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K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Bryce Miller: Common ground between A.J. Preller, Mike Shildt solid sign for Padres

Sports / Baseball /

SAN DIEGO — There’s no doubt Padres manager Mike Shildt and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller are in lockstep, beyond the two-year extension that will carry the dugout boss through 2027.

How do we know?

The Zoom call with media Wednesday that announced the deal felt bro-huggy to the point of wondering if a tailgate bash was ...Read more

MATIAS J. OCNER/Miami Herald/TNS

World-class pitcher Roki Sasaki to be posted to MLB, impacting free-agent market. Will the Phillies join the chase?

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA— A world-class pitcher reached the cusp of free agency Saturday with the announcement that Roki Sasaki will be made available by his team in Japan.

But unlike most free agents, all 30 teams figure to have interest, including the Phillies, who scouted Sasaki this season, according to two sources.

In a statement, the Chiba Lotte ...Read more

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Japanese star Roki Sasaki to be posted; Padres have a good chance to sign him

Sports / Baseball /

SAN DIEGO — Roki Sasaki is coming to Major League Baseball.

He could be coming to San Diego.

The Padres would seem to have as good a chance as any to sign the 23-year-old Japanese pitching phenom. They might have a better chance than most.

Sasaki’s NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, announced they will begin the process of posting Sasaki,...Read more

MATIAS J. OCNER/Miami Herald/TNS

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to be posted, becoming a top Dodgers free-agency target

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — On the first day of October, two Dodgers executives were on the other side of the world.

Shortly after the end of the regular season, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and vice president of player personnel Galen Carr were in Japan on a scouting trip.

The center of their attention: phenom pitcher Roki Sasaki.

...Read more

K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Tom Krasovic: Padres' A.J. Preller has a hot hand when it comes to landing pitchers

Sports / Baseball /

SAN DIEGO — Between now and baseball’s summer trade deadline, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will devote considerable time to landing a number of starting pitchers.

Really, it’s a job that never ends for any baseball team’s team-builder.

Never have so many pitchers been needed to win a World Series. Pitchers are ...Read more

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images North America/TNS

Angels reach new TV deal with FanDuel Sports Network

Sports / Baseball /

The Angels and the Diamond Sports Group have reached an agreement on a new deal that will allow fans to watch games on the FanDuel Sports Network, via cable providers or by subscribing to a streaming service, a source said.

The FanDuel Sports Network was previously known as Bally Sports.

The deal is expected to be announced in the coming days....Read more

Jason Getz / Jason.Getz/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

Former Braves employee files counterclaim against team in Hank Aaron memorabilia case

Sports / Baseball /

ATLANTA — In the latest twist involving a dispute about the home plate and the bases from Hank Aaron’s historic 715th home run, former Braves employee Ben Acree has filed a counterclaim against the team, alleging it has damaged his reputation.

In a filing Wednesday, responding to the Braves’ lawsuit against him, his father Bill Acree and ...Read more

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Yankees exercise Aaron Boone's option, making manager's return official

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Aaron Boone is officially back.

The Yankees exercised the manager’s 2025 club option on Friday morning, an expected move after Boone took the team to the World Series for the first time as skipper this past season. The 2025 campaign will mark the 51-year-old’s eighth season at the helm.

“I am grateful for the trust placed in...Read more

Chris Torres/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS

Analysis: 4 logical trade partners for the Pirates this offseason

Sports / Baseball /

PITTSBURGH — With the MLB offseason underway, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington and his staff have begun their quest to improve the club's roster. Following a disappointing 2024 campaign, Cherington himself admitted that changes must be made to put the organization in a better position to compete for the postseason.

While free agency ...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Why re-signing Teoscar Hernández will be among Dodgers' most important offseason decisions

Sports / Baseball /

SAN ANTONIO — The last time Teoscar Hernández gazed out at the crowd at Dodger Stadium this season, the veteran outfielder almost broke down crying.

