8:17 PM ET ESPN News Services The Atlanta Braves have apparently decided who will replace the departed Dansby Swanson as their starting shortstop. It’s not who most people expected it to be. Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday. That leaves utility infielder Orlando Arcia as the likely replacement for
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7:00 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Roki Sasaki is 21 years old, and in the eyes of some talent evaluators, he is already in the discussion for the title of best pitcher in the world. Yes, right there
7:00 AM ET Eric GomezMexico writer Three of the four World Baseball Classic semifinalists this year are among the most decorated baseball powers in the world. Sunday night, the U.S., the defending champions, defeated Cuba, who finished third in the inaugural event. Japan, the tournament favorite, has won two titles and never missed the championship
10:43 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — The best No. 9 hitter in the world helped send Team USA to the World Baseball Classic finals. One day after his go-ahead grand slam saved its tournament, Trea Turner
8:24 PM ET MIAMI — Cuban jerseys, caps and flags decorated the concourse directly outside of loanDepot Park on Sunday afternoon, moments before Team Cuba would begin its World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States. That was within the gates. Directly outside of them, dozens of protesters gathered in front of about 15
6:02 PM ET Associated Press New York Mets outfielder DJ Stewart talked himself into another at-bat against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday after bench coach Eric Chavez tried to tell him he was coming out after three hits in his first three plate appearances. Stewart came up again in the seventh inning and hit
1:01 PM ET The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran utility man Jurickson Profar, according to multiple reports. The deal is pending a physical, according to reports. Profar was not in the United States as of Sunday morning, according to the Denver Gazette, and his availability for Opening Day is uncertain.
3:25 PM ET MIAMI — Roki Sasaki, potentially the best pitcher in the world who’s not in the major leagues, will take the ball for Japan in its World Baseball Classic semifinal matchup against Mexico from LoanDepot Park on Monday, Japanese manager Hideki Kuriyama announced after his team’s workout Sunday. Sasaki, 21, has posted a
1:00 PM ET Houston Astros star Jose Altuve suffered a fractured right thumb in Saturday’s World Baseball Classic game and will need surgery, general manager Dana Brown announced on Sunday. There is no timetable for his return, according to Brown. Editor’s Picks 1 Related Altuve exited Team Venezuela’s loss to Team USA in the fifth
9:08 AM ET Associated Press TOKYO — Lars Nootbaar’s imaginary pepper-grinder was the talk of World Baseball Classic games in Japan, but the fun-loving gesture by the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder does not appear welcome in Japan’s popular high school baseball tournament. When a player for Tohoku High School twisted his two fists together —