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Bill Madden: Reminder to Juan Soto that it is still all about the pitching

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Before we dig into the “who’s better Mets or Yankees?” debate between Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, let’s get this out of the way: Despite his contention that he signed with the Mets because he thought they had the best chance to get to the World Series, we all know the real deciding factor for Soto was that the Mets gave him ...Read more

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Paul Sullivan: Impending ESPN-MLB divorce is another reminder that all good things must come to an end

Sports / Baseball /

MESA, Ariz. — The breakup of ESPN and Major League Baseball was a shocker to those of us who looked at the partnership as a match made in heaven, or at least the baseball equivalent in Dyersville, Iowa.

Since they presented their vows back in 1990, ESPN helped spread the gospel of baseball through the Steroids Era, the start of bat flipping ...Read more

Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Cubs betting on Pete Crow-Armstrong -- with a new number and starry hair -- to make an impact this season

Sports / Baseball /

MESA, Ariz. — The back of Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s jersey will look a little different this year.

All thanks to a friendly hoops challenge.

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer likes fast-guy uniform numbers — the single digits that look sleek on the back of speedsters like Crow-Armstrong. So the football ...Read more

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After exploring Twins ownership, Justin Ishbia turns attention to White Sox

Sports / Baseball /

FORT MYERS, FLA. — Justin Ishbia, the billionaire financier who had approached several former Twins players to be minority partners in a much-rumored effort to buy the Twins, will instead increase his minority stake in the White Sox, according to news reports on Friday.

Ishbia, co-owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns with his older brother, Mat,...Read more

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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza: Dedniel Nuñez will make Opening Day roster if healthy

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If Dedniel Nuñez is healthy to start the season, he will be on the New York Mets’ Opening Day roster. Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Saturday before the Mets opened their Grapefruit League slate at Clover Park.

“If he’s healthy, he’s on the team,” Mendoza said.

However, after pronator and flexor ...Read more

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Juan Soto homers in first at-bat with Mets in win over Astros

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Some hitters have a hard time finding their timing at the start of spring. Juan Soto is not just some hitter.

The star outfielder who signed a 15-year contract with the Mets over the winter drove a 2-1 fastball from left-hander Colton Gordon over Clover Park’s center field fence in his first at-bat in a Mets uniform ...Read more

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'Scary moment, but it's all good': Dodgers' Bobby Miller on mend from liner to head

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The mere sight of a pitcher getting hit in the head by a line drive would make Bobby Miller so squeamish he couldn't bear to watch replays of such an incident, but the Dodgers right-hander had a different, somewhat masochistic, reaction to the 106-mph laser that hit him in the forehead on Thursday.

"I've probably watched it a ...Read more

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Yankees' Devin Williams: Old facial hair policy would've been free agency factor

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — Count Devin Williams among those who are pleased with the Yankees’ updated facial hair policy.

The All-Star closer, acquired in a trade with the Brewers over the offseason without any say in the matter, said that the Bombers’ past ban on facial hair below the upper lip would have been a factor in free agency. The Yankees ...Read more

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Why Yankees star Aaron Judge is torn on facial hair policy change

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge only needed one word to explain how he’ll approach the Yankees’ amended grooming policy.

“No,” the smiling captain said Saturday when asked if he’ll grow a beard now that the Yankees are allowing “well-groomed” ones. Judge sometimes sports facial hair in the offseason, but he doesn’t plan on doing so ...Read more

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Dodgers 'don't hate the idea' of MLB's automated ball/strike system

Sports / Baseball /

PHOENIX — Before the first-ever game at the Major League Baseball level to include an automated challenge system for reviewing balls and strikes, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had only one rule.

"I told Muncy not to challenge," Roberts joked of veteran third baseman Max Muncy, a notoriously selective hitter with a critical eye at the plate. "...Read more

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Juan Soto set for Mets spring opener vs. Astros at Clover Park

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Technically, Juan Soto has already worn a Mets uniform and there are photos to prove it. But come Saturday afternoon, he’ll wear blue and orange for the first time in front of fans when the Mets open their spring slate against the Houston Astros at Clover Park.

Spring training games are mostly forgettable, but the ...Read more

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Marcus Stroman has 'zero' regrets following bullpen comments as Yankees win spring opener

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — After a planned one-inning start, Marcus Stroman said he has “zero” regrets about stating he would not pitch out of the bullpen this season.

The righty, the subject of trade rumors and apparent odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation, started the club’s spring training opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday. ...Read more

Yankees owner: Payroll 'almost identical' to 2024, supports salary cap and floor as Gerrit Cole questions it

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — After discussing a trim to the Yankees’ facial hair policy, Hal Steinbrenner took questions about shaving payroll.

The owner, whose team lost last year’s World Series to the Dodgers, was asked if that’s his intention Friday. No team has reduced payroll the season after reaching the World Series since the thrifty Rays did ...Read more

Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Q&A: Kyle Schwarber on a possible extension and whether this Phillies core has an expiration date

Sports / Baseball /

CLEARWATER, Fla. — After spring training opened in 2022, the Phillies signed Kyle Schwarber to a four-year, $79 million contract. A quick check of the MLB home-run leaderboard since then:

— 157 — Aaron Judge

— 132 — Shohei Ohtani

— 131 — Schwarber

Nice company, isn’t it?

Schwarber, entering the final year of his contract, ...Read more

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Yankees no longer need to be clean-shaven. But will beards help them clean things up on field?

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — So the New York Yankees, at long last, have done away with their anti-facial hair policy.

Maybe, they reasoned, Aaron Judge wouldn't have bungled that routine fly ball in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers had he worn a suave Salvador Dali mustache.

Perhaps Gerrit Cole wouldn't have slept on covering first base in ...Read more

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Yankees trim 'outdated' facial hair policy, will permit 'well-groomed beards'

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees’ antiquated facial hair policy has been amended.

The surprising decision came via an announcement from Hal Steinbrenner on Friday morning. With the Yankees preparing to play their first game of spring training, the owner announced that players can wear “well-groomed beards moving forward.”

“In recent weeks I...Read more

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Dodgers' Roki Sasaki announces marriage; Bobby Miller feeling better after comebacker

Sports / Baseball /

PHOENIX — The announcement came out of nowhere, so much so that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn't even know about it before his daily address with reporters on Friday morning.

"Roki?" Roberts asked with surprise when informed that Roki Sasaki, the club's new 23-year-old phenom pitcher from Japan, had announced earlier in the morning he got ...Read more

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ESPN says it will end MLB broadcasts after striking out on deal

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — ESPN's coverage of Major League Baseball is headed to the bottom of the ninth.

The Walt Disney Co.-owned sports broadcasting giant and MLB on Thursday night separately announced an end to their long association after the season that begins next month. The network and league had been in discussions to restructure the TV rights ...Read more

Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Padres eager to see ball-strike challenge system up close during spring training games

Sports / Baseball /

Brett Sullivan caught a couple of games at the University of the Pacific, but he didn’t truly move behind the plate until 2016, his second year in the Tampa Bay Rays system. The 30-year-old veteran continues to bounce around the diamond to remain a versatile bench option for the Padres, but it would not be wise to question his command of the ...Read more

Paul Sullivan: Justin Turner's arrival at Cubs camp takes center stage. 'We intend on being good this year.'

Sports / Baseball /

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Why would anyone want to continue playing baseball at age 40?

For newly signed Chicago Cubs infielder Justin Turner, the answer was simple.

Turner said he loves the game and still feels he can compete. As long as a major league team believed he could still contribute, there was no reason to retire.

“I feel like I’m a ...Read more