Major League Baseball 2024 Season

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With videos.

Spring training starts February 22^nd and the Regular season starts March 28^th (Opening Day) but there will be a few games played in Korea, Mexico and London before then.

News, rumors and trades before then.

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Shohei Ohtani one of the best free agents.

Reports state he could sign in early December.

Lucky team, whoever gets him and if he is able to fully recover and then stay healthy.

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• New boss: Joe Espada takes the reins of the Houston Astros, replacing Dusty Baker

Joe Espada took a leave of absence as bench coach of the Houston Astros last year to spend time with his father when he fell ill with heart complications.

“I almost lost him while I was there,” Espada said. “And I asked God that day just to let him stay with me for a while longer because I wanted to share some good news in the future.”

On Sunday, he finally gave his father, Doloers, the long-awaited news of his promotion to manager of the Astros.

“I Facetimed and he started clapping,” Espada said. “His reaction was priceless.”

Espada was introduced as manager of the Astros on Monday, replacing Dusty Baker, who retired last month.

“I’m humbled by this,” Espada said. “This is a dream come true. I just can’t express my feelings about how happy I am to get to stay here and manage this team."

It’s the first managerial position for the 48-year-old Espada, who has been Houston’s bench coach since 2018. Espada, who was born in Puerto Rico, is the second Latino manager in franchise history, joining Cuban-born Preston Gomez, Houston's manager from 1974-75.

The Astros have advanced to the AL Championship Series in seven straight seasons and reached the World Series in 2021 and 2022, winning their second title in 2022.

“We wanted to continue the success here in Houston. … We came up with the right man for the job. Our fans deserve it,” general manager Dana Brown said.

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• MLB Rookie of the Year Award winners 2023

Carroll, Gunnar linked again as unanimous Rookies of the Year

The leadoff man and center fielder was a Seattle speedster named Corbin Carroll. The third baseman was a tall, athletic kid from small-town Alabama named Gunnar Henderson.

It was the American team at the 2018 Under Armour All-America Game. And as it turns out, it was a preview of the 2023 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year class in MLB.

When the D-backs’ Carroll and the Orioles’ Henderson were announced Monday night on MLB Network as unsurprising -- and as it turns out, unanimous -- winners of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America rookie honors in the American and National Leagues, it was the second time they were paired together. The first was back when they were amateur prospects in a showcase game at Wrigley Field in which Carroll’s two hits and Henderson’s two RBIs helped lead their squad to victory.

“We got to spend time together there,” Henderson said. “Being able to then take it to the big leagues and both winning Rookie of the Year is pretty special.”

There was also no doubt about it. This marked the fifth time that both Rookie of the Year winners were unanimous and the first since the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge in 2017.

“For [the writers] to view me in that way, that means a lot to me, especially in a year like this, where, even beyond the three nominees, there were so many really talented rookie players this year,” Carroll said in a call with reporters. “It means a lot to me that you guys view me as valuable.”

That theme was particularly potent for Henderson’s AL East-winning Orioles and Corbin Carroll’s National League pennant-winning D-backs. These fresh faces contributed considerably to the rise in relevance of their teams and were rightly recognized for it.

Henderson finished ahead of Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee and Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas, while Carroll beat out Mets right-hander Kodai Senga and Dodgers outfielder James Outman.

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• MLB Manager of the Year Award winners for 2023

Hyde, Schumaker named Managers of Year after stunning turnarounds

Entering the 2023 season, the Marlins had not posted a winning record in a full season since 2009. The Orioles, meanwhile, were coming off their first winning season since 2016 -- but no team had lost more games from 2017-22.

Yet with both clubs making a postseason run in 2023 -- a bit ahead of schedule by most projections -- Miami’s Skip Schumaker and Baltimore’s Brandon Hyde were rewarded with the National League and American League Manager of the Year Awards, respectively, on Tuesday night.

While Schumaker and Hyde steered their teams to similar results, they took very different paths to winning the prestigious honor from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

In just his first year as a big league manager, Schumaker led the Marlins to a 15-win improvement and their first postseason appearance in a full season since 2003. Schumaker is the eighth skipper to win the honor in his first year with a club -- and the first since Rocco Baldelli (2019 Twins).

