8:11 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners signed infielder Tommy La Stella to a one-year contract on Thursday, adding another versatile veteran to their roster. La Stella spent the past two seasons with San Francisco, but was designated for assignment by the Giants in late December. La Stella signed a three-year, $18.75

11:49 AM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Dominican outfielder Elian Soto, the 17-year-old brother of All-Star Juan Soto, agreed to a $225,000 signing bonus as part of a minor league contract reached this past weekend with the Washington Nationals. Dominican outfielder Pablo Guerrero, the 16-year-old brother of All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and son of

Jan 12, 2023 Before free agency started, agents and executives around the league suspected that there would be plenty of spending with a fresh new CBA and the sport’s revenue spigot back at full blast. They (and I) understated that effect, to say the least, in our pre-hot stove calculations as it became clear around

6:21 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers were hit with a $32 million luxury tax for the second straight season, among six teams paying a penalty as baseball payrolls rebounded after the lockout to a record $4.56 billion. The New York Mets set a luxury tax payroll record at $299.8

12:19 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Outfielder Tommy Pham and the New York Mets agreed on a one-year, $6 million contract Wednesday, sources told ESPN, continuing the team’s offseason bonanza and pushing the Mets’ record payroll past the

7:00 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Spring training starts in less than a month. Every major free agent is signed. Almost all of the second- and third-tier ones have jobs, too. It’s almost like Major League Baseball free

5:49 PM ET ESPN News Services OAKLAND, Calif. — Right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami formally introduced himself Tuesday, then asked that everyone simply call him “Fuji.” “Like Mt. Fuji,” he explained. And, nope, he has never been. In Japan, he is more formal, going by Shintaro, but he figures this will make it easy on everybody

Jan 13, 2023 Tristan H. Cockcroft (The full, nine-inning Playbook was originally published during the spring of 2020. It has been updated for 2023 where applicable.) Some may call it a silly little game, but I’ll tell you a secret: Once you play fantasy baseball, you’ll be hooked for life. There’s a simple reason: It’s

9:36 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Frank Thomas, a three-time All-Star with his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates who later became the top hitter on the expansion New York Mets, died Monday. He was 93. Both teams announced Thomas’ death. The Mets said he died Monday morning in Pittsburgh. No cause was given. Thomas played

6:54 PM ET Associated Press BALTIMORE — Orioles chairman John Angelos said emphatically that the team will not leave Baltimore, then reacted contentiously when a reporter asked for more clarity on the future of the team’s ownership. “Fear not, the Orioles will be here,” he said. Angelos appeared with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott at Camden