As the derby participants were announced at Dodger Stadium, the pyrotechnic jets were set off all around, with one burst shooting high into the sky behind the stage, appearing to nearly set Ronald Acuña Jr. on fire. MORE: Home Run Derby 2022 live updates, highlights MLB certainly pulled out all the stops for the introduction of each of the players. There was a DJ, dramatic introductions for each player and smoke machines as each came out of their entrances....

Below, we’ll break down the top contenders and some of our favorite sleepers and long shots to win the awards. MORE MLB FUTURES: MVPs | Cy Youngs | World Series NL Rookie of the Year 2022 odds: Favorite All odds courtesy of Vegas Insider MacKenzie Gore, SP, Padres +350 (implied probability 22.22 percent) Gore’s odds have shot up from +150 to +350 since our last update after his two worst outings of his short career....

But starting in 2023, there are going to be some major changes that come up in the sport. On Friday, MLB’s competition committee voted to approve several rule changes that will significantly alter how the game is played. Pitchers are going to be timed, infields will no longer be able to shift and the bases are going to be larger, according to MLB. MORE: How Aaron Judge’s home run pace compares to Roger Maris, Barry Bonds...

The bad news for Baltimore is that there is no one move that will accomplish this objective. The good news for Baltimore is that it isn’t necessary to make it happen. The Orioles have to count on Manny Machado and Matt Wieters returning from injuries that took them out of action for the bulk of 2014 and made Baltimore’s surge to the top of the East all the more stunning....

But the big-money deals that go south aren’t the only types of contract situations that create big problems. Sometimes, lack of years is as big of an issue as number of years on a deal, and we’re going to look at all of those things with this series. These are the contract situations that keep general managers and team presidents — or whatever the official title happens to be for the decision makers — up at night....

The 2022 MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching, but aside from some hot takes and fanalyst talk, it’s been relatively quiet. To that end, how the deadline will unfold is anyone’s guess: Will fringe teams stick with their rosters heading into the late stages of the summer, or will they bolster their rosters with the chances of making a wild-card run? And speaking of guesses, let’s have some fun with how the deadline could work out....

San Francisco has acquired the center fielder in a trade with the Blue Jays, Toronto announced Tuesday. Toronto received infielder Alen Hanson, and pitchers Derek Law and Juan De Paula in return. MORE: Watch ‘ChangeUp,’ a new MLB live whiparound show on DAZN The Giants’ outfield currently consists of Steven Duggar, Gerardo Parra and Connor Joe. Outfielder Michael Reed was designated for assignment. The team was deep into the Bryce Harper sweepstakes but missed out on him to the Phillies....

Oh, and Ichiro Suzuki was a rookie. So, yeah, it’s been a while. MORE: Orioles can offer more in trades than just Manny Machado The 2018 Mariners are in position to qualify for October for the first time since that memorable 2001 season, when Seattle won an MLB-record 116 games but lost to the Yankees in the ALCS. That was the third time in seven years the Mariners’ playoff run had fallen short of the World Series by one round, a failing that was the source of much frustration....

REPORTED BY: Fox Sports . MORE: New faces, new places | Brewers looking to re-sign K-Rod | Nats’ latest move spells big trouble for rest of NL THE DETAILS: With onetime closer Casey Janssen heading to Washington to be a set-up man for the Nationals, the Jays want someone other than listed closer Brett Cecil (six career saves) finishing games. LAST SEASON: A 2014 All-Star, Rodriguez was dominant in the Brewers’ bullpen, saving 44 games while posting a 3....

We’re now a week into July and the club is still double-digit games under .500 — they’re 35-50 after a loss Wednesday, in last place in the AL Central behind the Tigers and Royals — and it’s time for a change. The Twins have five players scheduled to be free agents after the season — players with that type of contract status are always trade potentials — and several players under contract/control for a couple of more seasons who would be very attractive to potential contenders in 2021 and 2022....