“I just believe that the staff around me created this culture, and to have really good players who bought in early on,” Schumaker said. “ ... I just feel like all these guys deserved this award, not just me.”

As for Hyde’s first year as Baltimore’s manager, he went just 54-108 in 2019. He endured a .341 winning percentage (131-253) from 2019-21 before leading the O’s to a 31-win improvement from 2021-22.

The Orioles made another 18-win jump in 2023, finishing 101-61 to win their first AL East title since 2014 -- and just their second in the past 26 seasons.

“I'm so fortunate for the coaching staff I have and how positive they are, and how they helped me along the way and made me better,” Hyde said. “Along with that, too, the patience that [general manager Mike Elias] and the front office have shown to me. They were more patient than me -- I've said that lot -- through those tough few years.”

Hyde received 27 of 30 first-place votes to beat out fellow AL finalists Bruce Bochy (Rangers) and Kevin Cash (Rays). On the NL side, Schumaker narrowly edged out Craig Counsell (Brewers) and Brian Snitker (Braves) in a race that featured six skippers receiving at least one first-place vote.

Schumaker, who won a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011 as a player, spent the first eight seasons of his 11-year big league career in St. Louis. The first seven of those years came under Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, a four-time Manager of the Year Award winner.

"Everything I know I learned from somebody, and the majority of that is Tony La Russa,” Schumaker said. “You don't get a chance to pick who you get drafted by, and luckily I was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. I got to learn right away what a winning, sustainable culture looked like. And I grew up as a man -- and as a player -- in that organization."

After wrapping up his playing days with stints with the Dodgers and Reds, Schumaker began his coaching career as the Padres’ first-base coach in 2018 before being promoted to associate manager in ’20. He spent one season as the Cardinals’ bench coach in 2022 before replacing Don Mattingly – who won the 2020 NL Manager of the Year Award – as the Marlins’ skipper.

But long before the Marlins gave Schumaker his first shot as a big league skipper, they gave Hyde his start in professional coaching.

Hyde managed in the Marlins’ organization from 2005-09, leading the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers (2005-06), Double-A Carolina Mudcats (’07), High-A Jupiter Hammerheads (’08) and Double-A Jacksonville Suns (’09).

Then, in 2011, Hyde made his big league managerial debut as the Marlins’ acting manager just hours after Edwin Rodriguez abruptly resigned on June 19, 2011. Florida hired Jack McKeon the following day, meaning Hyde carried an 0-1 managerial record until Baltimore hired him prior to the ’19 season.

Now, he has a 101-win season and an AL Manager of the Year Award to his name.

“I don't think you expect to go into a season expecting to win 101 games in the regular season, to be honest with you,” Hyde said. “I was just hoping we'd build off last year -- I was really encouraged by the second half we had last year.”

But with a young core -- one that includes unanimous AL Rookie of the Year Award winner Gunnar Henderson -- Hyde is hoping to take another leap in 2024. It might be hard to improve on 101 wins in the regular season, but the O’s will be eyeing more postseason success after being swept out of the ALDS by the eventual World Series champion Rangers.

“I felt like we could be even better this year with another year of experience and some guys coming into their prime,” Hyde said. “And I feel good about next year, as well.”

“I think we set a new standard in that clubhouse,” Schumaker said. “And I think, now, it’s time to protect that standard. I think the culture kind of changed. Now, they know what winning looks like.”

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• Oakland A's move to Las Vegas official following vote by MLB owners

The Oakland Athletics have been given the green light to move to Las Vegas following a vote by Major League Baseball owners.

MLB owners voted overwhelmingly Thursday morning to approve the relocation proposal by A's owner John Fisher, CBS Sports reported. The team plans to play at a $1.5 billion facility on the Las Vegas strip in 2028.

