6+ hour, 3+ min ago (362+ words) Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, seeking yet another repeat after his Dodgers successfully defended their title this past season. Ohtani on Monday announced his intention to play in the upcoming WBC, adding baseball's biggest global superstar to the already star-studded list of players participating in the tournament in March. Japan begins play in Pool C of the 2026 Classic on March 6 at Tokyo Dome. The reigning WBC champions will face Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia and Czechia in their pool. Ohtani, who just won his fourth unanimous MVP Award in the last five seasons in MLB, is also the reigning World Baseball Classic MVP. He won the award after leading Japan to the country's third gold medal in the 2023 Classic. In the last WBC, Ohtani provided one of the most memorable moments in World Baseball…...

7+ hour, 1+ min ago (282+ words) On Monday, the Rangers announced a limited-time Black Friday promotion that offers fans access to discounted single-game tickets for nearly all 2026 home games at Globe Life Field. The April 3 home opener against the Reds is not included in the offer. All tickets will be available at texasrangers.com/blackfriday from On Monday, the Rangers announced a limited-time Black Friday promotion that offers fans access to discounted single-game tickets for nearly all 2026 home games at Globe Life Field. The April 3 home opener against the Reds is not included in the offer. All tickets will be available at texasrangers.com/blackfriday from 12 a.m. CT on Thanksgiving Day through the end of Cyber Monday at 11:59 p.m. CT (Nov. 27-Dec. 1). Single-game tickets will be available for $10 for seats in the 300 level, $20 in the 200 level and $30 in the 100 level. All tickets will be available on a first-come,…...

10+ hour, 13+ min ago (443+ words) ARLINGTON -- Brandon Nimmo knows he could have been a lifelong Met. He knows there could have been a chance -- if he kept producing at a high level -- that his number was in the rafters at Citi Field alongside David Wright's. Nimmo owns a house in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where the Mets have their Spring Training home. He's never even known another organization. So when David Stearns asked if Nimmo would waive his no-trade clause to finalize a deal that would send him to Texas, he knew he had some thinking to do. Stearns took the possibility of a trade to Nimmo on Thursday. At the time, his no-trade clause was the only thing standing in the way of its completion. By Sunday night, he was a Texas Ranger. Before waiving his no-trade clause, Nimmo reached out to Rangers ace…...

10+ hour, 23+ min ago (471+ words) When the news broke that Seibu Lions ace Tatsuya Imai was posted, many Major League fans had one question: Would he also want to join the Dodgers? After all, not only is Los Angeles arguably the closest flight back to Japan, but he'd be able to join fellow countrymen Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Roki Sasaki to help L.A. push for a third consecutive World Series championship next year. Have no fear, fans of baseball's 29 other teams: Imai has no interest in forming a Miami Heat-esque superteam in Los Angeles. If anything, he wants to show off his skills and take those three down. Speaking with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the show, "Hodo Station," Imai revealed a bit of a competitive edge. "Of course, I'd enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki," Imai told the former Major League pitcher and two-time World…...

10+ hour, 23+ min ago (471+ words) When the news broke that Seibu Lions ace Tatsuya Imai was posted, many Major League fans had one question: Would he also want to join the Dodgers? After all, not only is Los Angeles arguably the closest flight back to Japan, but he'd be able to join fellow countrymen Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Roki Sasaki to help L.A. push for a third consecutive World Series championship next year. Have no fear, fans of baseball's 29 other teams: Imai has no interest in forming a Miami Heat-esque superteam in Los Angeles. If anything, he wants to show off his skills and take those three down. Speaking with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the show, "Hodo Station," Imai revealed a bit of a competitive edge. "Of course, I'd enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki," Imai told the former Major League pitcher and two-time World…...

11+ hour, 35+ min ago (626+ words) NEW YORK -- There is a world in which the Mets sign Pete Alonso, Edwin D'az and Cody Bellinger. Or Alonso, D'az and Kyle Tucker. The Mets" trade of Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien on Monday opened multiple avenues for president of baseball operations David Stearns to continue improving the club. Those include some big-money possibilities. Asked directly if it would be realistic for the Mets to acquire Alonso, D'az and a top-flight outfielder this offseason, Stearns replied: "Sure." "I think anything would be realistic right now," he added. The Mets, who racked up more than $330 million in payroll each of the last two seasons, recently had notable money come off the books as Alonso, D'az, Starling Marte and several others hit free agency. Although signing Alonso, D'az and an elite outfielder would add significant dollars back to…...

11+ hour, 51+ min ago (593+ words) ARLINGTON -- The reign of the Rangers" Iron Man has come to an end. The Mets and Rangers completed a one-for-one blockbuster trade on Monday that sent outfielder Brandon Nimmo to Texas and second baseman Marcus Semien to New York. The Rangers also received cash considerations from the Mets in the deal. Semien and shortstop Corey Seager joined the Rangers going into the 2022 season and together led the club to the first World Series title in franchise history. But not much has gone right since then. The 35-year-old Semien is coming off a disappointing year at the plate as he batted .230 with a .669 OPS through 127 games. His 15 home runs were his fewest in a non-shortened season since 2018. However, Semien"s defense remained strong, highlighted by +7 outs above average, placing him in the 92nd percentile in MLB. He also earned his second Gold…...

13+ hour, 42+ min ago (433+ words) NEW YORK -- Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured Met and one of the most popular players in recent franchise history, is heading to Texas in a blockbuster trade that shakes up the team's core. The Mets on Monday finalized a deal to send Nimmo and cash to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien, changing the complexion of New York's roster in one significant stroke. The deal abruptly ends Nimmo's tenure after 10 largely productive seasons in Queens amid an eight-year, $162 million contract that was meant to make Nimmo a Met for life. Instead he will join longtime teammate Jacob deGrom in Texas, while the Mets increase their defense and roster flexibility with the acquisition of Semien. "These are difficult deals to put together," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on a conference call Monday. "You're talking about two very established…...

14+ hour, 55+ min ago (426+ words) SAN FRANCISCO -- Every year, the Giants bring a select group of prospects to Oracle Park for their fall camp. The purpose of the program is to give young players a better understanding of what it takes to be a big leaguer. Participants spend a week training at Oracle Park, where they play catch, take batting practice, hit the weight room and soak up advice from guest speakers, including president of baseball operations Buster Posey. But the development opportunities aren't limited to the field. The fall camp is also meant to be an introduction to the city of San Francisco and the responsibility that comes with being part of the community. To drive that point home, the Giants recently started incorporating volunteer work into their annual programming. Last year, Giants prospects visited the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, where they spent time…...

14+ hour, 55+ min ago (426+ words) SAN FRANCISCO -- Every year, the Giants bring a select group of prospects to Oracle Park for their fall camp. The purpose of the program is to give young players a better understanding of what it takes to be a big leaguer. Participants spend a week training at Oracle Park, where they play catch, take batting practice, hit the weight room and soak up advice from guest speakers, including president of baseball operations Buster Posey. But the development opportunities aren't limited to the field. The fall camp is also meant to be an introduction to the city of San Francisco and the responsibility that comes with being part of the community. To drive that point home, the Giants recently started incorporating volunteer work into their annual programming. Last year, Giants prospects visited the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, where they spent time…...