- Home →
- Zack Wheeler
Joe Maddon opens up on leaving Chicago Cubs, returning to L.A. Angels
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Joe Maddon settled into a small Italian deli bordering the Pacific coast Friday, only a block from the high-rise condominium that housed him for the past month, and instantly felt regret. He wished he had spotted this place sooner. The next day, on the morning of his 66th birthday, he would […]
Continue readingOne thing to watch for all 30 teams as spring training begins
When spring training kicked off a year ago, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado remained unsigned. The drama this year will center around the Houston Astros: their cheating scandal, reactions from other players about the Astros’ cheating scandal, the possibility of other teams throwing at Astros hitters in spring training, the counter-reaction from Astros pitchers and […]
Continue readingMLB superstar trades, sign-stealing punishment and more: Passan answers 20 questions for 2020
A new year means endless new questions for Major League Baseball, a sport in the midst of its most engaging free-agency period in a half-decade, nearing the punishment phase of an ugly scandal, grappling with deep-seated economic questions, ever considering the quality of its on-the-field product and prepared to overhaul its minor league system. It’s […]
Continue readingPredicting where MLB’s top remaining free agents will sign
Last week, Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon agreed to free-agent deals worth a combined $814 million. Yes, baseball has come a long way from the first free-agent class in the 1976-77 offseason, when an infielder named Paul Dade signed with the Cleveland Indians and, Sports Illustrated later reported, figured he could “start to […]
Continue readingGerrit Cole watch, big spenders and more: Passan answers 20 winter meetings questions
Editor’s note: This story published on the morning of Monday, Dec. 9 before Stephen Strasburg agreed to a seven-year, $245 million deal to return to the Nationals. SAN DIEGO — The winter meetings, once the domain of blockbuster trades and megabucks free-agent signings, have in recent years gone into the sort of hibernation typically associated […]
Continue readingWinners and losers of Stephen Strasburg’s $245 million return to Nationals
David Schoenfield: Hey, it’s not my money! This guy just carried your team to a World Series title, but that’s also a very large chunk of change for a pitcher who just topped 176 innings for the first time since 2014. There’s nothing wrong with bringing him back and continuing to construct your team around […]
Continue readingGiants seek pitching, but few signs Madison Bumgarner returning
It just might not be Madison Bumgarner. San Francisco president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi plans to meet with agents for the free-agent left-hander, but there are few signs the Giants are ready to commit big money to him for the long haul. “We’re in contact with his representatives and expect to meet with them […]
Continue readingJoe Maddon chats with Gerrit Cole, calls pitcher ‘very bright’
“Several glasses of wine later,” he said. Maddon finds himself in a similar situation this year, now managing the Los Angeles Angels, who are deep in the chase for Gerrit Cole. “We need something like that,” Maddon said. “I anticipate something like that.” The winter meetings began on Monday with Stephen Strasburg‘s agreeing to a […]
Continue readingPhillies agree to 1-year deal with SS Didi Gregorius, source says
The deal is for $14 million, NBC Sports Philadelphia reported. Gregorius, who turns 30 in February, came back from Tommy John surgery in early June and hit .238 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 82 games. He was arguably one of the Yankees’ best players before he needed ligament reconstruction in his right elbow […]
Continue readingSource: Michael Wacha, Mets reach 1-year deal
Wacha, 28, will be getting $3 million guaranteed from the Mets and could make another $7 million in performance bonuses and incentives, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The New York Post was first to report the deal, which is still pending a physical. Wacha had spent his entire seven-year career with the St. Louis […]
Continue reading