6+ hour, 58+ min ago (273+ words) Japanese free-agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai would rather be a part of a team that beats the Los Angeles Dodgers than join countrymen Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki as a member of the reigning World Series champions. "Of course, I'd enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki," Imai told Daisuke Matsuzaka on "Hodo Station," according to MLB.com's Michael Clair, "but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I'd rather take them down." Imai mentioned wanting to experience the majors differently than some of his Japanese peers as a reason not to join the Dodgers. "If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?" Imai said. "But that's actually not what I'm looking for. In…...

4+ day, 8+ hour ago (299+ words) The Los Angeles Lakers dismissed Joey and Jesse Buss from their positions in the front office, effective immediately, the brothers told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday. The Buss brothers served as scouts for the last decade, helping the team find players including Austin Reaves, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, and Max Christie. Much of the Lakers' scouting staff was also relieved of their duties Thursday, sources told Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons," Joey and Jesse Buss said in a statement. "Thank you to Laker Nation for embracing our family every step of the way. "We wish things could be different with the way our time ended with the team. At times like this, we wish we could ask our dad what he would think about it all....

1+ week, 3+ day ago (338+ words) The Toronto Blue Jays are eyeing a potential upgrade at the back end of their bullpen in free agency. The Blue Jays met with All-Star closer Edwin D'az's agents from Wasserman at this week's general manager meetings in Las Vegas, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. D'az, who won his third Reliever of the Year award Thursday, said his representatives have also spoken with the New York Mets about a new contract but put his odds at 50-50 to return to Queens, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The 31-year-old is reportedly seeking a deal similar to the five-year, $102-million pact he signed with the Mets in November 2022. D'az posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves and 13.3 K/9 over 66 1/3 innings in 2025. The right-hander owns 253 career saves. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in early November that Jeff Hoffman,…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (338+ words) The Toronto Blue Jays are eyeing a potential upgrade at the back end of their bullpen in free agency. The Blue Jays met with All-Star closer Edwin D'az's agents from Wasserman at this week's general manager meetings in Las Vegas, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. D'az, who won his third Reliever of the Year award Thursday, said his representatives have also spoken with the New York Mets about a new contract but put his odds at 50-50 to return to Queens, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The 31-year-old is reportedly seeking a deal similar to the five-year, $102-million pact he signed with the Mets in November 2022. D'az posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves and 13.3 K/9 over 66 1/3 innings in 2025. The right-hander owns 253 career saves. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in early November that Jeff Hoffman,…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (682+ words) Let's get this out of the way: supporting Raleigh for AL MVP is not a knock against Judge, nor is it a sign of voter fatigue. Judge may be the greatest right-handed hitter we'll ever see, and he produced another tremendous season. It's just bad luck for him that Raleigh had the year he did at the same time. First, we'll go to the basis of Raleigh's MVP case. He hit 60 home runs in 2025, marking the 10th 60-homer season in MLB history and the fourth accomplished outside the "steroid era" between 1998 and 2001. The 28-year-old also set a single-season home-run record for switch-hitters, beating Mickey Mantle's 54 long balls in 1961. Plus, Raleigh led the AL in RBIs with 125. On its own, that's a remarkable and award-worthy feat. And then you realize that Raleigh hit 60 homers as an everyday catcher. Now, we must acknowledge…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (682+ words) Let's get this out of the way: supporting Raleigh for AL MVP is not a knock against Judge, nor is it a sign of voter fatigue. Judge may be the greatest right-handed hitter we'll ever see, and he produced another tremendous season. It's just bad luck for him that Raleigh had the year he did at the same time. First, we'll go to the basis of Raleigh's MVP case. He hit 60 home runs in 2025, marking the 10th 60-homer season in MLB history and the fourth accomplished outside the "steroid era" between 1998 and 2001. The 28-year-old also set a single-season home-run record for switch-hitters, beating Mickey Mantle's 54 long balls in 1961. Plus, Raleigh led the AL in RBIs with 125. On its own, that's a remarkable and award-worthy feat. And then you realize that Raleigh hit 60 homers as an everyday catcher. Now, we must acknowledge…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (458+ words) The market for Devin Williams is heating up early in free agency. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds are among around 12 teams that've expressed interest in the right-handed reliever, sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Red Sox already have All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman but could pair him with Williams to create a formidable one-two punch to finish games. Meanwhile, the Reds have a hole in their bullpen with Emilio Pag'n testing free agency. The Dodgers and Williams appear to have mutual interest, sources told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Williams is one of the top bullpen arms on the open market this winter, though he's coming off a down season with the New York Yankees. The Yankees acquired the 31-year-old from the Milwaukee Brewers last winter with hopes of making him their closer, only…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (204+ words) Milwaukee Brewers skipper Pat Murphy was named 2025 National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Murphy, now a winner for the second consecutive season, received 27 first-place votes to easily beat Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona and Philadelphia Phillies skipper Rob Thomson for the award. Murphy is the second NL manager to take home the honor in back-to-back seasons, joining Hall of Fame Atlanta Braves skipper Bobby Cox, who won in 2004 and 2005. The only other skipper in either league to capture the award in consecutive years is Tampa Bay's Kevin Cash in 2020 and 2021. The 66-year-old Murphy led the Brewers to an NL Central title and an eventual berth in the NLCS after winning an MLB-best 97 games with a plus-172 run differential in 2025. His team reached those heights despite a difficult 2024-25 offseason that included losing star shortstop…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (458+ words) The market for Devin Williams is heating up early in free agency. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds are among around 12 teams that've expressed interest in the right-handed reliever, sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Red Sox already have All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman but could pair him with Williams to create a formidable one-two punch to finish games. Meanwhile, the Reds have a hole in their bullpen with Emilio Pag'n testing free agency. The Dodgers and Williams appear to have mutual interest, sources told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Williams is one of the top bullpen arms on the open market this winter, though he's coming off a down season with the New York Yankees. The Yankees acquired the 31-year-old from the Milwaukee Brewers last winter with hopes of making him their closer, only…...

2+ week, 17+ hour ago (163+ words) Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was named 2025 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday after receiving all 30 first-place votes from members of the BBWAA. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson finished second, while Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony came in third. It's the ninth time in MLB history that teammates finished first and second in Rookie of the Year voting. The 22-year-old Kurtz enjoyed an incredible rookie season, slashing .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs, 26 doubles, 86 RBIs, and a 1.002 OPS across 117 games. He also led all MLB rookies in runs, homers, RBIs, walks, slugging, OPS, and fWAR. "It's a great ending to the first year," Kurtz told MLB Network. Kurtz, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, becomes the ninth Rookie of the Year in franchise history. He's the franchise's first winner since Andrew Bailey in 2009. Kurtz was also named the AL's Silver Slugger…...