Phillies agree to 1-year deal with Whit Merrifield, sources say
The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a contract agreement with utility infielder Whit Merrifield, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Friday. The agreement is for an $8 million, one-year deal that includes a $8 million club option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout, a second...
Aaron Nola happy to stay with Philadelphia Phillies
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Aaron Nola never felt pressure to sign a long-term contract during spring training last year, instead becoming a free agent after the season and quickly agreeing to a $172 million, seven-year deal to remain with the Philadelphia Phillies. “It’s definitely off my shoulders,” Nola said Friday. “The...
Gerrit Cole leads Yankees’ rotation looking to rebound from terrible season
TAMPA, Fla. — Gerrit Cole was leaving the Yankees’ minor-league complex when fans on the sidewalk by the parking lot asked for autographs. When the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner reached over a bush-lined fence to grab a baseball and pen, a fan asked whether he could capture the...
Rob Manfred says he will retire as baseball commissioner in January 2029 after 14 yearsVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday he will retire when his current term ends in January 2029. Speaking at a spring training news conference, Manfred noted he will be 70 years old and been commissioner for 14 years when his term ends on Jan. 25, 2029. “You...
Jorge Soler agrees to $42M, 3-year deal with Giants
SAN FRANCISCO — Slugging free agent outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler has agreed to a $42 million, three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal...
New voice of Oakland A’s Jenny Cavnar to become 1st woman in MLB history to handle play-by-play
OAKLAND, Calif. — Veteran baseball broadcaster Jenny Cavnar is the new primary play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Athletics, hired by NBC Sports California. The company made the announcement Tuesday. Cavnar becomes the first woman to handle primary play-by-play duties in major league history — set to be the voice for...
Iconic Three Rivers Stadium implosion anniversary falls on Super Bowl SundayVideo
It was a beautiful day for the end of a sporting era on this day 23 years ago in Pittsburgh. Three Rivers Stadium was imploded under cold temps and sunny blue skies on Feb. 11, 2001 to make way for two newer sporting venues — PNC Park and Heinz Field...
Marlins acquire right-hander Darren McCaughan from Mariners for cash
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Darren McCaughan from Seattle for cash Friday after the Mariners placed him on waivers earlier in the week. The 27-year-old McCaughan has pitched in five major league games, posting a 7.07 ERA in 14 innings. He made one start in 2021. McCaughan spent...
Clayton Kershaw says he’s staying with Dodgers for 17th season
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw says he will return for his 17th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw said Thursday he will be back with the team as part of an agreement that includes a player option for 2025. The three-time Cy Young Award winner spoke as the big-spending...
José Altuve and Houston Astros agree to new contact adding $125 million for 2025-29Video
José Altuve and the Houston Astros agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract that covers 2025-29. Houston announced a new multiyear deal for Altuve on Tuesday without disclosing financial details. Altuve has a $26 million salary for 2024 in the final season of a $163.5 million, seven-year deal. The eight-time...
Royals agree with SS Bobby Witt Jr. on record deal that could keep him in KC for 14 seasons
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. agreed Monday to the longest contract in franchise history, an 11-year pact that includes three years of team options that could keep the rising star with the ballclub through the 2037 season. The financial terms were not...
Orioles send message in acquiring star pitcher Corbin Burnes
A few months ago, general manager Mike Elias said the Baltimore Orioles would keep their “foot on the gas pedal” after winning 101 games and the AL East title. This is what that looks like. When they acquired All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes on Thursday night, the Orioles sent a message...
Athletics sign lefty Alex Wood, acquire righty Ross Stripling from Giants
OAKLAND, Calif. — David Forst and Farhan Zaidi are longtime friends who worked together for years in Oakland, and now executives of each Bay Area team. They made a trade Friday that had been discussed for months, and the Athletics acquired a pair of pitchers to join their rotation who...
Mets agree to 1-year deals with relievers Shintaro Fujinami, Jake Diekman
NEW YORK — The New York Mets beefed up their bullpen with two moves Friday, agreeing with free agents Shintaro Fujinami and Jake Diekman on one-year contracts. Fujinami’s deal is for $3.35 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity...
Theo Epstein to return to Red Sox as advisor and part-owner of parent company, Fenway Sports Group
BOSTON — Theo Epstein, who as Red Sox general manager was the architect of two World Series championships, is returning to the organization as a minority owner and part-time senior adviser to its parent company, Fenway Sports Group. Epstein, who also helped the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 title —...
Roberto Clemente exhibit honoring the late Pirates player makes stop at Caribbean Series in Miami
MIAMI — Some of Roberto Clemente’s most impactful career and life moments are on display at the Miami Marlins’ loanDepot Park. A traveling exhibit titled “3,000” — a nod to the day on Sept. 30, 1972, that the late Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder became the first Latin American-born major league player...
Former Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton, back with Braves, seeks to enjoy rest of his journey
In the first weeks of this offseason, Charlie Morton did not talk with Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos about his future. Morton had no idea whether the Braves would exercise their club option on him. Morton and his wife, Cindy, did not even really talk about it...
Orioles strike deal to sell team to Baltimore native David Rubenstein for $1.725B
BALTIMORE — The Angelos family has reached an agreement to sell the Orioles to private equity billionaire David Rubenstein, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal told The Baltimore Sun. Rubenstein is set to take over as the team’s control person as part of the deal, which values the...
Tropicana Las Vegas, a Sin City landmark since 1957, will be demolished to make way for MLB baseball
LAS VEGAS — The Tropicana Las Vegas, a Sin City landmark for more than six decades, is shutting its doors in the spring to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium that will be home to the relocating Oakland Athletics. Bally’s Corp. made the announcement Monday, saying...
Former Blue Jays, Red Sox and Astros manager Jimy Williams dies at 80
BOSTON — Jimy Williams, the 1999 American League Manager of the Year for Boston who won 910 games over a dozen seasons that included stints with Toronto and Houston, has died. He was 80. The Red Sox said Williams died Friday at AdventHealth North Pinellas Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Florida,...
Tigers give a $28.6M, 6-year deal to 22-year-old prospect Colt Keith
DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers made an unusual bet on a player with no major-league experience, agreeing Sunday to a six-year contract with 22-year-old Colt Keith that guarantees the infield prospect $28,642,500. His deal includes three team options that could make it worth $64 million over nine seasons, and the...
Injured Rangers pitchers Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom making progress
ARLINGTON, Texas — The World Series champion Texas Rangers have two multiple-time Cy Young Award winners who could return to their rotation sometime in the middle of the summer. Three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer said Saturday he is progressing from December surgery to repair a herniated disk in his...
Royals agree with versatile former Pirates utility man Adam Frazier on $4.5 million, one-year contract, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals and utility man Adam Frazier agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract to provide the club with a left-handed bat and some versatility in the lineup, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday. Frazier will make...
Rangers still have no agreement with ALCS MVP Adolis García after signing Robertson, Jankowski
ARLINGTON, Texas — The World Series champion Texas Rangers finalized deals Friday with veteran reliever David Robertson and outfielder Travis Jankowski but still have no agreement with AL Championship Series MVP Adolis García in advance of salary arbitration hearings. Robertson will get $10 million in 2024 and has a mutual...
Jackie Robinson statue stolen from Kansas park
WICHITA, Kan. — A prized statue of Jackie Robinson was stolen from a public park in Kansas, spurring a police search Friday and outrage across the city of Wichita. The statue honors the first player to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier, in 1947. Surveillance video was released of two...