The A's still have one more year on their lease at the Oakland Coliseum. USA Today reported an unidentified MLB owner said the team would play games in Summerlin, Nevada, home of the A's Triple-A team, share Oracle Park in San Francisco with the Giants, and may also play at the Coliseum while the Las Vegas stadium is built.

In June, Nevada's Legislature and governor approved $380 million in public financing for the 30,000-seat ballpark with a retractable roof. Still left to be determined is how Fisher would secure private financing for his share of stadium construction costs.

The move would mean the A's would become the third professional sports franchise to leave Oakland in the last four years, going from one of the league's largest markets to the smallest market. The Golden State Warriors relocated to San Francisco in 2019 while the Raiders left Oakland for the second time in 2020 to play in Las Vegas.

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• MLB MVP Award winners for 2023

Unanimous MVPs Shohei, Acuña even make hardware history

There’s good, there’s great and then there’s historic.

What Ronald Acuña Jr. did for the Braves and what Shohei Ohtani did for the Angels in 2023 was historic. And appropriately, two of the biggest stars in the sport were recognized with a historic Most Valuable Player voting result.

For the first time in a voting process dating back to 1931, both MVP honors announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on MLB Network on Thursday night were unanimous. Ohtani captured his second AL MVP in the last three seasons and became the first player ever to be chosen unanimously twice, while Acuña won his first NL MVP.

Here are the MVP Award vote totals:

AMERICAN LEAGUE RESULTS

Shohei Ohtani, LAA: 30 1st-place votes, unanimous -- 420 points
Corey Seager, TEX: 24 (2nd), 6 (3rd) -- 264 points
Marcus Semien, TEX: 5 (2nd), 8 (3rd), 11 (4th), 3 (5th), 3 (7th) -- 216 points
Julio Rodríguez, SEA: 8 (3rd), 10 (4th), 6 (5th), 3 (6th), 3 (7th) -- 197 points
Kyle Tucker, HOU: 1 (2nd), 4 (3rd), 5 (4th), 9 (5th), 8 (6th), 2 (7th) -- 178 points
Yandy Díaz, TB: 4 (3rd), 1 (4th), 3 (5th), 11 (6th), 4 (7th), 1 (8th), 2 (9th), 2 (10th) -- 137 points
Bobby Witt Jr., KC: 1 (4th), 4 (5th), 1 (6th), 3 (7th), 8 (8th), 3 (9th), 5 (10th) -- 83 points
Gunnar Henderson, BAL: 4 (5th), 2 (6th), 4 (7th), 7 (8th), 2 (9th), 2 (10th) -- 77 points
Adley Rutschman, BAL: 1 (4th), 1 (6th), 4 (7th), 4 (8th), 3 (9th), 4 (10th) -- 50 points
José Ramírez, CLE: 4 (7th), 4 (8th), 5 (9th), 2 (10th) -- 40 points
Gerrit Cole, NYY: 1 (4th), 1 (5th), 2 (7th), 1 (8th), 2 (9th), 2 (10th) -- 30 points
Luis Robert Jr., CWS: 1 (6th), 2 (8th), 4 (9th), 2 (10th) -- 21 points
Yordan Alvarez, HOU: 2 (6th), 1 (8th), 3 (10th) -- 16 points
Adolis García, TEX: 1 (6th), 1 (7th), 1 (8th), 1 (9th) -- 14 points
Aaron Judge, NYY: 1 (8th), 2 (9th) -- 7 points
Bo Bichette, TOR: 2 (9th), 1 (10th) -- 5 points
J.P. Crawford, SEA: 1 (9th), 3 (10th) -- 5 points
Cal Raleigh, SEA: 1 (9th) -- 2 points
Rafael Devers, BOS: 1 (9th) -- 2 points
Isaac Paredes, TB: 1 (9th) -- 2 points
Sonny Gray, MIN: 2 (10th) -- 2 points
Alex Bregman, HOU: 1 (10th) -- 1 point
Josh Naylor, CLE: 1 (10th) -- 1 point

