Twins add first baseman Josh Bell with agreement on $7 million contract, AP source says
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins and durable switch-hitting slugger Josh Bell agreed Monday on a one-year, $7 million contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The person, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because completion of the deal was pending a physical exam,...
Mets reach 2-year deal with infielder Jorge Polanco after losing Pete Alonso, AP source says
The New York Mets have agreed to a two-year deal with veteran infielder Jorge Polanco, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced....
Guardians sign ex-Pirates reliever Colin Holderman to $1.5 million, 1-year deal
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians added to their bullpen Thursday, signing right-hander Colin Holderman to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The 30-year old Holderman spent the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then became a free agent three weeks ago when the Pirates failed to offer a 2026 contract....
Orioles agree to $155 million, 5-year deal with slugger Pete Alonso, AP source says
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a $155 million, five-year contract with slugger Pete Alonso, according to multiple reports Wednesday. The deal was pending a physical. It’s a major move for a Baltimore team that vowed to be aggressive after a last-place finish in the AL East. Alonso hit...
Schwarber going back to Philadelphia on a $150 million, 5-year contract
ORLANDO, Fla. — Kyle Schwarber is going back to Philadelphia. Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday that Schwarber had agreed to a $150 million, five-year contract with the Phillies. ESPN was the first to report on the deal, citing unidentified sources. Schwarber had been one of the biggest names in free...
Shohei Ohtani is the AP’s Male Athlete of the Year for record-tying 4th time
PASADENA, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani is catching up with more legends. The baseball superstar ends 2025 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees. “Receiving this award multiple times...
Jeff Kent elected to baseball Hall of Fame, which again keeps doors shut for Bonds and Clemens
ORLANDO, Fla. — Elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame more than 17 years after his final game, Jeff Kent couldn’t control his emotions. “Absolutely unprepared. Emotionally unstable,” he said after Sunday’s vote announcement. “Thoughts are so far clouded.” Kent received 14 of 16 votes from the contemporary era committee, two...
MLB players union gathers to prepare for potentially contentious labor negotiations in 2026
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Roughly a month after the Los Angeles Dodgers finished a scintillating seven-game World Series triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Major League Baseball Players’ Association gathered in Arizona this week to discuss the future of the game and look ahead to a possible lockout next December....
Blue Jays and free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease agree to $210 million, 7-year deal, AP source says
Free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $210 million, seven-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not...
Red Sox acquire right-hander Sonny Gray from the CardinalsVideo
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray, a three-time All-Star, from the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday for righty Richard Fitts and a prospect. Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow had said adding a starting pitcher behind ace Garrett Crochet was one of the team’s...
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner declines to support salary cap but might support salary floor
NEW YORK — New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner declined to say Monday whether he favors a salary cap proposal in the next collective bargaining agreement but reiterated he might support a payroll floor. “I don’t feel like I’m in position right now research-wise, knowledge-wise to answer that question,” Steinbrenner...
Colorado Rockies promote GCC grad Warren Schaeffer to full-time manager
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies announced Monday that they promoted Warren Schaeffer to full-time manager. Schaeffer, a Vandergrift native and Greensburg Central Catholic graduate, assumed the role on an interim basis after the Rockies fired Bud Black, the winningest manager in franchise history, in May following a 7-33 start. The...
Mariners will retire Randy Johnson’s No. 51 during the 2026 season
SEATTLE — Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson will have his No. 51 retired by the Seattle Mariners during a pregame ceremony on May 2, 2026, the club announced Thursday. In June, the Mariners said Johnson’s No. 51 would become the fifth number retired by the franchise, joining Ken Griffey...
First Call: Ja’Marr Chase suspension upheld; Steelers work out QBs; Pirates reportedly ‘in’ on Kyle Schwarber
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an update on Ja’Marr Chase’s suspension for spitting during the Steelers game Sunday. The Steelers worked out some quarterbacks. A former Steeler is now an Indianapolis Colt. The Pirates are allegedly “in” on some big-name free agents. And Robert Morris got an emotional win over a...
Hamels, Braun, Kemp among 12 newcomers on Baseball Hall of Fame ballot as Beltrán heads 15 holdovers
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp are among 12 newcomers on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, and Carlos Beltrán heads 15 holdovers after falling 19 votes shy in 2025 balloting. Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy and Rick Porcello also are among the first-time eligibles,...
Ohtani is unanimous MVP for 4th time in winning NL honor as Judge edges Raleigh for 3rd AL accolade
Two-way star Shohei Ohtani won his fourth MVP award in a unanimous vote for the National League honor on Thursday and Aaron Judge earned the American League accolade for the third time. Ohtani won a MVP for the third straight year, his second in the NL with the Los Angeles...
Cleveland pitcher Emmanuel Clase pleads not guilty to federal charges alleging he rigged pitches
NEW YORK — Cleveland Guardians star pitcher Emmanuel Clase pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he took bribes to help gamblers win bets on his pitches. The 27-year-old reliever was released on $600,000 bond after his appearance in Brooklyn federal court. Clase also surrendered his passport and was ordered...
Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt and Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy win Manager of the Year for 2nd straight season
Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt won his second straight AL Manager of the Year award, and Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy repeated for the NL honor. Vogt received 17 of 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, beating Toronto’s John Schneider and Seattle’s Dan Wilson. Voting was conducted before...
MLB, sportsbooks cap bets on individual pitches in response to pitch rigging scandal
Major League Baseball said its authorized gaming operators will cap bets on individual pitches at $200 and exclude them from parlays, a day after two Cleveland Guardians were indicted and accused of rigging pitches at the behest of gamblers. MLB said Monday the limits were agreed to by sportsbook operators...
Homewood honors Black baseball pioneer with naming of Pete Hill Way
As two dozen members of his family smiled with pride, the sign for Pete Hill Way was unveiled Monday afternoon amid fanfare at the corner of Hamilton and N. Lang Avenues in Homewood. They wore blue-and-gold jackets and hooded sweatshirts — the colors of Westinghouse High School — and celebrated...
MLB pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz charged with taking bribes to rig pitches for bettors
NEW YORK — Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges they took bribes from sports bettors to throw certain types of pitches, including tossing balls in the dirt instead of strikes to ensure successful bets. According to the indictment unsealed Sunday in federal court...
Trump pardons Mets great Darryl Strawberry on tax evasion, drug charges
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has pardoned former New York Mets great Darryl Strawberry on tax evasion and drug charges, citing the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year’s post-career embrace of his Christian faith and longtime sobriety. Strawberry was an outfielder and eight-time All-Star, including seven with the Mets...
Best bet for top 10 MLB free agents? Big markets
As the light turns green to signal the open of MLB free agency, the looming threat of the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers casts a larger shadow than ever over the other 29 teams. Most of them are dealing with a level of wallet envy as Los...
MLB-worst Rockies hiring Paul DePodesta after a decade in NFL front office
The Colorado Rockies kept telling everyone they were going to not only hire from outside, but go outside the box when hiring a new president of baseball operations. Who knew they would be looking outside the confines of their own sport? The Rockies are hiring Paul DePodesta, who has been...
Padres hire former reliever Craig Stammen as managerVideo
The San Diego Padres hired former reliever Craig Stammen to be their manager. Stammen got a three-year contract Thursday to begin his first managerial job at any level of the sport. The longtime right-handed reliever retired from his playing career with the Padres in August 2023, and he spent the...