TAMPA, Fla. — Spencer Turnbull did something unusual Friday — at least unusual by spring training standards. He dressed in full uniform and sat in the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen for the duration of a Grapefruit League game without pitching. Turnbull has never been a reliever in his professional career. The Phillies told him he might … Read more
Welcome to spring training, one of the great inventions in history. You may think we’re kidding. But ask anyone who had to pick up a snow shovel in the last week if they think we’re kidding. It may be tempting to say: What about the wheel? What about the microwave? What about the iPhone? What … Read more
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Whit Merrifield has never been a part-time player and, all winter, the Philadelphia Phillies made a pitch to him that meant sacrificing at-bats. The Phillies could not guarantee him playing time and they were not willing to sign him to a two-year deal. But they liked the idea of a versatile right-handed … Read more
The Hall of Fame is made for players like Adrián Beltré. As a pure hitter, reliable slugger and slick third baseman, Beltré had few peers: No other infielder in the history of baseball has 3,000 hits, 400 homers and five Gold Glove awards. Beltré, now 44, was a lock for the Hall of Fame. As … Read more
Ryne Sandberg, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and an iconic player for generations of Chicago Cubs fans, revealed Monday that he was recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Sandberg, 64, shared the news on his Instagram account, announcing that he has already begun treatment. “I am surrounded by my loving wife … Read more
By Andrew Baggarly, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon Yoshinobu Yamamoto has yet to stand on a major-league mound, but that hasn’t deterred an abundance of baseball executives and talent evaluators from describing him as one of the most talented pitchers on the planet. He’ll certainly be paid like it. The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed … Read more
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — Aaron Nola is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies on a seven-year deal, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski announced on Sunday. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports Nola’s deal is worth $172 million over seven years — $24.57 million each season — with a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs. “At the outset … Read more
By Ken Rosenthal, Matt Gelb, Tim Britton and Eno Sarris The Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher Aaron Nola have agreed to a seven-year, $172 million contract, a major-league source confirmed. USA Today and ESPN were first to report the news. Here’s what you need to know: Nola, 30, has spent his entire nine-year career with … Read more
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) — Nobody said it’s easy being a Philadelphia sports fan. Phillies fans all across the region are trying to cope after Tuesday night’s devastating Game 7 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Championship Series. “It’s tormenting, it’s tormenting to be a fan, but we’ve had very good runs … Read more
PHILADELPHIA — At 8:09 p.m., the crowd went quiet. In truth, they had been muted for much of the evening, shocked by the performance of the Philadelphia Phillies starter, irritated by the fruitless at-bats from their lineup, galled by the gumption of their guests, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The crowd at Citizens Bank Park had rocked … Read more