Luke Voit guaranteed $2M in 1-year deal with Brewers
March 29, 2023 GMTSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — First baseman Luke Voit has a $2 million major league salary in his one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, and the former big league home run champion can earn an additional $3 million in performance bonuses.
Brewers’ infielder Keston Hiura sent outright to Triple-A
March 28, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers assigned infielder Keston Hiura outright to their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville on Tuesday after he cleared waivers.
The move means Hiura will remain with the Brewers organization after they had designated him for assignment.
Tuesday’s Transactions
March 28, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
Padres’ Seidler willing to spend big for a shot at a parade
March 28, 2023 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — This kind of thing doesn't happen much in San Diego.
As Padres owner Peter Seidler walked on stage for a panel discussion at FanFest on a brilliant Saturday afternoon in February, chants of “Peter!
MLB free agent watch: Ohtani leads possible 2023-24 class
March 28, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — The number will follow Shohei Ohtani until it is over. No, not Ohtani's home runs or strikeouts or any of his magnificent numbers from the field. Nothing like that.
AP source: Guardians nearing deal with All-Star 2B Giménez
March 28, 2023 GMTCLEVELAND (AP) — Andrés Giménez became an All-Star last season. He is about to get paid like one.
The smooth-fielding second baseman has agreed to terms on a long-term contract with the Cleveland Guardians, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
MLB unveils new replay technology and marketing approach
March 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A season of seismic changes for baseball gets underway Thursday highlighted by significant new rules designed to speed up the pace of play and create more action on the field.
Nats’ Corbin’s belief not dimmed by most losses in majors
March 28, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — No major league pitcher took more losses in 2022 than Patrick Corbin, with 19. And none accumulated more Ls in 2021 than Corbin did, with 16. Last season’s ERA for the Washington Nationals left-hander was 6.31.
MLB The Show breaks barrier with Negro League players
March 28, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — MLB The Show has broken a video game barrier: For the first time, the franchise will insert some of the greatest Negro League players — from Satchel Paige to Jackie Robinson — into the 2023 edition of the game as playable characters.
Sports on TV for Wednesday, March 29
March 28, 2023 GMT(All times Eastern)
New this week: ‘Rye Lane,’ ‘Tetris,’ ‘Riverdale’ and Chlöe
March 28, 2023 GMTFrom the compelling backstory of how “Tetris” became a cultural juggernaut to a return to “Riverdale,” here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.
Monday’s Sports In Brief
March 28, 2023 GMTCOLLEGE BASKETBALL
SEATTLE (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Georgia Amoore added 24 points and top-seeded Virginia Tech advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history with an 84-74 win over No.
Sergio Romo retires as Giant after pitching one final time
March 28, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sergio Romo retired as a San Francisco Giant just the way he wanted, pitching one final time for the team he helped to win three World Series championships and then calling it a career Monday night.
Monday’s Transactions
March 28, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
AP source: Hoerner, Cubs agree to $35 million, 3-year deal
March 28, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have locked up another infielder, agreeing to a $35 million, three-year contract with Nico Hoerner.
A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the contract to The Associated Press on Monday night on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced.
Guardians’ McKenzie could miss 2 months with shoulder strain
March 28, 2023 GMTCleveland Guardians starter Triston McKenzie could be sidelined for two months with a shoulder strain, an early blow to the defending AL Central champions.
The team said Monday night an MRI in Goodyear, Arizona, revealed a strain of his right teres major muscle (back of the shoulder).
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTChicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia at Miami, 6:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTChicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia at Miami, 6:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTSan Diego at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTAtlanta at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMT2023 Major League Schedule
March 28, 2023 GMTMilwaukee at Toronto, 1:07 p.m.
Free Agent Signings
March 27, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The 147 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources.
Tigers acquire INF Zach McKinstry in trade with Cubs
March 27, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers acquired veteran infielder Zach McKinstry in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
The Tigers sent minor league right-hander Carlos Guzman to the Cubs for McKinstry, a .208 hitter with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in parts of three big league seasons.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 27, 2023 GMTChicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 27, 2023 GMTMilwaukee at Toronto, 1:07 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 27, 2023 GMTAtlanta at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 27, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia at Miami, 6:40 p.m.
2023 Major League Schedule
March 27, 2023 GMTSan Diego at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.
Umpire ejects Realmuto after bizarre game ball exchange
March 27, 2023 GMTDUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was ejected Monday in a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays for an awkward ball exchange that followed a pitch-clock violation.
Rangers release veteran catcher León from minor league deal
March 27, 2023 GMTARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers released veteran catcher Sandy León from his minor league contract after breaking camp from Arizona.
Texas announced the move Monday before an exhibition game at home in Texas against Kansas City, the team they share a spring training complex with in Surprise, Arizona.
MLB 2023: New rules, big money Mets, Ohtani’s walk year
March 27, 2023 GMTBaseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros sealed the franchise's second title in six seasons.
Sports on TV for Tuesday, March 28
March 27, 2023 GMT(All times Eastern)
Brewers sign Luke Voit, designate Hiura for assignment
March 27, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers signed first baseman Luke Voit and designated Keston Hiura for assignment Monday as part of a flurry of moves they made to prepare for the start of the season.
