5:49 PM ET ESPN News Services OAKLAND, Calif. — Right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami formally introduced himself Tuesday, then asked that everyone simply call him “Fuji.” “Like Mt. Fuji,” he explained. And, nope, he has never been. In Japan, he is more formal, going by Shintaro, but he figures this will make it easy on everybody
MLB
7:02 AM ET The rate of spending this offseason has been both frantic and jarring, with more than $2 billion lavished on the 10 most expensive free agents in a span of less than 10 weeks. But the most intriguing free agent in baseball history still looms. In 10 months, barring a last-minute extension with
9:36 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Frank Thomas, a three-time All-Star with his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates who later became the top hitter on the expansion New York Mets, died Monday. He was 93. Both teams announced Thomas’ death. The Mets said he died Monday morning in Pittsburgh. No cause was given. Thomas played
6:18 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox agreed to contracts with seven international free agents on Monday, including pitching prospect Luis Reyes and infielder Juan Uribe Jr. The 6-foot-2 Reyes, the top prospect in the bunch, is due $700,000. The 17-year-old right-hander from Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, is rated by MLB
Jan 14, 2023 Associated Press ST. LOUIS — The resignation of Matt Holliday as the St. Louis Cardinals bench coach caught team president of baseball operations John Mozeliak by surprise, but he’s happy with the hiring of Joe McEwing. Mozeliak addressed the media Saturday morning at Busch Stadium during the Cardinals Winter Up weekend. He
2:42 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — The Blue Jays are searching for a new bullpen coach. The team announced Sunday that Matt Buschmann has opted to leave the organization to pursue other opportunities. Toronto also said it would announce its complete coaching staff in the coming weeks. The 38-year-old Buschmann joined the Blue Jays
5:25 PM ET ESPN News Services SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres signed 16-year-old catcher Ethan Salas of Caracas, Venezuela, to a $5.6 million bonus on Sunday, the first day of the international signing period. Salas is the consensus top overall prospect in this year’s class. The left-handed hitter is the younger brother of
9:53 PM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso returned to his old high school Saturday for a charity event being held just a long home run away from the residence of late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. It was only natural that a question would come up referencing
10:39 PM ET CHICAGO — Free agent first baseman Trey Mancini is in agreement with the Chicago Cubs on a two-year deal which includes an opt out clause after the first season, sources told ESPN on Saturday night. Mancini, 30, spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles before being traded last summer to the
2:58 PM ET CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg will be immortalized outside of Wrigley Field in the summer of 2024 when the team unveils a statue of his likeness, the organization announced on Saturday at its annual fan convention. Sandberg’s statue will join those of Hall of Fame players
2:35 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Outfielder Juan Soto and the San Diego Padres agreed Friday on a one-year, $23 million contract to avoid arbitration, sources told ESPN, the richest deal on a day when nearly 200 players
1:16 AM ET ESPN News Services MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins and right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack have agreed to a $12.5 million, three-year contract, according to multiple reports Friday night. The deal, which was first reported by The Athletic, was pending completion of a physical exam. Paddack is recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, the
4:24 PM ET ESPN News Services Trevor Bauer became a free agent Friday when he went unclaimed on waivers, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers responsible for about $22.5 million owed to the former Cy Young Award winner whose unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator. Los Angeles designated Bauer for
7:00 AM ET The Carlos Correa saga that loomed over baseball’s offseason finally came to an end this week, meaning the top 25 players in this year’s free agent class have all found homes. That doesn’t mean the hot stove is done cooking this winter. With moves still left to be made before spring training
8:01 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Back as a World Series title contender, the Cleveland Guardians are moving forward with upgrades to Progressive Field. The team revealed on Thursday delayed final plans for a “reimagining” of its downtown home, which has aged well since opening in 1994 but is now the 11th oldest ballpark
3:42 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Eric Hinske is joining the New York Mets as assistant hitting coach on manager Buck Showalter’s staff, Eric Chavez is switching to bench coach and Dom Chiti is becoming bullpen coach. Glenn Sherlock is moving from bench coach to catching and strategy coach, and Jeremy Barnes from
7:00 AM ET Before free agency started, agents and executives around the league suspected that there would be plenty of spending with a fresh new CBA and the sport’s revenue spigot back at full blast. They (and I) understated that effect, to say the least, in our pre-hot stove calculations as it became clear around
9:06 PM ET The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired veteran infielder Miguel Rojas from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, adding some depth to a segment of their roster that experienced the loss of Trea Turner and Justin Turner to free agency this offseason. Rojas, scheduled to make $5 million in his final year under contract, was