First Call: Steelers interested in ‘brawler’ of a tackle; A.B. pricing himself out of Tampa? Ex-Pirates shine in Rays’ opener
The Pittsburgh Steelers have their eyes on an interesting tackle prospect. Antonio Brown may be bargaining himself out of Tampa. Money is starting to come in on the red-hot Penguins. Ex-Pirates shine in Tampa Bay’s season opener. Gerrit Cole has a choppy 2021 debut for the Yankees. And we share...
MLB Opening Day: Snow, stars, fans and a covid postponementVideo
Miguel Cabrera took a trot, eventually, in the snow at Comerica Park. Mookie Betts started the champion Los Angeles Dodgers with a hit at Coors Field. And the Bleacher Creatures did their thing at Yankee Stadium. All-Stars on the diamond for Opening Day, fans in the socially distanced stands eager...
MLB returns with real, live fans in ballparks across the countryVideo
CHICAGO — Wearing a Chicago Cubs jacket and hat, Marc Passoni took in the moment. His buddy, Greg Cooper, on his 59th birthday, stood nearby holding an orange sign that read “First Masked Game 4-1-21.” It was windy and cold at Wrigley Field, and neither of them cared all that...
Mets-Nats opener delayed after positive covid test, tracing
WASHINGTON — The opening day baseball game between the Nationals and Mets was postponed hours before it was scheduled to begin Thursday night because of coronavirus concerns after one of Washington’s players tested positive for covid-19. The Nationals issued a statement saying “ongoing contact tracing involving members of the Nationals...
Francisco Lindor, Mets agree to 10-year, $341 million contract
NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets have agreed to a $341 million, 10-year deal, keeping the All-Star shortstop in Queens for the long haul after acquiring him from Cleveland in the offseason, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated...
Gerrit Cole looks forward to family and fans at Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole’s dad will watch him pitch at Yankee Stadium in pinstripes for the first time, one of about 10,850 fans allowed in to watch New York’s opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. “I had trouble sleeping last night, so I probably anticipate going to be the...
Indians not allowing headdresses, painted faces at games
CLEVELAND — While moving forward with a plan to change their name, the Cleveland Indians said they will not permit fans inside Progressive Field wearing Native American headdresses or face paint. The team announced the fan dress policy for the 2021 season on Wednesday in advance of Monday’s home opener...
All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo cuts off contract talks with CubsVideo
MESA, Ariz. — Anthony Rizzo is cutting off talks with the Chicago Cubs on a new contract and is prepared to play the season as free agency looms after the World Series. The first baseman, who in 2016 helped the Cubs win their first title in 108 years, agreed in...
South Park native Randy Dobnak, Twins agree to 5-year dealVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins signed right-hander Randy Dobnak to a $9.25 million, five-year contract that includes three club options to extend and increase the deal with the overachieving former ride-share driver. Dobnak went 6-4 with a 4.05 ERA in 10 starts last season, before hitting a slump and being...
Twins give pitcher Randy Dobnak a 5-year contract extension
Pitcher Randy Dobnak of South Park has agreed to a contract extension with the Twins, a major league source confirmed. The five-year, $9.25 million extension could be worth nearly $30 million if all incentives are reached. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the deal. Dobnak, 26, will be the...
Jameson Taillon to skip 1st turn in Yankees’ rotation
TAMPA, Fla. — Corey Kluber will follow ace Gerrit Cole in the New York Yankees’ rotation, and former Pittsburgh Pirates standout Jameson Taillon will be skipped the first time through as the team builds him up slowly in his return following Tommy John surgery. Cole will start Thursday’s opener against...
MLB 2021: NL West team-by-team previewVideo
Capsules of National League West teams, in order of finish last year: Los Angeles Dodgers 2020: 43-17, first place, World Series champions. Manager: Dave Roberts (sixth season). He’s Here: RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Tommy Kahnle, LHP Garrett Cleavinger, RHP Corey Knebel, 3B Sheldon Neuse, RHP Gus Varland. He’s Outta Here:...
