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Baseball
News, trades, games, standings, etc. (includes Asian baseball)
Full schedule for Yankees-Dodgers 2024 MLB World Series
Game 1
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
- How to watch: FOX
Game 2
- When: Saturday, Oct. 26, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
- How to watch: FOX
Game 3:
- When: Monday, Oct. 28, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City
- How to watch: FOX
Game 4:
- When: Tuesday, Oct. 29, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City
- How to watch: FOX
Game 5 (if needed):
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 30, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City
- How to watch: FOX
Game 6 (if needed):
- When: Friday, Nov. 1, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
- How to watch: FOX
Game 7 (if needed):
- When: Saturday, Nov. 2, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
- Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
- How to watch: FOX
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MLB Rumors: Rockies to Lower Payroll in 2025; Cal Quantrill, More Could Be Traded
The Colorado Rockies could trade veteran players including Cal Quantrill this offseason as part of a plan to spend less on their payroll in 2025, Patrick Saunders reported for The Denver Post.
The Rockies ranked 17th in the MLB with a payroll of just over $147 million in 2024, per Spotrac.
That number is now expected to dip due to falling television revenue tied to the decline of regional sports networks, Saunders reported.
Second baseman Brendan Rodgers and starter Austin Gomber, along with Quantrill, are "top candidates" for trades this offseason, per Saunders.
Quantrill, Rodgers and Gomber are each set to hit free agency after their final season under arbitration in 2025.
Quantrill recorded a 4.98 ERA and walked an NL-high 69 batters through 29 starts this season after struggling with his sinker. He could be a trade target for a team hoping he can get back to the promise he showed as a go-to starter in Cleveland in 2022.
Gomber meanwhile made a career-high 30 starts last season and recorded 116 strikeouts to 38 walks, while former Gold Glove Award winner Rodgers slashed .267/.314/.407 with 54 RBI in his first full season back from shoulder surgery.
The Rockies are already set to free up $14.5 million in payroll with the retirement of designated hitter Charlie Blackmon, bringing their projected 2025 payroll total to around $130 million, per FanGraphs.
Colorado could lower that total further by trading this trio of 2025 free agents, which would free up a projected total of $18 million from next season's payroll, per Saunders and Cots Baseball Contracts.
The Rockies will need to spend some money in order to guarantee the return of Jacob Stallings, who is expected to return for 2025, per Saunders. Stallings has a $2 million mutual option for next season but is "likely to negotiate for a new contract," according to Saunders.
Colorado has ranked in the bottom half of the league in opening-day payroll for the last four seasons, per Cots. That trend looks set to continue heading into 2025.
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Athletics to play on grass, not turf, in 2025
The A’s will play on natural grass when they move to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento next season, rather than on synthetic turf. The club will share the ballpark with the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Giants, until a planned stadium in Las Vegas is ready.
“Based on feedback from players, as well as guidance from MLB’s long-time field expert, MLB, the A’s and Sutter Health Park have decided to maintain a natural grass field,” an MLB spokesperson said. “Our shared, primary concern is ensuring the best and safest playing surface for the A’s, River Cats, and visiting players.
“In light of the players’ clear preference for natural grass, and after weighing with the MLBPA the potential risks and benefits of maintaining natural grass versus replacing the playing surface with synthetic turf, all the parties are aligned in moving forward with a natural grass field for Opening Day 2025.”
One of the main concerns with synthetic turf at Sutter Health Park was the climate and conditions in Sacramento during the summer, when temperatures regularly top 100 degrees. Synthetic turf would retain more heat than natural grass, making conditions more uncomfortable for players on the field on days with very high temperatures.
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Jon Jay, Brant Brown join Cardinals coaching staff
Brant Brown named hitting coach; Jon Jay joins staff
Brant Brown, who got a strong endorsement from two-time World Series champion and former Cardinals bench coach Skip Schumaker, was named St. LouisÂ’ hitting coach for the 2025 season on Tuesday.
Along with the Brown hiring, the club also announced that Jon Jay, a fixture with the Cardinals from 2010-15 and a member of the franchiseÂ’s World Series championship team in 2011, was named a member of manager Oliver MarmolÂ’s coaching staff for the 2025 season.
Brown, 53, comes to the Cardinals following a stint as the offensive coordinator and bench coach for the Mariners, where he was fired in May following that teamÂ’s slow start offensively. Brant previously worked as an assistant hitting coach and hitting strategist with the Dodgers (2018-22) and as the Marlins' head hitting coach in 2023 with Schumaker. The Marlins were one of baseballÂ’s surprise teams in '23, making the playoffs and earning Schumaker the National League Manager of the Year Award.
“I definitely think he brings a lot of energy -- there’s no doubt about it -- and that showed up in his interviews,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said of Brown. “The way he thinks about hitting and approaches it, it’s going to be a change from where we’ve been. Keeping with a changed model, that will be healthy for us. How he goes about [teaching hitting] from a strategic standpoint, I think it will help our younger hitting coaches and he’ll be a good mentor. But I also think he’ll be a new voice for our hitters, which will be good.”
Brown is replacing Turner Ward, who was let go after the franchise missed the playoffs for a second straight season in 2024. While going 83-79, the Cardinals' offense ranked 12th in the NL in runs (672), 12th in homers (165) and 13th in RBIs (639). The Cardinals had a minus-47 run differential on the season largely because of their offensive struggles. Primarily, their success in one-run games -- they were 29-22 -- kept them in the race for an NL Wild Card spot until mid-September.
The club also announced that Cardinals Hall of Famer Willie McGee, who has served as a coach on the team since 2018, will transition to special assistant to Mozeliak, and Robert Cerfolio was added to the front office as an assistant general manager of player development and performance.
“Really, this was done just to allow him more control of his own time,” Mozeliak said of McGee, who will work with young players in the organization while visiting Minor League sites throughout the season. “Willie’s a special person and obviously his connection to the Cardinals is legendary and something that we all respect. The travel and the demands of the day-to-day job are tough, and this will give him a lot more flexibility going forward.”
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Yankees-Dodgers World Series May Be Best-Selling In History, StubHub Says
StubHub Says This Year Is On Track To Have Best-Selling World Series In History
This year’s World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers—which starts in Los Angeles on Friday—is on track to be the best-selling World Series in StubHub’s history, the resale ticket company said Wednesday, with the average ticket price for the series already exceeding $1,600.
Key Facts
The average price of tickets sold on StubHub for this World Series was $1,667 as of Tuesday—outpacing the average price of tickets for the last six World Series, according to data provided by StubHub.