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS

Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL: 30 1st-place votes, unanimous -- 420 points
Mookie Betts, LAD: 30 (2nd) -- 270 points
Freddie Freeman, LAD: 17 (3rd), 13 (4th) -- 227 points
Matt Olson, ATL: 13 (3rd), 17 (4th) -- 223 points
Corbin Carroll, ARI: 20 (5th), 6 (6th), 3 (7th), 1 (8th) -- 165 points
Juan Soto, SD: 4 (5th), 10 (6th), 4 (7th), 1 (8th), 6 (9th), 1 (10th) -- 106 points
Austin Riley, ATL: 2 (5th), 3 (6th), 4 (7th), 5 (8th), 3 (9th), 4 (10th) -- 68 points
Luis Arraez, MIA: 1 (5th), 6 (6th), 2 (7th), 2 (8th), 6 (9th), 5 (10th) -- 67 points
Francisco Lindor, NYM: 1 (6th), 6 (7th), 6 (8th), 2 (9th), 1 (10th) -- 52 points
Cody Bellinger, CHC: 1 (5th), 2 (6th), 4 (7th), 2 (8th), 3 (9th), 5 (10th) -- 49 points
William Contreras, MIL: 1 (5th), 1 (6th), 3 (7th), 3 (8th), 3 (9th), 1 (10th) -- 39 points
Bryce Harper, PHI: 3 (7th), 6 (8th), 3 (9th) -- 36 points
Blake Snell, SD: 1 (5th), 1 (7th), 2 (8th) -- 16 points
Fernando Tatis Jr., SD: 1 (6th) -- 5 points
Ha-Seong Kim, SD: 5 (10th) -- 5 points
Ozzie Albies, ATL: 2 (9th) -- 4 points
Logan Webb, SF: 1 (8th) -- 3 points
Pete Alonso, NYM: 1 (8th) -- 3 points
Marcell Ozuna, ATL: 1 (9th) -- 2 points
Devin Williams, MIL: 1 (9th) -- 2 points
Dansby Swanson, CHC: 2 (10th) -- 2 points
Kyle Schwarber, PHI: 2 (10th) -- 2 points
Zac Gallen, ARI: 1 (10th) -- 1 point
Christian Walker, ARI: 1 (10th) -- 1 point
TJ Friedl, CIN: 1 (10th) -- 1 point
Nick Castellanos, PHI: 1 (10th) --1 point

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• 2023 MLB Cy Young Award voting results

Below are point totals for the 2023 Cy Young Award balloting, as voted on by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Ballots for each award were submitted before the start of the postseason from two writers in every city, based on the league covered.

The system rewards seven points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two votes for fourth place and one point for fifth place.

AMERICAN LEAGUE RESULTS
Gerrit Cole, NYY: 30 1st-place votes, unanimous -- 210 points
Sonny Gray, MIN: 20 (2nd), 6 (3rd), 3 (4th) -- 104 points
Kevin Gausman, TOR: 7 (2nd), 15 (3rd), 4 (4th), 1 (5th) -- 82 points
Kyle Bradish, BAL: 6 (3rd), 8 (4th), 5 (5th) -- 39 points
Luis Castillo, SEA: 2 (2nd), 5 (4th), 5 (5th) -- 23 points
Zach Eflin, TB: 1 (2nd), 2 (3rd), 3 (4th), 3 (5th) -- 19 points
Pablo López, MIN: 5 (4th), 1 (5th) -- 11 points
George Kirby, SEA: 1 (4th), 6 (5th) -- 8 points
Framber Valdez, HOU: 1 (4th), 4 (5th) -- 6 points
Chris Bassitt, TOR: 1 (3rd), 1 (5th) -- 4 points
Félix Bautista, BAL: 3 (5th) -- 3 points
Chris Martin, BOS: 1 (5th) -- 1 point

