Stolen base king Rickey Henderson dies at 65
OAKLAND, Calif. — Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position, has died. He was 65. Henderson died Friday. The Athletics said Saturday they were “shocked and heartbroken by his passing,” but did not specify a cause of death. Known...
Christian Walker agrees to $60 million, 3-year contract with Astros, AP source saysVideo
Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker and the Houston Astros agreed Friday to a $60 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Houston acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from...
Cubs ‘ready to move forward’ with Sammy Sosa after the slugger’s public apology for past ‘mistakes’
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are welcoming Sammy Sosa back to the organization following the slugger’s public apology for past “mistakes.” Sosa released a statement Thursday, paving the way for the former National League MVP, who has been estranged from the organization since he left the Cubs after the 2004...
MLB study: Velocity, max efforts likely causing pitching injuries; rule changes should be considered
NEW YORK — A yearlong study by Major League Baseball concluded rising velocities, pitch shaping and emphasis on maximum effort are the likely causes of the vast increase in pitcher injuries and recommended exploring rules changes to address the problem. The 62-page report released Tuesday said the trends extended to...
Kyle Tucker open to long-term deal with Cubs after trade
CHICAGO — Kyle Tucker played his first major-league games at Wrigley Field when the Houston Astros visited the Chicago Cubs in April. It was cold, he said, and a lot of fun. “Those fans love their Cubs,” Tucker said. “That’s kind of how it felt from, you know, the visiting...
Reports: Yankees agree to acquire Cody Bellinger from Cubs for pitcher Cody PoteetVideo
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees agreed to acquire outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for right-hander Cody Poteet, according to multiple reports. Chicago will send the Yankees $5 million as part of the trade. The 29-year-old Bellinger, whose father Clay helped the Yankees win World...
Left-hander Max Fried and Yankees finalize $218 million, 8-year contract
NEW YORK — Left-hander Max Fried and the New York Yankees finalized a $218 million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. The deal was agreed to last week at the winter meetings after the Yankees lost outfielder Juan Soto to the rival Mets. Fried’s deal is the largest for a left-handed pitcher...
Yankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb DurbinVideo
NEW YORK — After acquiring Juan Soto for a one-year rental and failing to keep him as a free agent, the New York Yankees are taking the same chance with Devin Williams. New York acquired the All-Star closer from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb...
Cubs acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the Astros, AP source saysVideo
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, paying a big price for one of baseball’s best hitters, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to the Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the...
Juan Soto introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year dealVideo
NEW YORK — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a presentation last month, the team showed a video that included an image...
U mad, bro?: Readers fuming about Steelers fans’ behavior, George Pickens media coverage, MLB contracts
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won two in a row. The Penguins are generally playing better. And it even appears the Pirates are trying to address their first base hole with someone who isn’t old, washed up and overweight. So, generally, readers are in a good mood right now. Keep in...
Reports: Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218M, 8-year contract with YankeesVideo
DALLAS — Max Fried and the New York Yankees agreed to a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest deal for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history, according to multiple reports. New York made the move two days after outfielder Juan Soto left for a pending $765 million, 15-year contract with...
Analysis: After Juan Soto’s megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon
For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter, with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that’s the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers...
Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg says cancer has returned, spread
CHICAGO (AP) — Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg says the prostate cancer he thought had been eliminated by radiation has returned and spread. The Chicago Cubs great made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday. Sandberg announced in January that he had metastatic prostate cancer and in August said...
Having regained his health, Terry Francona excited to return to dugout with Cincinnati RedsVideo
DALLAS — Terry Francona remembered the specific moment that sparked his return to the dugout. “My girls went to Europe for 10 days, and I watched the grandkids,” he said. “That was the one day I thought maybe I’ll go back to baseball.” A three-time manager of the year who...
Juan Soto’s record $765M, 15-year contract with Mets reverberates through MLB
DALLAS — Shortly after striking a record $765 million, 15-year contract for Juan Soto with the New York Mets, agent Scott Boras walked into Nick & Sam’s, a restaurant near the winter meetings hotel, with about a dozen of his staff. They were given a bottle of celebratory champagne and...
Reports: Juan Soto agrees to record $765 million, 15-year contract with MetsVideo
DALLAS — Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a record $765 million, 15-year contract, according to multiple reports. Soto’s deal is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, topping Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a deal...
Reports: Willy Adames agrees to $182 million, 7-year deal with GiantsVideo
Willy Adames has agreed to a $182 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco, providing the Giants with a power-hitting shortstop in the prime of his career, according to multiple reports. It’s a big splash by the Giants’ new-look front office, which is now led by former All-Star catcher Buster Posey,...
Mark Madden: MLB’s proposed Golden At-Bat rule goes too far … or does it?
The pitch clock is OK. It speeded up the game. Ghost runners in extra innings were tough to get used to. But regular-season games shouldn’t last forever. Restricting the infield shift increased offense. The three-batter minimum for pitchers (or to the end of a half-inning) minimized the endless merry-go-round between...
Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and Los Angeles Angels agree to a $63 million, 3-year contract, AP source says
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a $63 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical....
Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, has died
Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty’s death were...
Ohtani wins 3rd MVP award, 1st in NL; Judge wins second AL MVP in 3 seasonsVideo
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third MVP Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. The L.A. Dodgers’ Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by...
MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teamsVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is...
Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt wins AL Manager of the Year, Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy takes home NL honorVideo
Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy won National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday after a stellar debut season with the Brewers, and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt took the AL honors honor after leading the Guardians to 92 wins and a division title in his first year as a skipper at any level....
Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia among 14 newcomers on baseball Hall of Fame ballot
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and pitcher CC Sabathia are among 14 new candidates on the Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, joining 14 holdovers led by reliever Billy Wagner. Pitcher Félix Hernández, outfielder Carlos González and infielders Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramírez also are among the newcomers joined...