José Abreu, Trea Turner among key players in new spots
March 27, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — Baseball begins again on Thursday with opening day. For some players and managers, it's also their first regular-season game with a new team.
Here is a closer look at a couple people in new places who could have a big impact this year:
Sunday’s Transactions
March 27, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
Braves rookies get rotation spots with Wright headed to IL
March 26, 2023 GMTNORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves will open the season with two rookie left-handers in their rotation while giving right-hander Kyle Wright more time to prepare for his first start.
Wright was told Sunday he would start the season on the 15-day injured list.
Free Agent Signings
March 26, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The 147 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources.
Saturday’s Transactions
March 26, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
Yanks pitcher Severino has lat strain, likely to start on IL
March 26, 2023 GMTThe New York Yankees could be opening the season without three-fifths of their projected starting rotation.
Right-hander Luis Severino has a low-grade lat strain, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday, putting the two-time All-Star at risk of starting the season on the injured list.
Renamed Horseshoe to host Poker World Series on Vegas Strip
March 25, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — A name paired with poker and Las Vegas lore now has a place on the neon-lit Strip following the rebranding of an iconic hotel with a memorable history at a crossroads shared with some of the most recognizable casinos in the world.
Friday’s Transactions
March 25, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
Ohtani returns to Angels camp, fans 8 in minor league game
March 25, 2023 GMTTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — It was back to business as usual for Shohei Ohtani on Friday.
The two-way star returned to Los Angeles Angels camp after his MVP performance in the World Baseball Classic. Three days after striking out Mike Trout to clinch the WBC title for Japan against the United States in Miami, Ohtani was on the back fields in Tempe, pitching in a minor league game against some Arizona Diamondbacks farmhands.
Cardinals sign pitcher Miles Mikolas to $55.75M, 3-year deal
March 24, 2023 GMTST. LOUIS (AP) — Miles Mikolas is sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The right-hander signed a $55.75 million, three-year contract on Friday that will carry through the 2025 season.
The new deal replaces a $68 million, four-year contract signed in February 2019 that covered the 2020-23 seasons and was set to pay $15.75 million this year.
Big league pitchers can use PitchCom for signals this year
March 24, 2023 GMTBig league pitchers can signal electronically what they plan to throw this year.
Major League Baseball expanded use of the PitchCom device to pitchers in addition to catchers on Friday.
“Use of the PitchCom device is optional for clubs and wholly voluntary for players,” MLB said in a memo to teams.
Nola vs. deGrom, Ohtani highlight MLB’s opening-day matchups
March 24, 2023 GMTThe Texas Rangers aren't wasting any time in seeing what they have in Jacob deGrom.
The ace right-hander, who signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers in the offseason, will face Philadelphia's Aaron Nola when the 2023 Major League Baseball season opens next Thursday.
NL West Preview: Padres eager to take title from Dodgers
March 24, 2023 GMTThe San Diego Padres sure don't feel like little brother anymore to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers.
Buoyed by a stunning victory against the 111-win Dodgers in the NL Division Series and owner Peter Seidler's fearless offseason spending, the Padres are poised to make a run at the NL West title as well as a World Series crown that has always been out of reach.
NL East Preview: Braves, Phillies, Mets to duke it out again
March 24, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — The National League East made a strong argument as the majors' toughest division in 2022 and lines up as perhaps even better this season.
The NL East boasted two 101-win teams — the Atlanta Braves, who won their fifth consecutive division title, and the New York Mets.
AL West Preview: Can Ohtani, Angels unseat the Astros?
March 24, 2023 GMTOnce Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout for an epic finish to the World Baseball Classic, the former AL MVPs quickly returned to being teammates again for what could be their last chance together to lead the Los Angeles Angels to the playoffs.
AL Central Preview: Guards try defending lackluster division
March 24, 2023 GMTGuardians ace Shane Bieber was musing about Cleveland manager Terry Francona's importance to the club earlier this spring when he made a somewhat surprising acknowledgement of what baseball's youngest team had done a year ago.
AL East Preview: Judge, Yankees lead MLB’s deepest division
March 24, 2023 GMTFrom 1998-2003, the five AL East teams finished in the exact same order every season. Back then, the New York Yankees were dominant, the Boston Red Sox were contenders and everyone else was left chasing those teams — and that remained the status quo for a while.
Trevor Bauer, shunned by MLB, introduced by Japanese team
March 24, 2023 GMTYOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — The Trevor Bauer era in Japan began Friday at an introductory news conference, where he pulled a blue and white Yokohama DeNA BayStars jersey over a white shirt and red tie.
National League West Preview Capsules
March 24, 2023 GMTCapsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:
National League East Preview Capsules
March 24, 2023 GMTCapsules of National League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:
American League West Preview Capsules
March 24, 2023 GMTCapsules of American League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:
American League Central Preview Capsules
March 24, 2023 GMTCapsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:
American League East Preview Capsules
March 24, 2023 GMTCapsules of American League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:
Thursday’s Transactions
March 24, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
Hoskins’ knee torn; Wainwright, Iglesias out as openers near
March 24, 2023 GMTA trio of NL pennant hopefuls are suddenly dealing with injuries to some pretty important players.
