Reports: Nolan Arenado, Rockies reach 8-year, $260M deal
DENVER — Nolan Arenado likes where he’s at and the direction the Colorado Rockies are headed. So he’s staying put. For possibly a long, long time. And for a chance to finish what this team has been brewing. The All-Star third baseman and Rockies agreed to an eight-year contract Tuesday,...
Slowly, baseball rolls out pitch clock in spring training
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Baseball is on the clock. The traditionally timeless sport implemented a pitch clock in major league spring training for the first time Saturday in an attempt to hurry up pitchers and hitters and keep the modern fan from tuning out the increasingly lengthy games. Sixteen games...
Dodgers shut down pitcher Clayton Kershaw
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was shut down indefinitely after telling manager Dave Roberts that he “didn’t feel right” after two discouraging outings on the mound. Kershaw worked out indoors at Camelback Ranch on Friday but didn’t play catch. Roberts wouldn’t speculate on the left-hander’s next bullpen session....
After Manny Machado, Padres could be open to more big signings
PEORIA, Ariz. — After adding Manny Machado, the San Diego Padres didn’t shoot down the notion that another big news conference could be ahead. With Bryce Harper, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel still free agents, could the Padres make another surprising signing? “We’re always open-minded to looking at improving our...
Ex-Pirate Josh Harrison to sign with Tigers, join Jordy Mercer
DETROIT — Former Pittsburgh Pirates utilityman Josh Harrison agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal was subject to a successful physical. The 31-year-old Harrison spent his first eight major...
Andrew McCutchen compares Phillies’ OF situation to time with Pirates
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Andrew McCutchen is ready to boost the Philadelphia Phillies with his bat, glove and brain. Signed to a $50 million, three-year contract, McCutchen said he enjoys his role as the veteran in the outfield and likes what he has seen from his younger teammates. The 32-year-old McCutchen...
Column: Padres reshape expectations with Manny Machado deal
SAN DIEGO — The Padres did far more than change the narrative for a team and a city when news leaked Tuesday about the drying ink on infielder Manny Machado’s reported $300 million deal. Once complete, the seismic, unprecedented undertaking will amount to the richest free-agent deal in the history...
Former Dodgers great, baseball pioneer Don Newcombe dies at 92
LOS ANGELES — Don Newcombe, the hard-throwing Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who was one of the first black players in the major leagues and who went on to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, died. He was 92. The team confirmed Newcombe died Tuesday...
Report: Manny Machado, Padres agree to $300M, 10-year deal
SAN DIEGO — With their city’s long-suffering fans desperate for a winner, the rebuilding San Diego Padres delivered their splashiest free-agent signing ever by agreeing with All-Star infielder Manny Machado on a $300 million, 10-year deal. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal to the Associated Press on...
Ballpark mustard maker drops Indians’ Chief Wahoo logo
CLEVELAND — The maker of Cleveland’s ballpark mustard is removing the Chief Wahoo logo from its branding and packaging to maintain longstanding ties with the Cleveland Indians baseball team. Cleveland.com reports the Indians have told official partners like Bertman Foods Co., the maker of Bertman Original Ballpark Mustard, those relationships...
Angels 2-way star Ohtani will focus on hitting as he continues recovery from Tommy John
TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani tossed his water bottle toward a clubhouse garbage can and missed, instead landing it in a laundry bin. He laughed out loud, smiled big — as he so often does — then retrieved the trash and put it in the proper place. That’s about as...
Impatient CEO Derek Jeter eager to see Marlins become winners
MIAMI — Derek Jeter stood and chatted a few rows from home plate Monday morning at Marlins Park. His words were sometimes drowned out by noises coming from construction crews: steel clanging against steel in an area getting built behind the center-field wall, or the whirring of engines moving heavy...
Harper, Machado, Kimbrel, Keuchel on market as camps open
Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel won’t be around when the bat and ball bags are opened at spring training throughout Florida and Arizona this week. They are among the dozens of free agents still looking for jobs, joined by Mike Moustakas, Marwin Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez and...
Healthy Wainwright optimistic heading into season for Cards
ST. LOUIS — At 37, Adam Wainwright remains confident in his ability to still be effective on the mound for the Cardinals. Wainwright made just eight starts in an injury-plagued 2018 season, giving up 12 earned runs on 22 hits in 22 1/3 innings. He still struck out 25 and...
‘Give us a chance’: Marlins make plea to fans entering 2019Video
MIAMI — The outfield grass at Marlins Park was a worn-out mess Saturday, with those who arrived for the team’s annual FanFest greeted by signs reminding them the turf will be replaced soon. When it comes to the Miami Marlins, many things are a work in progress. Wearing new uniforms...
Rob Manfred: No DH or draft changes likely for 2019
ORLANDO, Fla. — Don’t look for a National League designated hitter this year or for new anti-tanking rules in June’s amateur draft. Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday management is focused on pace-of-game changes for 2019, and bolder ideas proposed by the players’ association are too complex to be put...
Lindor’s injury adds more uncertainty to new-look Cleveland Indians
CLEVELAND — The Indians swung a wrecking ball at their roster this offseason. With a frugal eye on their future, the three-time defending AL Central champions slashed payroll by nearly $20 million while letting core championship players like All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, franchise career saves leader Cody Allen, reliever Andrew...
MLB renames disabled list as injured list
ORLANDO, Fla. — MLB is changing the name of its disabled lists to injured lists. Deputy commissioner Dan Halem said Thursday the change is being made at the suggestion of advocacy groups for the disabled, including the Link20 Network. Clubs were notified of the change in a Dec. 20 memo...
Hall of Famer, pioneering manager Frank Robinson dies at 83
LOS ANGELES — Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the first black manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues, died Thursday. He was 83. Robinson had recently been in hospice care at his home in Bel Air. MLB confirmed his death....
Former Pirate Jason Bay headed to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Jason Bay, who won the National League Rookie of the Year Award for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004, has been named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Bay, who also played for the Padres, Red Sox, Mets and Mariners, was selected on Tuesday along with pitcher Ryan Dempster, coach...
Texas Rangers’ new stadium will have synthetic turf, not grass
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers will use specially designed synthetic playing surface rather than grass in their new retractable-roof stadium that opens in 2020. Texas’ decision will make it the fourth of the 30 major league teams to use artificial turf. Toronto’s Rogers Centre and Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field...
Ex-Pirate Neil Walker agrees to 1-year, $2M deal with Marlins
MIAMI — Pine-Richland graduate and longtime Pirates infielder Neil Walker agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with the Miami Marlins and is expected to compete for a starting job. The Athletic reported the deal is worth $2 million. Walker has a .268 career average and has reached double figures in...
Nike to replace Under Armour for MLB
NEW YORK — The swoosh is expected to be on the front of Major League Baseball uniforms starting in 2020. Nike will succeed Majestic Athletic as Major League Baseball’s uniform supplier for the 2020 season. The swoosh logo likely will move to a more prominent position on jersey fronts. The...
Asdrubal Cabrera finalizes $3.5M deal to be Rangers 3B after Adrian Beltre
ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-time All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will get a chance to replace a likely Hall of Fame player in Texas by shifting to the corner on the left side of the infield. Cabrera finalized a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Rangers on Thursday to take over at...
Metallica say congrats to Mario Rivera on HOF selection
When the driving drums, guitar riffs and opening lines of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” rang out in Yankee Stadium as closer Mario Rivera walked towards the mound, the stadium shook while opposing teams felt the game shift in favor of the closer. Tuesday night, Rivera became baseball’s first unanimous Hall of...