So far, the Yankees are leading in demand for tickets with sales for games 3 through 5 in New York City outpacing sales for the first two games and last two games, taking place in Los Angeles.
The cheapest ticket on StubHub for the first game in the series was $1,080, as of 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, and the cheapest ticket for the third game in the series—the first in New York City—was $1,505 including fees.
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Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani wins Sporting News MLB player of the year
Shohei Ohtani figures to rack up awards on honors for his historic first season with the Dodgers. Included among them is from The Sporting News, which named the star designated hitter the MLB Player of the Year on Thursday.
This award is voted on by MLB players, managers, and executives, and the weight of Ohtani’s 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases (the first 50-50 year) carried the day. From Mike Decourcy at The Sporting News:
This time, Ohtani received 60 percent more votes than runner-up Aaron Judge, who hit 58 home runs, drove in 144 and generated an OPS of 1.159. There is a strong case for Judge’s performance in a typical year, but the fact the vote was this close given Ohtani’s singular achievement suggests there was resistance to anointing a player who filled no defensive role whatsoever.
Ohtani and Judge are going to win their respective league MVP awards this year, which will be announced in a few months. But they aren’t competing with each other on those ballots. This Sporting News award, because it is voted on by players, managers, and execs, at least adds intrigue to the Players Choice Awards, with MLB Player of the Year announced on Saturday prior to Game 2 of the World Series. I guess we’ll see if these two awards had different participation rates among player voting.
This is the second Sporting News player of the year award for Ohtani, who also won in 2021 while with the Angels. He was both hitting and pitching then, but after September 2023 elbow surgery hasn’t pitched this year. Instead, he had the best hitting season of his career.
Ohtani hit .310/.390/.646 with a 181 wRC+, and not only founded the 50-50 club but blew past it with 54 homers and 59 steals, to go with career-highs with 134 runs, 130 RBI, 99 extra-base hits, and 411 total bases, all of which led the league.
He’s the first Dodger to win the Sporting News player of the year since Clayton Kershaw in 2014.
The Sporting News also selected All-Star teams for each league, as voted on by MLB executives. Ohtani is the All-Star DH for the National League, and Mookie Betts for a third straight year was voted as an outfielder.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani wins major award chosen by top MLB executives
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The wanker opens so many threads he forgets all about them.
Major League Baseball 2024 Season
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Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Game 1 Highlights (10/25/24) | MLB Highlights
FULL INNING: Dodgers win Game 1 after Freeman hits FIRST WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM in WORLD SERIES HISTORY
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DODGERS ARE 2 WINS AWAY from being 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONS! (The full DRAMATIC 9th inning)
Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Game 2 Highlights (10/26/24) | MLB Highlights
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Shohei Ohtani expected to play in World Series Game 3
Dodgers 'banking on' Ohtani to start in Game 3 following shoulder injury
Although initial indications were positive, the Dodgers left Dodger Stadium on Saturday night with legitimate concern about whether Shohei Ohtani would be forced to miss some -- if not the rest -- of the World Series against the Yankees with a left shoulder subluxation.
But on Sunday, Ohtani’s injury was in a better spot than the Dodgers anticipated. So much, in fact, that manager Dave Roberts said the expectation is for the superstar designated hitter to be in the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 3 on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.
“He still has to go through the workout and swing the bat,” Roberts said before the Dodgers’ workout on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. “But today feels better than yesterday, and our assumption is tomorrow’s going to feel better than today. So with that, that’s what I’m banking on.”
Ohtani suffered the shoulder subluxation, which is partial dislocation, when he landed awkwardly on his left arm during a stolen-base attempt that ended the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 win in Game 2. He immediately signaled for a timeout to the second-base umpire and walked off the field with the training staff while holding his left arm gingerly.
Ohtani underwent further testing on Sunday, but Roberts said he didn’t have the exact diagnosis. Ohtani, who flew separately from the team on Sunday, did not participate in the team’s workout during the two-hour window on the field but was seen entering the stadium at around 7:30 p.m. ET.
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Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series Game 3 Highlights (10/28/24) | MLB Highlights
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GRAND SLAM!! Anthony Volpe gives the Yankees THE LEAD in World Series Game 4!
Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series Game 4 Highlights (10/29/24) | MLB Highlights
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World Series Game 3 Draws 13.6 Million Viewers Across Fox Platforms
Game 3 of this year’s World Series scored a 63% bigger audience than last year.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees went head-to-head for the third game of the series, Game 3 brought in 13.64 million viewers across Fox, Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming platforms, according to Nielsen figures. On Fox alone, the game averaged 13.21 million viewers, and peaked with 14.25 million viewers on Fox from 9-9:15 p.m. ET.
That’s up 63% from last year’s Game 3 between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, which scored a viewership of 8.13 million. In fact, Monday’s Dodgers-Yankees matchup marked the most-watched Game 3 since 2018, when the Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers brought in 13.3 million viewers.
In addition to ranking as Monday’s most-watched TV program, Game 3 also became Fox’s most-watched Monday primetime telecast since 2013’s World Series Game 5, which saw the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals bring in 14.45 million viewers.
When combining the first three games between the Dodgers and the Yankees, the 2024 World Series has averaged 14.42 million viewers across all networks, marking the sporting event’s best viewership since 2017.
On Saturday, Game 2 brought in 13.44 million viewers, and peaked with 16.35 million viewers on Fox from 11 p.m. ET to its conclusion. Viewership for the Dodgers-Yankees Game 2 saw a 65% uptick from last year’s Game 2, which scored 8.15 million viewers, and also ranked as the most-watched World Series Game 2 on Fox since 2018, when the Dodgers-Red Sox game scored 13.51 million viewers.
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THE DODGERS ARE 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONS! (FULL FINAL INNING OF THEIR CLINCH!)
Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series Game 5 Highlights (10/30/24) | MLB Highlights
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Freddie Freeman named 2024 World Series MVP
Freeman named World Series MVP after record-setting homer spree
He hobbled into this World Series with nothing to prove, really. Yes, of course, Freddie Freeman wanted that second ring after earning one with Atlanta in 2021. Yes, of course, he wanted to do his part to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had swooped in and signed him when his “hometown” Braves found a different fit at first base in 2022.
But considering he severely sprained his right ankle near season’s end, little was expected of Freeman offensively. And anyway, he had already done enough in 15 big league seasons to earn the respect of the MLB world, to prove himself one of the most reliable run-producers in the sport, to solidify his standing as an annual All-Star and to probably get the call from Cooperstown five years after he finishes.
