MESA, Ariz. — In the quiet moments on a 75-degree day at Chicago Cubs camp, Ryne Sandberg leaned against the cage taking in batting practice.

To the Baseball Hall of Famer’s left stood shortstop Dansby Swanson, the two sharing notes on spring training strategies and how to prepare as a hitter over the course of the six weeks to be ready for...Read more

SARASOTA, Fla. — The Orioles saw two versions of Adley Rutschman in 2024. The first was the All-Star, one of baseball’s best young catchers and a player who had been on nothing but an upward trajectory since being drafted first overall in 2019. The second was a shell of that hitter, whose power and on-base percentage disappeared in the ...Read more

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Considering he’s played for three different teams already, this isn’t Juan Soto‘s first rodeo. But it’s the 26-year-old’s first in Port St. Lucie, as the newest star of the Mets. And for the first time in about five years, he didn’t have to answer any questions about where he would be playing in the future.

...Read more

FORT MYERS, Fla. – When Alex Bregman put on a Red Sox jersey for the first time on Sunday morning, it was a full-circle moment and a destination decades in the making.

It began long before Bregman was born into his baseball-loving family. His grandfather, the late Stanley Bregman, was chief legal counsel to the Washington Senators, and as ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Growing up in Encino, California, Max Fried had the privilege of learning from a seven-time All-Star and World Series champion.

That would be Reggie Smith, who spent 17 seasons in the majors with the Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers and Giants. His Dodgers beat the Yankees in the 1981 Fall Classic, but Smith only played a small role ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — With Yankees position players reporting to camp on Sunday, Aaron Boone shared a few new injury updates.

The most notable pertained to Giancarlo Stanton, who is “a little behind” due to some issues with both of his elbows that date back to late last season and the playoffs. Stanton, who enjoyed a torrent postseason, played ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Turns out, silence was preferable.

Who knew?

All these weeks later, we thought we wanted to hear from the Rays. We thought we needed clarity and fresh ideas on the stadium stalemate. Instead, when Rays executives went on a team-sponsored radio show Thursday evening, they aired old gripes and grievances.

Apparently, ...Read more

NEW YORK — With the arrival of pitchers and catchers, one of the coldest and miserly baseball offseasons in memory is nearing conclusion, and it can’t be understated that, other than the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets (on one player), hardly any team spent any money.

Something strange is definitely going on when (1) 22 of 30 teams have cut ...Read more

MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw admittedly kept an eye on the team’s free-agent pursuit of third baseman Alex Bregman.

A front-runner entering spring training to win the starting job at third, Shaw gained clarity on how his camp might play out after Bregman signed Wednesday night with the Boston Red Sox. The Massachusetts ...Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Bryce Harper didn’t play in the Phillies’ regular-season finale last year. With little to do before the game in Washington, he made small talk with a reporter about his strict adherence to an all-natural diet.

“I’m super overboard,” he said.

Harper revealed that he avoids seed oils, orders grass-fed beef from a ...Read more

MESA, Ariz. — Since his initial batting practice with the Chicago Cubs during his first spring training three years ago, Seiya Suzuki’s easy power has always been on display.

For as much as Suzuki prides himself on being a complete all-around player, his offensive production made him a top-20 hitter in Major League Baseball last season, ...Read more

PHOENIX — Mark Prior says he isn’t easily surprised by things he sees in spring camp.

Over his eight years as a Dodger pitching coach, Prior has dealt with Cy Young winners, highly touted prospects, nine-figure free-agent acquisitions and more injury rehabilitations than he cares to count.

Watching Shohei Ohtani this week, however, has ...Read more

NORTH PORT, Fla. — On Saturday morning, Spencer Strider uttered one line that may represent him as well as anything he has ever said.

“Mastery is something that doesn’t really have a destination,” Strider said in front of his locker.

This is, in a quote, the essence of Strider. On the mound, he fires a superhuman triple-digit fastball....Read more

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Francisco Lindor doesn’t officially hold the title of captain with the Mets. No one has held that title since David Wright’s career ended at the conclusion of the 2018 season. If you ask Lindor, he doesn’t need the formal title.

“The captain thing is not something that’s for me to decide,” Lindor said ...Read more

BRADENTON, Fla. — Most will remember Paul Skenes' 2024 spring training as the launching pad for a National League Rookie of the Year effort. Skenes, however, has a different outlook.

At this time last year, Skenes was the new guy. Fresh off being selected first overall in the 2023 draft, he arrived in Bradenton, Fla., looking to make a strong...Read more

PHOENIX — Last year was supposed to go differently for Dodgers pitcher Dustin May.

After being out since the middle of 2023 following a flexor tendon and Tommy John revision surgery, the hard-throwing right-hander was on track last summer to return to action before the end of the season.

By early July, he was just a week out from a minor ...Read more

SURPRISE, Ariz. — All-Star pitcher Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals have reached agreement on a three-year contract extension, per multiple reports Friday evening.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report, per sources, that the left-handed ace Ragans, 27, and the Royals had come to the agreement.

Passan posted on social-media site X ...Read more

MESA, Ariz. — After an offseason of rumors about Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs, reality set in Wednesday night with the news the free-agent third baseman agreed to a three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

A missed opportunity, for sure, but nothing to pull out your hair over.

“It’s one of those deals where you’re ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Marcus Stroman returned to Yankees camp on Friday.

The righty reported on time for a mandatory physical on Tuesday but did not participate in official, on-field workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday and Thursday. While the collective bargaining agreement states players don’t have to participate in workouts ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — With the signings of infielder Alex Bregman by the Boston Red Sox and starting pitcher Nick Pivetta by the San Diego Padres, a reasonably fair evaluation of winners and losers this offseason can be made.

The top 31 free agents as listed by The Los Angeles Times all have found new homes. So have numerous other players through the...Read more