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Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Ronald Blum, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 21 - 7:05 p.m. | Save Story
Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball's Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Sabathia was on 342 ballots and Wagner on 325, which was 29 more than the 296 needed for the required 75%. Sabathia and Suzuki were elected in their first appearance on the ballot. Wagner made it on his 10th and final try. The trio will be inducted into the Hall at Cooperstown on July 27 along with Dave Parker and Dick Allen, voted in last month by the classic era committee. Mariano Rivera remains the only player to get 100% of the vote from the BBWAA.
White Sox, MartÃn Pérez finalize $5 million, 1-year contract
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 21 - 4:23 p.m. | Save Story
The Chicago White Sox and veteran left-hander MartÃn Pérez have finalized a $5 million, one-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2026. The sides agreed to the deal about two weeks ago, and the team announced it on Tuesday. Chicago designated right-hander Ron Marinaccio for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. The 33-year-old Pérez debuted with Texas in 2012. He was an All-Star in 2022 and helped the Rangers win the World Series in 2023. Pérez pitched for Pittsburgh and San Diego last season, going 5-6 with a 4.53 ERA in 26 starts. He is 90-87 with a 4.44 ERA in 314 major league appearances, including 269 starts.
Young collector nabs rare Paul Skenes card that could offer him a hefty haul in trade with Pirates
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 21 - 3:33 p.m. | Save Story
An 11-year-old collector in Los Angeles has scooped up a one-of-a-kind baseball card featuring National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. Now comes the fun part, seeing what the collector could get for it in a trade. The Pittsburgh Pirates have said they'll offer a package that includes season tickets at PNC Park for 30 years in exchange for the card, which includes Skenes' autograph and a patch from a game-worn uniform. Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast and influence Livvy Dunne, has also offered the winner a chance to join her in a luxury suite during one of Skenes' starts.
Left-hander José Quijada and Angels avoid arbitration, agree to 1-year deal for $1,075,000
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 21 - 1:14 p.m. | Save Story
Left-hander José Quijada and the Los Angeles Angels avoided arbitration when they agreed to a one-year contract for $1,075,000, a deal that includes a $3.75 million team option for 2026. Quijada, 29, was 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 19 1/3 innings over 22 games last year, holding batters to a .190 average. He struck out 24 but walked 17. He is 4-14 with a 4.64 ERA over parts of six major league seasons. Fourteen players remain scheduled for hearings, which start next week in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Mookie Betts has advice for Shohei Ohtani: Get some sleep now before the 'baby comes'
Stephen Wade, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 21 - 12:22 a.m. | Save Story
Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting their first child. Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts has some advice. Betts says: "He should get his sleep now. Because when the baby comes he won't get any." Betts has two children and knows from experience. Betts spoke briefly on Tuesday at a Tokyo hotel during a promotional tour for a Japanese tea company.
Anthony Santander agrees to a $92.5M, 5-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays
Jay Cohen, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 20 - 5:28 p.m. | Save Story
The Toronto Blue Jays have finally landed a high-profile free agent, agreeing to a $92.5 million, five-year contract with Anthony Santander. The agreement includes an opt out and a 2030 team option with escalators that could increase the value to $110 million over six seasons, according to his agency, the Beverly Hills Sports Council. Toronto made a play for Shohei Ohtani last year and was in the mix for Juan Soto before he joined the New York Mets in December. The Blue Jays also were reportedly one of the finalists for Roki Sasaki.
MLB Free Agent Signings List
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 20 - 5:24 p.m. | Save Story
MLB Free Agent Signings
Ichiro is about to get his Hall of Fame moment. For Japan, he's more than just a baseball star
Stephen Wade, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 20 - 3:39 p.m. | Save Story
and his fame across the Pacific was therapeutic as the national economy sputtered through the so-called lost decades. On Tuesday, he's expected to be the first Japanese elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and possibly only the second player chosen unanimously.
Jeff Torborg, former big league catcher and manager, dies at 83
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 19 - 9:32 p.m. | Save Story
Jeff Torborg, the former catcher who caught Sandy Koufax's perfect game and was the 1990 AL manager of the year with the Chicago White Sox, died Sunday. He was 83. The White Sox said on social media that Torborg died in Westfield, New Jersey. A cause of death wasn't given. Torborg was behind the plate for three no-hitters, the first with Koufax and the Dodgers against the Cubs in 1965. Torborg had the second in 1970 with Bill Singer for the Dodgers against Philadelphia, then in 1973 with the Angels caught the first of Nolan Ryan's record seven no-hitters in a game against Kansas City. In addition to the White Sox, he managed Cleveland, the New York Mets, Montreal and Florida.
AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal says he loves Detroit but keeps long-term talks with Tigers private
Larry Lage, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 19 - 2:58 p.m. | Save Story
American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal recently agreed to a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers and is keeping negotiations about a long-term deal to himself. Skubal said Sunday that he'll keep those talks to himself. Skubal and the Tigers avoided salary arbitration earlier this month with a $10.15 million, one-year contract. Tigers pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training on Feb. 12 in Lakeland, Florida. Detroit opens the season March 27 on the road against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old Skubal had an AL-high 18 wins last season.
NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes isn't ready to think about the long term in Pittsburgh
Will Graves, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 19 - 12:08 p.m. | Save Story
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is focused on helping his team make the playoffs in 2025, not his long-term future. Skenes won the National League Rookie of the Year last season as a flame-throwing 22-year-old with a fastball that hit triple digits with ease. Pirates fans already are anxious the club won't be able to afford to keep Skenes down the road, with a small group encouraging club chairman Bob Nutting to sell the team. Skenes says he hasn't thought much about what the future may hold and is more intent on taking a step forward in 2025 after his electric debut.
2-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom feeling normal after missing most of 1st two Texas seasons hurt
Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 18 - 2:07 p.m. | Save Story
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom has already thrown off the mound this offseason and says everything feels normal. He missed most of his first two seasons with the Texas Rangers because of elbow surgery. The 36-year-old DeGrom says making three starts last September helped him treat it like a normal offseason instead of feeling like he was still in rehab mode. DeGrom has started only nine games for the Rangers since signing a $185 million, five-year contract in free agency two winters ago.
Jake Burger will wear No. 21 with the Texas Rangers for his daughter born with Down syndrome
Stephen Hawkins, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 18 - 9:43 a.m. | Save Story
Jake Burger will wear No. 21 after being acquired by the Texas Rangers. The number has special significance for his family after his daughter was born in October with Down syndrome. The clinical name for Down syndrome is trisomy 21, a condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome. Burger credits his wife with the idea of wearing No. 21, and he was working to change his number with Miami before getting traded to Texas in December. He says work is underway to establish a foundation to help other families impacted by Down syndrome.
Money was a limited factor for Roki Sasaki, and he picked the Dodgers anyway
David Brandt, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 18 - 7:34 a.m. | Save Story
Young Japanese flamethrower Roki Sasaki said on Instagram that he's signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the defending World Series champions even more star power entering 2025. The scariest part of this Dodgers move is that they didn't even need to dip into their deep pockets to entice Sasaki to make his baseball home at Chavez Ravine. All 30 MLB teams had roughly the same amount of money to offer Sasaki, but the pitcher still chose LA. Considering events over the past year, it's hard to blame him.
Hoyer says Cubs are focused on improving bullpen and bench
Jay Cohen, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 17 - 9:06 p.m. | Save Story
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer says the team is focused on improving its bullpen and bench at this point in the offseason. Hoyer also says the team's opening day third baseman is likely in the organization, and he reiterated that the front office plans to put the money that was saved in the Cody Bellinger trade back into the roster. Hoyer also says infielder Nico Hoerner is doing well in his recovery from flexor tendon surgery. Hoyer talked on the first day of the team's annual fan convention.
Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says he intends to sign with Los Angeles Dodgers
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 17 - 8:30 p.m. | Save Story
Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a move many baseball executives have long expected. The San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays also were pursuing Sasaki, who has until next Thursday to finalize a contract.
Sammy Sosa gets warm reception for his reconciliation with the Chicago Cubs
Jay Cohen, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 17 - 8:12 p.m. | Save Story
or the organization, which put together a warm welcome after ignoring the seven-time All-Star for decades.
Corey Seager says he will be ready for Rangers spring training after 2 hernia operations last year
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 17 - 7:14 p.m. | Save Story
Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager says he feels great and will be ready to go on the first day of spring training with the Texas Rangers after twice having hernia surgery last year. The shortstop was recognized at the team's annual awards dinner Friday night as the Rangers player of the year. Seager had a right sports hernia repair last Sept. 13. That was on the opposite side of his abdomen from the first procedure on Jan. 30 that forced him to miss most of spring training last year. He still hit .278 with 30 homers in 123 games.
Blue Jays get OF Myles Straw and $2M in pool space from Guardians, but then miss out on Sasaki
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 17 - 6:42 p.m. | Save Story
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired outfielder Myles Straw and $2 million in international signing bonus pool allocation from the Cleveland Guardians in a trade. The money could have been used by the Blue Jays in their pursuit of Roki Sasaki, but hours later the prized Japanese pitcher announced in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Cleveland will send $3.75 million to the Blue Jays, offsetting some of the $14.75 million Straw is guaranteed for the final two years of a $25 million, five-year contract. The Guardians will receive a player to be named or cash. Toronto boosted its international signing pool to $8,261,600.
