CHICAGO — The 2026 baseball season begins this week, and for that we’re eternally grateful.

Sure, it starts too early and ends too late, leading to cold-weather games every spring and World Series games into November.

But for much of the next seven months, a three-hour game provides a temporary respite from spiking gas prices, growing ...Read more

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — From a red and gold espresso machine to Up with Purple.

Michael Lorenzen has lived the spectrum this spring.

He experienced the raucous World Baseball Classic — Team Italy provided caffeine shots in the dugout — and the fist-in-the-face reality of raising the Colorado Rockies from the ashes.

At 34, he is the right ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The truth of this Los Angeles Dodgers season was recently found in a place where all sports truths are clipped and tapered and styled into reality.

The barbershop.

Of course, the barbershop, where ball talk is real talk, and where the expectations around the Dodgers upcoming quest for a three-peat recently smothered me like a ...Read more

PEORIA, Ariz. — After the Seattle Mariners' 6-4 victory over the A's at Hohokam Stadium on Thursday night, the players made their way through the customary postgame handshake line, each offering up fist bumps or high-fives. Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena met in the line. Would it be awkward? Would it be cordial? Would it be confrontational?

...Read more

NEW YORK — Well, let’s face it. The World Baseball Classic was a smashing success, everything MLB had hoped for, except for Team USA. But like it or not, as long as the finals are held in Miami’s domed LoanDepot Park, where the drumbeats, horns and cowbells from the huge contingent of Latinos who live in the Miami area turn the place into ...Read more

SEATTLE — A sign says plenty about Brendan Donovan’s approach.

The Mariners’ do-everything All-Star is the son of retired U.S. Army Col. Jim Donovan, and was raised with immense respect for the military community. After being drafted by St. Louis in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB draft, Brendan gravitated to Cardinals mental skills and...Read more

The boats will be returning to McCovey Cove, the garlic is being freshly chopped for the fries, and the gorgeous, unmistakable mix of grass, dirt, brick, wind and water at Oracle Park is nearly ready to welcome us back for another season of San Francisco Giants baseball.

I absolutely can’t wait.

There is a certain undeniable rhythm to a ...Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. — One guy showed up to spring training missing a rib.

Another guy, who’d just signed a massive contract extension, had the worst season of his career in 2025.

A third guy, who was the club’s top prospect since Cole Hamels, seemed to walk every batter in Triple-A in his first full season after elbow surgery.

When ...Read more

MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki has been ruled out for opening day.

Suzuki, sidelined by a PCL sprain in his right knee, won’t be ready for Thursday’s opener against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell said Saturday.

Counsell wasn’t ready to declare Suzuki imminently going on the 15-...Read more

SEATTLE — Vibes are high. Higher, perhaps, than they have ever been at this time of the year around the Seattle Mariners.

And for a franchise with nearly five times as many losing seasons (29) as playoff appearances (six) since its inception in 1977, the Mariners do have much to celebrate as they honor their best and brightest during this ...Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Bryce Harper reached into his locker and pulled out a CS8 digital camcorder. He took it on his 18-day odyssey to the World Baseball Classic and said he captured about 100 hours of black-and-white footage behind the scenes with Team USA.

So, when does the documentary come out?

“It’ll be good for my TikTok,” Harper ...Read more

PHOENIX — Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman went into the offseason expecting outfielder Kyle Tucker to sign elsewhere.

Sure, Friedman was confident in what the Dodgers could provide on and off the field to the 29-year-old four-time All-Star. And Tucker was a rare hitter who could actually elevate an already star-...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Pirates don’t deserve the attention of their fans, as they have no credibility with them. The Pirates have not just been bad for a decade — they have shown time and time again they don’t care about winning.

There is just no reason for anyone to patronize the Pirates, no reason for anyone to pay attention to them and no ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Asked what he made of the Yankees’ spring training and where the team stands with opening day rapidly approaching, Aaron Judge joked that he had no idea.

“I’ve been gone, so I don’t know what’s going on,” Judge said with a laugh.

The right fielder made the quip on Friday during his first media scrum since returning ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa Bay Times story last week caused some readers’ heads to explode, detailing how the Tampa Bay Rays might pursue hundreds of millions of tax dollars for the team’s proposed stadium in Tampa.

I understand the reaction but let’s be fair: The Rays’ owners have been clear they may seek up to half the $2.3 billion ...Read more

SEATTLE — The World Baseball Classic is over.

Somewhat mercifully for the Seattle Mariners.

Not just because Seattle’s 17 participants were the most of any MLB organization, and its roster can finally reunite barely a week before opening day. Not just because they have precious little time to prepare in Peoria, Ariz., for the most ...Read more

CHICAGO — Billionaire investor Justin Ishbia is on the verge of buying an Amtrak rail yard southwest of downtown and just across the Chicago River from The 78, a new mixed-use development still eyed as a possible future home of the Chicago White Sox.

Ishbia, the founder and managing partner of Chicago-based private equity firm Shore Capital ...Read more

MIAMI — The record will reflect that Venezuela, a baseball-rich country with a loaded lineup and passionate fans who ring your ears with songs and chants, won the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, 3-2, Tuesday night.

Just not before the Showman showed up.

With the most talented U.S. team ever assembled in danger of getting shut ...Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. — As Zack Wheeler threw warmup pitches before facing hitters in live batting practice Wednesday, a familiar Alice In Chains song played in the empty stadium.

“Yeeeeah, here comes the rooster ... ”

Coming soon to a spring training game?

“I don’t know,” the Phillies’ ace said with what amounted to a vocal shrug. �...Read more