Thu Nov 19 2020 | 12:22 | Tigers waive Brandon Dixon so he can pursue job in Japan | Brandon Dixon | 1B/2B/LF | Tigers | Free Agent |
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers on Thursday requested unconditional release waivers on utilityman Brandon Dixon so he can pursue an opportunity in Japan. Dixon led the Tigers with 15 home runs in 2019, but the 28-year-old had only 13 at-bats in the majors during this year's shortened season. Those came near the end after he was called up from the alternate training site. Dixon played for Cincinnati in 2018 before the Tigers claimed him off waivers. He has hit .228 with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs in 196 big league games. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Wed Nov 18 2020 | 23:12 | Mets 2B Can suspended 162 games by MLB after drug test | DJ LeMahieu | 1B/2B/3B | Yankees | Free Agent |
| | | Jeff McNeil | 2B/3B/LF/RF | Mets | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Strike two against Robinson Canó. The New York Mets second baseman was suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in his decorated career. The 38-year-old Canó will miss the entire 2021 season and lose $24 million in salary. The eight-time All-Star hit a robust .316 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in this year’s pandemic-shortened season. Minus Canó, the Mets could give offensive sparkplug Jeff McNeil a regular spot at second base — probably his most natural position. The suspension also might prompt them to pursue free agent infielder DJ LeMahieu, an AL MVP contender the past two years with the crosstown Yankees. The penalty came less than two weeks after Steve Cohen bought the Mets for $2.4 billion, a move that created an avalanche of positivity for a team that has reached the playoffs just three times in the last 20 years. The commissioner’s office said Canó tested positive... [ More] |
Wed Nov 18 2020 | 21:52 | Seidler takes control of Padres after Fowler steps down | Eric Hosmer | 1B | Padres | Free Agent |
| | | Manny Machado | 3B/SS | Padres | Free Agent |
| | | Fernando Tatis | SS | Padres | Free Agent |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ron Fowler has stepped down as executive chairman of the San Diego Padres and lead investor Peter Seidler has been approved by fellow Major League Baseball owners to take over control of the team as chairman. Fowler will remain with the club in the advisory role and will continue to sit on MLB’s Labor Policy Committee. Seidler, the lead investor in the group that bought the Padres in 2012, will be accountable to MLB for the operation of the team and following the rules. Seidler, 60, previously held the title of general partner. He is a grandson of Walter O’Malley, who moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, and a nephew of Peter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers until 1998. Fowler had been a minority owner of the Padres when they were sold to Seidler’s group in 2012. “Peter looked at it as a legacy investment for his family, I looked at it as more I wanted to get the Padres to where they needed to get to,” said Fowler, a longtime San Diego businessman who made a fortune... [ More] |
Wed Nov 18 2020 | 18:32 | Seidler takes control of Padres after Fowler steps down | Eric Hosmer | 1B | Padres | Free Agent |
| | | Manny Machado | 3B/SS | Padres | Free Agent |
| | | Fernando Tatis | SS | Padres | Free Agent |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ron Fowler has stepped down as executive chairman of the San Diego Padres and lead investor Peter Seidler has been approved by fellow Major League Baseball owners to take over control of the team as chairman. Fowler will remain with the club in the advisory role and will continue to sit on MLB’s Labor Policy Committee. Seidler, the lead investor in the group that bought the Padres in 2012, will be accountable to MLB for the operation of the team and following the rules. Seidler, 60, previously held the title of general partner. He is a grandson of Walter O’Malley, who moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, and a nephew of Peter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers until 1998. Fowler had been a minority owner of the Padres when they were sold to Seidler’s group in 2012. “Peter looked at it as a legacy investment for his family, I looked at it as more I wanted to get the Padres to where they needed to get to,” said Fowler, a longtime San Diego businessman who made a fortune... [ More] |
Wed Nov 18 2020 | 17:22 | Mets 2B Can suspended 162 games by MLB after drug test | DJ LeMahieu | 1B/2B/3B | Yankees | Free Agent |
| | | Jeff McNeil | 2B/3B/LF/RF | Mets | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Mets second baseman Robinson Canó was suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in his decorated career. The 38-year-old Canó will miss the entire 2021 season and lose $24 million in salary. The eight-time All-Star hit a robust .316 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in this year’s pandemic-shortened season. Minus Canó, New York could move good-hitting Jeff McNeil into a regular spot at second base. The suspension also will surely prompt calls by Mets fans to sign free agent DJ LeMahieu, an AL MVP candidate this year with the Yankees. The penalty came less than two weeks after Steve Cohen bought the Mets for $2.4 billion, a move that created an avalanche of positivity for a team that has reached the playoffs just three times in the last 20 years. The commissioner’s office said Canó tested positive for Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. He was penalized 80 games in May 2018 while with... [ More] |
