ORLANDO, Fla. — There are two ways that most seem to be characterizing the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the baseball world descends on Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek for the annual winter meetings.

Most everyone expects the Pirates to be active.

Yet there's skepticism regarding how this could go.

How those two thoughts square, and if they ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Whether or not he needs it, Chase Utley’s Hall of Fame bid just got a boost.

Pete Rose’s? Forget about it.

Those were the Phillies-centric takeaways Sunday night from the voting results of the Hall’s Contemporary Era Committee. A 16-person panel of Hall of Fame players, major league owners and executives, media members,...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A Chavez Ravine dream was yet again dashed on Sunday.

Fernando Valenzuela was once more denied induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fourteen months removed from his death at the age of 63 in October 2024, and 27 years removed from the end of a pitching career measured by more than just wins, losses and ERA, ...Read more

SEATTLE — Aggressiveness is expensive.

But comfort may be more costly.

After the Seattle Mariners made MLB’s first offseason splash, bringing back first baseman Josh Naylor on a five-year deal worth $92.5 million, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto admitted on Nov. 18:

“We behaved in a way that’s a little different than we ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In 2023, the Dodgers finally retired the number 34, worn with distinction by Fernando Valenzuela. It had been 42 years since the season of Fernandomania, 26 years since Valenzuela last threw a pitch in the major leagues.

Better late than never. The Dodgers generally do not retire the numbers of players not selected for the Hall ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Athletics gave a rundown Thursday of what to expect as their Las Vegas ballpark progress moves into the new year and beyond.

Using an animated 3D computer model, the A’s showed the Las Vegas Stadium Authority a detailed presentation of how the stadium will begin to come together over time, as the project remains on track for...Read more

NEW YORK — Devin Williams could have been a closer, and he still could be with the Mets, but the opportunity he saw in Queens wasn’t necessarily dependent on whether he pitches in the eighth or ninth inning. For Williams, it’s about winning.

“They’re a team that wants to win,” the Mets’ new right-handed reliever said Friday on a ...Read more

It is that time of year again: The Baseball Hall of Fame’s hand-picked committee is set to perform its annual ritual of pearl-clutching, moralizing, and hair-splitting that is electing players to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

And, once again, Barry Bonds will be left on the outside looking in.

Bonds was denied admittance to the hall by the ...Read more

BOSTON — Over the past two years Jhostynxon Garcia has risen through the ranks to become one of the top Red Sox prospects, but he always faced difficult odds of breaking through in Boston given the club’s crowded outfield picture.

Now he’ll get his big league opportunity elsewhere.

Thursday night the Red Sox announced they’ve traded ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of community members packed a meeting room Thursday to tell the Metro board of directors whether they favored or opposed Frank McCourt's proposed gondola to Dodger Stadium. The board already signaled its intent to approve the project without any discussion among the directors, but then the board chairman announced it ...Read more

DENVER — Let’s keep it 100. When a franchise loses 100 games in three consecutive seasons, it gets no benefit of the doubt.

Become competitive. Less embarrassing. Show us progress. Embrace innovation. Give fans players worth cheering for, prospects they can believe in, a process that makes sense, a reason to go to the Coors Field beyond ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays’ found a new center fielder who is an old division foe.

Longtime Oriole Cedric Mullins has agreed to terms on a one-year major league contract, pending a physical exam, for a reported $7 million.

The deal is expected to be finalized before Sunday’s start of the winter meetings. The Rays also will have to make room ...Read more

It didn’t take long for Sonny Gray to reintroduce himself to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

Speaking for the first time since he was traded to Boston last week, Gray came with fighting words about the Yankees, with whom he famously struggled during a two-year tenure from 2017-18.

“What did factor into my decision to come to Boston [is that] ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Athletics opened an interactive space Tuesday that gives fans a glimpse into the future of what’s to come from the MLB team’s under-construction $2 billion Las Vegas ballpark.

The A’s ballpark experience center in the Uncommons’ mixed-use development in the southwest Las Vegas Valley includes a ballpark model, ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The lack of hand-wringing about the Phillies bullpen this offseason isn’t too surprising. By the time everyone finishes worrying about the offense, their palms are raw. Nearly half of the starting lineup from Game 1 of the NLDS is no longer under contract. They need to re-sign or replace their catcher, left fielder, center ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — A major league manager has many jobs. Assembling a major league staff may be the most important.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly has his first opportunity to build his own staff this offseason, and he's made three hires so far: new pitching coach Bill Murphy was hired from the Astros, new bench coach Kristopher Negron was ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Orioles have their closer.

Baltimore and right-hander Ryan Helsley agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal Saturday with a player option after the 2026 season, a source with direct knowledge of the terms confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. The deal is still pending a physical.

Helsley, 31, was one of the most dominant relievers in...Read more

LOS ANGELES — They were going to win. They were going to lose. All in one breath, all in one month.

Win. Lose. Win. Lose. Win. Lose.

Win!!!

Weeks later the chest still pounds, the throat still thickens, the mind still has not completely grasped.

The Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series championship this fall in pure dramatic ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — I hate to sound like cynical Yinzer media hack, but excuse me if I am not selling what the Pirates are currently trying to sell about how they are going to "operate differently" and spend money this offseason.

This current talking points — both directly from the horse's mouth and through leaks via some of their favored national...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Dylan Cease’s so-so walk year doesn’t appear to have cost him in free agency.

The 30-year-old right-hander is joining the Toronto Blue Jays via a seven-year, $210 million deal, according to multiple reports. Cease rejected a qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres last week, so his departure will net the Padres a July draft...Read more