By Tim Britton, Will Sammon and C. Trent Rosecrans NEW YORK — A quiet Opening Day contest between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers was enlivened by a benches-clearing incident in the eighth inning. On a Willy Adames forceout at second base, Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil was angered by Rhys Hoskins’ slide into … Read more
The free agent market’s best designated hitter this side of Shohei Ohtani has found a new home. After a potent return-to-form last season, J.D. Martinez signed a 1-year, $12-million deal with the New York Mets on Thursday, pending a physical, league sources said. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman was first to report the news. With … 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
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The two Stadium Series games at MetLife Stadium this weekend increased the NHL’s total of outdoor games to 41. Each of the four teams featured five players who previously played in a pro game in the open air. “Outdoor experiences, it’s great,” said forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who was playing in … 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
The New York Mets and left-handed starting pitcher Sean Manaea have agreed to a two-year deal that allows Manaea to opt out after the end of next season, major-league sources confirmed to The Athletic. The New York Post first reported the deal, which is reportedly worth $28 million in total. In Manaea, the Mets see … Read more
Thoughts on Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers, which according to a league source includes a $50 million signing bonus and no deferred money: First, the numbers. They’re staggering. Yamamoto, 25, received the largest guarantee for a pitcher, $1 million more than Gerrit Cole, before ever throwing a pitch … 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
HOUSTON (AP) — Astros owner Jim Crane texted Justin Verlander with a simple message moments after they reacquired him Tuesday from the New York Mets in a blockbuster trade. “I said: ‘Welcome back. We missed you,’” Crane said. “‘We’ll see you in New York. Hope you pitch well for us against the Yankees.’” Verlander is … Read more