MLB

7:00 AM ET In a spring training game last weekend, Trevor Bauer pitched the first inning with one eye closed. That he did it against the Padres, the Dodgers’ new archrival in the National League West, suggests it was perhaps a bit of gamesmanship, although Bauer attempted a different explanation after the game. “I like

9:15 PM ET Major League Baseball announced that it would test a variety of experimental rules across different levels of the minor leagues during the 2021 season. Ranging from banning some forms of the defensive shift and using larger bases to implementing electronic strike zones and experimenting with 15-second pitch clocks, the new rules will

6:15 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Major League Baseball on Thursday outlined a litany of experimental rules it plans to implement at different minor league levels this season, including banning some forms of defensive shifts, more games governed

7:00 AM ET DAVID PRICE CALLED opting out of the 2020 MLB season “the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make.” He felt the strain and the doubt most on Opening Day and at the start of the postseason. But when Price watched from home as Julio Urias struck out Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy

6:50 PM ET Associated Press PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco is uncertain to be ready for the start of the season after elbow soreness forced him to stop throwing. New York manager Luis Rojas said the right-hander, who turns 34 on March 21, started spring training workouts behind other players

6:05 PM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — A sports gambler faces up to five years in federal prison for threatening social media messages sent to players with the Tampa Bay Rays. Benjamin Tucker Patz, 24, of Napa, California, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Tampa federal court to transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce, according

7:00 AM ET The February 24, 1997 issue of Sports Illustrated featured the young smiling faces of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez on the cover, with the billing that the pair “head up the finest group of shortstops since World War II.” The article highlighted an up-and-coming young class that included Jeter, Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra

9:35 PM ET Associated Press Stephen Strasburg pronounced his fastball command better than it was before his carpal tunnel surgery and said his first game action in nearly seven full months essentially was the same as any other Grapefruit League debut after throwing 1 2/3 innings Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. “It didn’t really

2:57 PM ET Associated Press The Texas Rangers will be without one of their top relievers to start the season after hard-throwing Jonathan Hernandez was shut down from pitching for at least four weeks because of a ligament sprain in his right elbow. Rangers general manager Chris Young said Tuesday that an MRI revealed a

7:00 AM ET Alden Gonzalez Close ESPN Staff Writer Joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Los Angeles Rams Previously covered the Angels for MLB.com Jesse Rogers Close ESPN Staff Writer Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. As Opening Day of the 2021 MLB season approaches, fans across the

8:21 PM ET Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Rheal Cormier, the durable left-hander who spent 16 seasons in the majors and remarkably pitched in the Olympics before and after his time in the big leagues, died Monday. He was 53. The Philadelphia Phillies said Cormier died of cancer at his home in New Brunswick, Canada. Cormier

1:01 PM ET Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the son of a Black father and a Japanese mother, is speaking out about the rise of violence against Asian Americans in the United States. “Over the past year, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of hate crimes against Asian Americans and the

7:00 AM ET Last season’s 16-team MLB playoffs format with a best-of-three first round drew mixed reviews. Fans seemed to like the bracket-style setup and the elimination of the one-game wild-card matchup, but others feared it was a sign of things to come with an expanded playoffs devaluing the regular season. While an expanded postseason

11:53 AM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes have been isolated from their teammates at spring training after breaking COVID-19 protocols. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday that the two players have been sent to their temporary homes in Arizona as the Indians await word from the

2:02 PM ET Associated Press WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jeremy Jeffress was released by the Washington Nationals on Sunday for what general manager Mike Rizzo called unspecified “personnel reasons,” less than two weeks after the reliever agreed to terms on a minor league deal. The team sent out a six-word tweet announcing the move.

8:01 AM ET For club executives, the question of whether to manipulate the service time of young players has been like the steroid quandary was for players in the 1990s. Teams have the option of making decisions based entirely in good faith. Some clubs have operated this way. Fernando Tatis Jr. was on the Padres’

4:45 PM ET Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez signed a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. The 31-year-old will look to build off momentum he had with the Phillies last season when he posted a 1.42 ERA over eight outings. He was struck by a 105

2:07 PM ET Associated Press PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic will be sidelined due to a strained adductor muscle in his left knee. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said an MRI on Saturday revealed the injury. No timeline was given for the outfielder’s return. “While disappointed that Jarred will be sidelined,