SAN DIEGO — It won’t stop Padres fans from carping for another quarter-century about the ball call on Tino Martinez in the 1998 World Series. Or quipping that Matt Holliday still hasn’t touched home plate.

Pendulums can swing only so far.

But when it comes to judging balls and strikes in past years, MLB umpires have been very good to ...Read more

ATLANTA — Braves president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos has been in baseball since 2000. In 25 seasons in and around clubhouses, he has seen every type of player and personality imaginable. He knows real from fake.

Chris Sale is one of a kind.

“A lot of times, the word ‘competitor’ gets thrown around, and...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs took initial steps Wednesday to address two areas of need on their roster.

A bullpen that must be overhauled this offseason gained a new big-league arm as the Cubs acquired 28-year-old right-hander Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians for Low-A outfield prospect Alfonsin Rosario.

They also traded for catcher ...Read more

DETROIT — Can you imagine a better or more fitting birthday present for Tigers lefty ace Tarik Skubal? Or a better way to cap a sensational, breakthrough season?

On Wednesday, the day he turned 28 years old, Skubal was named the American League Cy Young Award winner for 2024 by a vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Happy ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — So the Dodgers begin their title defense this week by flirting with baseball's hottest available star.

Here's hoping they get ghosted.

No Soto.

So the Dodgers can strengthen baseball's best lineup, deepen their historic batting order, tighten their versatile defense, become even more exciting, more enchanting, more unbeatable....Read more

NEW YORK — Surrounded by reporters in the lobby of MLB’s Midtown offices on Wednesday, Hal Steinbrenner did his best to avoid direct answers about the Yankees’ recent meeting with Juan Soto.

The owner, along with Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone, Randy Levine and Omar Minaya, visited Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, in Southern California on ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes claimed to have a relatively quiet night ahead of him after winning the BBWAA's National League Rookie of the Year award on Monday.

"Going to sleep early and getting back to work [Monday]," the Pirates pitcher insisted on a Zoom call shortly after the winners were announced.

Let's hope his employer has a different ...Read more

CHICAGO — For a franchise needing a superstar, a missing piece to help get it to the next level, this offseason presents an ideal situation for the Chicago Cubs.

The lineup is missing a dominant slugger who is a constant threat to get on base and change the game with one swing. Juan Soto checks every box for the type of hitter the Cubs lack, ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Monday’s news was a bummer for the Padres on multiple levels.

There’s just no sugarcoating that bad luck stung them when the National League’s Rookie of the Year award went to Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

Jackson Merrill’s impressive season would’ve earned him the award in most years, but Skenes’ historic ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — There were two prevailing thoughts from some people around the Dodgers organization regarding Juan Soto's free agency this winter.

The team is probably unlikely to land the 26-year-old superstar, who is expected to command a contract upward of $700 million on a frenzied open market.

But, the Dodgers might as well try ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays decided they had seen enough of enigmatic outfielder Jose Siri and traded him on Tuesday afternoon to the Mets for reliever Eric Orze.

Siri, 29, at his best provided elite-level defense, impressive power and game-changing speed, often one of the most exciting players on the field. But he also had lapses in ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Mets have their replacement for Harrison Bader.

The club traded minor league right-hander Eric Orze to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for center fielder Jose Siri. A 29-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Siri profiles similarly to Bader but comes at a reduced cost.

Much like Bader, who recently became a free agent after ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Two hours before a crucial vote, the Tampa Bay Rays sent a stern letter to Pinellas County commissioners informing they can no longer move forward with a new stadium deal under the current terms.

However, the letter said the team stands “ready to work on a new solution” in Tampa Bay.

The letter, written by Rays presidents ...Read more

NEW YORK — If the Yankees want to dethrone the Dodgers, they may have to out-recruit them this winter.

The Yankees, fresh off of losing the World Series to Los Angeles, are currently focused on re-signing Juan Soto after the right fielder enjoyed a star-studded 2024 campaign in the Bronx. The Bombers, led by Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman ...Read more

MIAMI — Clayton McCullough seems like a smart man. Friendly. Even-keeled. Quick with a thought, too, like when he was asked if he was a patient man and he said, “Only if I have to be.”

The game being played in South Florida is wondering why he wanted the Miami Marlins job, though there’s only 30 of them out there and this job represents...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes’ record-setting first MLB season allowed him to take home some much-deserved hardware.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced on Monday evening that it had honored Skenes with its annual Rookie of the Year award for the National League. He is the second player in Pirates franchise history to win ...Read more

NEW YORK — Various tattoos grace Luis Gil’s body, yet it’s the three words lettering the front of his neck that always get attention.

“GOD BLESS ME,” they read in all caps. The ink, acquired last December, is a reminder, a motivator and a thank you, as Gil leaned heavily on his faith after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022.

...Read more

LOS ANGELES — You couldn't afford to attend the World Series. You couldn't get tickets to the Dodgers' championship celebration.

You may have already stocked up on championship merchandise, but you and your family would like to see the Dodgers in person.

The good news: Spring training is three short months away, and tickets for the Dodgers' ...Read more

SEATTLE — The Mariners will add another player to the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer.

Could there be more in the future?

On Monday morning, the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Baseball Writers Association of American (BBWAA), released the official voting ballot for induction in 2025.

Ichiro headlines a group of 14 players added to this ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Steve Aschburner was a top-notch Timberwolves beat writer for The Minnesota Star Tribune in the 1990s. As prolific as he was, he couldn’t do it all by himself.

That’s where I came in.

In 1999, after covering a Twins team that went 63-97-1, I was assigned as Aschy’s backup on the Wolves beat. One day, as I headed to ...Read more