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS
Blake Snell, SD: 28 (1st-place votes), 2 (2nd) -- 204 points
Logan Webb, SF: 1 (1st), 17 (2nd), 1 (3rd), 2 (4th), 4 (5th) -- 86 points
Zac Gallen, AZ: 1 (1st), 3 (2nd), 11 (3rd), 5 (4th), 6 (5th) -- 68 points
Spencer Strider, ATL: 6 (2nd), 9 (3rd), 5 (4th), 3 (5th) -- 64 points
Justin Steele, CHC: 1 (2nd), 2 (3rd), 8 (4th), 6 (5th) -- 32 points
Zack Wheeler, PHI: 4 (3rd), 5 (4th), 6 (5th) -- 28 points
Kodai Senga, NYM: 3 (3rd), 3 (4th) -- 15 points
Corbin Burnes, MIL: 1 (2nd), 2 (4th), 5 (5th) -- 13 points

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• White Sox trade for Michael Soroka, Nicky Lopez from Braves

White Sox trade for Soroka, Lopez, 3 others from Braves

Chris Getz’s first trade as White Sox general manager -- a six-player deal sending veteran reliever Aaron Bummer to the Braves on Thursday night -- now sets him up for further moves during this ongoing 2024 roster retooling.

There were a number of holes for the White Sox to fill coming off a 61-101 showing in 2023, with shortstop, second base, right field, catcher, and at least three starting-pitcher spots standing out for openers.

Acquiring right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka and left-hander Jared Shuster, along with infielders Nicky Lopez and Braden Shewmake, as well as Minor League right-hander Riley Gowens in return for the veteran southpaw with a 6.79 ERA over 61 games in 2023, began covering those vacancies.

“This is a foundational move for us,” Getz said during a Friday Zoom call with media. “And I look forward to adding to what we just acquired.”

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• Tickets for London Series featuring Phillies-Mets on sale Wednesday

European baseball fans, here’s your next chance to catch an MLB game close to home.

Tickets for the 2024 London Series between the Mets and Phillies go on sale next week.

London Series subscribers will be able to get their tickets for the two-game series, which will be played on June 8-9, 2024, through a presale starting Wednesday. The general on-sale date for London Series tickets will be Friday, Dec. 8.

Fans can go to MLB.com/LondonSeries for more information and to register as a London Series subscriber.

The 2024 London Series will bring another one of MLB's best rivalries to London Stadium. New York and Philadelphia, longtime division foes in the National League East, will be the latest Major League rivals to clash in Europe in the third edition of the London Series. The Yankees and Red Sox, and Cardinals and Cubs, have already faced off in London.

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• Umpire Ángel Hernández Finishes Regular Season With Worst Rating in MLB

As expected, Ángel Hernández finished the 2023 regular season as the lowest-rated umpire in baseball.

Umpire Auditor, which tracks missed calls in each game throughout the season, reported that Hernández racked up 161 bad calls in 10 games this season. Alongside their announcement that Hernández had the worst season of any umpire in the league, Umpire Auditor attached a thread of his worst moments of the year.

The 62-year-old Hernández missed over half of the 2023 season due to back surgery, eventually going on a minor league rehab assignment in July to get readjusted to the game following his extended absence. Ironically, he made headlines for his inconsistent and poor calls in Triple-A, as well as upon his return to the big leagues.

Hernández missed 15 calls in a game between the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees on Aug. 12, and he hit a new low when he missed another 15 calls in the Pittsburgh Pirates' victory over the Washington Nationals on Sept. 14. Based on strike zone call accuracy, Hernández's performance that day was the worst by any MLB umpire in five years.

Perhaps Hernández's crowning achievement, however, came when he ejected Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper for arguing a critical check-swing call on Sept. 28. Hernández apparently told Harper that he would know he was wrong to argue once he watched the replay, although the replay very clearly proved the slugger's frustrations to be warranted.

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• Braves ink RHP Reynaldo Lopez to 3-year deal

Reynaldo López has been an effective reliever since transitioning to a bullpen role a couple years ago. But the Braves are going to give the hard-throwing right-hander a chance to return to a starting role.

López and the Braves agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal on Monday morning. The 29-year-old will be stretched out during Spring Training so that there is an option for him to serve as either a starting pitcher or a reliever at the start of the 2024 season.

