Latest MLB Playoffs News

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein speaks to the media during the baseball team's convention, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Epstein understands fan frustration in Cubs' slow offseason

Jan. 18, 2020 5:34 PM EST

CHICAGO (AP) — Theo Epstein understands the fans' frustration. He feels it, too, at times. The Chicago Cubs went from 95 wins in 2018 to 84 last year, finished third in the NL Central behind St. Louis and Milwaukee and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. But when it comes to big moves this...

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2019, file photo, new New York Mets manager, Carlos Beltran, center, poses for a picture with general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, left, and Mets COO Jeff Wilpon during a baseball news conference at Citi Field in New York. Beltran is out as manager of the Mets. The team announced the move Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

New Mets manager Beltrán out amid sign-stealing scandal

Jan. 16, 2020 6:20 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltrán, called out on a curveball again. So for the second time since they last threw a pitch, the New York Mets are in the market for a new manager. Sign of the times. Beltrán's 2 1/2-month tenure as Mets manager ended Thursday before he spent a single game on the...

FILE - In this October 1952 file photo, Brooklyn Dodgers' Carl Erskine pitches against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the baseball World Series in New York. Up by 13 1/2 games in mid-August in 1951, Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers seemed destined. That was until rookie Willie Mays and the New York Giants came flying back, fueled by an incredible, late run in home games at the Polo Grounds, and forced a best-of-three playoff for the National League pennant. Erskine was warming up in the Brooklyn bullpen in Game 3 when Bobby Thomson connected for the famed

Stolen away: Brooklyn pitcher recalls '51 sign-stealing scam

Jan. 16, 2020 2:21 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Stealing signals. Banging on a trash can. Beating the Dodgers in October. Sounds very familiar to Carl Erskine. "If they're going to go back to 2017 with penalties for the Astros," he said Wednesday, "then I want them to go all the way back to 1951 to help us." The old Brooklyn pitcher was...

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora waits for the start of Game 5 of the baseball World Series between the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. Cora was fired by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport's sign-stealing scandal. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Red Sox manager Alex Cora fired in sign-stealing scandal

Jan. 14, 2020 10:29 PM EST

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Cora has already been identified as a ringleader in an illegal system of sign stealing when he was with the Houston Astros. The Red Sox didn't wait to see what punishment Major League Baseball might give him for possibly bringing a similar scheme with him to Boston. Cora was fired by the...

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2014, file photo, Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, right, and A.J. Hinch pose after Hinch is introduced as the new manager of the baseball club in Houston. Hinch and Luhnow were fired Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, after being suspended for their roles in the team's extensive sign-stealing scheme from 2017. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

Astros look ahead after firing of Hinch and Luhnow

Jan. 14, 2020 4:10 PM EST

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros suddenly have a couple more holes to fill. Less than a month before the start of spring training, the American League champions are without a manager and general manager after AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were suspended by Major League Baseball and subsequently fired by team...

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, New York Yankees designated hitter Edwin Encarnación runs down the first base line after hitting a double against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of Game 1 of a baseball American League Division Series in New York. The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a $12 million, one-year contract with veteran slugger Encarnación, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. Encarnación is due $11 million in salary next season and a $1 million signing bonus, with the White Sox holding an option for the 2021 season. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Encarnación, White Sox complete $12 million, 1-year contract

Jan. 10, 2020 9:37 AM EST

CHICAGO (AP) — Edwin Encarnación saw the young players the Chicago White Sox have and a bright future for a team eyeing a run at the AL Central championship after seven straight losing seasons. That's why he chose to be a part of it. Encarnación and the White Sox finalized a $12 million,...

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Milwaukee Brewers' Eric Thames connects for a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Denver. The Washington Nationals are bringing back reliever Daniel Hudson and adding Thames. Each deal was confirmed to the AP by people speaking on condition of anonymity because neither has been announced. Thames hit .247 with 25 homers, 61 RBIs and 140 strikeouts for the Brewers in 2019. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

After losing to Nats with Brewers, Thames joins champions

Jan. 8, 2020 8:19 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Thames still thinks about the eighth inning of the NL wild card game, when Milwaukee held a two-run lead against Washington and was four outs from advancing. “I'll never forget that feeling of being heartbroken, seeing Juan Soto's base hit over my head," Thames said....

Brewers 'Counsell gets 3-year contract extension through '23

Jan. 8, 2020 3:29 PM EST

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee general manager David Stearns didn't have to do much thinking when it came to a new long-term deal for Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "Both Craig and I thought this was probably an inevitability at some point," Stearns said Wednesday after announcing a three-year extension for...

Gerrit Cole poses at Yankee Stadium as the newest New York Yankees player is introduced during a baseball media availability, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019 in New York. The pitcher agreed to a 9-year $324 million contract. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

APNewsBreak: Red Sox, Yanks, Cubs sent 2019 luxury tax bills

Dec. 18, 2019 8:47 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston will pay a Red Sox record $13.4 million luxury tax after failing to make the playoffs and the New York Yankees finished with a $6.7 million bill, likely a fraction of what they will pay next year. Three teams owe tax, according to end-of-year figures sent to clubs Wednesday and...

Star 3B Rendon, Angels complete $245 million, 7-year deal

Dec. 13, 2019 11:56 PM EST

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon and the Los Angeles Angels finalized a $245 million, seven-year contract on Friday, two days after the sides reached agreement at the winter meetings. The 29-year-old Rendon led the majors with 126 RBIs, then excelled in the postseason to help...

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