But perhaps it’s no mystery at all. The Phillies have not moved Papelbon for the same reason they haven’t dealt any of their other expensive veterans. “The Phillies are just unreasonable in their demands,” an American League official told The Boston Globe’s Nick Carfardo. “When they get a bit more realistic, I think Papelbon will move, but that may not happen until the end of the month.” Papelbon, 33, is in the midst of his best year since 2009, when he closed for the Red Sox....

After a controversial outing in Blue Jays vs. Yankees on Tuesday, umpires made themselves the center of attention twice again Wednesday in Dodgers vs. Pirates and Red Sox vs. Braves. Jansen Visconti vs. Wil Crowe The first instance came during a day game in Pittsburgh. With the Dodgers’ Trea Turner at the plate, Pirates pitcher Wil Crowe delivered a 1-0 slider in at the belt. It was treated by all parties as a routine strike, but when it became apparent that Visconti’s right arm wasn’t going up, Crowe paused....

Now stepping up to the plate: MLB chief legal officer Dan Halem. “We obviously have a different view than the players’ association regarding the club’s rights under these circumstances,” Halem told the Los Angeles Times. If Moreno pursues the matter, seeking to recoup some of the millions remaining on Hamilton’s contract, the commissioner’s office and the union could face off in a second arbitration hearing over Hamilton. The first hearing resulted in an arbitrator’s ruling April 3 that Hamilton had not violated his mandated drug-treatment program by self-reporting a relaspe and, thus, could not be suspended....

The 2019 Winter Meetings come to you from the West Coast this year, starting Sunday, and there will be no shortage of starpower being discussed over the five days by the bay. Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon are the big three free agents still floating without employers this offseason, and you can bet their names will come up a lot over the next week as players, agents and front-office members from all 30 squads meet in California....

The Indians’ 8-0 win over the Tigers on Tuesday, combined with the Twins’ 3-2 loss to the Mets, moves the Indians within five games of Minnesota in the AL Central. That’s the smallest deficit the Indians have faced since they were 4 1/2 games back on May 19. And it’s a far cry from the 11 1/2-game lead the Twins held over Cleveland on June 2. The Indians were 29-30 at the time, but have gone 24-10 since, winning three straight and nine of their last 11....

The Georgia voting law—SB202—was passed and signed into law by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature and GOP Governor Brian Kemp late last month. The legislation has been staunchly opposed by Democrats, voting rights activists and civil rights leaders, who argue it amounts to voter suppression and will negatively impact minority voters. “You’ve heard me say that the laws that are being passed across the country, especially in Georgia, might be a little too little too late....

Schweinsteiger hurt his hip and came off in the first half of the Fire’s 4-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Schweini: ‘Injury shouldn’t be too bad’ But the former Germany international played down the injury, as Chicago moved top of the conference. MLS top goal scorer Nemanja Nikolic side-footed in the opener in the 14th minute before doubling the lead with a finish off the post. Chicago was 3-0 up after 25 minutes as Arturo Alvarez volleyed in superbly at the back post....

Valeri scored for the eighth consecutive game – an MLS record – as the Timbers were edged 2-1 by Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Albert Rusnak opened the scoring for hosts RSL in stunning fashion, his 25-yard effort beating Jeff Attinella in the 14th minute. But Valeri broke the MLS record and equalised just after halftime, heading in a fine Dairon Asprilla cross. However, Jefferson Savarino scored a brilliant winner for the home side, ending the Timbers’ four-match unbeaten run....

They’ll also have to get used to checking the matchday XI to see where he’ll be lined up. This season, Kelyn Rowe has been just about everywhere on the field for the New England Revolution, from the top of a midfield diamond, to the base and shuttled in between. He’s even lined up at fullback, both left and right, where he delivered one of the best assists of the season to earn his team a point at iconic Yankee Stadium....

That player was Ilie Sanchez, and so far this season the Barcelona academy product has proven to be worth the wait. Galaxy stars lead MLS Team of the Week Sanchez is by no means a flashy player, and he has barely registered much attention from casual MLS observers. He has yet to score a goal or record an assist, and doesn’t make highlight-reel plays. What he has done so masterfully since arriving this winter is serve as the midfield conductor to tie everything together, providing the perfect link between Sporting KC’s defense and attack....