8:01 AM ET For club executives, the question of whether to manipulate the service time of young players has been like the steroid quandary was for players in the 1990s. Teams have the option of making decisions based entirely in good faith. Some clubs have operated this way. Fernando Tatis Jr. was on the Padres’
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1:51 AM ET GLENDALE, Ariz. — Trevor Bauer immersed himself into a budding rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres with one eye closed. The Dodgers’ prized offseason acquisition navigated through his first inning against the Padres on Saturday afternoon by pitching mostly with his right eye closed, a training method
4:45 PM ET Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez signed a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. The 31-year-old will look to build off momentum he had with the Phillies last season when he posted a 1.42 ERA over eight outings. He was struck by a 105
2:07 PM ET Associated Press PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic will be sidelined due to a strained adductor muscle in his left knee. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said an MRI on Saturday revealed the injury. No timeline was given for the outfielder’s return. “While disappointed that Jarred will be sidelined,
12:44 PM ET Right-hander Jake Odorizzi and the Houston Astros have agreed to a two-year deal with a player option, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Saturday. The Astros had already lost starter Framber Valdez for an indefinite amount of time after the left-hander suffered a fractured left ring finger
10:40 PM ET MESA, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani featured an upper-90s fastball and a wipeout splitter in his spring pitching debut Friday, a 41-pitch outing that seemed to validate the Los Angeles Angels‘ hopes that he can contribute as a two-way player this season. Ohtani, pitching two days after unleashing a 486-foot home run to
5:55 PM ET Associated Press California officials will allow people to attend Major League Baseball games and other sporting events, go to Disneyland and watch live performances in limited capacities starting April 1. The rules announced Friday coincide with baseball’s Opening Day. The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics all have home
4:15 PM ET Free agent pitcher Sam Dyson has accepted a suspension for the entire 2021 season for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, the league announced Friday. “Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Dyson violated our policy and that discipline is appropriate,” commissioner
11:56 AM ET Associated Press New York Mets president Sandy Alderson says he is emphasizing offense over defense, but Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr. were brought in to help with their gloves. “While some of our players aren’t defensive geniuses, we think that the overall blend that we have is pretty good,” Alderson said
12:22 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he’s feeling better after getting a pacemaker and said he hopes to return to the team Saturday or Sunday. Boone said he would have been back with the Yankees on Friday if not for coronavirus protocols. “I think I’m ready