Angels’ Mike Trout needs surgery on torn meniscus, no timetable on return
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, sidelining the three-time AL MVP indefinitely. The Angels believe Trout will be able to return this season, general manager Perry Minasian said while announcing the injury Tuesday. Trout is...
Astros to option slumping 2020 AL MVP José Abreu to their spring training facility in FloridaVideo
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros will option slumping first baseman José Abreu to their spring training facility to try to help the 2020 AL MVP get back on track. General manager Dana Brown made the announcement Tuesday, saying Houston would make the move Wednesday. The 37-year-old will report to the...
Brewers left-hander Wade Miley says he needs Tommy John surgery
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Wade Miley said Friday he needs Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old Miley was put on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation on April 22, retroactive to April 19. “I need a full Tommy John,” Miley said Friday before the Brewers faced the...
First Call: Levi Wallace leaves in free agency; medical concern for potential Steelers draftee; bizarre MLB ejection
Tuesday’s “First Call” features news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. A potential Steelers draft target may have a medical concern. The Brandon Aiyuk trade conversation has more oxygen. And a Pittsburgh-area native was a star during a crazy day at Yankee Stadium. Losing Levi Cornerback Levi Wallace is...
Yankees manager Aaron Boone is ejected 5 pitches into game vs. AthleticsVideo
NEW YORK — Aaron Boone didn’t tie the record for fastest ejection. The New York Yankees manager did think it was among the most unjust dismissal. Boone was thrown out of Monday’s 2-0 loss to Oakland five pitches in by Hunter Wendelstedt over a remark the Yankees maintained was yelled...
Shohei Ohtani passes Hideki Matsui for most MLB homers by Japanese-born player
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani made another piece of baseball history Sunday when he surpassed a mark set by one of his heroes. The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger crushed his 176th career homer in the third inning, breaking Hideki Matsui’s record for the most home runs hit by a Japanese-born...
Woman who accused Trevor Bauer of sex assault charged with defrauding him
PHOENIX — An Arizona woman who accused former major league pitcher Trevor Bauer of sexual assault has been charged with defrauding the baseball player. An indictment unsealed Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court charges the woman with fraud and theft by extortion, both felonies, but doesn’t provide specific details about...
Whitey Herzog, Hall of Fame manager who led St. Louis Cardinals to 3 pennants, dies at 92
NEW YORK — Whitey Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title in the 1980s and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. He was 92. Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Tuesday...
Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher who won 3 World Series with Oakland, dies at 78
CHICAGO — Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher who threw two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday on social media. He was 78. Holtzman’s brother Bob Holtzman told the St. Louis...
John Sterling retires from Yankees broadcast booth at age 85
NEW YORK — John Sterling, the hyperexcitable New York Yankees broadcaster known for decades of indelible, personalized home run calls, announced his immediate retirement Monday at age 85. Sterling made the unexpected decision a few weeks into his 34th season as the Yankees’ radio play-by-play voice. He had cut back...
First Call: As Steelers talk swirls, Brandon Aiyuk’s agent denies trade request story; Tee Higgins’ future in Cincy
Pittsburgh Steelers fans interested in their team acquiring Brandon Aiyuk or Tee Higgins at wide receiver won’t be thrilled at news coming out of San Francisco and Cincinnati. We also preview the Penguins’ game against Nashville and the Pirates’ trip to New York. All that in Monday’s “First Call.” San...
Rangers reliever Brock Burke broke non-throwing hand by punching wall
HOUSTON — Texas Rangers reliever Brock Burke broke his non-throwing hand while punching a wall following a poor outing Friday night against the Houston Astros. Manager Bruce Bochy said Burke, who is a left-hander, broke his right hand when he punched the wall “out of frustration” and was placed on...
Benches and bullpens clear with Milwaukee up big in the sixth inning at BaltimoreVideo
BALTIMORE — The benches cleared quickly, and then relievers came running in from the bullpens. Why it all happened remains a mystery. That sixth-inning altercation between the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers didn’t escalate into any real fighting, and the two main participants — and their managers — wouldn’t say...
Rockies pitcher Daniel Bard needs elbow surgery, will miss rest of season
TORONTO — Colorado right-hander Daniel Bard needs surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow and will not pitch again this season, Rockies manager Bud Black said Friday. Bard is in the final season of a $19 million, two-year deal. He has not pitched in 2024 after surgery...
Guardians ace Shane Bieber has Tommy John surgery; future uncertain
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber had Tommy John surgery Friday and will start a long recovery. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner made two strong starts this season before pain in his elbow became too overwhelming and surgery was recommended. Bieber will be sidelined for the rest of...
MLB batting average down 7 points to .242 in 1st 2 weeks, game time up 2 minutes
NEW YORK — The major league batting average dropped seven percentage points to .242 in the first two weeks of the season, while the average time of a nine-inning game rose two minutes to 2:39 in the second season of the pitch clock. Major League Baseball implemented restrictions on defensive...
Judge in sports betting case orders ex-interpreter for Ohtani to get gambling addiction treatment
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Friday ordered the former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani released on $25,000 bond and mandated he undergo gambling addiction treatment. Ippei Mizuhara exploited his personal and professional relationship with Ohtani to plunder $16 million from the two-way player’s bank...
Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter charged with stealing $16M from baseball star in sports betting case
LOS ANGELES — The former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is being charged with federal bank fraud for crimes involving gambling debts and theft of more than $16 million from the Japanese sensation, federal authorities said Thursday. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced the charges Thursday. Ippei...
Orioles call up Jackson Holliday, baseball’s top-ranked prospect
BALTIMORE — Make way for baseball’s top-ranked prospect — yet another big addition from Baltimore’s stellar farm system. The Orioles called up 20-year-old infielder Jackson Holliday on Wednesday, hours before their game at Boston. Holliday was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 amateur draft out of high school in...
Yankees’ Gerrit Cole says MLB, union bickering over pitch clock sounds like ‘divorced parents’
NEW YORK — New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole faulted MLB and the players’ association for bickering over the pitch clock last weekend, comparing their behavior to divorced parents. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and former member of the union’s eight-man executive subcommittee spoke about the union’s statement...
AP study: 9 MLB teams cut payroll this winter; average salary up just 1.5%
NEW YORK — San Diego cut payroll by $96 million in the past year, the New York Mets by $50 million and the Los Angeles Angels by $49 million, among nine teams that slashed spending in a tepid free-agent market that sparked player unrest. The average salary increased 1.5% to...
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announces his retirement at 35
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announced his retirement Sunday, ending the 2019 World Series MVP’s injury-filled career. Since leading Washington to its only World Series title five years ago, the 35-year-old Strasburg pitched just 31 1/3 innings over eight starts. “I realized after repeated attempts to return to...
First an earthquake, now an eclipse. Yankees to play ball on same day as another natural phenomenon
NEW YORK — A 4.8 magnitude earthquake shook New York City on Friday as the Yankees went through batting practice before their home opener. Three days later, the Yankees will play after another natural phenomenon. At least this one will be expected. A solar eclipse is forecast to occur Monday...
MRI shows damage to Braves ace Spencer Strider’s elbow ligament, status in doubt
ATLANTA — Braves ace right-hander Spencer Strider has damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an MRI revealed Saturday, leaving his status for the remainder of the season in doubt. The Braves said Strider will be evaluated further by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, at a...
Guardians ace Shane Bieber to have Tommy John surgery
CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber pitched until the pain stopped him. Cleveland’s ace will have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery, a major blow to the Guardians and the 2020 Cy Young winner, who had looked like his dominant self in two strong recent starts. Bieber struck out a league-leading 20 and...
