6:30 PM ET MLB InsidersESPN For the first time since 2013, no player received the 75% of votes needed for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Curt Schilling came the closest, appearing on 71.1% of ballots and three other players were over the 50% mark. Despite nobody getting in this year, there was still
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6:16 PM ET Infielder Marcus Semien is in agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $18 million contract, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 2 Related Coming off a career year, Semien struggled in 2020 while dealing with a rib injury, as the shortstop hit just .223 with 7
3:04 PM ET Catcher J.T. Realmuto and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $115.5 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Realmuto, 29, continues to be one of the best all-around catchers in the majors, hitting .266 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs with the Phillies during the pandemic-shortened season. He
4:22 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Brian Snitker choked back tears as he remembered Hank Aaron’s affection for those who didn’t possess his unparalleled talent on the baseball field. During his post-playing career running the Atlanta Braves‘ farm system, the Hammer had a penchant for looking beyond the can’t-miss prospects. “He always wanted to
11:42 AM ET ESPN News Services CLEVELAND — Free-agent second baseman César Hernández has agreed to return to the Cleveland Indians on a 1-year contract, according to multiple reports. The team and Hernández have an agreement — which includes a club option for 2022 — in place that will become official once medical tests have
7:00 AM ET Baseball Hall of Fame arguments used to be, dare I say … fun? Bert Blyleven is underrated! Jim Rice is overrated! Jack Morris? Show me the back of his baseball card and let’s debate. Well, welcome to the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot. It includes one player who was suspended for PED
10:40 PM ET A defamation lawsuit filed against Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Angels by Brian Harkins, the longtime clubhouse attendant who was fired for supplying illegal ball-doctoring substances to pitchers, has been struck down in Orange County Superior Court. Judge Geoffrey T. Glass granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss Harkins’ complaint, stating
5:58 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” After sending a letter to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred that suggested delaying spring training “to allow for the COVID-19 situation to improve here,” Cactus League executive director Bridget Binsbacher told
2:15 PM ET The Major League Baseball Players Association has turned down latest MLB proposal for the universal designated hitter and an expanded playoff format, sources confirmed to ESPN. The news was first reported by MLB Network. The union’s stance has been all along that it did not want to talk about a trade of
2:45 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — As Jameson Taillon‘s trade from Pittsburgh to the New York Yankees started to sink in, he thought about reuniting with former roommate Gerrit Cole. “Every night you get a five-star cooked meal,” Taillon said. “Even if he’s cooking for himself, he’s going to marinate whatever he’s cooking