1+ hour, 43+ min ago (143+ words) Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic Ohtani helped Japan win the 2023 WBC, striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the championship game against the United States. He was named MVP of the tournament. Ohtani won his fourth MVP award this month, shortly after he helped the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title. He returned to the mound this season after not pitching in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In the postseason, he had arguably the best game in major league history, striking out 10 batters and hitting three homers as the Dodgers completed a four-game NL Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee. Ohtani did not specify in his post whether he plans to pitch for Japan in the WBC, which begins on March 5....

12+ hour, 52+ min ago (128+ words) The Colorado Rockies have made Warren Schaeffer the club's full-time manager Schaeffer assumed the role on an interim basis after the Rockies fired Bud Black, the winningest manager in franchise history, in May following a 7-33 start. The Rockies finished the season 43-119 and last place in the NL West. Schaeffer becomes the eighth full-time manager in club history. The 40-year-old has been a member of the Rockies organization for over a decade. "We're confident Warren is the right person to lead our club moving forward," said Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta. "He has established strong relationships with our players, understands the culture of this franchise and embodies the energy and work ethic we want on and off the field."...

1+ day, 7+ hour ago (444+ words) Nimmo, who has played all 10 of his big league seasons with the Mets, just completed the third season of the $162 million, eight-year contract he got after becoming a free agent for the first time after the 2022 season. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter is due annual salaries of $20.25 million each season through 2030. Semien has three seasons and $72 million remaining on the $175 million, seven-year contract he signed with the Rangers in December 2021. That was at the same time they, also in free agency, added MVP shortstop Corey Seager on a $325 million, 10-year contract. That half-billion dollar middle infield helped the Rangers win their only World Series title in 2023. But that was the only winning record the past nine seasons for the team that this year finished .500 (81-81) for the first time in franchise history. Slugging outfielder Adolis Garc'a, switch-hitting catcher Jonah Heim and right-handed…...

1+ day, 7+ hour ago (460+ words) Nimmo is due annual salaries of $20.25 million each season through 2030, and the 32-year-old left-handed hitter will get an additional $1 million assignment bonus from the Mets for waiving the no-trade provision. As part of the trade, the Mets will send Texas $5 million by Sept. 18. Semien has three seasons and $72 million remaining on the $175 million, seven-year contract he signed with the Rangers in December 2021. That was at the same time they, also in free agency, added World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager on a $325 million, 10-year contract. That half-billion dollar middle infield helped the Rangers win their only World Series title in 2023. But that was the only winning record the past nine seasons for the team that this year finished .500 (81-81) for the first time in franchise history. Slugging outfielder Adolis Garc'a, switch-hitting catcher Jonah Heim and right-handed reliever Josh Sborz, three other…...

1+ day, 9+ hour ago (611+ words) Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of Pastors for Trump, welcomed the eight-time All-Star to the pulpit of Sheridan Church, where more than 400 worshippers cheered when Strawberry mentioned Trump's decision earlier this month to issue the pardon. "God just completely set me free when he gave me a pardon from President Donald J. Trump," said the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year. "Other presidents had opportunities, but they didn't do it." Strawberry hit 335 homers and had 1,000 RBIs and 221 stolen bases in 17 seasons with the Mets, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. For years, the four-time World Series champion battled legal, health and personal problems. He served 11 months in a Florida state prison for a 2002 probation violation. Now 63, the retired outfielder credits his Christian faith for turning his life around and allowing him to remain sober for more than two decades....

1+ day, 9+ hour ago (342+ words) The first suspension of Rantanen's 10-year NHL career came a day after he checked Calgary's Matt Coronato into the side boards late in the second period of the Flames' 3-2 shootout victory. Coronato bled from a cut on his nose but later returned to the game. The league issued a statement from its department of player safety saying a player is automatically suspended for a game when he receives two game misconduct penalties, or ejections, in a span of 41 consecutive games played. Rantanen wasn't suspended after getting a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for pushing Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov into the end boards as both were skating close to full speed and falling to the ice in the final minute of New York's 3-2 win on Tuesday. Islanders coach Patrick Roy was incensed over Rantanen's hit on Romanov and screamed at…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (141+ words) Texas outfielder Adolis Garc'a, catcher Jonah Heim and right-hander Josh Sborz were among 66 players who became free agents Friday when they weren't offered 2026 contracts New York Yankees relievers Mark Leiter Jr., Ian Hamilton, Scott Effross and Jake Cousins also were cut loose along with Boston first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, Houston infielder/outfielder Ram'n Ur'as and Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman. Thirty-four players agreed to contracts ahead of the non-tender deadline, led by Kansas City infielder Jonathan India ($8 million), newly acquired Atlanta utilityman Mauricio Dub'n ($6.1 million) and Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt ($4.5 million), who will miss all or most of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Others reaching deals included New York Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor ($3.8 million), Detroit outfielder Matt Vierling ($3,255,000) and Tigers catcher Jake Rogers ($3.05 million)....

4+ day, 2+ hour ago (335+ words) There was just so many emotions going through my mind," said Strome, with tears streaming down his face after assisting on three goals in the Capitals' 8-4 victory. First of all, you want to make sure everyone's OK, it's a pretty scary thing. At the time of the first period, I kind of thought I was going to make it home in time, maybe. Obviously, that didn't happen." The couple named the girl Sutton Kimberley. Strome said his wife felt it" two hours before the 7 p.m. puck drop and gave birth at 7:30 p.m. He said there was no way to get back in time and emphasized the sacrifices Tayler makes while he spends so much time on the road. Really proud of her," Strome said, pausing at times to get the words out. It's tough, and you obviously want to be there for…...

4+ day, 3+ hour ago (452+ words) Pitcher and outfielder Kelsie Whitmore is returning to familiar surroundings after being selected by San Francisco with the first pick in the inaugural Women's Pro Baseball League draft on Thursday night. Mo'ne Davis, meantime, had to wait until the 10th pick before being selected by Los Angeles. The 24-year-old Davis, who's from Philadelphia, competed at the 2014 Little League World Series at age 13 and became the first girl to win a game and pitch a shutout. Whitmore is from San Diego and made her professional debut in the Bay Area with a coed team, the Sonoma Stompers, in 2016. The 27-year-old has won two silver medals representing the United States at the Women's Baseball World Cup and won gold at the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto. "You ask a 6-year-old version of me about this opportunity happening right now, she would, one, probably not…...

4+ day, 3+ hour ago (482+ words) Pitcher and outfielder Kelsie Whitmore is returning to familiar surroundings after being selected by San Francisco with the first pick in the inaugural Women's Pro Baseball League draft on Thursday night. Mo'ne Davis, meantime, had to wait until the 10th pick before being selected by Los Angeles. The 24-year-old Davis, who's from Philadelphia, competed at the 2014 Little League World Series at age 13 and became the first girl to win a game and pitch a shutout. Whitmore is from San Diego and made her professional debut in the Bay Area with a coed team, the Sonoma Stompers, in 2016. The 27-year-old has won two silver medals representing the United States at the Women's Baseball World Cup and won gold at the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto. "You ask a 6-year-old version of me about this opportunity happening right now, she would, one, probably not…...