The World Series, though, is a call of a different sort. For a fortunate few, it is not just an opportunity to win some bling but to become an October legend. And after swatting one of the most dramatic dingers in Fall Classic history and then piling on in an epic personal performance, Frederick Charles Freeman has become exactly that. He is the man we will most associate with the Dodgers’ defeat of the New York Yankees that was completed with a 7-6 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, and he was the obvious choice for the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet.
“I did a lot of work in between the NLCS and the World Series,” Freeman said. “Thankfully, my ankle got into a good spot where I could work on my swing, and I found a cue that really worked for me. I was able to slow things down. All you're trying to do is swing at strikes, take balls and hit the mistakes. Thankfully, I was able to do that for five games.”
Freeman made history in the 10th inning of Game 1 with the World Series’ first walk-off grand slam. And then he kept going.
In only five games, Freeman drove in 12 runs to tie the World Series record set by the Yankees’ Bobby Richardson in 1960 (in seven games). He swatted homers in each of the Fall Classic’s first four games to join the Astros’ George Springer (2017) as the only player to homer in four straight games within a single World Series. And in doing so, he extended his record-setting personal World Series homer streak to six, dating back to 2021. His final World Series slash line was a ridiculous .300/.364/1.000.
This capped an emotional year for Freeman, who missed eight games during the regular season while his 3-year-old son, Max, battled Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious auto-immune disorder.
Max is doing much better now, and his dad sure gave him a lot to cheer.
“I'll never compare Maximus to baseball,” Freeman said. “I won't. It's just two separate things. But with him doing really well now, [this outcome] does mean a little bit extra.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series Trophy ceremony, Freddie Freeman wins MVP | MLB on FO
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Biden, Harris call Dodgers manager to congratulate team on World Series win
President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke separately on the phone with Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts to congratulate him on the team’s World Series win.
The White House confirmed to The Hill that Biden talked to Roberts on the phone and congratulated him and the team, which beat the New York Yankees in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff called Roberts separately and congratulated him on the win, a video posted to the social platform Instagram showed.
“We couldn’t be more proud of the team and your leadership and that incredible win,” Harris said on the phone, admitting that while she couldn’t watch the game live, her husband — the Dodgers’ “biggest fan”— did.
“Congrats, we were actually doing events and we had out phones out and so when we got in the car after one event, you were down five [to] nothing. By the time we got to our next event, it was 5-5, but the time we were done for the evening, we saw you celebrating and it was such a thrill,” Emhoff said in the video.
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Good interview
World Series MVP Freddie Freeman on Grand Slam, Love from Dodgers Fans & His Celebration Dance
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Dodgers''' Mookie Betts Expected to Move Back to Infield for 2025 MLB Season, GM Says
Mookie Betts, who has won six Gold Glove Awards in right field, is set to move back to the infield in 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said on Wednesday that the team expects the 32-year-old to play at second base or shortstop next season, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Betts began the 2024 season in the infield, where he played 65 games at shortstop and 16 at second base. After returning from a broken hand in August he switched back to the outfield, where he helped the Dodgers win the World Series in October.
L.A manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Aug. 6, as Betts prepared to return from IL, that he expected the star to slot in at shortstop.
That plan changed in the next three days. Roberts said on Aug. 9 that the eight-time All-Star would move back to the outfield because he "feels more comfortable playing in right field."
Betts told reporters the same day that the decision "was kind of a mutual thing, but I would say I mostly went to them."
"I said, 'Listen, I believe I can do it, but I want to win, man. I want to win. And I don't know if me [at shortstop] is the best solution," Betts said, per Mike Digiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. "I loved the challenge of playing shortstop, but you also have to be real with yourself and the team, and do what's best. That's what I've preached from the beginning.
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Yankees Exercise Aaron Boone's Contract Option for 2025 MLB Season
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is returning to the team in 2025.
The Yankees announced on Friday they have exercised Boone's contract option for next season after leading the team to a World Series appearance in 2024.
Boone's tenure as Yankees skipper has been a constant tightrope in which he seems to be on the verge of getting fired. He appeared to be in the most serious jeopardy last year when the team finished 82-80 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Despite their struggles in 2023, Boone had plenty of support within the organization.
"Boone is an asset, not part of the problem," said one high-ranking Yankees official to SNY's Andy Martino in August 2023.
That sentiment proved to be right when Boone was brought back for the 2024 campaign. The Yankees performed much better with the addition of Juan Soto hitting in front of Aaron Judge and a breakout performance from Luis Gil in the starting rotation.
New York made it back to the postseason and won the AL pennant for the first time since 2009. USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted that any decision about the manager for 2025 would be dependent on the team's postseason performance.
The Yankees wound up losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Boone wasn't the main culprit for why they lost that series, but his decision to use Nestor Cortes in relief in Game 1 when he gave up the walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman raised some eyebrows.
The main criticism of Boone has stemmed from his bullpen management, particularly in the postseason. Former Yankees starter Luis Severino publicly questioned how the relievers were deployed after a Game 3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in the 2022 ALDS.
On the whole, though, Boone has done a good job of navigating all of the pressures that come with managing in the Bronx. The Yankees certainly value his presence in the dugout, though it will be interesting to see if they extend his contract or let him play things out in 2025 before deciding whether or not to offer him a new deal.
Boone was originally hired by the Yankees in December 2017 after the team decided not to renew Joe Girardi's contract. He will become just the eighth person in franchise history to manage at least eight seasons. His 603 wins are the seventh-most ever for a Yankees skipper.
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Miami Marlins hiring Clayton McCullough as manager, AP source says
The Miami Marlins are hiring former Los Angeles Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough as their next manager, a person with knowledge of the hiring told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement hadn't been announced. ESPN first reported the hiring.
McCullough, 44, was hired by the Dodgers in 2015 as their minor league field coordinator and had been the first-base coach on Dave Roberts' staff since the 2021 season. The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games last month to win their eighth World Series title.
A former minor league catcher, McCullough was a manager in the Blue Jays' minor league system for seven seasons.
He takes the job previously held by 2023 NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker, who parted ways with the team in September after just two seasons. The Marlins went 146-178 under Schumaker, who was hired in 2022.
McCullough, a Greenville, North Carolina, native, spent one season at Vanderbilt before transferring to East Carolina University. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 22nd round in 2002 and played in their minor league system from 2002-2005.
The Marlins also considered former Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz and Will Venable, a former associate manager for Texas. Venable was hired by the Chicago White Sox as their manager on Oct. 30, and Albernaz reportedly withdrew from Marlins' managerial consideration.
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Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to become available to MLB teams this offseason
Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will be available to Major League Baseball teams this offseason.
