Cole says MLB players are concerned about lack of competitivenessVideo
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and other baseball players will be pushing for changes that make more teams competitive as they think about looming labor negotiations that could lead to a work stoppage at the start of 2022. Many veterans who are not top stars have taken substantial paycuts...
Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow announces retirement from professional baseballVideo
Tim Tebow is hanging up the helmet. Again. Tebow, the former Broncos and Jets quarterback announced his retirement from professional baseball after five years in the New York Mets organization on Wednesday. The best play of Tim Tebow’s professional sports career. pic.twitter.com/xFr1JwmqxJ— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) February 18, 2021 The former...
Padres lock up Fernando Tatis Jr. to record 14-year, $340M contractVideo
SAN DIEGO — The Padres hope to never have to see Fernando Tatis Jr. play a game in another uniform. The team and its star shortstop took a giant step toward that aim Wednesday by agreeing to terms on a 14-year contract, according to multiple sources. The deal is worth...
Indians saves leader Cody Allen retires at 32
CLEVELAND — Cody Allen, the Cleveland Indians’ career saves leader and an underappreciated closer for the team, retired at age 32. The Indians announced Allen’s retirement Wednesday on Twitter, posting: “From a 23rd round draft pick to the franchise saves (leader). Congrats on a great career, Cody.” Allen spent seven...
Baseball Hall of Fame cancels traditional ceremony, moves indoors
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Baseball’s Hall of Fame has canceled its traditional outdoor induction ceremony for the second straight summer because of the pandemic and plans an indoor, televised event for Derek Jeter and others being honored. Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons and late players’ association executive director Marvin Miller were...
Red Sox deal OF Andrew Benintendi to Royals in 3-team trade
BOSTON — The Red Sox sent Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in a three-team trade that also included the New York Mets, parting with the final member of the outfield trio that helped Boston win the 2018 World Series. The Red Sox traded Benintendi along with...
Phillies finalize $28M, 2-year deal with Didi GregoriusVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Shortstop Didi Gregorius and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized a $28 million, two-year contract Wednesday. Gregorius, who turns 31 next week, batted .284 with 10 homers, 40 RBIs and an .827 OPS in 60 games in his first season with the Phillies. He hit .274 and averaged 20 homers...
MLB players to wear electronic tracers, face discipline
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball players, on-field staff and non-playing personnel who require access to them at ballparks must wear electronic tracing wristbands from the start of spring training and face discipline for violations. Players will be encouraged to get vaccines but are not required to get them. That...
MLB keeping 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on 2nd in extras
NEW YORK — Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second straight season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The deal did not include last year’s experimental rule to extend the...
AP: MLB alters ball amid HR surge, expects subtle changesVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has slightly deadened its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs. MLB anticipates the changes will be subtle, and a memo to teams last week cited an independent lab found the new balls will fly 1 to 2 feet shorter when hit over...
Longtime ESPN baseball correspondent Pedro Gomez dies at 58Video
Pedro Gomez, a longtime baseball correspondent for ESPN who covered more than 25 World Series, has died. He was 58. Gomez died unexpectedly at home Sunday, his family said in a statement. No cause of death was given. “Pedro was far more than a media personality. He was a Dad,...
Rangers deal Elvis Andrus to A’s for DH Khris Davis
Elvis is leaving Texas. Veteran infielder Elvis Andrus was traded to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, just over two months after the Texas Rangers said the only player remaining from their only two World Series appearances no longer would be the starting shortstop after 12 seasons in that role. Texas...
Bronx Boosters: Yankee Stadium becomes mass vaccination site
NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium was opened as a covid-19 mass vaccination site Friday by officials trying to boost inoculation rates in surrounding Bronx neighborhoods hard hit by the pandemic. The megasite is being restricted to residents of the New York City borough with the highest percentage of positive coronavirus...
NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer joins World Series champion Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Trevor Bauer is coming home to pitch for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner announced his decision on Friday in a two-minute video posted to his Twitter account that ended with him saying, “And I can’t wait Dodger fans.”...
Indians president said team unaware of Mickey Callaway’s behaviorVideo
CLEVELAND — Troubled by what might have happened under his watch, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the team was unaware of inappropriate behavior toward women by former pitching coach Mickey Callaway while he was with the club. Antonetti said he became “distraught” and “disturbed” in learning of...
MLB average salary falls for 3rd straight year
NEW YORK — The average Major League Baseball salary dropped for an unprecedented third straight year, even before the shortened season caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Major League Baseball Players Association said Thursday the 2020 average would have been $3.89 million if a full season had been played....
Dick’s Sporting Goods sues Baseball Reference over GameChanger trademark infringement
A Dick’s Sporting Goods subsidiary is suing the company that operates the popular Baseball Reference website, alleging trademark infringement. GameChanger, which is owned by Dick’s, is a software application for youth baseball and softball. The app provides statistics tracking, as well as the ability to live stream games. According to...
Nolan Arenado embraces playing for contender Cardinals
DENVER — Nolan Arenado hasn’t expressed this much optimism since signing his $260 million contract with Colorado two years ago. “Excited” was the term the slugging, slick-fielding third baseman used about a dozen times Tuesday at his introductory news conference following his blockbuster trade from the Rockies to the St....
MLB to start on time after players reject delay
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball will proceed with an on-time start to spring training and the season after players rejected a plan Monday night to delay reporting by more than a month. “In light of the MLBPA’s rejection of our proposal, and their refusal to counter our revised offer...
Red Sox 2B, 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia retires
BOSTON — Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2007 and the MVP in his second season but played in a total of nine games in the last three years because of a knee injury, retired on Monday. A four-time All-Star who...
MLB proposes delaying start to April 28, cut to 154 gamesVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has proposed a one-month delay in starting spring training because of the coronavirus pandemic and pushing back opening day to April 28, two people familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. Under the plan presented to the players’ union on Friday, the regular...
AP source: Cubs agree to 1-yr deal with former Pirates righty Trevor WilliamsVideo
CHICAGO — Right-hander Trevor Williams agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, giving the NL Central champions another option for the back end of their rotation. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the deal to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract...
Cardinals to acquire All-Star Nolan Arenado from Rockies
The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to acquire All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from the Colorado Rockies in a trade needing approvals before it can be finalized, a person familiar with the swap tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday night because the trade had...
Jameson Taillon, Corey Kluber are big pitching questions for YankeesVideo
NEW YORK — Brian Cashman knows the New York Yankees are taking big risks by adding pitchers Corey Kluber and Jameson Tallion, who have combined to pitch one inning the past two seasons, and letting go of Masahiro Tanaka. “Ultimately, gaining two for — current theory — the price of...
Ken Griffey Jr. hired as MLB senior adviser for youth development
NEW YORK — Ken Griffey Jr. has been hired as a senior adviser to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. The Hall of Fame outfielder will work in baseball operations and on youth baseball development. He is tasked with improving diversity at amateur levels, Major League Baseball said Friday, Griffey will work...
