11:17 AM ET ESPN News Services Curt Schilling should remain on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot next year despite his request to be removed, the Baseball Writers Association of America said in its recommendation to the hall’s board of directors Wednesday. “It is the position of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America that
MLB
11:00 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Former New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen was hired as chief operating officer of Roc Nation Sports on Wednesday, returning to the representation business two years after his unconventional leap
7:00 AM ET If you thought the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot was a contentious debate over statistics, character and PEDs, just wait until Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz join next year. Not only will it be the first chance for writers to weigh in on Rodriguez and Ortiz, it will be the final time
9:54 PM ET ESPN News Services Second baseman Tommy La Stella and the San Francisco Giants are finalizing a contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is expected to be for three years. The Oakland Athletics, needing an everyday second baseman who could provide consistent offensive production, acquired La Stella
8:27 PM ET Shortstop Andrelton Simmons and the Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a one-year, $10.5 million contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. A four-time Gold Glove Award winner, Simmons has established himself among the most brilliant defensive shortstops in baseball history. Since his first full season in 2013, Simmons
7:52 PM ET Associated Press BOSTON — Ron Johnson, who worked 25 seasons as a minor league manager, most recently for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in the Baltimore Orioles‘ system, died on Tuesday. He was 64. Johnson appeared in 22 major league games with the Kansas City Royals and Montreal Expos from 1982 to ’84,
7:35 PM ET Associated Press The Baltimore Orioles filled a hole in their infield by agreeing Tuesday with free agent Freddy Galvis to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. Galvis broke into the big leagues with Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 and spent the past two years with Cincinnati Reds. The 31-year-old hit .220 with seven homers
6:16 PM ET Infielder Marcus Semien is in agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $18 million contract, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 2 Related Coming off a career year, Semien struggled in 2020 while dealing with a rib injury, as the shortstop hit just .223 with 7
6:30 PM ET MLB InsidersESPN For the first time since 2013, no player received the 75% of votes needed for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Curt Schilling came the closest, appearing on 71.1% of ballots and three other players were over the 50% mark. Despite nobody getting in this year, there was still
6:22 PM ET Bradford Doolittle For the first time since 1960, the membership of the National Baseball Hall of Fame will remain frozen. No player on the Hall’s 2021 Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot reached the 75 percent threshold needed for enshrinement in Cooperstown. The results of the voting were announced by Hall of
4:22 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Brian Snitker choked back tears as he remembered Hank Aaron’s affection for those who didn’t possess his unparalleled talent on the baseball field. During his post-playing career running the Atlanta Braves‘ farm system, the Hammer had a penchant for looking beyond the can’t-miss prospects. “He always wanted to
3:04 PM ET Catcher J.T. Realmuto and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $115.5 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Realmuto, 29, continues to be one of the best all-around catchers in the majors, hitting .266 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs with the Phillies during the pandemic-shortened season. He
11:42 AM ET ESPN News Services CLEVELAND — Free-agent second baseman César Hernández has agreed to return to the Cleveland Indians on a 1-year contract, according to multiple reports. The team and Hernández have an agreement — which includes a club option for 2022 — in place that will become official once medical tests have
7:00 AM ET Baseball Hall of Fame arguments used to be, dare I say … fun? Bert Blyleven is underrated! Jim Rice is overrated! Jack Morris? Show me the back of his baseball card and let’s debate. Well, welcome to the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot. It includes one player who was suspended for PED
10:40 PM ET A defamation lawsuit filed against Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Angels by Brian Harkins, the longtime clubhouse attendant who was fired for supplying illegal ball-doctoring substances to pitchers, has been struck down in Orange County Superior Court. Judge Geoffrey T. Glass granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss Harkins’ complaint, stating
5:58 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” After sending a letter to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred that suggested delaying spring training “to allow for the COVID-19 situation to improve here,” Cactus League executive director Bridget Binsbacher told
2:45 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — As Jameson Taillon‘s trade from Pittsburgh to the New York Yankees started to sink in, he thought about reuniting with former roommate Gerrit Cole. “Every night you get a five-star cooked meal,” Taillon said. “Even if he’s cooking for himself, he’s going to marinate whatever he’s cooking
2:34 PM ET Major League Baseball will hold its first-ever pre-draft combine June 20-28 in Cary, North Carolina, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The group of invited players will be chosen in consultation with MLB scouts, and the event will include a tournament involving 88 of those players through the 26th, to give