the media capital of the world, you’ll find Commissioner Rob Manfred, the nuttiest top executive in professional sports, who always seems to go that extra mile to troll baseball fans.
...Read more
Signing of Blake Snell is Dodgers' latest financial flex. 'This is where you want to play.'
LOS ANGELES — In the right-field Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, where dozens of media members gathered for yet another introductory news conference welcoming a star player to the organization, the Dodgers flexed their financial muscles with businesslike handshakes and celebratory smiles.
President of baseball operations ...Read more
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred pondering 'Golden At-Bat' rule
NEW YORK — Imagine you’re a closer getting ready to face the opponent’s No. 9 hitter with two outs in the ninth inning of a one-run game, and all of a sudden, Juan Soto steps up to the plate.
Or Aaron Judge. Or Shohei Ohtani. Or Francisco Lindor. Or some other elite hitter who shouldn’t be taking an at-bat in the nine-hole.
That’s ...Read more
A's owner has finances in place for Las Vegas ballpark, bank says
LAS VEGAS — The family of Athletics owner John Fisher has adequate finances in place to cover its portion of the planned Las Vegas ballpark, according to U.S. Bank.
The statement was included in a letter written by U.S. Bank Senior Vice President Stephen Vogel and submitted to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority ahead of Thursday’s meeting of ...Read more
Shohei Ohtani to recoup $325,000 in baseball cards. Ex-interpreter still owes him $16 million.
LOS ANGELES — Ippei Mizuhara's fleecing of Shohei Ohtani was straightforward for the most part. Ohtani's former interpreter had access to a bank account full of Ohtani's money, and he simply wrote checks, withdrew cash or wired funds whenever he made bets or needed to pay gambling debts.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in June ...Read more
Aroldis Chapman signs with Red Sox; Pirates' Hadi Raad leaves for Giants front office job
PITTSBURGH — Albeit mercurial at times, one of the Pirates' most reliable relievers last season is headed elsewhere. A league source confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that veteran left-hander Aroldis Chapman is in agreement with the Boston Red Sox on a one-year, $10.75 million contract. ESPN and MassLive were the first to report Chapman...Read more
Cubs agree with left-hander Matthew Boyd on a 2-year, $29 million contract
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs entered the offseason knowing they wanted to address the rotation and, by extension, the pitching staff.
For a group that features young talent but not much experience because of injuries last year, bringing in experience and depth is a priority. The Cubs have taken their first step in that direction by agreeing to ...Read more
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
Popular Stories
- Paul Sullivan: Official return of Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer to the radio booth makes Cubs fans long for summer
- MLB commissioner Rob Manfred pondering 'Golden At-Bat' rule
- Scott Boras: Juan Soto has 'begun the process of eliminating teams'
- A's owner has finances in place for Las Vegas ballpark, bank says
- Female pitcher Ayami Sato makes history as first woman to play Canadian pro baseball