1+ hour, 39+ min ago (252+ words) Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic. The two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star made the announcement on social media Monday night. 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 did not specify in his post whether he plans to pitch for Japan in the WBC, which begins on March 5. Shohei Ohtani announces he will 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…...

12+ hour, 53+ min ago (376+ words) 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 in last place in the NL West. "I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team," said Schaeffer. "My focus remains on continuing to build a strong, unified culture based on accountability, hard work and trust. We have a group of guys who care deeply about competing the right way, and my goal is to keep strengthening those relationships while leading a team that our fans can embrace and be proud of." 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…...

1+ day, 9+ hour ago (261+ words) A bat used by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani to hit five home runs during the 2024 season has sold at auction for $300,000. Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases that year. The second home run ball he hit out of Dodger Stadium during Game 4 of this season's National League Championship Season sold for $270,000. The items were part of SCP Auctions' fall premier sale that closed Saturday. Home run balls from the Dodgers' Game 7 World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays also sold, including Will Smith's game-winning homer for $168,000. Shohei Ohtani's bat from historic 2024 season sells for $300,000 at auction Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith (16) celebrates his go-ahead solo home run as Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts during the 11th inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series in Toronto on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (Chris…...

1+ day, 9+ hour ago (613+ 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....

2+ day, 19+ hour ago (363+ words) Located in the northeast corner of the practice field " and in the shadow of Folsom Field " the 8 1/2-foot statue commemorates his accomplishments on the field. He's the winningest coach in Colorado football history (93-55-5) and led the Buffaloes to their only national title in 1990. McCartney died on January 10. He was 84. The statue was unveiled in a private ceremony Friday night that included McCartney's family and former players along with coach Deion Sanders and the current team. It was on display Saturday as fans arrived before the Buffaloes played Arizona State in their home finale. "He had a vision. He could lift you to the heights that you couldn't lift yourself," said Barry Remington, an inside linebacker who played for McCartney and was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame on Thursday. "He didn't care if you were a walk-on, starter,…...

3+ day, 2+ hour ago (233+ words) Maton played for St. Louis and Texas last season, going 4-5 with a 2.79 ERA and five saves in 63 games. He was traded from the Cardinals to the Rangers on July 31. The 32-year-old Maton could become the first of baseball's 175 XXB free agents to switch teams. All nine thus far have re-signed. Chicago made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. The Cubs eliminated San Diego in the first round before losing to Milwaukee in a five-game NL Division Series. Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar " three key relievers for Chicago this season " are free agents. Maton was selected by San Diego in the 20th round of the 2015 amateur draft out of Louisiana Tech University. He made his big league debut with the Padres in 2017. He is 23-20 with a 3.98 ERA in 478 major league games, also playing for Cleveland, Houston, Tampa…...

3+ day, 6+ hour ago (455+ words) Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias, right, presents the baseball club's new manager Craig Albernaz with his team jersey after introducing him during a news conference, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Banner via AP) The Baltimore Orioles viewed outfielder Taylor Ward as something of a scarce commodity. So much so that they were willing to trade a young, cost-controlled pitcher for him. "We're certainly aware of the mismatch in the amount of potential team control remaining on these two guys," Elias said. "Ward is going into his free-agent year. He also has the potentiality to generate a qualifying offer. I think if he does what he did in 2025, that's a real possibility. So that could change that equation a little bit." The Orioles still have a couple other starters " Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells " who returned from…...

3+ day, 6+ hour ago (186+ words) New York chose not to offer 2026 contracts to a trio of relief pitchers: right-hander Max Kranick and left-handers Jos" Castillo and Danny Young. All three became free agents ahead of Friday's non-tender deadline. The speedy Taylor has spent the past two seasons with the Mets after being acquired from Milwaukee in a trade. He made 85 starts in center field this year and two in left, providing excellent defense but batting a career-low .223 with two homers, 27 RBIs and a career-worst .598 OPS in 113 games. The 28-year-old Kranick was 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances out of the bullpen this year before season-ending surgery to repair his right flexor tendon. Young, 31, had a 4.32 ERA in 10 outings prior to season-ending Tommy John surgery. Castillo, who turns 30 in January, pitched for the Diamondbacks, Mets, Mariners and Orioles this year, going a combined 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (566+ words) 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. "Regardless of what happens moving forward, Adolis, Jonah and Josh will always be remembered for their contributions to the first World Series title in franchise history," Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said in a statement. Outfielder JJ Bledey was dropped by the Athletics, outfielder MJ Melendez by Kansas City and right-hander Alek Manoah by Atlanta, which claimed the 2022 All-Star off waivers from Toronto on Sept. 26. Bledey was the fourth overall pick by Miami in the 2019 amateur draft. Bledey, Lowe and Ur'as had been designated for assignment earlier this week. Thirty-four players agreed to contracts ahead of the non-tender deadline, led by…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (358+ words) Slugging outfielder Adolis Garc'a, switch-hitting catcher Jonah Heim and right-handed reliever Josh Sborz all became free agents Friday when the Texas Rangers didn't tender 2026 contracts to a trio that played significant roles in the team's only World Series championship two years ago. The Rangers also declined to offer a contract to right-handed reliever Jacob Webb before Friday's deadline, but did agree to terms on a one-year deal with switch-hitting outfielder Sam Haggerty to avoid salary arbitration. Garc'a homered in five consecutive games during the 2023 postseason, including his game-ending shot in the 11th inning of the World Series opener. That came after he was the AL Championship Series MVP with a series-record 15 RBIs against Houston. Heim and Garc'a were both All-Stars and Gold Glove winners in 2023, but their numbers have dropped since then. The 32-year-old Garc'a hit .245 with 39 homers and 107 RBIs in…...