Wed Nov 18 2020 | 16:12 | Mets 2B Can suspended 162 games by MLB after drug test | Jeff McNeil | 2B/3B/LF/RF | Mets | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Mets second baseman Robinson Canó was suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday after his positive test for a performance-enhancing drug. The 38-year-old Canó will miss the entire 2021 season and lose $24 million in salary. The eight-time All-Star hit a robust .316 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in this year’s pandemic-shortened season. The commissioner’s office said Canó tested positive for Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. He was penalized 80 games in May 2018 while with Seattle after a positive test for furosemide, a diuretic that some athletes have used to mask other substances. The penalty came less than two weeks after Steve Cohen bought the Mets for $2.4 billion. Sandy Alderson was hired as team president and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen exited the team — Van Wagenen made the trade to get Canó from Seattle in December 2018 after previously being his agent. “We were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson’s suspension for violating... [ More] |
Tue Nov 17 2020 | 18:22 | New GM Minasian: Angels can do 'really great things' soon | Dylan Bundy | SP | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | David Fletcher | 2B/3B/LF/SS | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Andrew Heaney | SP | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Shohei Ohtani | DH/SP | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Anthony Rendon | 3B | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Mike Trout | CF | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Justin Upton | LF | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Jared Walsh | 1B | Angels | Free Agent |
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian had never been interviewed for a general manager job before he joined the field of 40 candidates hoping to take over the Los Angeles Angels last month. The 40-year-old Braves assistant GM went through several rounds of lengthy Zoom interviews and emerged as a finalist. After more lengthy conversations with owner Arte Moreno and the Angels' top brass, Minasian landed the responsibility to build a big-budget roster that can finally get Mike Trout's first playoff victory. During his formal introduction at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, Minasian described the Halos' audition process as “grueling, to some extent.” That's not a negative to a baseball lifer who has been waiting for this chance since he was an 8-year-old batboy for the Texas Rangers. “You start asking me baseball questions, you’d better take a seat and get comfortable,” Minasian said. The Angels' 13th general manager already has strong opinions about the immediate prospects for the Angels, who are... [ More] |
Tue Nov 17 2020 | 17:22 | Theo Epstein steps down after 9 seasons leading Cubs | Kris Bryant | 3B/LF/RF | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | Jon Lester | SP | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | Anthony Rizzo | 1B | Cubs | Free Agent |
CHICAGO (AP) — Listening in on fans' conversations during his walks home from Wrigley Field, Theo Epstein could sense their excitement as the Chicago Cubs set themselves up to capture that long-awaited World Series championship. It was as if they were all in it together. “It felt like the lines between fans and front office members and players were blurred because we were all part of this club that was in on a secret,” he said. “We all kind of knew what was about to happen, maybe before the rest of the baseball world did.” Epstein, who transformed the long-suffering Cubs and helped bring home a drought-busting championship in 2016, is stepping down after nine seasons as the club's president of baseball operations, the team announced Tuesday. General manager Jed Hoyer is being promoted to take Epstein's place. Epstein said after the season he anticipated remaining on the job for at least one more year, with his contract set to expire in 2021. But he said Tuesday it became apparent this past... [ More] |
Tue Nov 17 2020 | 13:52 | Theo Epstein steps down after 9 seasons leading Cubs | Kris Bryant | 3B/LF/RF | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | Jon Lester | SP | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | Anthony Rizzo | 1B | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | David Ross | | | Free Agent |
CHICAGO (AP) — Theo Epstein, who transformed the long-suffering Chicago Cubs and helped bring home a drought-busting championship in 2016, is stepping down after nine seasons as the club's president of baseball operations. The team announced Tuesday that Epstein is leaving the organization, and general manager Jed Hoyer is being promoted to take his place. Epstein said after the season he anticipated remaining on the job for at least one more year, with his contract set to expire in 2021. He had said repeatedly he thinks executives have about a 10-year shelf life in a job, and next year would have marked a decade since he left the Boston Red Sox for Chicago. Epstein said in a statement he will “cherish” his time with the Cubs and said it was simply time to make a change. “The organization faces a number of decisions this winter that carry long-term consequences; those types of decisions are best made by someone who will be here for a long period rather than just one more year,” he said.... [ More] |
Mon Nov 16 2020 | 20:21 | Padres' Clevinger needs TJ surgery, out '21; gets 2-yr deal | Mike Clevinger | SP | Indians | Free Agent |
| | | Dinelson Lamet | SP | Padres | Free Agent |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger will miss the 2021 season because of Tommy John surgery, the team announced Monday after reaching agreement with the right-hander on an $11.5 million, two-year contract. San Diego said Clevinger’s surgery will be performed Tuesday in Cincinnati by Reds team doctor Timothy Kremchek. The Padres acquired Clevinger on Aug. 31 in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland in hopes of leading the Padres deep into the playoffs. Instead, he exited his last start of the regular season with what was later described as an elbow impingement. Clevinger missed the wild-card series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which San Diego won in three games, and then was removed in the second inning of the NL Division Series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers after his velocity dipped dramatically. The Padres were swept by the Dodgers. The Padres hoped Clevinger would be able to avoid surgery. General manager A.J. Preller said Clevinger met with a number of doctors and... [ More] |
