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Report: Diamondbacks don't plan to trade star second baseman Ketel Marte after offseason rumors
Ketel Marte is staying put.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have decided to keep the All-Star second baseman after entertaining trade offers, according to The Athletic.
General manager Mike Hazen had indicated the saga was nearing a resolution, saying late last month that the D-backs were “very likely to put an end to this shortly.”
“This isn�...Read more
Free-agent outfielder Max Kepler suspended 80 games for positive steroid test
MINNEAPOLIS — Former Twins outfielder Max Kepler, currently a free agent after playing for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, received an 80-game suspension after he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, MLB announced.
Kepler, 32, was given the suspension on Friday, Jan. 9, after he tested positive for Epitrenbolone,...Read more
Chris McCosky: Seeking logic in illogical $13 million gap between Tigers, Tarik Skubal
DETROIT — I don’t pretend to be an expert on baseball’s arbitration process or its attending loopholes and strategies. Far from it. But I’ve covered this stuff long enough to at least apply some logic and perspective to its proceedings.
Except there’s never been a case like the one Tigers ace Tarik Skubal could be presenting to the ...Read more
How can Don Mattingly help Bryce Harper? It starts with his star power.
PHILADELPHIA — A.J. Preller grew up in New York — Long Island, to be specific — in the ’80s.
Guess which baseball player was his favorite.
“Don Mattingly,” the San Diego Padres president of baseball operations said, never hesitating, a few years ago over the phone. “That was the guy. ‘Hitman’ poster on the wall. I was at the ...Read more
No agreement between Tigers and Tarik Skubal (yet) ahead of arbitration
DETROIT — The Tigers reached contract settlements on Thursday with seven of the eight remaining arbitration-eligible players.
They did not, however, reach an agreement with two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
That doesn't mean Skubal and the Tigers are definitely going to arbitration, though. The Tigers under president Scott Harris have ...Read more
Marlins acquire Cubs' top prospect, two others for pitcher Edward Cabrera
MIAMI — The Marlins on Wednesday traded pitcher Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that landed Miami three prospects, including the player rated first overall in the Cubs’ farm system.
That top overall prospect, 23-year-old Owen Caissie, hit .286, with 22 homers and 55 RBIs at Triple-A Iowa last season and is considered a big ...Read more
Marlins closing in on Edward Cabrera trade with Cubs
MIAMI — The Marlins on Wednesday were on the verge of a trade that would send pitcher Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs, but nothing had been finalized as of midday.
What the Marlins will receive in return was not immediately known, but the team has been seeking position prospects from the Cubs, including at least one player considered big ...Read more
Marcus Hayes: Can Don Mattingly save Phillies skipper Rob Thomson from himself?
PHILADELPHIA — David Robertson, 40 and unemployed until July, put out a fire in the sixth inning of the Phillies’ first playoff game of 2025, but he hadn’t pitched an “up-down” all season — ending one inning and beginning another. With a one-run lead, Rob Thomson sent him back out for the seventh. Robertson hit one batter and another...Read more
Athletics' Las Vegas trademark process hits snag
LAS VEGAS — The Athletics are having issues securing the trademarks associated with their planned Las Vegas relocation.
In a Dec. 29 decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the A’s applications for trademarking “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics” were denied by the federal agency tasked with registering trademarks ...Read more
Tigers' Jason Benetti reportedly is leading candidate to call MLB games on NBC
DETROIT — Is Jason Benetti about to add to his already busy baseball broadcasting schedule?
Benetti, the television play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers, is a "leading candidate" to become the primary broadcaster for NBC's baseball coverage, starting in 2026, according to a report from Front Office Sports, which cited multiple sources. ...Read more
Shohei Ohtani the most popular player among gamblers last year? You bet.
LOS ANGELES — Wanna bet? If the wager involved Shohei Ohtani, the answer from gamblers was yes more often than it was for any other player in any sport last year, according to data from BetMGM.