The Chiba Lotte Marines announced Saturday they have chosen to start the process of moving the pitcher to a big league club in North America via the posting system.
Sasaki, who turned 23 this month, is expected to become one of the most sought-after pitchers on the open market. The right-hander went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games this year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings.
Because he is younger than 25, Sasaki will be classified as an international amateur free agent subject to bonus pool limits, according to MLB rules. That means his first contract would be a minor league deal no larger than seven figures.
The Marines will receive a posting fee from the acquiring MLB team equal to 25% of the signing bonus.
When Shohei Ohtani agreed to join the Los Angeles Angels in December 2016 at age 23, he received a $2,315,000 signing bonus.
It’s unclear yet when Sasaki will be posted, starting the 45-day clock for him to sign with a major league club. The 2024 international signing period ends Dec. 15 and the 2025 period opens Jan. 15.
Most teams committed most or all of their bonus pool to Latin American prospects in January. The Los Angeles Dodgers have kept the most available space left in their 2024 signing bonus pool, $2,502,500.
On the day before the World Series began, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman refused to answer a question about the amount left open, saying: “This is outrageous. You want to talk about our hitting philosophy and the player development, seriously, this is not important for right now.”
Baltimore has $2,147,300 remaining, the New York Yankees $1,487,200 and San Francisco $1,247,500. The other teams have under $1 million, including Tampa Bay and Texas with no money available and eight other clubs with less than $100,000.
The last day to post a player is Dec. 15, so by waiting the Marines could extend his availability into the new signing period.
Pools this year range from Arizona at a high of $7,129,800 to Atlanta, Boston, the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets at $5,925,000.
After the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a $700 million, 10-year contract and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a $325 million, 12-year deal last December, Los Angeles won the World Series and drew a Japan-record 12.9 million average television viewers for the five games against the Yankees.
Asked during the NL Championship Series whether the success of the team’s brand in Japan could help recruit Sasaki if he became available, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said: “I hope so, absolutely. We’re thinking alike now.”
Sasaki helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His fastball has been clocked at 102.5 mph, and he has a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four injury-shortened seasons with the Marines. He pitched a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in April 2022 — racking up 13 straight strikeouts and finishing with 19.
“Since I joined the team, the team has been listening to my thoughts about my future MLB challenge, and I am very grateful to the team for officially allowing me to post,” Sasaki said in a statement posted by the Marines on the social platform X.
“There were many things that did not go well during my five years with the Marines, but I was able to get to this point by concentrating only on baseball, with the support of my teammates, staff, front office, and fans. I will do my best to work my way up from my minor contract to become the best player in the world, so that I will have no regrets in my one and only baseball career and live up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me.”
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Rays stadium will cost $55.7M to fix before 2026
It will cost around $55.7M for Tropicana Field to be repaired “in time for the Rays’ 2026 season,” according to a damage assessment report sent to the St. Petersburg City Council. The report stated that Hurricane Milton caused around $39M in damage and an additional $16M in costs. Repairs to the roof account for around $23.6M of the damage. The “big question is whether the city will want to spend that much for two seasons of use” since the Rays are scheduled to open a new ballpark in time for the 2028 campaign
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Pirates To Hire Matt Hague As Hitting Coach
The Pirates are hiring Matt Hague away from the Blue Jays to fill their vacant hitting coach position, reports Scott Mitchell of TSN. He served as Toronto’s assistant hitting coach in 2024.
Prior to his time on the Blue Jays’ major league staff, Hague served as the hitting coach at three minor league levels in Toronto’s system. The 39-year-old played in parts of three major league seasons — all with the Jays and Pirates — but only appeared in 43 games and took just 91 plate appearances.
The Pirates drafted Hague in the ninth round back in 2008, and he played in parts of 10 minor league seasons in addition to a season in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and multiple stints in the Dominican Winter League. Though Hague never got much of a big league look, he posted a career .298/.376/.423 line in nearly 800 Triple-A games.
Hague departs one coaching staff that’s undergoing turnover in the hitting department for another. Toronto parted ways with lead hitting coach Guillermo Martinez in late September and hired David Popkins, who’d been the hitting coach in Minnesota but was also cut loose at season’s end, a few weeks later. The Pirates, meanwhile, dismissed hitting coach Andy Haines back on Oct. 2 after a three-year stint in that role.
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The Sporting Tribune
Angels Sign Travis d'Arnaud to Address Backup Catching Position
Continuing their aggressive start to the off-season, the Angels announced on Tuesday that they had signed veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million contract.
Attempting to put a contending team on the field for 2025 after a franchise-worst 63-99 season in 2024, the backup catching position was a point of emphasis for the Angels going into the winter.
"Going through the off-season we felt like adding some experience behind the plate would be really, really important," Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. "Travis just really stuck out for us as someone that can not only play at a high level, but the makeup is off the charts."
The 12-year veteran backstop and Southern California native has served as a stable platoon behind the plate for the last half decade who can impact the game offensively against left-handed pitchers, including an All-Star nod in 2022.
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Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees spring training field in Tampa
After Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of the Tampa Bay Rays home stadium, the question of where they would play in 2025 swirled around the team. Thursday, the question was answered.
The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 home games at the New York Yankees' nearby spring training ballpark as questions about the future of Tropicana Field remain.
Stuart Sternberg, the Rays' principal owner, said in an interview with the Associated Press that Steinbrenner Field in Tampa is the best fit for the team and its fanbase.
“It is singularly the best opportunity for our fans to experience 81 games of major league Rays baseball,” Sternberg said. “As difficult as it is to get any of these stadiums up to major league standards, it was the least difficult. You're going to see Major League Baseball in a small environment."
The Rays said the Yankees will continue to play Spring Training games at Steinbrenner Field, and the Rays will continue to use Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte for its spring training games.
According to the Rays, Steinbrenner Field was chosen because "it is the best-prepared facility in the Tampa Bay region to host regular-season Major League Baseball Games."
Steinbrenner was already undergoing renovations to improve clubhouse and playing facilities and will hold a maximum of 11,000 fans. The Rays said additional improvements are expected to be made before the regular season to ensure fans continue to have "a wonderful experience at Rays games."
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Rays-Yankees deal is good for the sport and the Tampa Bay region.
“This outcome meets Major League Baseball's goals that Rays fans will see their team play next season in their home market and that their players can remain home without disruption to their families,” Manfred said in a news release.
The Rays' home since 1998, the domed Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg was hit hard by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, with most of its fabric roof shredded and water damage inside.
