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'There's no ceiling on him': Former Giants manager Bochy talks Posey's new role, Crawford's retirement

Sports / Baseball /

PHOENIX — For roughly a decade, Bruce Bochy counted on Buster Posey as the backbone of the San Francisco Giants on the field. Now, entering his third year as the Texas Rangers’ manager, Bochy will be tasked with beating the teams that Posey creates in San Francisco’s front office.

“I was excited for Buster,” Bochy said at Cactus ...Read more

Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

White Sox shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery eager for opportunity this spring

Sports / Baseball /

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox prospect Colson Montgomery formed an early bond with manager Will Venable over basketball.

Montgomery was a high school star in the sport in Indiana. Venable earned All-Ivy honors in basketball and baseball at Princeton.

“Someone brought it to my attention really quickly, so I had to look him up and ...Read more

Padres CEO Erik Greupner provides first offseason comments from management

Sports / Baseball /

PEORIA, Ariz. — There wasn’t much new, but it was notable.

And quotable.

Someone in Padres management spoke publicly on Tuesday for what was essentially the first time this offseason.

So almost on its own that made CEO Erik Greupner’s statements significant, coming as they did at the end of an offseason rife with questions about the ...Read more

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Bob Wojnowski: Tigers' top prospect Jackson Jobe aiming for job he's always craved

Sports / Baseball /

LAKELAND, Fla.— Jackson Jobe stands up, adjusts his jersey and straightens his cap. With a mop of brown hair and a polite demeanor, he looks like a teen interviewing for a job, with the appropriate mix of humility and confidence.

The job is a spot in the Detroit Tigers rotation, and it’s open. Even as an elite pitching prospect, even as he ...Read more

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What can Yankees expect out of Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger in 2025?

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — Back when Aaron Boone worked for ESPN, he became well acquainted with his new first baseman while living in the same Arizona neighborhood.

“When he was first having kids and my kids were little rugrats running around the park, Paul Goldschmidt, [then] with the Diamondbacks, used to step out and play a little bit with them,” ...Read more

Al Bello/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mets' Steve Cohen still spending despite tax threshold named after him: 'It always seems like ballplayers are more expensive than I think'

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — They say that New York City loves to hate on Los Angeles, while Los Angeles doesn’t even think about New York City. The Los Angeles Dodgers are living rent free in the heads of the New York baseball teams right now for good reason.

The Dodgers knocked off the Mets and Yankees en route to a World Series championship ...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: 'I mean, we're loaded'

Sports / Baseball /

PHOENIX — During the monotony of spring training, live batting practice sessions are usually structured like boxing matches.

One main event with a big-name pitcher, surrounded by a bunch of less notable undercards featuring unheralded arms.

In this year’s Dodgers camp, however, the team’s loaded pitching staff has turned such routine ...Read more

Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

David Murphy: Forgot about the Phillies? Two big reasons they are still a threat to win 100 games.

Sports / Baseball /

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The first day of full-squad workouts is an easy day to believe. It’s as true for teams eyeing 80 wins as it is for those reaching for 100. The rest of the world may snicker when the Phillies suggest they are nowhere different, and even further along, than they were last season. But the rest of the world is not here. It is ...Read more

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images North America/TNS

Cubs reach agreement with 40-year-old infielder Justin Turner

Sports / Baseball /

MESA, Ariz. — After striking out on signing premier free agent Alex Bregman, the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a deal to bring in 40-year-old infielder Justin Turner, sources told the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday.

The one-year agreement is for $6 million, according to The Athletic, which first reported the deal.

Reaction in the Cubs ...Read more

Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Paul Sullivan: White Sox's new philosophy on prospects? 'We'd like to see them perform' before getting long-term deals.

Sports / Baseball /

GLENDALE, Ariz. — If the Chicago White Sox deal Luis Robert Jr., whether it’s this spring or before the trade deadline, their 26-man payroll will be down to $47 million.

They’re currently at $66.4 million, according to Cot’s Contracts, which is barely above the $61.8 million the New York Mets are paying Juan Soto in 2025.

“For one, ...Read more

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images North America/TNS

Cubs nearing an agreement with 40-year-old infielder Justin Turner

Sports / Baseball /

MESA, Ariz. — After striking out on signing premier free agent Alex Bregman, the Chicago Cubs are close to bringing in 40-year-old infielder Justin Turner, sources told the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday.

