Willie Mays was one of baseball's biggest attractions through his career. The innovator hit, ran and fielded like nobody else, and ultimately became a legend of the New York and San Francisco Giants who's widely considered the game's greatest living player and among the finest ever.
The Seattle Mariners say left-hander Cliff Lee is recovering from minor left foot surgery and will be limited when pitchers and catchers report to spring training this month.
Cliff Lee's first spring training with the Seattle Mariners is off to a slow start already. Lee is recovering from minor foot surgery and will be limited when pitchers and catchers report to Seattle's camp in Arizona this month. "We decided Lee should have the surgery as soon as possible, rather than try to pitch with the discomfort during the year," general manager Jack...
Trades will happen this year. Some will happen soon, some might not happen until summer as the Trade Deadline approaches. But they'll happen. And some big names could be involved.
Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp says don't be taken in by the tabloids. He's focused, ready for Spring Training and determined to help the Dodgers get over the Philadelphia hump and into the World Series.
MLB.com provides a user-friendly list of every relevant mixed-league hitter, organized into tidy tiers, to further assist owners in preparation for the big day.
SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners say left-hander Cliff Lee is recovering from minor left foot surgery and will be limited when pitchers and catchers report to spring training this month.
The Seattle Mariners say left-hander Cliff Lee is recovering from minor left foot surgery and will be limited when pitchers and catchers report to spring training this month.
The Yankees announced Monday that they have signed outfielder Marcus Thames to a Minor League contract, inviting him and 19 other non-roster players to Spring Training. The Yankees also made their acquisition of outfielder Randy Winn official.
Which minor leaguers are the best bets for lofty milestones? Have teams ever intentionally turned players into the NCAA for using and agent, and will the James Paxton situation negatively impact the Blue Jays? Will Middle Tennessee State star Bryce Brentz hit for power with wood bats, and what are his draft prospects?
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Second baseman Skip Schumaker and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a $4.7 million, two-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing.
Second baseman Skip Schumaker and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a $4.7 million, two-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing. Schumaker will earn $2 million this season and $2.7 million in 2011. The deal also contains performance bonuses that could bring the total value to $5 million over two years.
Billy Butler recently took the time to reflect on his first full season at first base, life as a family man, and his devotion to making good things happen with the Royals.
As he celebrated the Super Bowl win of his hometown Saints, Tommy Manzella couldn't help but dream about bringing a similar party to Houston, which has never had a World Series champion in nearly 50 years as a Major League city.
The Cardinals got some cost certainty and Skip Schumaker got some security. Schumaker agreed to a two-year deal with the club on Monday, avoiding arbitration.
Marcus Thames agreed Monday to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, who also finalized a $1.1 million, one-year deal with Randy Winn to give themselves more left field options. Thames, who turns 33 next month, began his major league career with the Yankees in 2002 and homered on his first big league pitch that June 10 off Arizona's Randy Johnson.
Marcus Thames agreed Monday to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, who also finalized a $1.1 million, one-year deal with Randy Winn to give themselves more left field options.
The Minnesota Twins have been spending their way out of that small-budget image, mirroring the imminent increase in revenue from their new ballpark with a big spike in player salary commitments. Lead owner Jim Pohlad said it's a sustainable development. So even if the Twins sign Joe Mauer to a mammoth contract extension, they're not afraid it would cost too much to keep a contending-caliber...
Outfielder Bobby Kielty -- a veteran of seven Major League seasons who last appeared in the bigs with the Red Sox in 2007 -- hopes to make the transition from position player to pitcher.
During a 45-minute Q&A session with reporters Monday, Twins CEO Jim Pohlad touched upon Joe Mauer's contract status. "We're all driven," Pohlad said of the club's effort to sign Mauer.
The Chicago White Sox are taking Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio's number 11 out of retirement for newly acquired 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel. A Venezuelan like Aparicio, Vizquel will wear the number as a tribute to his countryman. "For me, it's like a huge celebration, trying to keep his name alive and trying to spread the word of Venezuelan shortstops," Vizquel said...
The Yankees have signed outfielder Marcus Thames to a non-roster contract, league sources tell SI.com. Thames should compete with Randy Winn and Brett Gardner for playing time
Manager Bob Geren confirmed on Monday that, despite a tremendous amount of pitching depth, the A's will not open the season featuring a six-man rotation.
With Spring Training approaching, a few business matters need to be taken care of. With that in mind, here are the Hot Stove happenings from Monday, as well as a look back at the weekend.
Marcus Thames agreed Monday to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, who also finalized a $1.1 million, one-year deal with Randy Winn to give themselves more left field options.
Former major league manager Bob Melvin has been hired as a professional scout by the New York Mets, who also brought back Mookie Wilson as their minor league outfield and base running coordinator.
Former major league manager Bob Melvin has been hired as a professional scout by the New York Mets, who also brought back Mookie Wilson as their minor league outfield and base running coordinator.
Former major league manager Bob Melvin has been hired as a professional scout by the New York Mets, who also brought back Mookie Wilson as their minor league outfield and base running coordinator. Melvin was the NL Manager of the Year in 2007 with Arizona. He managed the Seattle Mariners from 2003-04 and then the Diamondbacks from 2005 until he was fired last May 8 and replaced by A.J.
Teams have spent big this offseason to patch holes and improve their ball clubs, but are they really better with their new additions than they were before? Cliff Corcoran examines.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A company has withdrawn its application to trademark the term "sabermetrics" following opposition from the Society for American Baseball Research.
