Kim Tong-hyung, Associated Press | Updated March 19 - 5:34 a.m.
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There's so much focus on Shohei Ohtani as his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres prepare to launch the Major League Baseball season in the first regular season games in South Korea. But the two-game "Seoul Series" starting on Wednesday is also a triumphant homecoming for Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Kim is coming off a career year and returning to a stadium he previously called home. Kim played for the Korea Baseball Organization's Kiwoom Heroes for seven seasons before signing with San Diego in 2020. He's called it a "glory" to play in Gocheok Sky Dome again.
Ronald Blum, Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 8:30 p.m.
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A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract. Snell has the right to opt out after this season and become a free agent. A 30-year-old left-hander, Snell is 71-55 with a 3.20 ERA in 191 starts over eight major league seasons, winning Cy Youngs in 2018 with Tampa Bay and last year with San Diego.
The Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 8:06 p.m.
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The Cincinnati Reds are exploring their options after starting center fielder TJ Friedl broke his right wrist on a diving play in spring training last Saturday. The loss of one of the Reds' best players is a blow to a team that already expects to start the season without left-handed starter Nick Lodolo and relievers Ian Gibaut and Alex Young. Rookie infielder Noelvi Marte was suspended for the first 80 games of the season because he tested positive for a banned sustance. Stuart Fairchild and Will Benson are potential replacements in center field.
Paul Newberry, Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 3:34 p.m.
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The Atlanta Braves have optioned All-Star pitcher Bryce Elder to the minors, picking Reynaldo López to open the season as the team's fifth starter. López signed a $30 million, three-year deal with the Braves in November. He earned a spot in the rotation by allowing just four earned runs over 16 2/3 innings in five spring appearances. Elder, by comparison, gave up 11 earned runs and 15 hits in 12 innings covering four appearances for an 8.25 ERA. Elder earned his first All-Star selection a year ago but faded over the second half of the season and was hit hard in the playoffs.
Steve Megargee, Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 3:32 p.m.
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Garrett Crochet's first career start will be one to remember. The Chicago White Sox will hand the ball to Crochet on opening day, showing their faith in his transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation. The hard-throwing Crochet has made 72 career appearances, but all have come in relief. That will change March 28 when the White Sox host the Detroit Tigers to start the season. The White Sox didn't have any obvious candidates for opening day after they traded Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres last week. The 24-year-old Crochet has made an impression this spring.
Mark Didtler, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 3:01 p.m.
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New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is expected to play in Wednesday night's exhibition against Pittsburgh after an eight-day layoff caused by an abdominal injury while leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu's status for opening day is unclear because of a hurt foot. Judge hasn't taken batting practice on the infield or played since March 10. He has hit off a tee, did soft toss and taken batting practice against a pitching machine in an indoor cage. LeMahieu fouled a ball off his right foot on Saturday and a CT scan found no break.
The Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 2:33 p.m.
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Trevor Bauer says he will pitch for the Mexican team Diablos Rojos in their Sunday exhibition game with the New York Yankees as the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner attempts to return to the majors for the first time in three years. Bauer said Monday in an X post that he has agreed to pitch five games for Diablos Rojos from April 11 to May 8 "in lieu of a traditional spring training period as it's the best way for me to stay ready to pitch." Bauer hasn't pitched in the majors since being placed on administrative leave by MLB in July 2021 after a woman alleged that he assaulted her on two different occasions.
Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 1:50 p.m.
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The Texas Rangers are reigning World Series champions for the first time and have an opportunity to become the first team in a quarter-century to win back-to-back titles. But they aren't even the defending champions in their own division and not favored to win the AL West this season. The Astros are the odds-on favorite in the division they have won each of the last six full MLB seasons since Texas won it in 2016. Houston matched the Rangers at 90-72 on the final day of the regular season last October and were division champs with a 9-4 record in head-to-head games.
David Brandt, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 1:38 p.m.