“There's a great vibe and atmosphere of wanting to win [with the Braves],” López said through a translator. “People I spoke to -- my inner circle of friends, everybody -- spoke highly of the organization. When my agent said that there was an opportunity I said, ‘Let's do it.’”

López will receive $4 million in 2024 and $11 million during both the 2025 and 2026 seasons. His $8 million club option for 2027 includes a $4 million buyout.

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• Kyle Gibson, Cardinals agree to deal

Cards keep adding pitching, sign veteran Gibson

Continuing to address what president of baseball operations John Mozeliak referred to as a strong need for “volume” among their pitching staff, the Cardinals finalized a one-year contract with 36-year-old right-hander Kyle Gibson on Tuesday.

The deal, which includes a club option for 2025, comes one day after the Cardinals landed 36-year-old right-hander Lance Lynn for his second stint with the club.

The 6-foot-6 Gibson, a former college star at the University of Missouri, is a veteran of 11 MLB seasons and went 15-9 with a 4.73 ERA over 33 starts in 2023 with the Orioles. Over 192 innings, he allowed an American League-most 198 hits, while striking out 157. He made one appearance in the postseason, during an O's loss to the eventual World Series champion Rangers in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, surrendering a solo home run over three relief innings.

Gibson and Lynn combined for 28 wins, 65 starts, 375 2/3 innings pitched and 348 strikeouts in 2023, making them proven commodities the Cardinals need in their rotation going forward.

“The difference between this offseason and what we did last year, when we gave a lot of the younger players opportunity ... is we want to go in with a little bit more certainty and have that veteran presence,” Mozeliak said on Tuesday at Busch Stadium. “What we did with Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson is that we brought two guys in that know how to do it, what to do and why they are doing it.

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• Paul DeJong, White Sox agree to deal (source)

The White Sox reached a deal with veteran shortstop Paul DeJong on Tuesday night, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending the result of a physical.

Since taking over, general manager Chris Getz has expressed that improving Chicago's defense across the diamond -- but especially up the middle -- has been one of his main goals. The White Sox currently have All-Star Luis Robert Jr. in center field; Korey Lee behind the plate; and DeJong and Nicky Lopez at shortstop and second, respectively.

“Well, you know it’s piece by piece, it really is,” Getz said at the General Managers Meetings in early November. “In setting out to really improve our defensive play, it will allow our pitchers to attack the zone and be more efficient. We need to become more athletic, and that speaks to the improved defense we hope -- and obviously running the bases, taking extra bases, those types of things.

“We’re looking for players that understand what it takes to be on a winning ballclub. That starts with their approach on a day-to-day basis, being in the right place at the right time on the field and more or less being baseball players going out there and working together, competing.”

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• Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Japan’s pitching sensation is set to become MLB’s next star

Watch out baseball fans; Japan’s next big star looks to be on the move.

Pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to make a high-profile switch to Major League Baseball (MLB) during the offseason, after he was posted as a free agent by Japan’s Orix Buffaloes on Monday.

The 25-year-old is expected to attract the attention of the league’s biggest franchises and could receive a highly-lucrative contract worth around $200m, per Reuters.

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• Yankees hire Brad Ausmus as bench coach

The Yankees have hired Brad Ausmus as their new bench coach under manager Aaron Boone, the club announced on Tuesday.

The Bronx Bombers had a vacancy in that spot after Carlos Mendoza moved across town to take over as the new manager of the Mets.

Ausmus, who began his professional career in the Yankees organization after the team selected him in the 48th round of the 1987 Draft, turns 55 in April and will bring five years of MLB managerial experience to his new role.

The New Haven, Conn., native and Dartmouth alumnus managed the Tigers from 2014-17 and the Angels in 2019, going a combined 314-332 in those stints.

Additionally, Ausmus brings a wealth of experience gleaned from his 18 years as a big league catcher for the Astros, Padres, Tigers and Dodgers. Ausmus collected 1,579 hits and won three Gold Glove Awards during his career.

His Yankees tenure as a player spanned five seasons, attending college and pursuing his degree while playing in the Minors. Ausmus reached Triple-A Columbus in 1992 before being selected by the Rockies in the Expansion Draft.

