Mookie Betts will not receive all money from Dodgers until 2044Video
Mookie Betts will not receive all of his money from his $365 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers until he is approaching his 52nd birthday in 2044, according to contract details obtained by The Associated Press. He has a $65 million signing bonus that is guaranteed against work...
Nationals and Yankees kneel ahead of Opening Day national anthem
Players for the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees all took a knee prior to the playing of the National Anthem ahead of Thursday’s first game of the coronavirus-delayed 2020 MLB season. The athletes also held a black ribbon while kneeling to honor the Black Lives Matter movement during the...
Dr. Anthony Fauci’s first pitch for MLB’s return misses its markVideo
The trajectory for Dr. Anthony Fauci’s first pitch for Opening Day would be favorable for any disease-related projection model. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, had his initial toss go straight into the ground Thursday before the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals contest. Dr....
Yankees, Nationals kneel in Black Lives Matter salute; Fauci tosses 1st pitchVideo
WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals and New York Yankees knelt in unison before the first game of the baseball season as part of an Opening Day ceremony Thursday night that featured references to the Black Lives Matter movement, the coronavirus pandemic — including an off-the-mark first pitch by Dr. Anthony...
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to miss Thursday’s opener with back issueVideo
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw went on the injured list because of a back issue hours before he was scheduled to start Thursday night for Los Angeles against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day of the shortened season. Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw’s back stiffened up in...
Indians to meet with Native Americans on potential new nameVideo
CLEVELAND — Before the Cleveland Indians make a definitive decision on changing their name, they’ll listen to those they may have most offended over the past 105 years. Owner Paul Dolan said the team will speak to Native American groups as one of the preliminary steps in the potential name...
MLB expanding playoffs to 16 teams for this seasonVideo
NEW YORK — MLB and the players’ union agreed Thursday to expand the playoffs from 10 teams to 16 for the pandemic-delayed season, a decision that makes it likely teams with losing records will reach the postseason. The agreement was reached hours before the season opener between the New York...
Nationals star Juan Soto positive for covid-19, out for openerVideo
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for covid-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, forcing him to miss the start of the pandemic-delayed season. “You feel bad for him. He’s a great player. The fans want to see him. And it affects our lineup,” Nationals...
MLB predictions: Who will be this year’s big winners?
Tribune-Review staff writer Chris Adamski offers his predictions for the 2020 MLB season, including award winners and playoff and championship participants. National League MVP Ronald Acuna, Braves Before he turned 22 in December, Acuna had accumulated 67 home runs, 53 steals, 205 runs and 165 RBIs — in just 267...
Angels’ Mike Trout confirms he’ll play this year with baby on way
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout is confident enough in baseball’s safety rules to stay on the field during the coronavirus pandemic. Trout has decided to play for the Los Angeles Angels in the shortened baseball season, although his year will be paused in a few weeks by the birth of...
Fox taking fans to the ballgame with a virtual crowd
LOS ANGELES — Fox will be taking viewers out to the ballgame by adding a virtual crowd in parks during its baseball telecasts this season. The network revealed on Thursday that it will include computer-generated fans in the stands beginning with their three games on Saturday. Fox begins its coverage...
Dodgers, Mookie Betts agree to 12-year, $365 million contract extensionVideo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Mookie Betts agreed to a 12-year, $365 million contract extension Wednesday that should keep Betts in Los Angeles for the rest of his career. It is the second-largest deal in Major League Baseball history, exceeded only by the 12-year, $426.5 million...
Opening day amid virus: Masked men, empty parks, odd sounds
Opening day, at last. A baseball season that was on the brink before it ever began because of the virus outbreak is set to start Thursday night when excitable Max Scherzer and the World Series champion Washington Nationals host $324 million ace Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees. When...
MLB preview 2020: American League team-by-team breakdownVideo
AL East New York Yankees 2019: 103-59, first place, lost to Houston in ALCS. Manager: Aaron Boone (third season). He’s Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, C Erik Kratz, C Chris Iannetta, C Josh Thole, RHP Nick Tropeano, LHP Luis Avilán. He’s Outta Here: LHP CC Sabathia, SS Didi Gregorius, 1B Edwin...
Hit or error? MLB official scorers work remotely thru virusVideo
MIAMI — As an official scorer for MLB, Ron Jernick has worked at the World Series, the All-Star Game and the World Baseball Classic. This season, he will work at home. Baseball is back, but because of the coronavirus, official scorers this season will rule remotely on hits and errors...
Giants manager Gabe Kapler, players kneel during anthem
OAKLAND, Calif. — San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler plans to use his position to speak out against racial injustice and provide a voice for those who aren’t heard. Kapler and several of his players knelt during the national anthem before their 6-2 exhibition victory against the Oakland Athletics. Kapler...
Fauci to throw 1st pitch at Yankees-Nationals opener in DC
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the first game of Major League Baseball’s pandemic-delayed regular season. The Washington Nationals announced Monday that Fauci — a self-described fan of the reigning World Series champions — accepted the team’s...
Braves remove ‘Chop On’ sign, slogan, but no call on chant
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have removed a “Chop On” sign that sat near an entrance to Truist Park and are still considering their stance on the fans’ tomahawk chop chant. The removal of the wooden sign came as the team changed its slogan from “Chop On” to “For The...
Broken bats: NL pitchers ponder season with no swings
Three or four hours before a National League game, they’d be cackling around the cage. Madison Bumgarner and buddies — or pitchers from any home team, really — taking batting practice under an afternoon sun in an otherwise empty ballpark. After all the bunting drills, when they finally got to...
Braves All-Star Freedie Freeman prayed ‘Please don’t take me’ during covid-19 fightVideo
ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman doesn’t know if he has time to be ready for the Atlanta Braves’ opener. Following a scary journey in his battle with covid-19, Freeman is grateful to even have a chance. On Saturday, the four-time All-Star revealed he had a high temperature of 104.5 degrees early...
Blue Jays not allowed to play games in Canada
TORONTO — The Blue Jays have been denied approval by the Canadian government to play in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced in a statement Saturday the federal government had denied the request, confirming what an official familiar with the matter had told The Associated Press...
Daniel Bard makes Rockies roster after seven-year absenceVideo
DENVER — Daniel Bard never ran from the mental hiccups that derailed a promising pitching career with the Boston Red Sox. Through a half-dozen comeback attempts since his last appearance in the big leagues in 2013, Bard couldn’t rediscover his control and finally settled into a job last year as...
Austin Meadows joins Tyler Glasnow as Rays’ only known coronavirus cases
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay outfielder Austin Meadows has been placed on the injured list after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Rays announced Thursday night. Left-handed reliever Aaron Loup was added to the 40-man roster in place of Meadows, who was a first-time All-Star and batted .291 with...
Major league teams try to ramp up the competition in campVideo
Well-traveled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman-outfielder Logan Morrison figures it will be easy for him to adjust to games without spectators this season. “I played for the Rays and the Marlins, so I’m used to it,” Morrison said. The Brewers and other major league teams worked out again Monday in mostly...
Several rookies could have an impact in MLB’s abbreviated seasonVideo
CHICAGO — Baseball’s 60-game season is plenty of time for a young slugger or pitcher to play a pivotal role in a playoff run. Here is a closer look at a handful of rookies who could grab a starring role this year: • OF Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox: The...