"I just want to say thank you," Hernández said during the Dodgers' World Series celebration at Chavez Ravine last Friday, having played a crucial role in the club's first full-season ...Read more

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Scott Boras says Juan Soto was 'really comfortable' in New York, wants to win as massive payday nears

Sports / Baseball /

With the Yankees still grieving their World Series loss and a scrum of reporters peppering Juan Soto about his future, the free-agent superstar insisted that a chance to win will be one of his top priorities when determining his future.

“That’s one of the biggest things,” Soto said. “You want to be part of this, even if you don’t make...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Shohei Ohtani's labrum surgery could delay return to pitching but shouldn't impact swing

Sports / Baseball /

SAN ANTONIO — If you're buying tickets to the Dodgers' season-opening games in Tokyo next March, don't count on seeing Shohei Ohtani pitch.

Though the Dodgers slugger is expected to be in the lineup for the start of the season — which will begin with two games in Japan against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome — the two-way star is not ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Ready, set, shop! Tony Paul's top 50 MLB free agents, with predictions.

Sports / Baseball /

The Detroit News' Tony Paul breaks down his top 50 free agents in the MLB offseason, along with his predictions (all ages are as of April 1, 2025).

— 1. Juan Soto (26), RF: He's this winter's Shohei Ohtani, so let the bidding war begin for a guy who might've been a bit overlooked on his own team (Aaron Judge!?!), but certainly won't be ...Read more

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Baseball agent Scott Boras: New Twins ownership should bring in a 'very refreshed view'

Sports / Baseball /

SAN ANTONIO – There is no timeline for a new ownership group to purchase the Minnesota Twins, which the Pohlad family announced was up for sale in October, but baseball agent Scott Boras expects a new owner will bring excitement to the sport.

“The great thing about franchises, I think, is when you see them change ownership, you see someone ...Read more

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Pete Alonso's agent refutes notion of 'bear market' for first baseman: 'For Pete's sake, it's the Polar opposite'

Sports / Baseball /

With it being election week, there’s been a lot of talk about the economy and the market. In San Antonio, where it’s general manager week of sorts, the talk is about the free-agent market.

Scott Boras, the notorious MLB super agent who represents a handful of players that either just left the Mets or are being pursued by the Mets, summed it...Read more

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Dodgers to move Mookie Betts to infield in 2025, seek pitching and outfielders this offseason

Sports / Baseball /

SAN ANTONIO — One week into Major League Baseball's offseason, the Dodgers are still in the process of finalizing their plans for this upcoming winter.

They're admittedly playing "a little bit of catch-up going on right now," as general manager Brandon Gomes put it — but are happy to be after spending the last month winning the World Series...Read more

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Angels agree with RHP Kyle Hendricks on one-year, $2.5 million deal

Sports / Baseball /

The Angels have agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with right-hander Kyle Hendricks, a source confirmed on Wednesday.

The Angels have not yet announced the deal, which will also require a corresponding 40-man roster move before it’s official.

Hendricks, who turns 35 next month, is coming off a season in which he posted a 5.92 ERA with ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Family, friends and fans pay tribute to Fernando Valenzuela at public funeral mass

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Carlos Santana and his wife Susannah stood outside of the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles, gazing at the casket of Fernando Valenzuela, the beloved Mexican-born pitcher for the Dodgers.

Santana and his wife watched as Valenzuela’s family made their way inside the cathedral, followed by the pallbearers ...Read more

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Juan Soto not necessarily opposed to long free agency as Yankees eye reunion

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Juan Soto is the most coveted free agent in this year’s class, but don’t be surprised if he takes his time settling on a new home.

It’s not uncommon for Scott Boras clients to go through long free agency periods. Just last winter, four of the agent’s top clients — Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell and Jordan ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

'Run it back.' Will Dodgers keep roster core together for World Series defense?

Sports / Baseball /

SAN ANTONIO — Before most of the Dodgers front office had arrived in San Antonio on Monday for Major League Baseball's annual general managers meetings, pressure already was being applied on Andrew Friedman and Co.

Less than a week removed from winning the World Series, several Dodgers voiced their desire for the team to keep its core intact ...Read more