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...
Just 58 single-team players among 273 in Hall of Fame after addition of Todd Helton and Joe Mauer
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Todd Helton and Joe Mauer will become only the sixth pair of players inducted together into the Hall of Fame after spending their big league careers with one organization. “A lot of things had to go right,” Helton said Thursday during a news conference in the Hall’s...
Ichiro Suzuki arrives on next year’s Hall of Fame ballot; CC Sabathia, Felix Hernandez eligible too
It was a little past 8 a.m. in Tokyo when the newest inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame were announced. Next year there could be some big celebrations over breakfast in Japan. Ichiro Suzuki headlines the group of players who are eligible for voting a year from now. That...
Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer elected to Baseball Hall of FameVideo
NEW YORK — Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton and Joe Mauer were elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while Billy Wagner and Gary Sheffield fell short. Beltre was picked on 366 of 385 ballots from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his first ballot appearance for 95.1%. Helton...
Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg says he has metastatic prostate cancer
CHICAGO — Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. The 64-year-old Sandberg said Monday in a release put out by the Baseball Hall of Fame that he has started treatment. “I am surrounded by my loving wife Margaret, our incredibly supportive family, the...
Luke Weaver guaranteed $2 million by Yankees and could earn up to $8.25 million over 2 years
NEW YORK — Right-hander Luke Weaver is guaranteed $2 million as part of his one-year contract with the New York Yankees, a deal that includes a team option for 2025 and performance bonuses that allow him to earn up to $8.25 million over two seasons. As part of the deal...
Yankees cut Jeter Downs, likely ending his time in New York before it started
NEW YORK — Jeter Downs’ career with the New York Yankees could end before it started. Downs was designated for assignment Friday, one month after the Yankees claimed the 25-year-old shortstop off waivers from the Washington Nationals. The Yankees needed the roster spot after claiming infielder/outfielder Diego Castillo off waivers...
Report: Reliever Josh Hader agrees to 5-year, $95M contract with Astros
Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros agreed to a $95 million, five-year contract Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Hader will get a $19 million salary in...
Strawberry and Gooden, honored by Mets with retired numbers, regret descent into drugs and alcohol
NEW YORK — Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden thought back to what might have been, how their starry accomplishments would have been so much greater had they not succumbed to the drugs and alcohol that shattered their careers. On the day the New York Mets announced they will retire Gooden’s...
Amazon will invest in Diamond Sports as part of a bankruptcy restructuring agreement
Amazon will partner with Diamond Sports as part of a restructuring agreement as the largest owner of regional sports networks looks to emerge from bankruptcy. Diamond owns 18 networks under the Bally Sports banner. Those networks have the rights to 37 professional teams — 11 baseball, 15 NBA and 11...
Dodgers finalize $23.5M deal with Teoscar Hernández
LOS ANGELES — Teoscar Hernández finalized a $23.5 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers on Friday, the latest deal by big-spending Los Angeles that includes deferred money. The outfielder agreed to defer $8.5 million that will be paid in 10 equal installments each July 1 from 2030-39. He also has...
Jordan Hicks, Giants agree to $44 million, 4-year contract
SAN FRANCISCO — Free-agent pitcher Jordan Hicks and the San Francisco Giants have agreed on a $44 million, four-year contract, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Friday. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had...
Juan Soto, Yankees agree to $31M deal, record for arbitration-eligible player
NEW YORK — Juan Soto and the New York Yankees agreed Thursday to a $31 million, one-year contract, breaking Shohei Ohtani’s record for an arbitration-eligible player, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. All 10 Yankees eligible for arbitration reached agreements on the day players and teams...
Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers deal prompts California controller to ask Congress to cap deferred payments
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Controller Malia M. Cohen wants Congress to change the tax code to cap deferred payments, a change that could ensure the state is owed more money from Shohei Ohtani. Cohen made the request four weeks after the two-way star and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to...
Giants acquire former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray from Mariners in deal for OF Mitch Haniger
SAN FRANCISCO — Outfielder Mitch Haniger returned to the Seattle Mariners when he was acquired from the San Francisco Giants on Friday with right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and $6 million for 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray in a trade of underperforming players coming off injuries. Ray, 32, pitched 3 1/3...
