MLB

7:30 AM ET Because of Francisco Lindor‘s rapid ascension on Major League Baseball’s stage, and because of Cleveland’s long-standing payroll limitations and its history of dealing its biggest stars, a cottage industry of trade speculation has swirled around the All-Star shortstop since he turned down a big offer in the spring of 2017. The expectation

2:39 PM ET The San Diego Padres have added another big name this offseason, agreeing to a deal with Korean star infielder Ha-seong Kim, according to ESPN and multiple reports. Kim, 25, became one of the top infielders on the open market when he was posted earlier this month by the Kiwoom Heroes, his team

5:52 PM ET As he was introduced by his new team Thursday, Yu Darvish said he was shocked by his trade to the San Diego Padres and grew emotional talking about his time with the Chicago Cubs and the bonds he created there. “With what’s happening with the coronavirus, and the money the Cubs have,

3:30 PM ET CHICAGO — Cubs president Jed Hoyer didn’t want to become one of those organizations with little talent left at the end of its current window of contention. So, with a clear eye toward the future, he traded star pitcher Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres earlier this week for four young

8:00 AM ET CLYDE SUKEFORTH IS SMILING. He’s holding a Brooklyn Dodgers cap in one hand and pointing to the sky with the other. He’s one of the characters in the Norman Rockwell painting “Tough Call,” although you can barely see him poking out behind the three umpires at home. The men in black are

8:45 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Twenty-nine baseball teams had the opportunity to acquire one of the best pitchers in the world for little more than a handful of lottery tickets, and only one jumped at it. If

7:32 PM ET ESPN News Services SAN DIEGO — Blake Snell gave up the ball in Game 6 of the World Series, shaking his head after manager Kevin Cash’s curious pitching change. With three years left on his contract, Snell hardly considered that could be his final moment as a Tampa Bay Ray. The San

3:42 PM ET The Minnesota Twins signed former Los Angeles Angels closer Hansel Robles to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Robles saved 23 games in 27 chances in 2019 when he went 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA in a 71 appearances. Last season, however, he struggled with a 10.26 ERA

4:16 PM ET Veteran first baseman Justin Smoak is finalizing a deal with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal will guarantee him somewhere in the $6-7 million range, sources said. Smoak, 34, will join a Giants team that won the Central League but lost in the Japan Series this

2:06 PM ET The Philadelphia Phillies acquired left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. In the deal, Tampa Bay sent Alvarado to Philadelphia, the Phillies sent left-hander Garrett Cleavinger to the Los Angeles and the Dodgers sent infielder Dillon Paulson and a player

2:30 PM ET The MLB offseason has been historically slow, mostly due to the coronavirus pandemic (and the associated revenue problems), but having a new collective bargaining agreement due next winter (and the associated labor fights until then) is also a factor. Although the major free agents in this winter’s class still haven’t signed, there

9:44 PM ET Jesse Rogers Close ESPN Staff Writer Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Jeff Passan Close ESPN ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” The San Diego Padres are on the verge of making their second trade

9:45 PM ET MLB InsidersESPN After a slow start to the offseason, the San Diego Padres have ignited the hot stove with a pair of blockbuster deals for starting pitchers. First, San Diego acquired 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell for prospects from the Tampa Bay Rays. Then the Padres turned around and added

10:00 AM ET Santa Claus may have been a couple of days late, but he finally gave baseball fans a gift: A major MLB trade to discuss and debate. The Tampa Bay Rays will be sending 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Luis Patino, catcher Francisco Mejia and

7:00 AM ET Marly RiveraESPN Writer Close Marly Rivera is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com. Entering the 2020 season, there was never any doubt who the starting catcher was for the New York Yankees. That ended with the headline-grabbing benching of one of the most polarizing players to wear a Yankees uniform in recent

11:29 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” The San Diego Padres are finalizing a trade to acquire former Cy Young winner Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays for prospects, sources told ESPN. The prospective deal would be centered

8:00 AM ET The last time a team other than the Los Angeles Dodgers won the NL West, LeBron James had just won his first NBA title, in 2012. Since then, L.A. has dominated the division, and won the 2020 World Series two months ago. And if the Dodgers are the best team in the

12:33 PM ET Phil Niekro, a pitcher who used his signature knuckleball to fool generations of hitters as well as craft a Hall of Fame career, died Saturday night in his sleep after a long battle with cancer, the Atlanta Braves announced Sunday. He was 81. Niekro, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997,