The Philadelphia Phillies lost slugging first baseman Rhys Hoskins on Thursday when he damaged his left knee fielding a grounder in a spring training game.
Phils’ Hoskins tears knee, expected to miss significant time
March 23, 2023 GMTCLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.
Inflategate? Bouncy basketballs hot topic at March Madness
March 23, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Players and coaches in the NCAA Tournament may be breathing life into a new controversy: Inflategate.
After last weekend's first and second-round games were plagued by low shooting percentages from 3-point range, murmurs began about whether slick or excessively inflated basketballs may have been the culprit.
Now 40, Verlander still looks strong this spring for Mets
March 23, 2023 GMTSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — It's a fair assumption that Father Time will catch up with Justin Verlander one of these days.
The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner is putting up quite a fight.
The 40-year-old Verlander signed with the New York Mets during the offseason and looks like he's got plenty of good pitching left.
Adam Wainwright headed to injured list with groin injury
March 23, 2023 GMTAdam Wainwright was in line for his seventh opening day start. Instead, the veteran St. Louis Cardinals right-hander will begin what’s slated to be his final season on the injured list with a groin injury.
Japan’s winning WBC team drops in on Prime Minister Kishida
March 23, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida might have had his most enjoyable day in office on Thursday when Japan's winning World Baseball Classic team paid a visit.
Kishida was beaming when a gold medal from the winning team was placed around his neck, and he also received a large card in a frame containing each player's signature.
Wednesday’s Transactions
March 23, 2023 GMTBASEBALL:
World Baseball Classic keeps growing despite injury risks
March 23, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s strikeout of Mike Trout, Trea Turner’s go-ahead, eighth-inning grand slam against Venezuela, Japan’s walk-off semifinal win and Mexico’s comeback from a four-run deficit against Puerto Rico will be replayed over and over.
Roger Clemens will be an analyst for ESPN on opening day
March 22, 2023 GMTRoger Clemens will be an analyst for ESPN when the defending World Series champion Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox on opening day.
Clemens made four appearances on last year's KayRod Cast with Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez.
Astros star Altuve has surgery on broken thumb, a WBC injury
March 22, 2023 GMTHouston Astros star Jose Altuve had surgery Wednesday on his broken right thumb, an injury that occurred in the World Baseball Classic and will significantly delay the second baseman's 2023 debut.
The Astros announced that the 32-year-old Altuve had the procedure done in Houston and will stay there to begin his rehabilitation, with only one week left in spring training.
Nadel to miss start of 29th season as lead on Rangers radio
March 22, 2023 GMTARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel said Wednesday he will miss the start of his 29th season as the lead voice on Texas Rangers radio broadcasts while getting treatment for some mental health issues.
After player input, MLB allows some pitch clock delays
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has clarified its new rules to allow umpires to delay the start of the pitch clock after big swings in which a hitter loses footing or when a pitcher covers first base, third or home, in addition to other clarifications announced Wednesday.
Ohtani fans Trout, Japan tops US 3-2 for WBC championship
March 22, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout had dreamed of this moment, along with millions of fans throughout Japan and the United States: the two biggest stars on the planet, longtime teammates, facing each other at 60 feet, 6 inches, the world title at stake.
Apple TV+ announces 2nd season of ‘Friday Night Baseball’
March 22, 2023 GMTCUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple TV+ will begin its second season of “Friday Night Baseball” on April 7. The Chicago Cubs will host the Texas Rangers in a day game, followed by the San Diego Padres facing the Atlanta Braves.
All-Stars of Team USA outmatched, outpitched in WBC final
March 22, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — As Trea Turner rounded the bases Tuesday night after hitting his fifth home run of the World Baseball Classic, the “M-V-P!” chants roared throughout loanDepot park.
Turner's tournament outing — tied for the most in a single WBC, with a grand slam — was a reminder of how just how stacked this United States team was.
Tuesday’s Transactions
March 22, 2023 GMTBASEBALL
Phillies won’t put Harper on 60-day IL; Dbacks lose catcher
March 22, 2023 GMTThe Philadelphia Phillies are leaving open the possibility for Bryce Harper to return to their lineup much sooner than the All-Star break, but that doesn't necessarily mean a quicker-than-expected return for the slugger from reconstructive right elbow surgery.
Urías lined up to start Dodgers’ opener; Kershaw `excited’
March 22, 2023 GMTGOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Julio Urías is lined up to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day — and that's just fine with teammate Clayton Kershaw.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts hasn't announced his scheduled starter for March 30 against Arizona.
MLB plans to announce rules tweaks, week before opening day
March 21, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball's new pitch clock is going to undergo some timing adjustments before it is turned on for games that count.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred called the changes “significant” but also described them as “clarifications” based on input from players.
WBC returns in March 2026, retaining spring training slot
March 21, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The World Baseball Classic will return for its sixth edition in March 2026, with organizers concluding spring training remains a better time than after the World Series or in the middle of the major league season.