MLB

11:49 PM ET Left-handed starter Mike Minor and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a two-year deal that is pending a physical, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Minor returns to the city where he revitalized his career as a reliever in 2017. Minor, who turns 33 on Dec. 26, has since become

4:52 PM ET Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies lost $145 million during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season played without fans, a source told The Associated Press on Saturday. The Phillies are searching for a general manager to replace Matt Klentak and face important decisions regarding catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop Didi Gregorius. Both players are

2:10 PM ET Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena was released in Mexico’s Yucatan state Thursday prior to a scheduled hearing following allegations of domestic violence, sources told ESPN’s Victor Alvarez. Legal sources in Yucatan state told ESPN that Arozarena was released from all charges when he reached an agreement with his former partner, who

7:55 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Charlie Morton is back with the team where his big league career started. Not that he has a lot of memories from that rookie season with the Atlanta Braves. “That was 11 years ago,” Morton said Wednesday. Actually, it was 12. “I don’t remember a whole lot about

5:24 PM ET Associated Press The Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds swapped three pitchers in a four-player trade Wednesday. The Rockies acquired right-hander Robert Stephenson and minor league outfielder Jameson Hannah from the Reds for right-handed pitchers Jeff Hoffman and Case Williams, a minor leaguer. Stephenson, 27, made 10 relief appearances for the Reds last

12:53 PM ET Longtime St. Louis Cardinals star and current free agent Adam Wainwright is in wait-and-see mode. “I know the nature of the business of baseball with salaries, and not sure what the revenues will be like next year,” Wainwright told ESPN this week. “Or the fan situation. “St. Louis is very dependent on

7:00 AM ET Sam MillerESPN.com Close ESPN baseball columnist/feature writerFormer editor-in-chief of Baseball ProspectusCo-author of “The Only Rule Is It Has To Work” Every year, two Hall of Famers are born. OK, it’s not quite that precise, but as an average, it works out: 20 future baseball Hall of Famers (from the Negro Leagues and

3:25 PM ET ESPN News Services Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena has been detained in Mexico’s Yucatan state for a situation involving allegations of domestic violence. The Yucatan state prosecutors’ office confirmed Tuesday that Arozarena was detained “for problems relating to his ex-partner.” He has not been formally charged yet. Mexican law allows a

5:42 PM ET Associated Press FULLERTON, Calif. — Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda’s condition has improved while he remains hospitalized in Southern California. Los Angeles Dodgers spokesman Steve Brener said Tuesday that the team’s 93-year-old former manager has been taking online calls from former players and coaches at a hospital in Orange County. Lasorda

9:28 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Right-hander Charlie Morton signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, further bolstering the rotation of the team that fell a game short of the World Series and

7:15 AM ET CHICAGO — The picture emerging of new Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is one of a baseball rat who is every bit as knowledgeable about the game as his predecessor, a likely Hall of Fame executive by the name of Theo Epstein. Some observers might view Hoyer’s ascension to

1:54 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Indians manager Terry Francona has assembled his coaching staff for the 2021 season, but it won’t include his longtime friend and bench coach Brad Mills. Francona, who missed much of this past shortened season with significant health issues, will replace Mills with DeMarlo Hale. Hale, 59, joins the

2:12 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The Chicago White Sox will host the New York Yankees in the rescheduled Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 12. MLB said Monday that the plan is tentative, contingent on the status of public health next summer. The teams had been scheduled to play

7:00 AM ET Before the 2020 season began, New York Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino decided to document what was sure to be one of the most unusual years in MLB history. Armed with a Leica M240, a trio of lenses and an iPhone, he snapped photos of his teammates and their often surreal surroundings, keeping

11:57 PM ET Two of the biggest stars in hip-hop battled on Thursday night at Magic City in Atlanta to kick off Season 2 of “Verzuz.” With beef, controversy and drama filling the air, social media was ready to see potential fireworks as Jeezy and Gucci Mane squared off in the latest showdown of the

11:41 AM ET EPA/YONHAP The Korea Baseball Organization, the highest level of baseball in South Korea and one of the first major professional sports leagues to return to action during the coronavirus pandemic, has entered its home stretch as the Korean Series will determine the 2020 KBO champion. The matchup features the NC Dinos, who

5:41 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The New York Mets have signed right-hander Sam McWilliams, who’s spent six years in the minor leagues with three other organizations. The Mets announced the one-year contract Friday. The 25-year-old will get $750,000 in the majors and $195,000 in the minors. The 6-foot-7 McWilliams was in Tampa

8:22 PM ET Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment, helping clear room on the 40-man roster for three young prospects who were not part of the team’s run to the World Series. Renfroe, 28, appeared in 42 games with 34 starts during the pandemic-shortened