Mon Nov 16 2020 | 19:41 | Padres' Clevinger needs TJ surgery, out '21; gets 2-yr deal | Mike Clevinger | SP | Indians | Free Agent |
| | | Dinelson Lamet | SP | Padres | Free Agent |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger will miss the 2021 season because of Tommy John surgery, the team announced Monday after reaching agreement with the right-hander on an $11.5 million, two-year contract. San Diego said Clevinger’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. The Padres acquired Clevinger on Aug. 31 in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland in hopes of leading the Padres deep into the playoffs. Instead, he exited his last start of the regular season with what was later described as an elbow impingement. Clevinger missed the wild-card series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which San Diego won in three games, and then was removed in the second inning of the NL Division Series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers after his velocity dipped dramatically. The Padres were swept by the Dodgers. Clevinger was 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts with San Diego after going 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA with Cleveland in the pandemic-shortened season. Dinelson Lamet, who finished fourth in the... [ More] |
Mon Nov 16 2020 | 15:51 | LHP Drew Smyly, Braves agree to $11 million, 1-year contract | Ian Anderson | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Mike Foltynewicz | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Cole Hamels | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Drew Smyly | SP | Giants | Free Agent |
| | | Michael Soroka | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Bryse Wilson | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Kyle Wright | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
ATLANTA (AP) — Left-hander Drew Smyly became the first of the 181 free agents to switch teams when he agreed Monday to an $11 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, who bolstered a rotation that was depleted by injuries and disappointing performances. The 31-year-old pitched seven games last season for the San Francisco Giants, making five starts. He went 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA. But the Braves were impressed with his strikeout ratio and an increase in velocity, believing a pitcher who has never won more than nine games or made more than $7 million in a season might be entering the prime of his career. “This is an upside play, no doubt about it,” general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “Obviously, we'll find out eight months from now, 10 months from now how it worked out. But we think Drew has tremendous upside. He's only scratched the surface.” Smyly earned a $1,481,481 prorated base salary from an original $4 million contract with the Giants, plus roster and performance bonuses.... [ More] |
Mon Nov 16 2020 | 14:31 | LHP Drew Smyly, Braves agree to $11 million, 1-year contract | Ian Anderson | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Mike Foltynewicz | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Cole Hamels | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Drew Smyly | SP | Giants | Free Agent |
| | | Michael Soroka | SP | Braves | Free Agent |
ATLANTA (AP) — Left-hander Drew Smyly became the first of the 181 free agents to switch teams when he agreed Monday to an $11 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, who are looking to bolster a rotation that was depleted by injuries and disappointing performances. The 31-year-old pitched seven games last season for the San Francisco Giants, making five starts. He went 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA. Smyly earned a $1,481,481 prorated base salary from an original $4 million, plus roster and performance bonuses. Smyly adds depth and experience to an Atlanta rotation led by Max Fried, who finished fifth in the NL Cy Young Award voting, and rookie sensation Ian Anderson. The Braves also are counting on the return of Mike Soroka, who missed most of this past season with a torn Achilles. The Braves hope to get more out of Smyly than they did from Cole Hamels, who signed an $18-million, one-year deal for 2020 that became $6,666,667 prorated. He wound up pitching only one game because of injuries... [ More] |
Fri Nov 13 2020 | 16:30 | Breakthrough for women: Miami Marlins hire Kim Ng as GM | Miguel Rojas | SS | Marlins | Free Agent |
MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is believed to be the first female GM in the four major North American professional sports leagues, the Marlins said. “I think this is the most noteworthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947,” said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race and gender in sports at the University of Central Florida. Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a senior vice president. “After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When I got... [ More] |
Fri Nov 13 2020 | 15:50 | Breakthrough for women: Miami Marlins hire Kim Ng as GM | Miguel Rojas | SS | Marlins | Free Agent |
MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is believed to be the first female GM in a major professional sport in North America, the Marlins said. “I think this is the most noteworthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947,” said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race and gender in sports at the University of Central Florida. Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a senior vice president. “After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When I got into this business,... [ More] |
Fri Nov 13 2020 | 15:20 | Breakthrough for women: Miami Marlins hire Kim Ng as GM | Miguel Rojas | SS | Marlins | Free Agent |
MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman and Asian American in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is believed to be the first female GM in a major professional sport in North America, the Marlins said. “I think this is the most noteworthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947,” said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race and gender in sports at the University of Central Florida. Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a senior vice president. “After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When... [ More] |
Fri Nov 13 2020 | 13:50 | Ryan Tepera? Mix-up gives curious MVP vote to Cubs pitcher | Ryan Tepera | RP | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | Trea Turner | SS | Nationals | Free Agent |
| | | Jacob deGrom | SP | Mets | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Tepera? Baseball fans love to argue over who should win big awards. But there likely was no debate about the most surprising name on the list of players getting NL MVP votes Thursday. That was Tepera, the Chicago Cubs reliever who was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA during the virus-shortened season. The 33-year-old righty received a single 10th-place vote for one point, leaving him tied for 18th in the NL balloting, far behind winner Freddie Freeman. Still, that’s more support than the likes of Bryce Harper, Jacob deGrom and Nolan Arenado drew as they got shut out. Tepera struck out 31 in 20 2/3 innings over 21 games, and pitched in the playoffs for the Cubs. A valuable piece of Chicago's bullpen, for sure, but MVP worthy? Turns out there was a simple explanation for the vote. It was a mix-up — one that didn’t affect the results in any way. “I meant to hit Trea Turner and thought I had,” longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Rick Hummel said. No worries, Tepera tweeted. “One... [ More] |
Fri Nov 13 2020 | 01:30 | Ryan Tepera? Mix-up gives curious MVP vote to Cubs pitcher | Ryan Tepera | RP | Cubs | Free Agent |
| | | Trea Turner | SS | Nationals | Free Agent |
| | | Jacob deGrom | SP | Mets | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Tepera? Baseball fans love to argue over who should win big awards. But there likely was no debate about the most surprising name on the list of players getting NL MVP votes Thursday. That was Tepera, the Chicago Cubs reliever who was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA during the virus-shortened season. The 33-year-old righty received a single 10th-place vote for one point, leaving him tied for 18th in the NL balloting, far behind winner Freddie Freeman. Still, that’s more support than the likes of Bryce Harper, Jacob deGrom and Nolan Arenado drew as they got shut out. Tepera struck out 31 in 20 2/3 innings over 21 games, and pitched in the playoffs for the Cubs. Turns out there was a simple explanation for the vote. It was a mix-up — one that didn’t affect the results in any way. “I meant to hit Trea Turner and thought I had,” longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Rick Hummel said. Fondly called “The Commish” by his peers, Hummel in 2006 won the Baseball Writers' Association of America's award for excellence that is presented during the Hall of Fame’s induction ceremonies. Hummel said he intended to click on Turner’s name on a drop-down list, but figures he accidentally clicked Tepera. Turner, the Washington shortstop, finished all alone in seventh place. “I should have double-checked it,” Hummel said. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Thu Nov 12 2020 | 21:30 | Braves' Freeman wins NL MVP, White Sox slugger Abreu gets AL | Mookie Betts | RF | Dodgers | Free Agent |
| | | Shane Bieber | SP | Indians | Free Agent |
| | | Freddie Freeman | 1B | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Ryan Howard | 1B | Giants | Free Agent |
| | | DJ LeMahieu | 1B/2B/3B | Yankees | Free Agent |
| | | Manny Machado | 3B/SS | Padres | Free Agent |
| | | Justin Morneau | | | Free Agent |
| | | Juan Soto | LF | Nationals | Free Agent |
| | | Fernando Tatis | SS | Padres | Free Agent |
| | | Mike Trout | CF | Angels | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — As opening day finally approached, Freddie Freeman had far bigger concerns than perfecting his swing and practicing his scoops. Just being able to walk a few steps was hard enough. “It wasn't the way I wanted to start, with COVID,” the Atlanta Braves first baseman said. “I was able to beat it.” And then some. Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” Chicago White Sox slugger José Abreu earned the AL MVP, a reward for powering his team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Freeman got 28 of the 30 first-place votes in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts got the other two firsts to finish second, and San Diego third baseman Manny Machado was third. In a season affected from spring training to the World Series by the pandemic, perhaps it was fitting the final major award of the year went to... [ More] |
Thu Nov 12 2020 | 19:30 | Angels hire Braves' Perry Minasian as new general manager | Shohei Ohtani | DH/SP | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Albert Pujols | 1B/DH | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Anthony Rendon | 3B | Angels | Free Agent |
| | | Mike Trout | CF | Angels | Free Agent |
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian once served as a batboy for the Texas Rangers when they made road trips to Angel Stadium. He's headed back to Anaheim three decades later as the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract to take charge of a big-budget franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 2009 and didn't appear to be much closer to a breakthrough in the just-completed season. “I think this is going to be a great situation,” Minasian said in an interview with KLAA-AM, the team-owned flagship radio station. “It’s a good group of guys, and I’m looking forward to winning a lot of games.” Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as Atlanta's vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto... [ More] |