Red Sox sign Japanese batting champ Masataka YoshidaVideo
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have signed outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and twice led Japan’s Pacific League in batting, to a five-year deal that will pay him $90 million. Yoshida, 29, helped Orix to a victory in the Japan Series in...
AP source: Carlos Correa, Giants reach $350M, 13-year deal
Star shortstop Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $350 million, 13-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Correa also was a free...
Former Phillies ace, Whiz Kid Curt Simmons dead at 93
PHILADELPHIA — Curt Simmons, the last surviving member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids team, has died. He was 93. His death Tuesday at his Ambler, Pa., home was confirmed by the Phillies, who did not specify a cause. One of the greatest pitchers in franchise history, the lefty...
Sean Murphy to Braves, William Contreras to Brewers in 3-team tradeVideo
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves acquired catcher Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics as part of a three-team deal Monday that also sent All-Star catcher William Contreras to the Milwaukee Brewers. Oakland acquired catcher Manny Piña and pitching prospects Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas from Atlanta and outfield...
Xander Bogaerts, Padres finalize $280M, 11-year dealVideo
SAN DIEGO — It didn’t take long for Xander Bogaerts to be asked whether he expected to be the San Diego Padres’ full-time shortstop even though the team already has two stalwarts at the position. “I play infield. I play shortstop,” a smiling Bogaerts said after pulling on a No....
AP source: Righty Trevor Williams, Nationals agree on 2-year deal
WASHINGTON — Trevor Williams and the Washington Nationals agreed to a two-year contract Friday, giving the rebuilding club a right-handed pitcher with experience as a starter and reliever. The agreement was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because nothing...
Report: Cubs, former Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon agree to 4-year, $68M dealVideo
SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs added former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon to their rotation, agreeing to a four-year contract with the right-hander that is worth roughly $68 million. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal to the Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because...
Report: Kenley Jansen, Red Sox reach $32M, 2-year dealVideo
SAN DIEGO — Veteran closer Kenley Jansen and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a $32 million, two-year deal, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. The 35-year-old...
AP source: Mets, Quintana agree to $26 million, 2-year deal
SAN DIEGO — The New York Mets and José Quintana agreed to a $26 million, two-year contract on Wednesday, adding another veteran arm to the team’s rotation. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the move to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a...
AP source: Aaron Judge, Yankees reach $360M, 9-year deal
SAN DIEGO — Aaron Judge has agreed to return to the New York Yankees on a $360 million, nine-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal had not been announced. Judge will...
Report: Guardians, 1B Josh Bell reach $33M, 2-year dealVideo
SAN DIEGO — The Cleveland Guardians and slugging first baseman Josh Bell agreed to a $33 million, two-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to the Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a review of medical records....
Report: Cody Bellinger, Cubs agree to $17.5M, 1-year dealVideo
Former National League MVP Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a $17.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP,...
Aaron Judge looms; Justin Verlander, Trea Turner deals heat up winter meetings
SAN DIEGO — Justin Verlander is going to the New York Mets. Trea Turner has agreed to a blockbuster deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. There are three more high-profile shortstops in free agency, along with ace pitcher Carlos Rodón. And one big slugger looms above the whole market. Baseball’s first...
Clayton Kershaw returning to Dodgers on $20M, 1-year deal
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw will pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 after re-signing in a $20 million, one-year deal. For the second straight year, the Dodgers didn’t extend a qualifying offer to the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Instead, they gave him additional time to mull his...
First Call: Hazy prognosis for Lamar Jackson’s knee before Steelers game; potential Bryan Reynolds trade targets
Monday’s “First Call” has John Harbaugh’s murky forecast for Lamar Jackson as “Steelers week” looms in Baltimore. A former Penn State standout stars in the NFC East. So does a former WPIAL great. Plus, we give you some Bryan Reynolds trade talk, and we consider Meg McConnell’s latest accomplishment at...
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens left out of Hall again; Fred McGriff elected
SAN DIEGO — Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling were passed over by a Baseball Hall of Fame committee that elected former big-league slugger Fred McGriff to Cooperstown on Sunday. It was the first time Bonds, Clemens and Schilling had faced a Hall committee since their 10th and final...
Texas Rangers ink free-agent ace Jacob deGrom to 5-year dealVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Free-agent ace Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers agreed to a five-year contract Friday. The two-time Cy Young Award winner leaves the New York Mets after nine seasons — the past two shortened by injuries. After making his first start last season in early August, deGrom went...
Gaylord Perry, 2-time Cy Young winner, dies at 84
GAFFNEY, S.C. — Baseball Hall of Famer and two-time Cy Young Award winner Gaylord Perry, a master of the spitball who wrote a book about using the pitch, died Thursday. He was 84. Perry died at his home in Gaffney at about 5 a.m. Thursday of natural causes, Cherokee County...
Committee considering Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens for Baseball Hall of Fame
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Jack Morris and Ryne Sandberg are among 16 members of the contemporary baseball era committee that will meet Sunday to consider the Cooperstown fate of an eight-man ballot that includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Rafael Palmeiro. Hall of Famers...
Phillies’ Bryce Harper to miss start of season after elbow surgeryVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will miss the start of the 2023 season after he had reconstructive right elbow surgery Wednesday. The operation was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Harper is expected to return to Philadelphia’s lineup as the designated hitter by the All-Star break. He...
Carlos Beltrán, John Lackey lead 14 newcomers on Baseball Hall of Fame ballot
NEW YORK — Carlos Beltrán, John Lackey and Jered Weaver are among 14 newcomers on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Hall of Fame ballot in what could turn into an evaluation of the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal. R.A. Dickey, Huston Street, Francisco Rodríguez, Bronson Arroyo and Matt Cain also...
Why these Pa. teams got left out of the minor league baseball union
This story was produced by Spotlight PA in collaboration with Defector, an independent sports blog and media company. HARRISBURG — Professional baseball will become a fairer sport next year — at least in terms of compensation. After a successful unionization push by minor league players, the workforce — historically paid...
Astros’ Justin Verlander, Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara unanimous Cy Young winnersVideo
HOUSTON — Houston’s Justin Verlander in the American League and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara in the National League were unanimous winners of the Cy Young Award on Wednesday night. It’s the second time the winners in both leagues were unanimous since the award began in 1956 and the first since Detroit’s...
Veteran skippers Terry Francona, Buck Showalter voted Managers of YearVideo
Cleveland’s Terry Francona and the New York Mets’ Buck Showalter were voted Managers of the Year on Tuesday night, improving the already-sparkling resumes of both veteran baseball leaders. Francona, who grew up in New Brighton, won the AL award for the third time in 10 seasons. He received 17 of...
James Click out as Astros GM 6 days after winning World Series
HOUSTON — Houston Astros general manager James Click will not be given a new contract, a highly unusual move the team announced Friday — just six days after it won the World Series. Click was hired from the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2020 season and appeared increasingly distant from...
