Matt Harvey suspended 60 games by MLB for drug distribution
NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles pitcher Matt Harvey was suspended for 60 games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse, a punishment stemming from his admission of providing opioids to a teammate who fatally overdosed. The former New York Mets star also admitted in...
Mets’ Starling Marte loses grandmother 2 years after wife’s deathVideo
NEW YORK — New York Mets outfielder and former Pittsburgh Pirate Starling Marte was placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother, which came nearly two years to the day after his wife died of a heart attack. Mets manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that Marte’s grandmother,...
Guardians acquire RHP Yohan Ramirez in trade from MarinersVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians acquired right-hander Yohan Ramirez on Monday from the Seattle Mariners for cash or a player to be named. The 27-year-old Ramirez, who made seven appearances for the Mariners this season, immediately was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Ramirez went 1-0 with a 7.56 ERA before he...
Padres sign Robinson Cano, plan to use him off the benchVideo
ATLANTA — The San Diego Padres signed veteran second baseman Robinson Cano to a major-league contract and plan to use him as a left-handed bat off the bench. Cano was not in Friday’s lineup against the Atlanta Braves. Acting manager Ryan Christenson said he could get some occasional starts at...
Brewers’ Christian Yelich hits for record-tying 3rd cycle in loss to RedsVideo
CINCINNATI — Christian Yelich hit for a record-tying third cycle — all of them against Cincinnati — but the Milwaukee Brewers’ rally fell short in the ninth inning in a 14-11 loss to the Reds on Wednesday. Tyler Stephenson drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, and Colin...
Former White Sox trainer sues general manager, team over terminationVideo
CHICAGO — A former athletic trainer for the Chicago White Sox is alleging in a lawsuit that he was fired by the team because of his sexual orientation, age and disability. The actions of White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and the club, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in...
Guardians manager Terry Francona out as team deals with covid outbreakVideo
CHICAGO — The Cleveland Guardians are dealing with a covid-19 outbreak that has sidelined manager Terry Francona and several of the team’s coaches, leading to the postponement of Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Shortly after Francona’s positive test became known, Major League Baseball said there were “multiple positive...
Minor league players, MLB reach deal in minimum wage suit
NEW YORK — Minor league players and Major League Baseball have reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging teams violated minimum wage laws. Terms of the settlement were not filed with the court Tuesday and details were not released. “We are pleased to report that the parties have reached a...
MLB plans games in London starting in 2023Video
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball intends to play regular-season games in London in 2023, 2024 and 2026. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox split two games at London’s Olympic Stadium in June 2019. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs were scheduled to play there on June...
MLB umpire apologizes after ejecting Madison Bumgarner
PHOENIX — MLB veteran umpire Dan Bellino issued an apology after ejecting Arizona Diamondbacks star pitcher Madison Bumgarner from a game in Miami this week. The Diamondbacks said Friday they received a copy of Bellino’s apology from MLB. “I would like to address my actions on May 4th involving Madison...
Young Yankees fan given Judge HR ball meets his heroVideo
TORONTO — The young Yankees fan who became a viral sensation this week shed more tears of joy on Wednesday when he met his hero, New York slugger Aaron Judge. It came hours after cameras captured Derek Rodriguez, 9, tearfully hugging Blue Jays fan Mike Lanzillotta after Lanzillotta snagged Judge’s...
Mets cut slumping Canó with almost $45 million left on deal
NEW YORK — Robinson Canó was cut Monday by the New York Mets with nearly $45 million remaining on his contract, ending an ill-fated marriage and perhaps signaling the end of his decorated major league career. The slumping Canó was designated for assignment in a move announced about an hour...
5 Mets pitchers combine to no-hit Phillies
NEW YORK — Tylor Megill and the New York Mets bullpen kept throwing and throwing, the crowd growing louder with every toss. A 159-pitch gem, it was. Megill and four relievers combined on the first no-hitter of the Major League Baseball season, teaming up to lead the Mets over the...