The one-year agreement is for $6 million, according to The Athletic, which first reported the deal.

Reaction in the Cubs clubhouse Tuesday ...Read more

Al Bello/Getty Images North America/TNS

Steve Cohen on Mets' poor fan attendance during 2024 postseason push: 'I didn't like it'

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Steve Cohen looked around Citi Field last season and didn’t like what he saw. The empty seats in August and September were shocking to the Mets owner and CEO. The team was in the midst of a heated battle for a playoff spot with their division rivals in Atlanta and the reigning NL champs in Arizona.

How could fans not ...Read more

Nancy Lane/Boston Herald/TNS

Gabrielle Starr: Red Sox proving willing to pay any cost to win, even Rafael Devers' happiness

Sports / Baseball /

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alex Cora claimed John Henry was upset about Mo Salah and Liverpool’s loss to Everton, but there was no mistaking the Red Auerbach-esque celebratory message behind the photo of Red Sox principal owner smoking a cigar.

The Red Sox, after years of rebuilding and being careful, were finally back in business.

Linda Pizzuti ...Read more

Winslow Townson/Getty Images North America/TNS

Tom Krasovic: Pitching-hungry Padres get their fill with innings-eater Nick Pivetta

Sports / Baseball /

SAN DIEGO — The source of the loud whoosh that blew into San Diego last week from Padres camp in Peoria, Ariz., was a robust sigh of relief from Padres players and staff.

(Actually, the sound may have been a Santa Ana gust. Allow me some poetry here.)

The Padres were in strong need of an innings-eating pitcher who could slot behind tri-aces ...Read more

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Gleyber Torres motivated to put Yankees drama behind him, take Tigers to next level

Sports / Baseball /

LAKELAND, Fla.— Gleyber Torres, for the first time in his career, arrived to spring camp sporting a dark and robust beard.

He couldn’t do that the last seven years with the Yankees, who don’t allow their players to wear facial hair.

“Yeah, my wife really likes it and my family likes it,” he said with a chuckle. “First time I get to...Read more

Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

Michael Cunningham: Jarred Kelenic looks to shake 'baggage' and produce for Braves

Sports / Baseball /

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Jarred Kelenic represents the kind of “upside” play that Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos likes to make. Bring in a guy whose production hasn’t matched his potential for whatever reason. See if the Braves can unlock more from the player than his old team could.

The gamble hasn’t paid off with Kelenic....Read more

John Fisher/Getty Images North America/TNS

David Murphy: The next Chan Ho Park and Chad Durbin? Phillies think Joe Ross can be that and maybe more.

Sports / Baseball /

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joe Ross is attempting to join a list of Phillies pitchers that is neither long nor distinguished. But it is a list, and it does include a couple of relievers who played important roles for their respective teams.

Ross’ raw stuff says that Phillies fans might be underestimating him when they grumble about Dave Dombrowski�...Read more

Greg Cote: Young, low-budget Marlins open spring as biggest underdogs in Miami pro sports history

Sports / Baseball /

If sports did not invent the underdog, it certainly has provided the greatest stage for the very notion. This is where disregarded athletes and teams across time have overcome seemingly impossible odds to achieve greatness. Well, sure, the disregarded usually are that for a reason and fail as expected. But when they don’t and shock the world ...Read more

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Pete Alonso back where he wants to be with the Mets: 'I'm just really happy to be back'

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Pete Alonso has a message for New York Mets owner Steve Cohen: “Sorry.”

Cohen took the unprecedented step of talking about free agent negotiations publicly a few weeks ago, characterizing them as “exhausting” to a group of fans and media at the team’s Amazin’ Day event. Not long after, Cohen and baseball ops...Read more

Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America/TNS

Unsurprised by Juan Soto's departure, Aaron Judge would 'love' to keep hitting third

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. – For the second straight year, questions about Juan Soto peppered Aaron Judge’s first media availability of spring training.

Only this time, Soto is an ex-teammate, rather than a new one, after signing a record-setting, 15-year, $765 million contract with the crosstown rival Mets. The Yankees, unable to retain the 26-year-old ...Read more