MLB

ESPN News Services Jan 2, 2024, 05:47 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK — Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have two opportunities to opt out of his record $325 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although the timing is tied to his pitching elbow’s health. If Yamamoto has Tommy John surgery or is on

Jan 2, 2024, 09:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions We’re into 2024, and the new MLB season is just a few months away. In the first half of free agency, we had some splashy moves — you might have heard that Shohei Ohtani signed a $700 million deal? — and plenty of smaller pickups. But

ESPN News Services Jan 1, 2024, 05:31 PM ET Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday in his native Dominican Republic after being interviewed by prosecutors investigating him for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors, sources confirmed to ESPN. Franco appeared before prosecutors while accompanied by two lawyers, days after not showing up for

Jan 1, 2024, 02:50 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco appeared Monday at a prosecutor’s office in the Dominican Republic to address allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors, a source confirmed to ESPN. Franco appeared with his new legal team, led by attorneys Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación and Juan

Jeff Passan, ESPNDec 30, 2023, 02:09 PM ET Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Open Extended Reactions The Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox for infielder Vaughn Grissom on Saturday, sources told ESPN, shoring up their rotation with

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterDec 30, 2023, 02:44 PM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions The Cincinnati Reds added a veteran pitcher on Saturday, agreeing to terms with righty Frankie Montas on a one-year, $16 million contract, sources told ESPN. The deal is pending

Associated Press Dec 29, 2023, 04:38 PM ET DETROIT — A pair of former Detroit Tigers scouts sued the team, alleging age discrimination over their terminations after the 2020 season. Gary Pellant and Randall Johnson filed the suit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, claiming a shift toward analytics was accompanied by a “false

Associated Press Dec 30, 2023, 12:57 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Chris Flexen agreed to a $1.75 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, giving manager Pedro Grifol another possibility for his rotation. Flexen played for Seattle and Colorado this season, going 2-8 with a 6.86 ERA in 29 games, with 16 starts. The

Associated Press Dec 29, 2023, 04:50 PM ET Open Extended Reactions TORONTO — Isiah Kiner-Falefa‘s $15 million, two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays was finalized on Friday. Kiner-Falefa hit .242 with six homers and 37 RBI in 115 games last season for the New York Yankees, playing 41 games in center, 37 in left,

Jeff Passan, ESPNDec 29, 2023, 05:59 PM ET Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Open Extended Reactions Right-hander Lucas Giolito and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $38.5 million contract, sources told ESPN, locking up the innings-eating veteran as

Associated Press Dec 28, 2023, 06:42 PM ET Open Extended Reactions CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds brought back Buck Farmer on Thursday, signing the reliever to a $2.25 million, one-year contract. Farmer became a free agent after he went 4-5 with three saves and a 4.20 ERA in 71 appearances for Cincinnati this year. The

Associated Press Dec 28, 2023, 08:47 PM ET Open Extended Reactions TORONTO — Gold Glove-winning center fielder Kevin Kiermaier is staying in Toronto, agreeing to a $10.5 million, one-year contract. The team announced the contract on Thursday. The Blue Jays also have Daulton Varsho and George Springer in their outfield. The 33-year-old Kiermaier hit .265

Associated Press Dec 28, 2023, 08:30 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Andrelton Simmons, a four-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop during his 11 years in the majors, has decided to retire. Simmons, 34, made the announcement via an Instagram post from his agency, ISE Baseball. Simmons was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of

Juan Arturo Recio Dec 28, 2023, 12:31 PM ET Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco did not respond to a summons filed in the Dominican Republic over allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors, the agency director said Thursday. Olga Diná Llaverías said Franco did not show up to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterDec 27, 2023, 07:46 PM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto said his desire to win trumped all other reasons in choosing his new team, including the fact that Shohei Ohtani also picked the

Dec 27, 2023, 04:01 PM ET Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been summoned by authorities in the Dominican Republic to answer a complaint of allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors. Franco and his lawyers are required to attend a meeting on Thursday with the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterDec 26, 2023, 09:33 PM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with catcher Martin Maldonado, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. Maldonado, 37, replaces Yasmani Grandal

Associated Press Dec 26, 2023, 01:27 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK — The Yankees traded former top prospect Estevan Florial to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, acquiring right-hander Cody Morris for the 26-year-old outfielder. Florial signed with the Yankees in 2015 and was rated their top prospect in 2019 by MLB.com before dropping