Brewers’ Lorenzo Cain takes away HR for final out against Cardinals
MILWAUKEE — Lorenzo Cain fired the ball high into the air and jumped up and down in the outfield, yelling and shaking his head from side to side. “I let them know. Not today,” a grinning Cain said. Not today, indeed. Cain soared above the wall to rob Jose Martinez...
Bryce Harper overtakes Aaron Judge for MLB’s top-selling jersey
NEW YORK — The new No. 3 is the new No. 1. Major League Baseball says that Bryce Harper has the sport’s top-selling jersey, ending a two-year reign for Aaron Judge’s No. 99. Harper signed a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies this spring, and his new No....
Andrew McCutchen homers in 1st at-bat with Phillies in rout over Braves
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper struck out twice in green Phanatic cleats in his $330 million debut and bowed to thousands of fans in No. 3 jerseys who gave him rousing standing ovations in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 10-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. The other NL MVP pickup this...
Mets’ Jacob deGrom outduels Nationals’ Max Scherzer in opener
WASHINGTON — On a day that Jacob deGrom struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and Max Scherzer fanned 12, it was New York Mets newcomer Robinson Cano who decided the outcome with a homer, an RBI single and head’s-up throw to the plate. Interrupting a pair of performances befitting...
MLB moves into new era: No players left from 20th century
Four-man outfields. High-tech anti-spying rules. A starting pitcher facing just one batter in a playoff game. But beyond all the shifts, analytics and social media outreach, here’s the best way to tell MLB has zoomed into a new era: There’s not a single active player left from the 20th century....
MLB hopes to gain control of local broadcast deals
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball hopes to gain control of local broadcasting agreements involving its teams, the reason behind its bid to purchase regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Co. Disney acquired 22 RSNs as part of its $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment business this...
Mets, Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom agree to 5-year, $137.5 million deal
NEW YORK — NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets have agreed to a $137.5 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal guarantees an additional $120.5 million over four seasons. The person spoke on condition of anonymity...
In data-driven age, ‘honor’ of Opening Day start still bigVideo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As spring training neared its conclusion, a reporter mentioned to Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez that Max Scherzer was not precisely on schedule to start on Opening Day. “He’s going to be lined up,” Martinez said with a laugh. “Come Thursday at 1:05, he’ll be...
National League preview: $300-million men could make big difference
The marquee storyline(s) of the NL East and West divisions differ now than from when spring training began. A pair of $300 million-plus contracts sure can change things. The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres might or might not be great teams this season, but many eyes will be on...
NL Central preview: Every team (even the Pirates) in contention for playoffs
It might seem as if the Chicago Cubs have been dominating the NL Central in recent years, but is it really a dynasty when they’ve won the division just twice? The Cubs have averaged 97 wins per season over the past four years but twice had to settle for wild...
Ichiro walks off into history in ‘sayonara’ at Tokyo Dome
TOKYO — At times, it seemed as if he’d go on hitting forever. But Thursday night, a player who defined baseball at its very best on two continents for a generation, took his final swing. The great Ichiro has said “sayonara.” Now 45, Ichiro Suzuki left the Tokyo Dome field...
Ichiro walks off into history in ‘sayonara’ at Tokyo Dome
TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki has said “sayonara.” The 45-year-old Seattle Mariners star announced his retirement Thursday night, shortly after waving goodbye at the Tokyo Dome during a 5-4 win over Oakland in 12 innings. Ichiro went 0 for 4 and was pulled from right field in the eighth, saluting his...
Trout, Angels finalize record $432 million, 12-year deal
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night announced their 12-year contract, a record deal that ties baseball’s top player to the Orange County club for what likely will be the rest of his career. A person with knowledge of the contract told The Associated...
Mariners top A’s in MLB opener in Japan
TOKYO — Ichiro drew all the cheers. Most everyone else on the Seattle Mariners did all the hitting. A crowd that came to salute Ichiro Suzuki in his homeland saw Domingo Santana deliver the biggest hit at the Tokyo Dome, a grand slam that sent Seattle over the Oakland Athletics,...
Analysis: Mike Trout, baseball’s $430 million man, is actually underpaid
Mike Trout’s nearly completed 12-year, roughly $430 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels, which when finalized would set a new benchmark for North American sports, will undoubtedly spark a new round of complaints and criticism, not exactly unfounded, that athletes are egregiously overpaid relative to their contributions to...
Mike Trout, Angels reportedly finalizing a record 12-year, $430 million extension
The climax of an offseason spent contemplating and debating the value of some of baseball’s biggest stars, as it turns out, was not the record-setting free agent contracts signed last month by Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, but what reportedly came Tuesday: a massive extension for Los Angeles Angels center...
MLB players, owners to start labor talks 2 years early
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and its players’ union reached an unprecedented agreement to discuss renegotiating their labor contract that has three seasons remaining, part of a deal that includes modest rule changes for 2020 and drops pitch clocks until 2022 at the earliest. Players have been furious at...
Babe Ruth’s last surviving daughter dies in Nevada at 102
HENDERSON, Nev. — Julia Ruth Stevens, the last surviving daughter of Hall of Fame baseball slugger Babe Ruth and a decades-long champion of his legacy, has died at age 102, her family has announced. Tom Stevens said Sunday that his mother died Saturday morning at an assisted living facility in...
In response to expanded gambling, MLB wants notice of lineups before stadium announcements
NEW YORK — Major leagues teams this season must notify the commissioner’s office of their starting lineups before they are announced at stadiums. The decision Thursday comes in response to the Supreme Court ruling that has led to more widespread legal gambling. Through last season, clubs announced lineups as they...
Mets great Tom Seaver diagnosed with dementia at 74
NEW YORK — Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, the star of the Miracle Mets 1969 World Series championship team, has been diagnosed with dementia at age 74. His family made the announcement Thursday through the Hall and said Seaver has retired from public life and will continue to work...
Bryce Harper makes recruiting pitch to Mike Trout, and the Angels are not happy
At his introductory news conference Saturday in Clearwater, Florida, after he signed a 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper said that his relatively low annual salary of approximately $25.4 million would allow his new team “to bring some other guys in.” He mentioned at the time “another guy...
Jessica Mendoza hired as Mets adviser but keeps ESPN job
NEW YORK — Jessica Mendoza was hired as a baseball operations adviser for the New York Mets on Tuesday while remaining a broadcaster for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” part of an increasing number of TV commentators who also work for teams. She will be involved in player evaluation, roster construction,...
Machado makes spring training debut with Padres
PEORIA, Ariz. — Manny Machado’s debut in a San Diego Padres uniform was a lot less eventful than his free agency. The four-time All-Star spent the offseason being courted by every club with money to burn, and he wound up signing a $300 million, 10-year deal with San Diego late...
Phillies introduce Harper to cap their busy offseason of signings
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Bryce Harper sounded like a typical Philadelphian talking about a goal every Phillies fan will endorse. “I want to be on Broad Street on a frickin’ boat or bus or whatever it is and hold a (World Series) trophy over my head,” the six-time All-Star said Saturday...
Bryce Harper, Phillies agree to record $330 million contractVideo
NEW YORK — Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a $330 million, 13-year contract Thursday, the largest deal in baseball history, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement is subject to...