MLB 2021: NL Central team-by-team previewVideo
Capsules of National League Central teams, in order of finish last year: Chicago Cubs 2020: 34-26, first place, lost to Marlins in first round of playoffs. Manager: David Ross (second season). He’s Here: OF Joc Pederson, RHP Jake Arrieta, RHP Zach Davies, RHP Trevor Williams, RHP Brandon Workman, INF Eric...
The lost year: Minor leaguers reflect on a canceled season
Matt Seelinger sat in the visitor’s bullpen at Surprise Stadium, waiting for his turn to pitch. The San Francisco Giants right-hander had never played above Class A. Now, in a Cactus League exhibition against the Texas Rangers, he was in line to toe a major league mound for the first...
Carlos Correa turned down $120M, 6-year deal from Astros, says deadline stands
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa says he turned down an offer for a $120 million, six-year contract covering 2022-27 and is not sure whether there will be a deal before his deadline of opening day next week. Correa has an $11.3 million salary this year...
MLB steps up ball monitoring to suppress foreign substances
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is increasing its monitoring of baseballs in an attempt to suppress any use of foreign substances by pitchers. Mike Hill, newly hired as executive vice president of baseball operations and disciplinarian, wrote in a memorandum to team officials on Tuesday that “players are subject...
Twins send Plum product Alex Kirilloff out, leave LF wide open
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins optioned prized prospect Alex Kirilloff (Plum) to their alternate training site Tuesday, leaving a wide-open competition for playing time in left field while giving the 2016 first-round draft pick more time to develop. Jake Cave, Kyle Garlick and Brent Rooker are the primary candidates at...
Royals give Salvador Perez $82M deal, richest in team history
The Kansas City Royals gave six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez the richest contract in club history, a four-year, $82 million deal that begins in 2022. The contract includes a club option worth an additional $13.5 million and has a $2 million buyout for 2026. Kansas City announced Sunday it had...
LeBron James reportedly becomes partner in group that owns Red SoxVideo
LeBron James is becoming a part-owner of the Boston Red Sox. A person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday that James — the Los Angeles Lakers star — and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter now are partners in the Fenway Sports Group. The person, who did not reveal...
YouTube to broadcast 21 games as part of 3rd MLB season
NEW YORK — YouTube will broadcast a Major League Baseball package of games for a third season, The series of 21 telecasts start at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, when the Boston Red Sox host the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a two-game series, MLB and...
Nick Markakis retires after 15 years with Braves, Orioles
ATLANTA — Outfielder Nick Markakis has retired after 15-year career with the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles. The 37-year-od Markakis, who was a free agent, told The Athletic in a story published Friday that he was done playing after accumulating 2,388 hits, earning his lone All-Star selection in 2018 and...
Reds star Joey Votto out after positive covid-19 testVideo
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is out indefinitely after testing positive for covid-19 at spring training, the team said Wednesday. The Reds put Votto on the injured list, and he gave the team permission to announce he was sidelined because he had tested positive for the...
Texas Rangers in line to be 1st team back to full capacity
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers could have a full house for their home opener next month after debuting their new 40,518-seat stadium without fans in the stands for their games last season. If that happens, the Rangers could be the first team in Major League Baseball or any major...
Indians’ Jose Ramirez, Franmil Reyes isolated after covid-19 violations
CLEVELAND — For the third time in less than a year, the Cleveland Indians are having to isolate players because they broke covid-19 protocols. Third baseman Jose Ramirez and slugger Franmil Reyes are being kept away from their teammates at spring training in Arizona after they reported to the team...
Aaron Boone feels better with pacemaker, to return to Yankees this weekendVideo
NEW YORK — Aaron Boone felt something was wrong. “I guess I was having more episodes this winter of just kind of getting up and feeling real light-headed and almost like at times was going to pass out and just having more days of fatigue on simple matters,” the New...
