LOS ANGELES — Would he do it all over again?

That was the one question I wanted to ask Benny Gallo. He wanted to talk baseball.

Baseball is not what he does. It is who he is.

It is the wonder at a glimpse of a freshly mowed field, the pride in identifying a teenager that just might be good enough to make a living playing the game, the ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — In about nine weeks, Twins pitchers and catchers will report to spring training. That is important to note here, in the land of hand warmers and remote starters.

Twins fans will be able to travel to Fort Myers, Fla., for sunbathing, golf and watching a Twins team desperate to distance itself from last season’s late-season ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees have multiple vacancies in their infield.

Alex Bregman is a free agent.

It makes sense, then, that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has spoken about the longtime Houston Astros third baseman with agent Scott Boras, which Cashman confirmed doing during a Zoom press conference Friday.

“I certainly respect the ...Read more

CHICAGO — It might just be a coincidence that the Chicago Cubs made their biggest trade in 20 years soon after national baseball writer Ken Rosenthal named Chairman Tom Ricketts and his siblings “Dorks of the Week.”

Speaking on a podcast last week, The Athletic’s baseball bigfoot used the four-letter word to describe “Cubs ownership�...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A sports memorabilia auction is never as gripping as the ballgame that gave the item being auctioned immense value. But bidding for the baseball Freddie Freeman crushed for a grand slam that gave the Dodgers a walk-off victory in Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees in October did generate its own brand of ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The face of the franchise, Landon Knack is not — that distinction belongs to Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw — but the rookie pitcher has been as much, if not more, of a social media presence than his more famous teammates in the weeks since the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees ...Read more

NEW YORK — There is joy in Flushing where no one cares that Steve Cohen spent a record $765 million (so far) — and was prepared to go for more if the Yankees matched him — for one player in Juan Soto. And while Soto tried to tell us last Thursday it was not about the money but rather what teams wanted to do for the next 15 years, it was as...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The first version of this column was about how, after signing free-agent catcher Danny Jansen, the Rays’ next big move likely would be to deal from their depth and trade a starting pitcher.

They did that Saturday afternoon, striking a deal to send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the A’s.

With only one big-leaguer, righty Joe...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays addressed their starting pitcher surplus Saturday, completing a trade to send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics in a deal that includes five players and a competitive balance-round draft pick.

The Rays will get right-hander Joe Boyle, first baseman Will Simpson, minor league right-hander Jacob ...Read more

DALLAS — Baseball does not need a “Golden At-Bat” to stimulate our senses, but the brainstorming session that proposed such a stupid rule needs to continue.

For this reason.

“Baseball is an entertainment product,” Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young said to a small gathering of reporters during the annual winter meetings.

...Read more

NEW YORK — Former Mets captain David Wright will be honored this summer in a dual ceremony, taking his rightful place in franchise history.

The former Mets third baseman who played all 14 years of his major league career in Queens will be inducted into the team hall of fame and have his number retired July 19, ahead of a game against the ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Two months after the Minnesota Twins were put up for sale, the first potential buyer has been identified. And he’s an increasingly familiar face in professional sports.

Phoenix Suns part-owner Justin Ishbia, the billionaire founder and managing partner of Shore Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Chicago, is considering...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees beefed up their bullpen on Friday afternoon, agreeing to a trade that will bring Devin Williams to the Bronx.

The Yankees are sending Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin to the Brewers in the trade for the closer. Milwaukee is also receiving cash considerations.

While stress fractures in his back limited ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have landed the superstar hitter their lineup has needed.

The Cubs have acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros for third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and their 2024 first-round pick, third baseman Cam Smith, sources confirmed to the Chicago Tribune.

Tucker, 27, is coming off ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees’ unsuccessful attempt to re-sign Juan Soto was not for a lack of trying, according to the slugger himself.

Soto chose the Mets’ record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract over a reported 16-year, $760 million offer from the Yankees, whom he just helped lead to the World Series in what ended up being his lone ...Read more

NEW YORK — There were over 20 members of the Soto-Pacheco families in attendance at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon, a group agent Scott Boras has taken to calling the “Soto Supreme Court.” They arrived in the Piazza Club to a round of applause and full spread of Latin food.

Anyone who followed Juan Soto’s free agency chronicles over ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s trial, slated to start Thursday in the Dominican Republic, has been delayed until June 2.

Franco, 23, is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking, with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. The charges stem from a relationship with a then-14-year-old ...Read more

The first contract Jackie Robinson signed along with Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey on Oct. 23, 1945, was an agreement to play for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' top farm club. The deal called for a $3,500 signing bonus and $600 per month for the 1946 season.

Less than two years later, on April 11, 1947, Robinson signed his first ...Read more