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Aaron Judge takes home 2024 Hank Aaron Award alongside Shohei Ohtani
Both World Series participants voted unanimously as the winners in their respective leagues by Hall of Fame Players, former winners and fans each player wins their second Hank Aaron Award, with Ohtani’s consecutive win coming in his first season in the National League.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani, of the Los Angeles Dodgers have been named the recipients of the 2024 Hank Aaron Awards in their respective leagues, Major League Baseball announced today. The winners were unveiled earlier this evening in Las Vegas, Nevada on MLB Network’s “All-MLB Awards Show” presented by MGM Rewards during a presentation featuring Mrs. Billye Aaron and Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
The Hank Aaron Awards recognize the most outstanding offensive performers in each League. Each Club nominates players to be considered for the Hank Aaron Award, and a panel of MLB.com writers determined the finalists for each league from the list of Club nominees. A fan vote is added to the votes of a special panel of Hall of Fame players and former winners to determine the winners of the award, which is officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball. The panel includes Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter (two-time Aaron Award winner), Chipper Jones, Pedro Martínez, Eddie Murray, David Ortiz (two-time Aaron Award winner), John Smoltz and Robin Yount, as well as two-time Aaron Award recipient Albert Pujols. This year’s recipients won first place honors unanimously across panel voters and the cumulative fan ballot.
Judge was the American League recipient of the Hank Aaron Award in 2022, a year in which he belted a historic 62 home runs and 2024 was arguably a better offensive year for the Yankees’ captain. Besides leading the Majors with 58 homers, Judge became the first player to record at least 140 RBI since Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard in 2009. Judge turned in a .322 batting average, and his 1.159 OPS was the best by any qualified hitter over a full season since Barry Bonds in 2004.
In 2024, Ohtani become the first player in Major League history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season. In this his seventh Major League season, he totaled 54 homers, 130 RBI, 38 doubles, seven triples, 81 walks, 134 runs scored and 59 stolen bases, while picking up his fourth consecutive Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. He chartered the 50/50 Club in historic fashion with a 6-for-6 day on September 19th vs. Miami, hitting three home runs with 10 RBI, two stolen bases and 17 total bases. His stellar day at the plate was the first three-homer game in MLB history where the player also had multiple stolen bases, and he became the first player with at least five extrabase hits and multiple stolen bases in a game since at least 1901. Ohtani becomes the first player to win the Aaron Award in both leagues, and he also is the sixth to earn the honor in consecutive seasons, joining Barry Bonds (2001-02), Alex Rodriguez (2001-03), José Bautista (2010-11), Miguel Cabrera (2012-13) and Christian Yelich (2018-19).
Both players capped phenomenal regular seasons by leading their respective teams to face off in the 2024 World Series. With Judge (58 HR) and Ohtani (54 HR) each slugging at least 50 homers, this World Series marked the first time ever that two players with at least 50 regular season home runs played each other for the championship. This was also the first time since 1956 that the home run leaders of both leagues met in the World Series, when Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider faced off in a previous Yankees-Dodgers Fall Classic.
The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, and, at that time, was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years. Earlier this season, MLB celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hank Aaron’s historic 715th record-breaking home run.
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Blue Jays Hire David Bell As VP, Baseball Operations
The Blue Jays announced the hiring of former Reds manager David Bell as their vice president of baseball operations and an assistant general manager. Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported the news (on X) before the club announcement.
“Bell will oversee the Player Development and Physical & Mental Performance departments, while also contributing to Major League strategic planning decisions and advising on player evaluations and acquisitions,” Toronto announced in a press release. Bell becomes the third assistant GM under Ross Atkins in the baseball operations hierarchy. Michael Murov and Joe Sheehan also hold that title. Former Astros general manager James Click plays a key role as vice president of baseball strategy.
The 52-year-old Bell moves back into player development after six seasons in the dugout. Bell has experience in that capacity, as he worked in the Giants’ player development department in 2018. The Reds hired him to manage going into the ’19 season. The Reds went 409-456 during Bell’s managerial run. Their only postseason appearance came in the expanded field in 2020.
Things looked to be trending up when the Reds surprisingly won 82 games in 2023. They took a step back this year and Cincinnati fired Bell in the final week of a losing season. They coaxed Terry Francona out of retirement at the start of the offseason. Bell’s contract with the Reds ran through the 2026 season.
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Red Sox Linked To Projected $150 Million Star As Juan Soto Backup
The Boston Red Sox's offense surely will get a boost this winter, it's just unclear by who.
Boston could take a major step in 2025 after a 2024 campaign that saw the Red Sox perform above expectations. The Red Sox are trending in the right direction, and adding another power bat to the middle of the lineup is just what the team needs.
The Red Sox are trying to land New York Yankees star Juan Soto, but if they miss out on him, there will be cheaper options available. One player who could make a lot of sense is Milwaukee Brewers star Willy Adames, per the Boston Globe's Julian McWilliams.
"Like (Teoscar Hernández), Adames is a right-handed bat who brings some slug," McWilliams said. "What makes him even more valuable is that he does it from the shortstop position. Adams has compiled four straight seasons with at least 24 homers. He launched a career-high 32 this year to go along with 112 RBIs, which also marked a career-high.
"Certainly, the Red Sox see Trevor Story as their everyday shortstop, but Adames could entertain a move to third base or second while being a reliable fallback option. But at what cost? Adames is projected to get up to $150 million in free agency, which might be out of the Sox’ price range. He also received a qualifying offer from the Brewers, meaning the Sox would lose a draft pick plus $500,000 from their international signing pool."
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Starting pitchers Paul Skenes, Luis Gil win Rookie of the Year honors
Pittsburgh Pirates ace right-hander Paul Skenes capped his first major league campaign by being named winner of the National League Rookie of the Year on Monday night.
Skenes received 23 of 30 first-place votes for 136 points in balloting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of American.
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill was second with seven first-place votes and 104 points. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (26) was third and Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (four) was fourth.
In the American League, New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was the winner, edging Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser.
Gil received 15 first-place votes and 10 seconds for 106 points, while Cowser (101) got 13 firsts and 11 seconds.
Skenes' strong campaign opened eyes as he quickly handled major league hitters after being the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 out of LSU. He spent his first two college seasons at Air Force.
"I've surrounded myself with good people," Skenes told MLB Network of his success. "I've been super lucky to experience all the things that I have. I try to continue to stay present and enjoy the ride."
Skenes is the first starting pitcher to win the NL award since Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets in 2014. He is the first Pirate to win the honor since outfielder Jason Bay in 2004.
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Dodgers Make First Signing of 2024 Offseason, Add Reliever
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed left-hander Joe Jacques to a minor league contract, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The deal includes an invitation to spring training in February 2025.
