Shohei Ohtani voted AL MVP; Bryce Harper wins NL honor
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani was voted unanimiously American League MVP on Thursday for a two-way season not seen since Babe Ruth, and Bryce Harper earned the National League honor for the second time. Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by members of the Baseball...
Justin Verlander agrees to $25M, 1-year deal with AstrosVideo
HOUSTON — Justin Verlander agreed to a $25 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros that includes a conditional $25 million player option for a second season. Verlander became a free agent after completing a $94 million, three-year contract with the Astros. He played in just one game in the...
Toronto lefty Ray wins AL Cy Young, Brewers’ Burnes takes NLVideo
Toronto left-hander Robbie Ray bounced back from a dismal season to win the AL Cy Young Award, and Milwaukee righty Corbin Burnes returned from a bout of covid-19 to win the NL’s top pitching prize Wednesday. In the Year of the Pitcher, Burnes led the majors with a 2.43 ERA,...
Kevin Cash wins 2nd straight Manager of the Year; Gabe Kapler named NL winnerVideo
Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash became the second skipper to win manager of the year honors in back-to-back seasons, taking the American League award Tuesday night. San Francisco’s Gabe Kapler won the NL honor. Cash led the low-payroll Rays to a second consecutive AL East crown. Tampa Bay (100-62) finished with...
AP source: Blue Jays, Berrios reach deal for 7 years, $131M
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have reached an agreement with pitcher Jose Berríos on a seven-year, $131 million deal, pending a physical, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press on Tuesday. The Blue Jays acquired the 27-year-old right-hander at the July trade deadline from the Minnesota...
Rays OF Arozarena, Reds 2B India earn Rookie of Year honorsVideo
It didn’t feel like Randy Arozarena was a rookie this season. Tampa Bay’s speedy and powerful outfielder certainly didn’t play like one, either. Arozarena won AL Rookie of the Year honors with a superb follow-up to his 2020 postseason heroics, and Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India earned NL Rookie...
Quiet GM meetings end without hint of CBA resolution
CARLSBAD, Calif. — A looming lockout at the expiration of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement Dec. 1 didn’t change much at the general manager’s meetings this week. “I’m not part of the negotiating team, so I mean, business as usual for us,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “Business as usual,”...
Agent Scott Boras: MLB cancer of trading veterans helped Braves win SeriesVideo
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Baseball’s most influential agent said the sport was the victim of a “competitive cancer” caused by teams unloading veterans to accumulate draft picks and said the Atlanta Braves’ World Series title was a direct result of tanking. In an outdoor news conference in front of a steakhouse...
Record 5 St. Louis Cardinals players win NL Gold GlovesVideo
ST. LOUIS — A record five St. Louis players won National League Gold Gloves, with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Tommy Edman, third baseman Nolan Arenado, center fielder Harrison Bader and left fielder Tyler O’Neill earning the fielding honor Sunday. Arenado won his ninth Gold Glove, his first since...
Phillies decline option on Andrew McCutchen, making him free agentVideo
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies declined club options for next season on outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Odubel Herrera on Wednesday. McCutchen, a former MVP with the Pittsburgh Pirates, signed a $50 million, three-year contract in December 2018. The 35-year-old will get a $3 million buyout instead of a $15 million...
World Series viewers up 20% from last year but down from 2019Video
NEW YORK — World Series television ratings rebounded following the record low set last year. The Atlanta Braves’ six-game Series victory over the Houston Astros averaged 11,750,000 viewers on Fox, the network said Wednesday. That was up 20% from the 9,785,000 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ six-game victory last year...
Cleveland Indians begin removing scripted name from stadium scoreboardVideo
CLEVELAND — The Indians began removing the team’s scripted logo atop the giant scoreboard at Progressive Field on Tuesday as they transition their name to the Guardians. Crews started dismantling the letters, beginning with the “I” on the 80-foot-long sign. It’s another step in the offseason change for the MLB...
Summer castoff Jorge Soler transforms into World Series MVP
HOUSTON— A spare piece no more, Jorge Soler drove a pitch over the train tracks, out of Minute Maid Park and deep into the heart of Texas. He dropped his bat, tapped his chest twice and jabbed a hand toward the Atlanta Braves dugout, yelling “I’m here!” Three months earlier,...
