PEORIA, Ariz. -- In the days after the 2019 season mercifully came to an end, and before the offseason truly began for players not in the postseason, Scott Servais wanted to talk with Yusei Kikuchi.

The manager and the rookie pitcher, along with Kikuchi's translator at the time, met for breakfast in Seattle to discuss what went right and all ...Read more

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- The Pirates' free-agent acquisition of center fielder Jarrod Dyson last week pushed their projected 2020 payroll north of $51 million, according to Spotrac.com -- $51,148,500, to be exact.

Only the Marlins ($46.3 million) and Orioles ($45.5 million) are lower, while the Rays ($60 million) are projected to spend nearly $9 ...Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Aaron Nola's first impression of the Phillies' new pitching coach: He isn't the old pitching coach.

That's a good thing, by the way, as far as Nola is concerned. The Phillies ace is on his fourth pitching coach in as many seasons and, well, let's just say that he preferred the traditional approach of experienced Bob McClure ...Read more

SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was as if Hanser Alberto slipped into the Orioles starting lineup last year while no one was looking.

How else do you explain the unlikely ascent of a guy who was employed by four teams during the previous offseason, didn't stick on the O's roster until March and ended up as the team's leading hitter?

Even now, if you look...Read more

MESA, Ariz. -- Javier Baez has emerged as one of the most dominant forces in the National League during the last three seasons, and the dazzling shortstop is adamant about helping set a tone to prevent more lapses that led to the Cubs' disappointing 2019 season and Joe Maddon's departure.

Baez admitted Sunday he was part of a group that took ...Read more

MESA, Ariz. -- A candid Kris Bryant admitted to being somewhat surprised about returning to the Cubs but stressed his desire to stay in Chicago after losing his service-time grievance while also correcting false reports about contract offers and blasting the Astros for their sign-stealing scandal.

During an expansive news conference Saturday ...Read more

Carlos Correa has a message for Cody Bellinger: The Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series "fair and square."

Bellinger made headlines Friday by ripping the Astros, who defeated the Dodgers in seven games to win that championship but have since been exposed for using a sign-stealing scheme in 2017 and part of 2018. "Everyone knows they stole ...Read more

Spring camp just opened this week, but the Indians already have news that fans won't like, as it was announced that Mike Clevinger underwent knee surgery on Friday.

Clevinger hurt his knee while training at the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday and on Thursday was diagnosed with a partial tear of his left medial meniscus. Dr. Tim ...Read more

Once star-studded teammates with the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter could potentially re-kindle their baseball rivalry from the owner's box.

According to the New Post, Rodriguez has emerged as a potential buyer for the New York Mets. The report says A-Rod is "kicking the tires" on joining an upcoming bidding for the franchise....Read more

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers are brimming with optimism about the 2020 season. They just added Mookie Betts and David Price to a roster teeming with talent. They are the overwhelming favorites to win the National League pennant. Winning their eighth straight division title should not be even a slight challenge.

But the Dodgers did not spend ...Read more

MESA, Ariz. -- Tony Kemp isn't one to make a grand entrance upon arrival to a new team. The 28-year-old new Oakland Athletic will take introductions slow, teammate by teammate.

But one Athletic took Kemp aside on his own. Pitcher Mike Fiers wanted to talk with his former Houston Astros teammate -- a teammate he celebrated a 2017 World Series ...Read more