Jacques began his career in 2018 after playing baseball in college as a walk-on at Manhattan College, when the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 33rd round. He spent four years in the Pirates minor league system before the Boston Red Sox selected him in the Rule 5 Draft in Dec. 2022.
Jacques began his time in Boston with Triple-A Worchester, and made his major league debut later that season in June. In his debut, Jacques threw five pitches and did not allow an earned run or record an out. He later earned his first win and first save before getting sent back down to Triple-A. In his rookie season, Jacques appeared in 23 major league games with one start. He went 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA and 20 strikeouts.
Jacques returned to Triple-A for the start of the 2024 season, and made one major league appearance before the Red Sox designated him for assignment in April 2024. He was claimed off of waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jacques primarily spent the 2024 season in Triple-A, but also made one appearance for the Diamondbacks in the major leagues. Over 35 games with the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate, Jacques went 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
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Royals acquire Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer for Brady Singer
The Royals announced they have acquired infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer from the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Brady Singer.
Rumors about this deal have been percolating for a week now, here’s what we wrote when they first surfaced.
India and Singer were teammates at the University of Florida and were each first round picks in 2018. India made his debut in 2021, a year after Singer and won Rookie of the Year by hitting .269/.376/.459 with 21 home runs. He has consistently been a solid on-base hitter in his four seasons, drawing a career-high 80 walks this year, tied for the fifth-most in all of baseball. His power his diminished a bit from his rookie year, but he still hit 15 home runs and 28 doubles, while hitting .248/.357/.392.
The 27-year-old has two years of club control left, just like Singer, and will earn $5 million next season under his contract. With the Reds and Royals both looking to contend next year, this trade make sense as a pure baseball move. The Reds have a crowded infield next year with the return of Matt McLain, and could use more pitching to pair with their young hitters. The Royals had the worst offensive numbers from the leadoff spot out of any team in baseball, and India could give them the table-setter they need in front of MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr.
India will almost certainly become the leadoff hitter for this team, the question now is where he plays on the field. He played third base in the minors, but has exclusively played second base in the big leagues and has a poor arm. He could move to the outfield, but he has never played the position at the pro level.
Joey Wiemer is an interesting kicker to the deal. A former top 100 prospect, he hit .204/.283/.362 in 410 plate appearances for the Brewers in 2023. He spent most of this season in the minors and really struggled, and was sent to the Reds in a deal for pitcher Frankie Montas. He’s a toolsy outfielder with great speed, great raw power, and a tremendous arm, but he has little to show for it in terms of results. The 25-year-old is a right-handed bat and could compete for a reserve outfield role.
Singer bounced back from a disastrous 2023 season to post a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts with 170 strikeouts in 179 2⁄3 innings. Since he made his debut in 2020, he has 10.5 fWAR, ranking 36th out of 173 starting pitchers in that time.
Royals acquire Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer for Brady Singer - Royals Review
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Detroit Tigers Acquire LHP From Boston Red Sox
The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their bullpen by claiming left-handed reliever Bailey Horn off waivers from the Boston Red Sox.
Horn, who is 26, is a product of Auburn University and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. After spending some time with the White Sox, Horn was traded to the Red Sox in April for cash considerations.
In his time with the Red Sox organization, Horn had a solid run at Triple-A Worcester, posting an impressive 2.15 ERA across 29 innings while striking out 35 batters. However, his major league performance in 2024 was inconsistent. In 18 innings with the Red Sox, Horn struggled with command, walking 10 batters and striking out just 13.
The Tigers are hoping that Horn can refine his control and find success in their bullpen, adding depth to a pitching staff that continues to undergo changes as they prepare for the 2025 season.
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Seattle Mariners Sign Former Philly Prospect Adonis Medina to Minor League Deal
The Seattle Mariners had over 30 outgoing minor league free agents as of this past week. And one of their most notable free agents has joined an American League West rival.
Former Mariners minor league reliever Luis Curvelo signed with the Texas Rangers after reportedly being one of the most talked-about free agents during MLB General Manager meetings from Nov. 5-7 in San Antonio.
Seattle made up for the loss of one minor league reliever with major league potential by signing another one on Monday.
The Mariners came to terms with right-handed pitcher Adonis Medina on a one-year, $800,000 deal per a report from MLB insider Mike Rodriguez.
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Latest On Rays' Stadium Situation
The Rays are in a precarious situation regarding both their long- and short-term future in the Tampa Bay area. Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of Tropicana Field, leaving the club’s home ballpark unusable for at least the 2025 season. They’ve solved that obstacle by moving to nearby Steinbrenner Field, the Spring Training stadium of the Yankees, but that move helped to spur local officials to postpone the approval of bonds that would finance the development plan the Rays and Pinellas County had previously agreed upon that would construct a new stadium near the Trop in time for the 2028 season.
With the bond approval now postponed, the Rays’ long-term future in Tampa seems to be up in the air, with club owner Stu Sternberg having gone so far as to put the possibility of relocation back on the table. In addition to that renewed long-term instability, it now seems as though the club’s short-term future is even more up in the air than it was previously. Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times reported recently that while the city council of St. Pete initially voted to approve spending $24MM on repairs to the Trop, they reversed course shortly thereafter. The reversal from local officials in St. Pete comes in part thanks to the uncertainty surrounding around the previously agreed-upon stadium deal, with city councilwoman Brandi Gabbard telling Topkin that she wasn’t prepared to put tens of millions toward funding a project for “an entity we may never have a deal with again.”
That change in plans seems to have created uncertainty regarding whether the Rays would ever play at the Trop again, as Topkin adds that club president Brian Auld suggested that the Rays may be better off negotiating a settlement with the city of St. Pete regarding the final years of their lease than having the city repair the stadium because of uncertainty regarding whether the Trop would be repaired in time for Opening Day 2026. Per Auld, creating a contingency plan for the 2026 season that would only be used in the event that the Trop isn’t ready would cause more trouble for the Rays than simply ruling out a return to their home ballpark entirely.
Whether repairs for Tropicana Field will ultimately be approved and set into motion or if the sides will instead pursue a settlement remains to be seen, but the latest setback casts further doubt on the city’s ability to repair the Trop in time for the 2026 season. As Auld alludes to, reaching a settlement with the city could ultimately behoove the Rays in more ways than one. In addition to avoiding the costs associated with balancing contingency plans based on the Trop’s 2026 availability, Topkin notes that Auld added that receiving a settlement check from the city would “obviously” provide the club a financial boost amid the loss of revenue associated with the club’s temporary displacement.