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The AL Central doesn't appear to be a great place to find baseball's best teams. Instead, it might be home to some of the most improved. The division had a tough 2023, with the Twins running away with the title despite an 87-win season that wouldn't have been good enough to win any other division in MLB. It's a new season in 2024, but it's still hard to look at the rosters and find an obvious 90-win squad in the bunch. The real interest lies with teams like the Tigers and Royals, who are hoping for a big step forward after several losing seasons in a row.
The Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 1:21 p.m.
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Left-hander Justin Wilson has agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds following his release from a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wilson can make $1 million in performance bonuses under the agreement for games pitched. The 36-year-old Wilson last pitched in the major leagues on April 23, 2022, for the Reds. Wilson is 33-24 with a 3.41 ERA in 527 relief appearances over 11 seasons.
The Associated Press | Updated March 18 - 10:37 a.m.
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The San Francisco Giants and longtime public-address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon are parting ways after the sides failed to reach agreement on a contract extension. The Giants said there were "extensive discussions" about a new deal after Brooks-Moon's contract ended in December but instead "they mutually and amicably agreed to part ways." Brooks-Moon was one of baseball's first Black female PA announcers and now will be the club's public address announcer emeritus, still representing the Giants in the community as a volunteer, activist and mentor.
Stephen Wade, Associated Press | Posted March 18 - 6:16 a.m.
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will soon start a throwing program that might allow him to play in the field this season. It's the first sign that Ohtani may do more than just DH in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a $700 million, 10-year contract. Roberts again ruled out Ohtani pitching this season.
Pat Graham, Associated Press | Updated March 17 - 9:05 p.m.
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Joey Votto sure knows how to make an instant impression, going deep on the first pitch he faced as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Votto lined a 392-foot homer to left-center off Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler in his inaugural spring training game with Toronto. Granted, there was some debate about whether the ball went out, and Votto momentarily stopped at second base. But the umpires ruled it a homer and he continued on his way home. Home is what led Votto to Toronto in the first place, agreeing to a minor league contract with his hometown Blue Jays after spending 17 seasons with the Reds.
The Associated Press | Posted March 17 - 12:00 p.m.
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New York Mets owner Steve Cohen doesn't expect to sign a long-term contract with star first baseman Pete Alonso before the end of the season. Alonso has a $20.5 million, one-year contract and can become a free agent after the World Series. Cohen says: "We haven't had any discussion and I think at this point, for Pete, it's best for him to go and have a great year and not be distracted." Alonso has a .251 batting average with 192 homers, 498 RBIs and a .870 OPS in five major league seasons.
Hyung-jin Kim, Associated Press | Updated March 17 - 9:51 a.m.
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Shohei Ohtani may be the most-beloved Japanese athlete in South Korea, a historic rival of his home country. Since his recent arrival in South Korea for the Major League Baseball opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has been the focus of keen, special attention here. Such reactions are nothing new for the two-way baseball sensation. But a Japanese receiving such treatment in South Korea is extremely unusual, because of historical grievances stemming from Japan's past colonization of Korea. Many of his fans in South Korea say they like him because he has good manners as well as due to his baseball excellence.
The Associated Press | Posted March 16 - 9:54 p.m.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected the contract of right-hander Daniel Hudson from Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of their opener Wednesday against the San Diego Padres at Seoul, South Korea. To open a roster spot, the Dodgers designated infielder Andre Lipcius for assignment. Hudson, 37, gets a $2 million, one-year contract. He had one save in three appearances last year before a season-ending sprain of his right MCL on July 5. He tore the ACL in his left knee on June 24, 2022, against Atlanta.
The Associated Press | Updated March 16 - 6:18 p.m.
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Former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams was back at camp as guest instructor, joining teammate Andy Pettitte and four-time World Series-winning manager Joe Torre. The key members of the 1996-2000 Yankees teams that won it all four times were together behind the cage during batting practice Saturday. Torre arrived Friday for his initial instructor stint and said this was the first time he was in uniform at Steinbrenner Field since his final spring training as manager in 2007. He initially wasn't going to put on his old No. 6, but he changed his mind after being seeing Pettitte and guest instructor Ron Guidry in the coaches room.