The Brewers are erecting a statue of baseball commissioner Bud Selig outside Miller Park and will unveil it on Aug. 24. Selig headed a group that bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court in 1970, moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed it the Brewers. He became acting commissioner in 1992 and took the job full-time six years later, turning control of the team over to his daughter, Wendy...
Omar Vizquel will wear the No. 11 of former White Sox shortstop and fellow Venezuelan Luis Aparicio this season after the team said Monday it would unretire the number, with Aparicio's blessing.
Steve Phillips, the former ESPN baseball analyst and New York Mets general manager, said Monday that he knew he had a sex addiction problem in August of 2009 -- two months before he was fired from his role with the network.
Justin Verlander feels a connection to the city and the region he has called his home for the first five seasons of his Major League career, and the next five to come.
The Brewers on Monday announced plans to honor former club owner and current Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig with a bronze statue on the home plate plaza at Miller Park, near similar monuments to Hank Aaron and Robin Yount.
The Atlantic Sun Conference has taken some huge hits from defections. Losses of Central Florida, Florida International and Florida Atlantic hurt the A-Sun, particularly in baseball. But with Florida Gulf Coast joining North Florida and Kennesaw State as being postseason eligible in 2010, three of the A-Sun's newest teams have renewed hope that the league will return to the days of being a multi-bid league in the NCAA tournament.
Los Leones del Escogido from the Dominican Republic have won the Caribbean Series, beating Venezuela's Leones del Caracas 7-4 Sunday night in the final game of the six-day series.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
MLB.com provides a user-friendly list of every relevant mixed-league hitter, organized into tidy tiers, to further assist owners in preparation for the big day.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Get the full position-by-position scoop on how the talent breaks down heading into the 2010 campaign, and you'll be well on your way to forming a winning draft-day strategy.
Veteran outfielder Brian Giles has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers said Sunday that Giles has been invited to big league camp. A career .291 hitter, Giles batted just .191 in 61 games last season with the San Diego Padres. The 39-year-old Giles did not play after going on the disabled list June 19 with a bruised right knee.
Two of the Orioles' greatest third basemen are confident Miguel Tejada can replicate their success in switching from another infield position to the hot corner.
Despite shoulder surgeries and disappointment in Seattle during each of the last two seasons, free-agent left-hander Erik Bedard is coming back to the Mariners. General manager Jack Zduriencik announced Saturday the team and the oft-injured 30-year-old agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2011.
Tim Lincecum is prepared to hear some harsh criticism in an arbitration hearing with the San Francisco Giants -- perhaps even delving into his offseason pot bust.
Reliever Kevin Gregg agreed Friday to a $2.75 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a deal that could be worth $11.5 million over three seasons. Toronto has a $4.5 million option for 2011 or an option for 2011 and 2012 that would pay $8.75 million over two seasons. Gregg was 5-6 with 23 saves and a 4.72 ERA for the Chicago Cubs last year.
For the second straight year following a 2008 bumper crop of hitters that included Pedro Alvarez, Buster Posey, Gordon Beckham and Justin Smoak, the college pitching talent significantly dwarfs the position players available in the draft. The disparity is even more glaring on our preseason All-America team selected by major league scouting directors, which includes only NCAA Division I players and thus excludes CC of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper, the top overall prospect and best power hitter in the 2010 draft. Furthermore, the top D-I position player is Rice sophomore third baseman Anthony Rendon, who won't be draft-eligible until 2011.
To celebrate the recently completed decade, we put together an All-2000s team to honor the best of the best. Like our annual All-America teams, this team recognizes four starting pitchers, three outfielders, one two-way or "utility" player and one player at every other position. We selected the team and our decade award winners by sending out ballots to every Division I head coach, and 150 of them responded. Pie charts for each position indicate what percentage of the vote each player got at his position. The highest vote-getters who did not make the team were then considered for the DH position.
How good are reinstated Rangers righthanders Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando? What's the scouting report on Blue Jays corner infielder Brett Wallace, whose trade meant he didn't appear in an online Top 10 Prospects list? Who's the better catching prospect, Jason Castro (Astros) or Tony Sanchez (Pirates)?
Coastal Carolina's Scott Woodward has never really been slowed down by his hearing problems. In fact, it may help explain why he's such a good baseball player.
The Athletics send recently-acquired second baseman Aaron Miles (plus either a player to be named or cash) to the Reds for another player with an outsized contract, center fielder Willy Taveras. Oakland also receives 26-year-old third baseman Adam Rosales.
To celebrate the release of the 2010 Prospect Handbook, we held an all-day chat on Friday, January 29. In addition to having your burning questions answered by the editors at Baseball America, we hosted four chats with prospects, including Tim Alderson, Ryan Westmoreland, Logan Morrison and Casey Crosby.
If you didn't get enough scouting reports from the Prospect Handbook, or our special supplement that accompanies the Prospect Handbook, here are 25 more players to read about. That's a total of 958 scouting reports if you read 'em all.
Small transgressions such as dealing with agents during the draft and minor violations of NCAA rules by coaches no longer get swept under the rug in college baseball now that the NCAA is paying attention.
Aaron Fitt and the Baseball America staff weren't content with ranking the Top 25 teams, they also broke down each team into a series of subcategories looking at each team's strengths and weaknesses.
