It wasn’t long ago when there were serious doubts that a 2020 MLB season was actually going to happen. Public bitterness and infighting between MLB and the MLBPA took the forefront, leaving public bitterness and infighting among its fan base. Not to mention the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the issues between both sides weren’t exactly solved, and while COVID is still very much an issue, we will have MLB in 2020....
The rumor: The Dodgers “are looking into bringing back top free agent catcher Russell Martin,” CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman reports . HOT STOVE: Top 10 free-agent infielders | Outfielders | Pitchers | Catchers The rationale: The Los Angeles brass loves incumbent backstop A.J. Ellis’ defense, but it is mighty concerned about his hitting (.191/.323/.254 with three homers in 93 games). Martin is a good defender who shuts down the running game and offers a huge upgrade offensively (....
THE RUMOR: The Red Sox and Dodgers have been “aggressive” on free agent right-hander Alexi Ogando. REPORTED BY: Peter Gammons, MLB Network THE DETAILS: Ogando worked out in Tampa on Friday with two dozen teams on hand to watch the 31-year-old free agent showcase his talent. A number of scouts told Gammons that Ogando “looked good” and they hope to sign the 6-4 Dominican. Ogando is expected to make a decision next week....
Baseball is on the verge of some pretty significant history just 2 1/2 months into the 2021 season. With six no-hitters already thrown, a seventh no-hitter will tie a MLB record, and at the rate that teams have been blanked this year, we can almost certainly expect that to happen. While pitchers are largely nastier than they’ve ever been, the cast of hurlers who have tossed no-nos this year aren’t exactly a who’s who of “stuff” guys in baseball this year....
The Astros capped off an entertaining series against the Dodgers in style Sunday. The two teams entered the series atop their respective divisions, so there was a lot of buzz before it even started. Then, Mike Fiers threw a no-hitter on 134 pitches Friday to awaken anyone who wasn’t already paying attention. But the series didn’t slow down from there. Game 2 featured Houston’s Scott Kazmir facing off against Zack Greinke and his microscopic ERA....
However, as long as it’s 2019, teams will be able to benefit from the more crowded dugouts and cluttered bullpens. Many of the game’s top prospects will have a chance to debut in the majors and some other minor league journeymen with breakout seasons could have a chance to prove their minor league numbers are for real. There have been plenty of impactful September call-ups in the past who have made a big difference on a team’s postseason run....
With the MLB season winding down, all but one of the division races has been settled (the National League Central is the lone exception) and the wild-card picture is almost fully developed. There is still some drama in the National League. As we march toward October, here are the latest MLB magic numbers and MLB standings. Last updated: Morning of Sept. 29. FOSTER: Braves confident, not thinking about past playoff failures...
The Mets aren’t “soliciting offers” for the 26-year-old starter but “multiple teams have contacted them to express interest,” according to report from MLB.com, which cites unidentified league sources. Syndergaard will not be a free agent until after 2021 and New York would likely “need to acquire at least one Major League-ready” player in return for him, the report says. The Brewers are “monitoring” Syndergaard’s availability while “some within the Astros organization are intrigued” by him, according to the report....
One day after MLB.com reported Los Angeles was interested in picking up Giants closer Will Smith, another name has emerged in the Dodgers’ market. Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez is right in the crosshairs of the Dodgers, whose lone true struggle this season has been their bullpen in front of closer Kenley Jansen. Los Angeles signed Joe Kelly to a three-year deal this offseason and he has been bad, posting a 6....
Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi reported on Wednesday that the Indians and Padres are discussing a deal that would send the two-time Cy Young winner to San Diego. Morosi mentions that the Dodgers are still viewed as the favorites, but the inclusion of one or more of Austin Hedges, Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe could help the Padres’ chances. Outside of the MLB-ready talent, the Indians would likely require another top prospect from the Padres....
David Price and Zack Greinke both signed deals that topped $200 million and Johnny Cueto was given $130 million. Four other starters signed deals worth at least $80 million. Lots of money was thrown at outstanding players. That’s not the case this year. Unless the bidding for Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman just gets crazy, we won’t see a $100 million pitcher. Long-term solutions for the top of the rotation just aren’t on the market this year....
The MLB Players Association reached an agreement with the league on Thursday, officially ending the second-longest work stoppage in the game’s history, bumping up minimum player salaries to an unprecedented 23 percent increase from last year. However, due to Canada’s travel requirements, players who haven’t been fully vaccinated will have to sit out any games against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. And, according to a policy included in the new collective bargaining agreement, any unvaccinated player who is forced to miss games in Canada will not be paid for those games....
He nearly had a perfect outing before surrendering a hit in his sixth and final inning. But still the fourth-overall selection in the 2017 draft showed just why the Rays sought him out. The lefty allowed the one hit, a walk and struck out three in the Rays’ eventual 5-2 win over the Rangers. “It was fun to watch,’’ Rays manager Kevin Cash said, via ESPN. “Certainly set a pretty high bar for himself....
The 27-year-old Reds pitcher threw two innings while recording the win over the Phillies at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, but that wasn’t nearly what was so rare. Lorenzen entered the game in the seventh inning as a pitcher and was left in to hit in the bottom of the eighth. Manager David Bell’s instincts were right, though, as the righty hit a home run to break the tie....
I can get to Columbus’ Crew Stadium in 95 minutes. MORE: Dempsey wants more | Dempsey in photos | Time for MLS to spend | WAGs In reality, though, each venue is as close at hand as my remote control. As Major League Soccer endeavors to capitalize on the excitement generated by the 2014 FIFA World Cup, this is the most significant obstacle the league will face. What seems to be a fairly large number of newly minted soccer fans is looking for somewhere to spend this fresh enthusiasm, and the truth is investing all of it into some foreign squad is no more demanding than going crazy for the nearest MLS franchise....
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Atlanta United has announced Barco will miss 4-6 weeks with a right quad strain suffered in training Tuesday, pushing back the highly anticipated MLS bow of the 18-year-old midfielder. Barco was signed in the offseason from Independiente in a $15 million deal that made him the most expensive player in MLS history. The Argentina U-20 international rose to prominence with Independiente, helping the Argentine side to a Copa Sudamericana title in December....
Former Manchester United midfielder Schweinsteiger scored his second goal in three games to lead the Fire to a 3-0 victory at home to the Revolution. WATCH: Lennon scores for RSL Surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, former Germany international and World Cup winner Schweinsteiger has hit the ground running in the United States with a goal on his debut on April 1 and the 32-year-old was at it again on Saturday....
Goals from Daniel Salloi and Diego Rubio helped Sporting KC to a 2-1 home victory against the LA Galaxy on Sunday. Salloi poked in the opener in the 18th minute before Rubio tapped in a Seth Sinovic pass in the first half for Peter Vermes’ men. Romain Alessandrini pulled a goal back for Galaxy but they were unable to find another at Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting KC is third in the Western Conference, a point adrift of the first-place Vancouver Whitecaps....