When betting on game results in 2025, gamblers placed the most wagers on NFL games. However, when betting on individual athletes, gamblers placed the ...Read more
Jason Mackey: Pirates didn't get Kazuma Okamoto. What are the next steps for their offseason?
PITTSBURGH — As expected as it might've been given the challenge of signing Japanese players, especially ones of his caliber, the Pittsburgh Pirates failing to land Kazuma Okamoto was a tough pill to swallow.
But it won't define their offseason. At least it better not.
The important part becomes the pivot, the next move, and the good news is...Read more
Analysis: Clubhouse reputation matters for Pirates additions Ryan O'Hearn, Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum
PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Pirates' biggest offseason need was an offensive upgrade, and they have made progress on that front so far by trading for second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum and their reported signing of free agent Ryan O'Hearn.
But the Pirates also seem to be targeting something that won't be found on a Baseball...Read more
'Not elite' Bryce Harper could use better lineup protection. Here are the Phillies' options.
PHILADELPHIA — Maybe Bryce Harper is still ticked off. Maybe, even after his air-clearing with Dave Dombrowski, he implanted a chip on his shoulder. Maybe he’s just trying to sell T-shirts.
Either way, he got our attention.
As usual.
In case you missed it, because the holidays can be hectic, the Face of the Phillies posted a 101-second ...Read more
New year, new team: Primer on 2026 Red Sox, upcoming MLB season
Happy new year!
With 2025 officially in the rearview mirror, it’s time for a clean slate of Major League Baseball.
Spring training is still six weeks away, but here’s a primer on the 2026 Boston Red Sox and the season ahead.
Key Red Sox and MLB dates
Though not officially announced, pitchers and catchers are typically due to report to ...Read more
Angels restructure Anthony Rendon's deal, ending his time in uniform
Anthony Rendon’s time in an Angels uniform is over.
The Angels and Rendon have agreed to restructure his contract just before the final season of the seven-year, $245 million deal, a source confirmed on Tuesday.
It is unclear exactly how the money will be reallocated. Rendon was owed $38 million in the final year of the deal. Per the terms ...Read more
Analysis: Even after Eflin deal, Orioles have room for a frontline starter
BALTIMORE — The Orioles’ one-year deal with Zach Eflin on Sunday ensured they will go into next season with a rotation of five quality starting pitchers and some capable depth behind them. As last year taught them, a team with World Series aspirations needs more than that.
Eflin, who re-signed for $10 million and a 2027 mutual option, is ...Read more
The 10 games that defined the 2025 Minnesota Twins season
What is the best way to describe the 2025 Twins season in one word:
Embarrassing? Disappointing? Chaotic?
It was at least eventful. The Twins were rarely boring. They started out poorly, ripped off a 13-game winning streak in May, watched their pitching fall apart in June and traded more than a third of the roster in July.
As we reach the ...Read more
Abbey Mastracco: The case for David Wright in the Hall of Fame
NEW YORK — David Wright looks as though he’ll receive enough votes to remain on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for another year, allowing voters another year to examine his candidacy. The former Mets third baseman has received more votes in each of the last three years, but he’s still nowhere near the 75% threshold needed to be ...Read more
Analysis: Mariners' Rob Refsnyder signing makes them a better team
SEATTLE — When the Mariners announced the signing of veteran hitter Rob Refsnyder to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, there was some consternation among the fan base (like always) about his fit or need on the Mariners' 26-man roster.
Of course, many fans were awaiting some movement on potential trades for Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan...Read more
Popular Stories
- How can Don Mattingly help Bryce Harper? It starts with his star power.
- Chris McCosky: Seeking logic in illogical $13 million gap between Tigers, Tarik Skubal
- No agreement between Tigers and Tarik Skubal (yet) ahead of arbitration
- Free-agent outfielder Max Kepler suspended 80 games for positive steroid test
- Report: Diamondbacks don't plan to trade star second baseman Ketel Marte after offseason rumors





