PITTSBURGH — For the first time in his incredible career, the news of Andrew McCutchen returning to the Pirates did not elicit immediate and utter elation from fans.

Some made jokes about McCutchen's age (38). Others wondered what it meant for younger players who might see fewer plate appearances.

Then there was the obvious vitriol regarding...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — No team plucked left-handed reliever Jovani Moran from the Twins during the Rule 5 draft earlier this month, despite rumors there were interested clubs, and the Twins opted to trade him a couple of weeks later.

The Twins dealt Moran, who missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, to the Boston Red Sox for ...Read more

NEW YORK — Steve Cohen had lofty goals for the Mets when he bought the team from the Wilpon family late in 2020. Slowly, he’s delivering on those goals.

While the top goal is winning multiple World Series championships, Cohen also wanted to turn the Mets into a global brand and a premier destination for MLB’s most elite players, coaches ...Read more

CHICAGO — Rickey Henderson’s numbers are astounding.

The Hall of Fame outfielder stole more bases than anyone in major-league history. He also scored the most runs and hit the most leadoff home runs while collecting more than 3,000 hits on the way to enshrinement in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa will remember ...Read more

BOSTON — The Red Sox aren’t done adding to their starting rotation.

According to multiple reports, the Red Sox are signing former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler. The deal is reportedly for one year, $21.05 million and will allow the two-time World Series champion an opportunity to rebuild his market value in his first full ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The moment was already destined for Dodgers lore.

Walker Buehler, arms extended, strutting off the Yankee Stadium mound, a World Series title having just been secured by his trademark knuckle-curveball.

Now, the scene will be a parting image for Buehler's distinguished tenure with the club, too.

On Monday, Buehler agreed to a ...Read more

NEW YORK — Sean Manaea, who emerged as the Mets’ ace down the stretch last season and shed tears as his time with the Mets came to an end in October, has reached an agreement to return, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News.

It’s a three-year, $75 million contract for the left-hander, with more than $20 million deferred from 2035-...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies took a big step in the latter direction Sunday, trading for lefty Jesús Luzardo from the Marlins for 19-year-old shortstop prospect Starlyn Caba and minor league outfielder Emaarion Boyd, two league sources confirmed and the team later announced. The Phillies also received double-A catcher Paul McIntosh.

Luzardo, ...Read more

At all levels of baseball, pitchers are breaking down far too often.

The question is why.

Major League Baseball’s findings released Tuesday linked the injury crisis to rising velocities, pitch shaping and maximum effort.

An underlying cause should be taken into account, too, although MLB won’t be cranking out a 62-page report on that ...Read more

It’s nearly too much to bear.

It’s one thing for Oakland to lose its last big league team this year. The reality of that situation hasn’t fully hit yet, but sadly, it’s hardly a new experience for the East Bay city.

But for Oakland to lose its greatest son — the man who perfectly encapsulated the excellence and swagger of The Town �...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees found their first baseman.

Paul Goldschmidt has agreed to a one-year contract with the club, YES Network’s Jack Curry reported Saturday, adding another former MVP to the Yankees’ new-look lineup.

The deal is for $12.5 million, according to reports.

Goldschmidt, 37, hit .245 with 22 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .716 ...Read more

SEATTLE — As Mariners fans await an answer to the most pressing (depressing?) question hovering over the team this offseason — will they have to trade staff anchor Luis Castillo to upgrade the lineup? — the club has already executed its most meaningful move to complement the offense.

When the Mariners last month announced the return of ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — For the Phillies, the hot stove has been more like an induction cooktop with the cord unplugged. Even a tangential morsel of gossip sounds like a Christmas ham, at this point. So sharpen up those knives and find that apple chutney.

Nolan Arenado has reportedly rejected a trade to the Houston Astros in hopes of landing with a ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Bryan Cranston is such a huge Dodgers fan that he got goosebumps in a Los Angeles studio six years ago while narrating an MLB Network documentary on the team's 1988 season, which culminated with one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history, Kirk Gibson's Game 1, pinch-hit, walk-off shot off Dennis Eckersley.

The 68...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Sasaki Mania? More like a Sasaki snub.

The Phillies haven’t been asked to make a presentation to world-class pitcher Roki Sasaki, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski conceded Friday, leaving them to presume they didn’t make the list of teams that the Japanese pitching phenom wishes to meet.

“We have not been...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Max Kepler, the Phillies’ new everyday left fielder, has never played an inning of left field in the major leagues.

The 31-year-old has played 927 games in right field and 159 games in center over the last 10 years with the Minnesota Twins. But when the Phillies signed him to a one-year deal on Friday, it was technically to ...Read more

BOSTON — The Red Sox won’t lack in lefties next year.

They’ve spent December prioritizing southpaws, signing relievers Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman, making a bid to free-agent star Max Fried, then pivoting to a massive trade for White Sox breakout arm Garrett Crochet when Fried chose the Yankees.

On Friday, the Red Sox reached an ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The news was not news, not really, because while it was distressing, it was also hardly surprising. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball released the results of a yearlong study of pitching injuries, a 62-page examination of the factors, thinking, and trends that have led, over the last two decades, to an increase in the number of ...Read more

NEW YORK — Cody Bellinger made his interest in the Yankees known.

About a week before the Yankees traded for the 2019 National League MVP, general manager Brian Cashman heard how badly Bellinger wanted to be a Bronx Bomber.

“I’ve been hearing it for a long time, including his agent, Scott Boras, saying, ‘Can you get him over here? He�...Read more