Ausmus becomes the third bench coach to fill the role for the Yanks during Boone’s managerial tenure, following Mendoza and Josh Bard.

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• Yankees eye Jordan Montgomery reunion, plus Cody Bellinger and Juan Soto; Twins could cut payroll

Yankees eyeing Cody Bellinger, Juan Soto, Jordan Montgomery
The Yankees' main objective this offseason is to repair the lineup around Aaron Judge, and GM Brian Cashman has already indicated that the team hopes to add multiple outfielders this winter. Speaking of which, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees indeed have serious interest in trading for Padres outfielder Juan Soto and/or inking free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.

Soto is one of the best pure hitters in baseball, and his elite combination of power and patience would be an ideal fit for the Yankees. In a perfect world, he'd be a DH, but the Yankees of course have Giancarlo Stanton as the primary in that role. The Padres are believed to be looking to cut payroll this offseason, and Soto is probably in line for a salary in excess of $30 million in his final trip through the arbitration process. That salary commitment plus the fact that 2024 will be Soto's walk year means the cost in trade likely won't be prohibitive.

As for Bellinger, the former NL MVP is coming off an excellent bounceback season with the Cubs and is still just 28 years of age. We ranked him as the No. 3 available free agent this offseason, but we also noted that his sub-par quality of contact numbers raise concerns about how sustainable his work in 2023 really is. Bellinger clearly has upside, but he's also a risk.

Elsewhere, Heyman adds that the Yankees will also consider fortifying the rotation behind ace and AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. That could lead to a reunion with veteran Jordan Montgomery, who just earned a World Series ring with the Rangers. Montgomery, who turns 31 in late December, was traded by the Yankees to the Cardinals in August of 2022. He enjoyed a standout 2023 season (3.20 ERA, 3.46 K/BB ratio in 188 2/3 innings) with the Cardinals and then with the Rangers after the deadline deal that sent him to Texas.

Twins looking to cut payroll

The reigning AL Central champs are looking to shed some salary obligations for 2024, Robert Murray reports. As Murray notes, that could lead to the Twins' deciding to shop veteran catcher Christan Vazquez, who's coming off a disappointing season and is owed $10 million for each of the next two years. Outfielder Max Kepler is another potential trade candidate for Minnesota. Right now the Twins have less than $100 million committed in salary for 2024, and ace Sonny Gray is a free agent and may be headed elsewhere.

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• Tigers To Sign Kenta Maeda

The Tigers and right-hander Kenta Maeda have agreed to a two-year contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post (X link). ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Maeda will earn $24MM in guaranteed money, and Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press writes that the deal will become official Monday once Maeda passes a physical. Maeda is represented by the Boras Corporation.

Reports emerged earlier this week linking Maeda and the Tigers, though the Twins (Maeda’s former team) maintained interest. Minnesota will now have to deal with Maeda as an opponent on a division rival, as Maeda will join the third team of his Major League career as he enters his age-36 season.

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• Bloomberg CEO leaving to take job as president of New York Mets

Scott Havens, the CEO of Bloomberg Media, is leaving his position with the media giant to become the team president for the New York Mets.

The team said in a news release Monday it has appointed Havens as their president of business operations.

In his new role, Havens will oversee day-to-day operations of the team’s business department and “the Senior Leadership Team for all Front Office functions” except for baseball operations of the team.

Havens will report to the team’s owner, Steve Cohen.

“Bringing someone on board of Scott’s caliber is an exciting development for the Mets organization,” Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “Scott has vast experience leading world-class media and digital technology-led companies such as Bloomberg Media and Time Inc. and he’ll provide a modern vision and strategic direction for our organization.”

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• Sonny Gray agrees to deal with Cardinals

'I wanted to be a Cardinal': Gray to St. Louis on 3-yr. deal

When Sonny Gray was going through what he described as “the anxiety and stress” of a free agent courting process he nonetheless claimed to have enjoyed thoroughly, the right-hander kept coming back to the same idea that he had held onto closely and quietly for more than a year’s time.

