LOS ANGELES — It has become a predictable talking point around baseball the last couple of offseasons, amplified every time the Dodgers sign a star on what has become an increasingly common contract for the club.

Nine times in the last five years, the Dodgers agreed to deals with significant amounts of deferred money — large portions of ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — They could name a roller coaster at Kennywood after what David Bednar has experienced over the past 10 months or so, the frustrations of a down year in 2024 juxtaposed with the excitement of soon becoming a new dad.

It's not all that dissimilar to the highs and lows experienced by Bednar's beloved Steelers, although he'd probably...Read more

CHICAGO — The 38th Chicago Cubs Convention fittingly ended around the same time as the brief TikTok outage, giving Cubs fans and TikTok users a chance to reboot their attention spans.

It’s going to be a long ride in 2025, so hop on board at your own risk.

It was, as advertised, the most interesting, buzz-creating and media-fueled Cubs ...Read more

BALTIMORE — During his eight years with Baltimore, Anthony Santander played under two regimes, endured a painful rebuild and saw the ballclub sold. Throughout it all, Santander became one of baseball’s best power hitters, made an All-Star Game and earned the lucrative contract he received Monday.

Santander, a fan-favorite, has officially ...Read more

CHICAGO — When the Chicago Cubs handed Craig Counsell a five-year, $40 million contract to become the highest-paid manager in baseball, they didn’t do it for his sparkling personality or quotability.

Simply put, Counsell was brought to the Cubs to win.

The 2024 team was basically the same group the Cubs had in 2023, along with a few ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — This time last year, discussions about Paul Skenes centered around whether the former No. 1 overall pick would start the season in Triple-A or the big leagues.

Much has changed in the time between then and the second day of PiratesFest on Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Skenes turned in a marvelous season in ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki might have been the exclamation point on yet another big Dodgers offseason.

But the team isn't done adding to its 2025 roster yet.

In another splashy offseason signing Sunday morning, the Dodgers agreed to a four-year, $72-million deal with lockdown left-handed reliever Tanner Scott, according to multiple people ...Read more

NEW YORK — By now one would hope Pete Alonso has finally gotten the memo: The New York Mets never wanted him back. That’s why they never budged off their three-year offer in the $70 million range to him when he and his agent Scott Boras continued to push, first, for six and five-year deals and finally three years with an annual average value...Read more

SAN DIEGO — You can’t hit a home run from the dugout.

The Padres were right to pursue Roki Sasaki, even though, by the time the Japanese pitching ace chose Friday to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, much of their offseason had come and gone to little effect.

The potential reward was far too great to not recruit Sasaski, who, according to...Read more

CHICAGO — When Sammy Sosa apologized in a statement last month for making “mistakes” over the course of his baseball career, the question of exactly what those mistakes were was left hanging.

After reuniting with the Chicago Cubs on Friday night at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk and being named to their Hall of Fame, Sosa briefly ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In the wake of Roki Sasaki's announcement Friday that he was signing with the Dodgers, it didn't take long for grumbles about his free agency to emerge.

Over the last year, there had been speculation around the sport that the Dodgers had a possible handshake agreement in place with Sasaki, before the 23-year-old phenom was even ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — In San Diego, news that one-man Powerball ticket Roki Sasaki has decided to join the Los Angeles Dodgers was more than a gut punch. It was a steel-toed boot to the shin, a Clydesdale stomp to the foot, a right hook to the jaw.

This hurt in all kinds of ways, big and bigger than big.

The Dodgers, a team that spent more than $1 ...Read more

SEATTLE — As I looked at my Baseball Hall of Fame ballot that included checkmarks on the boxes next to nine players’ names, I stared at the open box next to another name: Félix Hernández.

Memories of a brilliant career that somehow seems unfulfilled began to play in my mind. In 18 years covering baseball, I’ve written more words about ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are shaking up their home jersey options and reintroducing a colorway the team has not worn on the field in nearly 45 years.

The Cubs unveiled a new “Blues Alternate” jersey Thursday night featuring baby blue tops that debut April 5 and will be worn for Friday home games this season. Conversely, the Cubs are ...Read more

CHICAGO — The “Sammy! Sammy!” chants started as soon as Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts teased the slugger’s return on the main stage Friday night at the Cubs Convention.

Sammy Sosa’s journey back to the organization that began with his apology last month for “mistakes” during his career saw him honored in front of hyped Cubs ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — This is not a sad day for baseball. This is a great day for baseball.

Roki Sasaki, arguably the best young pitcher in the world, is a Dodger. Sasaki announced his decision in an Instagram post Friday.

Fifteen years ago, LeBron James announced his big decision on live television, with these memorable words: "I'm going to take my...Read more

LOS ANGELES — He has better control than Shohei Ohtani had at the same stage of his career.

He is more athletic than Hideo Nomo was.

He throws harder than Yu Darvish.

Roki Sasaki is the most talented pitcher Japan has produced, and the 23-year-old with a 6-foot-4 frame and 102.5-mph fastball is now a Dodger.

If Sasaki was born and raised ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For the third time in the last 13 months, the Dodgers are signing a superstar player from Japan.

And this time, it’s coming at a discount, with the club on Friday striking an agreement to sign 23-year-old pitcher Roki Sasaki, according to an announcement posted on Sasaki’s Instagram account.

A hard-throwing right-hander ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies were flying to another city in the late 1960s when Bob Uecker, then the team’s seldom-used backup catcher, told the flight attendant he was sick. Uecker, who died Thursday at 90, asked for a vomit bag.

“She gives him the bag,” wrote Dick Allen, who was seated next to Uecker. “And when she turns her back, he...Read more