While the city deciding to abandon the Trop could come with some advantages for the Rays, Topkin notes it could further jeopardize the team’s long- and short-term future in the greater Tampa area. The club’s current deal with the Yankees allowing them to use Steinbrenner Field in 2025 is expected to last for only the upcoming season, and Topkin suggests that if the club has to find a new home for the 2026 campaign as well that destination will “almost certainly” be outside of Florida as MLB looks to avoid scheduling complications caused by rainouts. A temporary move outside of Florida for the 2026 and ’27 seasons would seemingly make the threat of relocation all the more real as the club’s lease in St. Pete expires ahead of the 2028 season, though Auld suggested that the club’s “preference” would still be to remain in the greater Tampa area in a new stadium rather than explore relocation even if they were to temporarily move out of market.
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Rays will play 19 of their first 22 games at home as MLB switches series to avoid summer rain
Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer rain at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 19 of its first 22 games at home and 37 of 54 through May 28, then play 64 of its last 108 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight games each in July and August.
A series scheduled at the Los Angeles Angels from April 7-9 will instead be played at Tampa, Florida, from April 8-10, MLB said Monday. The second series between the teams will be played at Anaheim, California, from Aug. 4-6 instead of at St. Petersburg, Florida, from Aug. 5-7.
Minnesota’s first series against the Rays will be played at Steinbrenner Field from May 26-28 and the Twins’ second will be at Target Field in Minneapolis from July 4-6.
Tampa Bay heads into the All-Star break with a 10-game trip to Minnesota, Detroit and Boston, and has a 12-game trip to the Angels, Seattle, Oakland and San Francisco from Aug. 4-17.
Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home since the team started play in 1998, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, with most of its fabric roof shredded. The Rays cannot return to the Trop until 2026 at the earliest, if at all.
Tampa’s average monthly rainfall from 1991 to 2020 was 2.25 inches in April and 2.60 in May, according to the National Weather Service, then rose to 7.37 in June, 7.75 in July and 9.03 in August before falling to 6.09 in September.
The Class A Tampa Tarpons, the usual team at Steinbrenner Field, had six home postponements, two cancellations and four suspended games this year from June 21 through their season finale on Sept. 8.
The Rays are now scheduled to play their first six games at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh, go to Texas for a three-game series, then return for a 13-game homestand against the Angels, Atlanta, Boston and the New York Yankees.
The Tarpons will play their home games on a back field.
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Blake Snell signs five-year, 2 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers | Flashscore.com
Blake Snell signs five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (31) has signed a five-year, $182 million deal with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Jeff Passan and Jose Castillo.
Snell will be receiving an immediate $52 million signing bonus as part of the deal, which doesn't contain any opt-out clause and will have deferred money. The deal will be completed if Snell passes his physical.
The former San Fransisco Giants starting pitcher won't have to head far to his new team as he joins the NL West division rival, marking the MLB's first big free-agent splash.
The newly acquired Dodgers pitcher even had a jersey swap ready to go for his Instagram account.
Snell is coming off a season where he went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA with 145 strikeouts and 65 hits in 104.0 innings pitched. His 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings was a career-high for him.
Over the course of his final 14 starts, he pitched a whopping 1.23 ERA with an opposition hitter's slash line of .123/.211/.171.
Despite having an extremely rough first half of the 2024 season which was also tainted by an injury, Snell returned to Cy Young form post All-Star break and finished the season strong for the Giants.
Snell opted out of his two-year, $62 million deal that he signed right before the 2024 season with the Giants and it looks like it became the smart move for the southpaw.
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Blake Snell signs five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (31) has signed a five-year, $182 million deal with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Jeff Passan and Jose Castillo.
Snell will be receiving an immediate $52 million signing bonus as part of the deal, which doesn't contain any opt-out clause and will have deferred money. The deal will be completed if Snell passes his physical.
The former San Fransisco Giants starting pitcher won't have to head far to his new team as he joins the NL West division rival, marking the MLB's first big free-agent splash.
The newly acquired Dodgers pitcher even had a jersey swap ready to go for his Instagram account.
Snell is coming off a season where he went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA with 145 strikeouts and 65 hits in 104.0 innings pitched. His 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings was a career-high for him.
Over the course of his final 14 starts, he pitched a whopping 1.23 ERA with an opposition hitter's slash line of .123/.211/.171.
Despite having an extremely rough first half of the 2024 season which was also tainted by an injury, Snell returned to Cy Young form post All-Star break and finished the season strong for the Giants.
Snell opted out of his two-year, $62 million deal that he signed right before the 2024 season with the Giants and it looks like it became the smart move for the southpaw.
Flashscore.com
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Blake Snell signs five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Former Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (31) has signed a five-year, $182 million deal with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Jeff Passan and Jose Castillo.
Snell will be receiving an immediate $52 million signing bonus as part of the deal, which doesn't contain any opt-out clause and will have deferred money. The deal will be completed if Snell passes his physical.
The former San Fransisco Giants starting pitcher won't have to head far to his new team as he joins the NL West division rival, marking the MLB's first big free-agent splash.
The newly acquired Dodgers pitcher even had a jersey swap ready to go for his Instagram account.
Snell is coming off a season where he went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA with 145 strikeouts and 65 hits in 104.0 innings pitched. His 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings was a career-high for him.
Over the course of his final 14 starts, he pitched a whopping 1.23 ERA with an opposition hitter's slash line of .123/.211/.171.
Despite having an extremely rough first half of the 2024 season which was also tainted by an injury, Snell returned to Cy Young form post All-Star break and finished the season strong for the Giants.
Snell opted out of his two-year, $62 million deal that he signed right before the 2024 season with the Giants and it looks like it became the smart move for the southpaw.
Blake Snell signs five-year, 2 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers | Flashscore.com
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Juan Soto bidding reaches $600M, MLB sources say; process of eliminating teams underway
The floor for Juan Soto is $600 million.
The bidding for the free-agent MLB outfielder has surpassed that amount, according to two people briefed on the negotiations who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Agent Scott Boras said Tuesday at Dodger Stadium that Soto has started the process of eliminating potential landing spots, but did not specify which ones.
The clubs publicly known to be most serious about Soto are the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. The two people briefed on the negotiations said that all remaining contenders have made offers above $600 million.
The expectation within the industry is that Soto will make his decision by the end of the Winter Meetings, which begin in Dallas on Sunday, and possibly even before the meetings kick off. But Boras said he doesn’t expect an “imminent” decision.
“When you’re going through these things, he’s just got a lot of information to meld through,” Boras said Tuesday. “We’ve had meetings with a number of franchises. He’s begun the process of eliminating teams and doing things. Juan is a very methodical thinker, so we’ll see, but I don’t think anything is imminent in the near future.”
