MLB

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Fresh off his first Cy Young Award, Chris Sale opened spring training with two perfect innings for the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. Atlanta lost to the Minnesota Twins 3-1, but the 35-year-old Sale retired all six of his batters, although he did not strike anybody out. Sale is entering his second

The big news from the New York Yankees‘ spring training as the team opened camp this week was the change in the organization’s long-standing facial hair policy. For the past 49 years, beards were not allowed among Yankees players. But team owner Hal Steinbrenner announced Friday that “well-groomed beards” would now be permitted as the

Open Extended Reactions For nearly a half-century, the New York Yankees‘ facial-hair policy kept the visages of some of the world’s most famous baseball players whisker-free. Over the past week, with a nudge from a new player and the advice of an All-Star cast, team owner Hal Steinbrenner changed the face of the Yankees. Literally.

MESA, Ariz. — With the Tokyo Series to open the 2025 MLB season approaching in mid-March, the Cubs and Dodgers got a head start on spring training, with both teams reporting to camp a few days earlier than the 28 other clubs. It makes sense then that the two teams played in the first official

The New York Yankees changing their nearly 50-year-old facial hair policy beginning this season to allow “well-groomed” beards, according to owner Hal Steinbrenner, caught many in the baseball world off guard. Gleyber Torres, who signed with the Detroit Tigers in the offseason after seven seasons with the Yankees, told reporters on Friday that he was

Alden GonzalezFeb 21, 2025, 08:00 AM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016. Open Extended Reactions GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sometime around mid-August last year, Mookie Betts convened with the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ coaches. He had taken stock

Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stands in the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

As the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the Cactus League on Thursday, a scary moment broke up the preseason matchup against the Chicago Cubs. In the third inning, Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was hit in the head by a comeback single from Cubs first baseman Michael Busch. Miller, who subbed in at the start of

Associated Press Feb 20, 2025, 06:23 AM ET Open Extended Reactions GLENDALE, Ariz. — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred shared some conflicting feelings about the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers this week, praising the franchise’s competitive spirit in one breath before addressing the financial disparity they have created in the next. Players elsewhere around the

GLENDALE, Ariz. — For the first time in a Dodgers uniform, 23-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki threw to hitters Wednesday in front of a gigantic crowd of spectators, the likes of which rarely gather for such a routine component of baseball’s spring practice sessions. A year ago, it was Shohei Ohtani’s first live batting practice that

Here is the latest news and possible return dates for Yankees players… Feb. 19, 3:45 p.m. Any hopes of Giancarlo Stanton appearing in the Opening Day lineup are dwindling by the day. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday that the veteran slugger, who’s dealing with tendinitis in both elbows, has no timetable to resume

Buster OlneyFeb 18, 2025, 11:50 AM ET Close Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com Analyst/reporter ESPN television Author of “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty” Open Extended Reactions Hurricane Milton wrecked the Tampa Bay Rays’ ballpark last fall, leaving them without a stadium. For this season, they will play their home games in the Yankees’ spring

The New York Yankees’ beard policy has claimed many victims, and it appeared to have another coming when the team traded for Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams over the winter. Williams reported for spring training with the beard still intact but had shaved it off by the time he started throwing for the team. However,

The Shuffle Up series keeps rolling along, my priced groups of players at each position. Today we get to the Shuffle that really matters, the most difficult position to manage. Starting pitchers. Oh, sure. This should be a real hoot. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season] If I

Open Extended Reactions Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and the Diamondbacks are in agreement on a four-year, $45 million contract extension that includes a club option for 2030, sources told ESPN on Monday, locking up the All-Star to a deal that deepens Arizona’s already strong core. The contract starts in the 2026 season and keeps the 25-year-old

This should be interesting. The Boston Red Sox made a late free-agency splash by signing two-time All-Star Alex Bregman last week. The move makes the Red Sox better on both sides of the ball, but leaves manager Alex Cora with some decisions to make. Bregman plays third base, and the Red Sox already have an

We’re moving along with the Shuffle Up series — my version of tiered rankings — for the new fantasy baseball draft season. The dollar values you’ll see below are unscientific in nature but reflect how I see the clusters of talent for players that qualify in the corner infield (first base, third base or both).

PORT ST LUCIE, Fla. — Juan Soto, he of the largest contract in sports history, showed up to his new job on Sunday morning. Just over two months have elapsed since the broad-shouldered slugger inked that historic, 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets. During that time, anticipation filled the void. Debates about