Bad baseballs? New York Mets angry after rash of HBPsVideo
PHOENIX — New York Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt has a theory about why his bat-swinging teammates have turned into targets at the plate during the season’s first month. Bad baseballs. “The MLB has a very big problem with the baseballs. They’re bad,” he said Tuesday. “Everyone knows it. Every pitcher...
First Call: Odds to land Deebo Samuel have Steelers in top 10; Alex Ovechkin injured; MLB player explodes at ump
Monday’s “First Call” puts the Pittsburgh Steelers into the mix for Deebo Samuel. We also look at the NHL’s Eastern Conference standings and an injury to Alex Ovechkin. Plus, one MLB player in Philadelphia has an all-time classic meltdown over balls and strikes. In the hunt? What are the odds...
Tigers’ Cabrera gets 3,000th hit; 33rd player to reach mark
DETROIT — Tigers star Miguel Cabrera delivered the 3,000th hit of his decorated career Saturday, becoming the 33rd major leaguer to reach the mark and the first player from Venezuela to accomplish the feat. Still an imposing presence at 39, Cabrera made history by grounding an opposite-field single to right...
Tigers fans boo as Miguel Cabrera draws intentional walk with 2,999 career hitsVideo
DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked in the eighth inning with 2,999 career hits, setting off a loud chorus of boos and derisive chants at Comerica Park as the Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees, 3-0, on Thursday. Cabrera was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, forcing him...
Norwin grad JJ Matijevic gets call up to major leagues with AstrosVideo
JJ Matijevic’s ascent through the minor leagues hit the ceiling Wednesday when he was called up to join the Houston Astros. For the first time, he is a major leaguer — at least for now. The Astros brought him up to replace infielder Jose Altuve, who is on the 10-day...
Padres 1st MLB team to reach uniform ad deal, with Motorola
NEW YORK — There will be a new pitch on MLB fields next season. The San Diego Padres became the first team to announce a deal for ads on their uniforms, saying Tuesday that patches with a Motorola logo will be worn on the right sleeves of their jerseys. The...
First Call: Kenny Pickett won’t attend NFL Draft bash in Vegas; ex-Pirates pitching battle; Penguins get help in standings
In Friday’s “First Call,” we reveal the players who will be at the NFL Draft in Las Vegas at the end of the month. The Pittsburgh Penguins got some favorable results on Thursday, beyond their own victory. We also celebrate an anniversary for the team that history occasionally overlooks. And...
MLB average salary up 5.9% after lockoutVideo
NEW YORK — The average salary in the major leagues rebounded to $4.4 million on Opening Day, boosted by a frenzy of free-agent signings before and after the 99-day lockout, according to a study of baseball contracts by the Associated Press. New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer set a season...
U mad, bro: Penguins fans are getting cranky with late-season stumbles; Pirates fans won’t fake optimism
For once, it appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be dominating “U mad, bro?” Very few gripes or complaints from football fans lashing out this week. The Steelers seem done — or close to it — in free agency. The draft is still a few weeks away. “Who will the...
Twins put left fielder Kirilloff on IL with wrist flare-upVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins placed left fielder Alex Kirilloff on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist Wednesday. Kirilloff, a Plum grad, was scratched from the lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, replaced by Nick Gordon. Outfielder Trevor Larnach was recalled from Triple-A St....
Giants’ Alyssa Nakken becomes 1st MLB female coach on field
SAN FRANCISCO — Alyssa Nakken was hard at work in the batting cage, just a few steps from the dugout, when suddenly the call came: The San Francisco Giants needed her to coach at first base. She quickly pulled off her sweatshirt, grabbed her No. 92 jersey and found a...
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred gifts players headphones as lockout peace offeringVideo
NEW YORK — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred gifted major league players Bose headphones on opening day as a peace offering after a bitter 99-day lockout that delayed the start of the season. Major League Baseball confirmed that headphones and a letter signed by Manfred were left at the locker of...