Soto, 26, is on the verge of a landmark contract for two reasons: He is young for a free agent, and teams consider him a once-in-a-generation offensive talent.
His deal is expected to be for at least 12 years, and its present-day value almost certainly will beat the record Shohei Ohtani set with the Dodgers last offseason when he signed a heavily deferred 10-year, $700 million contract. Ohtani’s deal was valued at $460 million for luxury tax purposes, and $438 million by the players’ union.
Soto, in his first season with the Yankees, batted .288 with a career high 41 homers. His .989 OPS ranked third in the majors behind Aaron Judge and Ohtani, and he finished third in American League MVP voting
The Mets are widely regarded as the favorite for Soto, with many in the industry believing the team’s owner, Steve Cohen, will top any rival bid. But the Yankees desperately want to keep Soto as a complement to Judge, and the Red Sox have emerged as a surprising force in the negotiations. The Blue Jays and Dodgers are considered longer shots, though the Jays were willing to match the Dodgers’ bid for Ohtani last offseason, and seem to be just as intently focused on Soto.
That said, Boras was at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday for the introduction of a different client, left-hander Blake Snell, who signed a five-year deal for $182 million. Snell settled for a short-term contract last offseason, which moved slower than this year’s.
“Clubs weren’t interested. They just didn’t call,” Boras said. “The market for free agents last year started maybe in the middle of February, it was that different. People like to register that it has something to do with me — I’m just a functionary of the system. We’ve signed six, seven players already this year. These are the processes of demand and when teams and ownerships choose to move in the marketplace.”
Boras said he wasn’t sure why teams were moving faster this year, but pointed to MLB’s future plans for local media rights as one reason.
“I wish I could answer those questions, I do,” Boras said. “I think a lot of it has to do with media certainty. … This streaming thing that they have going on is very viable, very profitable. I don’t think they like to say that, but obviously the markets indicate that there is a different attitude about what it is.
“Who’s in the market has a lot to do with things too. You have major-market franchises, you have a generational talent in the market (in Soto).”
The Dodgers’ payroll, including luxury tax projections, is around $310 million for 2025, per Cot’s Contracts. Boras was asked whether the Dodgers are attempting to buy championships, and he invoked the team Soto played for last season, the Yankees.
“I would say that, as George … Steinbrenner said, whatever you do to compete, the fact that I can compete in a different way than others, so be it,” Boras said. “I don’t think that has anything to do with the number of trophies that hang over your stadium, I don’t think fans remember that.”
Juan Soto bidding reaches $600M, MLB sources say; process of eliminating teams underway - The Athletic
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Blue Jays add to infielder depth with new free agent signing
The Toronto Blue Jays were active in free agency on Wednesday, as they added to their infielder depth with a new signing.
According to MLB agent Nate Heisler, the Blue Jays have signed Michael Stefanic to a minor-league deal.
While he’s spent much of his career in the minor league, Stefanic adds some major league experience to a team in need of depth just about wherever they can get it.
Across 233 at-bats in 90 games over the last three seasons with the Angels, Stefanic had a .232 batting average, 54 hits, 14 RBIs, and 18 runs scored.
While his MLB resume might not be the most impressive, it’s hard to question the work ethic Stefanic has put in to even make it to the big leagues. After going undrafted in the 2018 draft after playing at Westmount College, Stefanic actually sent video of his play to all 30 MLB teams in hopes of being signed.
Stefanic joins a crowded organizational depth chart with plenty of incumbents, including Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, Spencer Horwitz, and Addison Barger. Toronto is also likely to remain active in the free agent market over the coming months, though only time will tell if it lures any big names to Canada.
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Luis Severino reportedly agrees to 3-year, $67 million deal to join A's
Luis Severino is now a member of the A's pitching staff after reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $67 million deal on Thursday, according to Yahoo Sports' Russell Dorsey.
The deal is the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history and includes a $10 million signing bonus and an opt-out clause following the second season.
The 30-year-old right-hander spent last season with the New York Mets after beginning his major-league career with nine years pitching for the New York Yankees. Across 31 starts in 2024, he recorded a 3.91 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 182 innings pitched. He was ranked No. 13 on Yahoo Sports' list of this winter's top 50 free agents.
The Mets protected themselves in this situation by extending Severino a qualifying offer, which was a guaranteed one-year deal worth $21.05 million, that he rejected. Now that Severino has moved on, the Mets will get draft pick compensation.
The 2024 season was the first full healthy one for Severino since 2018, as he dealt with lat and oblique strains as well as missing the entire 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Severino was on a one-year deal with the Mets. He compiled an 11-7 record during the regular season and started three playoff games. He threw 182 innings over 31 starts — his most since 2018 — and posted a 3.91 ERA and 1.24 WHIP while striking out 21.2% of batters and walking 7.9% of hitters.
The A's will play in a 14,000-seat minor-league stadium in Sacramento for the next three seasons before they are expected to move into a brand-new ballpark in Las Vegas for the 2028 MLB season.
What to make of Severino's deal with the A's?
The first stunning signing of baseball’s offseason came Thursday, with reports that right-handed pitcher Luis Severino has agreed to a three-year, $67 million deal with the formerly-of-Oakland, soon-to-be-in-Sacramento, eventually-to-be-in-Las-Vegas Athletics. That Severino agreed to a deal early in December is not surprising, considering the recent uptick in activity in the starting pitching market that has seen five pitchers on our Top 50 free-agent rankings find new homes in recent weeks.
But that the A’s — in their transitional state and with baseball’s lowest payroll at the outset of the winter — were the team to outbid other aspiring contenders for Severino’s services? That’s a fairly big shock. After nearly a decade pitching in the league’s largest market in New York, Severino will pitch in Sacramento in 2025, as the A’s begin their multi-year transition to Las Vegas with an interim phase playing home games in a Triple-A ballpark.
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Shane Bieber Signs One-Year Contract to Return to Guardians After Shortened 2024
As they attempt to build on their first ALCS appearance since 2016, it appears the Cleveland Guardians will once again have the services of one of their best pitchers.
The Guardians are re-signing pitcher Shane Bieber to a one-year contract with a player option for 2026, according to a Friday afternoon report from Jeff Passan of ESPN. Per Passan, the contract itself is worth $10 million and the player option is worth $16 million.
Bieber, 29, started just two games in 2024 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. He was outstanding in those two starts, striking out 20 in 12 innings with an 0.00 ERA; nonetheless, Cleveland won the AL Central without him.
