7:12 PM ET The Houston Astros‘ front office laid the groundwork for the team’s electronic sign-stealing ploys via a program dubbed “Codebreaker” that was introduced by an intern in the organization in September 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. According to the WSJ, the Excel-based application designed to decode opposing catchers’ signs was used
MLB
7:35 PM ET ESPN News Services SAN FRANCISCO — Former fan favorite Hunter Pence is returning to the San Francisco Giants, signing a contract that will give the young club a veteran presence in both the outfield and the clubhouse in a season of big change ahead. The one-year deal is worth $3 million. “We’re
6:12 PM ET Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have agreed to a minor league contract with former Indians closer Cody Allen, who will report to major league spring training. If added to the 40-man roster, Allen would get a one-year contract that includes a $1.3 million salary while in the major leagues.
5:15 PM ET The Major League Baseball Players Association had a strong message Friday for the teams involved in the held-up Mookie Betts blockbuster deal: Resolve it quickly. Those were the words of executive director Tony Clark, who in a statement told the teams to conclude talks or move on. “The proposed trades between the
4:23 PM ET ESPN News Services LOS ANGELES — Utility man Chris Taylor and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a two-year contract extension. The sides avoided arbitration when they agreed to a $13.4 million contract that included salaries of $5.6 million this year and $7.8 million in 2021, according to multiple reports. Taylor
3:20 PM ET First baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales is retiring from baseball, he told ESPN’s Marly Rivera on Friday, after a career that spanned 13 seasons and seven teams. Morales, 36, posted a combined .194 average with two home runs in 201 plate appearances between the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees last season. New
6:30 PM ET On Wednesday, Major League Baseball announced it had concluded its investigation into the Boston Red Sox for stealing signs during their 2018 World Series title run. MLB’s findings were the basis for suspending Boston’s video replay system operator J.T. Watkins without pay for one year and stripping the team of its second-round
1:50 PM ET ESPN News Services Outfielder Joc Pederson has lost his arbitration case, giving teams a 3-0 record in hearings this year. Pederson will receive $7.75 million this season, not the $9.5 million he was seeking. The 27-year-old hit .249 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs last year for the Los Angeles Dodgers
12:16 PM ET ESPN News Services Jessica Mendoza has signed a multiyear extension with ESPN and will no longer continue in her role as baseball operations adviser to the New York Mets, it was announced Friday. Mendoza, 39, will become the first woman to serve as a solo analyst on national baseball telecasts when she
7:05 AM ET You might have noticed that I am asked to rank things from time to time. And who doesn’t love a good ranking? Within that genre, the lowest-hanging fruit would seem to be simply rating the best players in MLB. The results are a matter of preference. How do you define best? What