Gray’s idea was that he desperately wanted to be a member of the Cardinals -- an organization possessing a storied history of winning despite last season’s 71-91 mark and one that would bring him closer to his middle Tennessee home in the offseason. Gray, who turned 34 on Nov. 7, held onto that thought even when the Cardinals didn’t initially contact him and agent Bo McKinnis.

But the Cardinals did come calling, and their contract offer was equipped with the potential of four years and more than $80 million in guaranteed money and a no-trade clause, per a source. On Monday, when Gray passed a physical and signed his contract, his dream became a reality and he finally became a Cardinal.

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• Emilio Pagan, Reds agree to 2-year deal (source)

Right-handed reliever Emilio Pagán and the Reds have agreed on a two-year, $16 million deal, sources told MLB.com on Wednesday. The team has not confirmed the agreement, which is pending a physical.

Pagán, 32, posted a 2.99 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 65 strikeouts over 69 1/3 innings with the Twins last season, a return to form after three years with an ERA over 4.40.

Since his debut with the Mariners in 2017, he has a 3.71 ERA with 456 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP in 400 MLB innings, pitching for Seattle, Oakland, Tampa Bay, San Diego and Minnesota. His best season came in 2019 with the Rays, when he recorded 20 saves with a 2.31 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 70 innings.

Pagán will join a Reds relief corps that ranked 16th in the Majors with a 4.11 ERA in 2023.

______


In other news. Maeda did sign with the Tigers

• Kenta Maeda signs 2-year deal with Tigers

The Tigers found the veteran starter they wanted with a familiar foe from the other side of the division. Right-hander Kenta Maeda, whose four-year tenure with the Twins included several stingy performances against the Tigers, is headed to Detroit after signing a two-year contract that the club announced on Tuesday. The deal will pay Maeda $14 million in 2024 and $10 million in '25.

[S Landreth]

• Luis Severino, Joey Wendle agree to deals with Mets (source)

Mets have deal with former Yanks RHP Severino

A Mets team in dire need of starting pitching began filling that void on Wednesday with a former standout from its neighboring borough. The team is in agreement on a one-year, $13 million deal with right-hander Luis Severino, a source told MLB.com, marking the first major signing of the David Stearns era.

Later Wednesday, the Mets also agreed to terms with infielder Joey Wendle on a one-year, $2 million contract. The team has not confirmed either deal because they are not yet official.

Severino, 29, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Yankees, including All-Star seasons in 2017 and '18. But injuries began affecting him in a profound way via a right rotator cuff strain in 2019, followed by Tommy John surgery in '20. Lat and oblique issues have since affected Severino, who made 18 starts last season and produced a 6.65 ERA.

As such, the range of outcomes for Severino in 2024 is wide. He remains one of the game’s hardest-throwing pitchers, ranking in the 88th percentile in fastball velocity. But he has not produced a full, healthy season in half a decade, and he struggled throughout the '23 campaign.

Even so, Severino is a risk well worth taking for the Mets, given their hope of putting a contender on the field without agreeing to too many new long-term contracts. At his best, Severino profiles as an ace-like talent still a few months shy of his 30th birthday; it’s his injury history and lack of recent success that made him available on a one-year deal. At worst, he is a $13 million budget line for an organization that can afford such mistakes.

[S Landreth]

• Three MLB Teams Back Out of Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes in Free Agency, per Report

The biggest mystery of the 2024 MLB offseason is Shohei Ohtani’s next destination.

All 30 teams want Ohtani, but only a few can afford to pay what is expected to be the most lucrative free-agent contract in North American sports history.

Three teams who were in contention to sign Ohtani heading into the offseason—the Rangers, Red Sox and Mets—“have turned their attention to other players,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Friday.

[hallelujah]

Nobody outside the US cares about boring yank sports, Spamdreth.

Even your countrymen have disowned you.

Why are you being such a wanker?

[S Landreth]

^ sure thing, fat boy

Nippon Professional Baseball Organization

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