Latest Professional baseball News

FILE - In this March 1, 2020, file photo, Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman watches his double during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Zimmerman is returning to the Nationals after sitting out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Zimmerman agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract that would include additional bonus provisions. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Zimmerman seals deal with Nats, says might not be last year

Jan. 23, 2021 8:39 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Now that he’s set to play for the Washington Nationals this season, Ryan Zimmerman might stick around a little longer, too. Zimmerman and the Nationals made it official Saturday, announcing his $1 million, one-year contract. The deal came after the Nats’ longest-tenured...

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2020, file photo, Houston Astros' George Springer takes a lead off first during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Springer became the most prominent among baseball’s free agents to reach an agreement, a $150 million, six-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night, Jan. 19, 20201, because the deal was subject to a successful physical. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

Springer, Blue Jays finalize $150M, 6-year contract

Jan. 23, 2021 7:47 PM EST

TORONTO (AP) — All-Star outfielder George Springer finalized his $150 million, six-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, becoming the most prominent free agent to reach an agreement this offseason. Springer, who turned 31 in September, received the largest deal in team history, topping...

AP source: Red Sox agree to deals with Hernández, Richards

Jan. 23, 2021 7:46 PM EST

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with second baseman Enrique Hernández and right-hander Garrett Richards, a person with knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Saturday because the free-agent contracts could not be announced...

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2019, file photo, Minnesota Twins catcher Jason Castro pauses during the team's baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit. Castro has agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, because the deal had not been announced. The agreement is pending completion of a successful physical. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Catcher Jason Castro, Astros finalize $7M, 2-year contract

Jan. 23, 2021 7:42 PM EST

HOUSTON (AP) — Catcher Jason Castro and the Houston Astros finalized a $7 million, two-year contract. He gets a $2 million signing bonus as part of Friday's deal and guaranteed salaries of $2.5 million annually. His 2022 salary can escalate by up to $2 million based on games caught this year: $250,000 each...

FILE - Detroit Tigers' Austin Romine prepares to bat during a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., in this Tuesday, March 10, 2020, file photo. The Cubs added a veteran catcher, agreeing to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with Austin Romine, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. The person confirmed the agreement on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Austin Romine, Cubs finalize $1.5 million, 1-year contract

Jan. 23, 2021 2:41 PM EST

CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract with catcher Austin Romine on Saturday. Romine can earn an additional $700,000 in performance bonuses for starts at catcher and $500,000 in roster bonuses. He would get $100,000 each for 50 starts and each additional 10 through 110. He...

Les Motes and his two-year-old daughter Mahalia leave flowers, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Atlanta, near the spot where a ball hit for a home run by Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron cleared the wall to break Babe Ruth's career home run record in 1974. Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died peacefully in his sleep early Friday. He was 86. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Aaron's death prompts call to change name: Braves to Hammers

Jan. 23, 2021 2:29 PM EST

ATLANTA (AP) — As his adopted hometown mourned Hank Aaron's death, some fans called on the Atlanta Braves to change their name to the Hammers in his honor. “Hammerin' Hank” died Friday at age 86, drawing praise from all segments of society — including the current and former presidents...

Astros trade LHP Pérez to Reds for minor league catcher

Jan. 23, 2021 2:03 PM EST

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros traded left-hander Cionel Pérez to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league catcher Luke Berryhill on Saturday. The 24-year-old Pérez pitched seven games in relief last season, going 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA. In parts of three seasons for the Astros, he is 1-1 with a 5.75...

Major League Baseball's all-time career home run record holder Hank Aaron and his wife Billye take a lap in a golf cart around Turner Field in Atlanta, Thursday, April, 8, 1999, after a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of his breaking Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs on April 8, 1974. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Aaron lauded for grace amid racism during home run pursuit

Jan. 23, 2021 8:53 AM EST

Reaction to Hank Aaron's death from former presidents to fellow Hall of Famers to everyone who knew him followed a theme: how the one-time home run king handled the racism he faced on the way to passing Babe Ruth's hallowed record nearly 50 years ago. Joe Carter met his childhood idol when he won the first Hank...

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2007, file photo, Boston Red Sox's Curt Schilling pitches against the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 of the baseball World Series at Fenway Park in Boston. Like many baseball writers, C. Trent Rosecrans viewed the Hall of Fame vote as a labor of love. The results of the 2021 vote will be announced Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, and Rosecrans was not alone in finding the task particularly agonizing this time around. With Schilling's candidacy now front and center — and Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens still on the ballot as well — voters have had to consider how much a player’s off-field behavior should affect his Hall of Fame chances. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Character concerns go beyond PEDs in this Hall of Fame vote

Jan. 23, 2021 3:31 AM EST

Like many baseball writers, C. Trent Rosecrans viewed the Hall of Fame vote as a labor of love. The ballot would arrive around the end of November, and it would keep him occupied for much of December. He’d write down his research on players in a notebook and feel butterflies when putting his ballot in the...

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2013, file photo, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson watches from the dugout during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Washington. Johnson is in a Florida hospital with COVID-19, according to former New York Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz. Horwitz said he spoke with Johnson briefly on Friday. Johnson, 77, was a four-time All-Star second baseman and managed the Mets to their last World Series title in 1986. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Former big leaguer Davey Johnson hospitalized with COVID

Jan. 22, 2021 10:35 PM EST

Former New York Mets manager Davey Johnson was released from a Florida hospital after being treated for COVID-19, according to former Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz. Horwitz said he spoke with Johnson briefly on Friday. Johnson, 77, was a four-time All-Star second baseman and managed the Mets to their last World...

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