Hammerin’ Braves win 1st World Series title since 1995, rout AstrosVideo
HOUSTON — Most of the season, it just seemed this wasn’t their year. They dropped their first four games, and soon injuries piled up. They lost their most dynamic player before the All-Star break. They were stuck below .500 in August. Yet out of nowhere, suddenly, these Atlanta Braves transformed...
MLB’s offseason starts with Freddie Freeman, Carlos Correa, others becoming free agentsVideo
NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman, World Series MVP Jorge Soler and Eddie Rosario of the champion Atlanta Braves were among 160 players who became free agents Wednesday as an uncertain offseason started with a lockout threat looming. Houston shortstop Carlos Correa and Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, who is recovering from...
A wrinkle in MLB’s domestic violence policy may complicate a Trevor Bauer suspension
In the NFL, the standard player suspension for domestic violence or sexual assault cases is six games. The NFL reserves the right to adjust the length of a suspension based on the circumstances of each case, but the baseline for discipline is six games — about 35% of a season....
Carlos Correa, Astros rally past Braves, cut World Series deficit to 3-2
ATLANTA — Just in time, Carlos Correa and the Houston Astros broke out the bats. Because if they had waited any longer, this World Series would’ve been over. Staggered by Adam Duvall’s grand slam in the first inning, Correa and Alex Bregman ended their slumps in a hurry. They kept...
Jerry Remy, Boston Red Sox player and broadcaster, diesVideo
BOSTON — Jerry Remy, a Boston Red Sox second baseman who went on to become a local icon as a television broadcaster, has died of cancer. He was 68. The Red Sox confirmed that Remy died on Saturday night. He had a long and public struggle with lung cancer, and...
Braves rally past Astros to move within 1 win of World Series crown
ATLANTA — A guy who spent most of the season in the minors kept the Braves in it. Then the offense finally came to life. Just like that, Atlanta is one win from its first World Series title in 26 years. Dansby Swanson and pinch-hitter Jorge Soler connected for back-to-back...
Rookie Ian Anderson, bullpen combine on 2-hitter as Braves take World Series leadVideo
ATLANTA — Rookie Ian Anderson and the Braves bullpen took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, Austin Riley and Travis d’Arnaud drove in runs and Atlanta beat the Houston Astros, 2-0, on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series. Anderson and four relievers combined on...
Column: Pull the plug on the chop — and Braves name, tooVideo
ATLANTA — The haunting chants will be impossible to ignore now that the World Series has shifted to Atlanta. Get ready to step back in time — in a most unfortunate way. While a good chunk of the world moves forward, the Braves are choosing to cling stubbornly to the...
Jose Altuve packs punch for Astros as drama-free World Series shifts to AtlantaVideo
ATLANTA — His day on the diamond almost done, Jose Altuve walked over to a clutch of Astros fans clustered behind the netting down the right-field line at Minute Maid Park. For five minutes, he autographed World Series programs, No. 27 jerseys and other items, many of them for kids....
Rookie Jose Siri propels Astros past Braves to tie World SeriesVideo
HOUSTON — Jose Siri launched himself headfirst into home plate, popped up with arms flexed and screamed with all his might. Welcome to the World Series, rook. The career minor leaguer sparked a team whose biggest stars took a while to shine, sending the Houston Astros to a 7-2 victory...
Nelson Cruz wins MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award for philanthropyVideo
HOUSTON — Nelson Cruz was given MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award for character, community involvement and philanthropy. Cruz, the 50th winner of the honor, received the award before World Series Game 2 on Wednesday night. “Growing up as a Latin, you always heard about Roberto Clemente,” he said. “I never had...
Braves replace injured Charlie Morton with Tucker Davidson for SeriesVideo
HOUSTON — Left-hander Tucker Davidson has replaced injured pitcher Charlie Morton on the Atlanta Braves’ World Series roster. Major League Baseball announced the move before Game 2 between the Braves and Houston Astros on Wednesday night. Morton came out of the Braves’ opening 6-2 win in the third inning, an...
