Boston Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy expects the organization to achieve certain goals in...

Boston Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy expects the organization to achieve certain goals in 2025, including winning the American League East division title."Even if it takes us over the CBT (competitive balance tax)," Kennedy said, according to <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/20/sports/red-sox-kennedy-spending-free-agency/?s_campaign=bostonglobesports%3Asocialflow%3Atwitter">The Boston Globe's Michael Silverman</a>."Our priority is 90-95 wins, and winning the American League East, and winning the division for multiple years."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kennedy confirmed that one player the Red Sox are targeting is superstar free agent <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a>, who Boston reportedly had a positive meeting with last Thursday in California.Soto is expected to command a lucrative long-term deal that could last longer than a decade. Kennedy said the Red Sox are prepared to add another contract of that length to a club that already has third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5400" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5400">Rafael Devers</a> locked up until 2033."Is that possible? If that's what it takes, yeah, absolutely," Kennedy said. "We are investing more than we did last year. We intend to invest going forward."There is an extreme urgency internally to be competing for the American League East championship and to set ourselves up for a deep postseason run in 2025 without question. The goal is to win 90-plus games to not be worrying about a wild-card spot."The Red Sox missed the postseason last season and have just one playoff appearance since winning the 2018 World Series.

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: President & CEO Sam Kennedy of the Boston Red Sox addresses the media during an end of season press conference on September 30, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Kennedy: Red Sox prioritizing 90-95 wins, AL East title in 2025

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale was named the National League Cy Young winner Wednesday.  S...

Atlanta Braves left-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1577" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1577">Chris Sale</a> was named the National League Cy Young winner Wednesday.Sale secured 26 first-place votes to beat out Philadelphia Phillies right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2917" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2917">Zack Wheeler</a> and Pittsburgh Pirates rookie hurler <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17521" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17521">Paul Skenes</a> as the NL's top pitcher.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-MBLkK" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MBLkK/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="231" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Sale earned the prestigious honor after winning pitching's Triple Crown. He led the NL in wins (18), ERA (2.38), and strikeouts (225).<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The southpaw and his family were elated following the announcement of his win.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Needless to say the Sale fam was excited 😅<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BravesCountry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BravesCountry</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ws1ChedjlM">pic.twitter.com/Ws1ChedjlM</a>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1859381702419714319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The 35-year-old Sale is the fifth-oldest pitcher to win a Cy Young and the first Braves hurler to receive the honor since Tom Glavine in 1998. Only five Braves pitchers (Warren Spahn, Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Sale) have won the award.Sale joins Sandy Koufax as the only pitchers to strike out 300 hitters in a season, throw the final pitch in a World Series, win a Triple Crown, and earn a Cy Young Award, according to <a href="https://x.com/OptaSTATS/status/1859379101326336161">Opta Stats</a>.He also finished top-five for the Cy Young six times before finally winning one.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chris Sale had finished top-5 for CYA 6 prior times entering 2024 That’s the most top-5 finishes by a pitcher before winning his 1st Cy Young prior most: 5 by Gerrit Cole, followed by 3 by Dennis Eckersley— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1859378421375041764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Braves acquired Sale from the Boston Red Sox for infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13794" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13794">Vaughn Grissom</a> ahead of the 2024 campaign. This is the first Cy Young Award of his storied career, which includes eight All-Star Game appearances and a 2018 World Series championship.

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 26: Chris Sale #51 of Atlanta Braves walks off the mound during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 26, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Sale earns 1st Cy Young of career after dominant NL campaign

Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians was named AL Manager of the Year on Tuesday, winning the ...

Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians was named AL Manager of the Year on Tuesday, winning the award in his first year on the job.Vogt beat out two other AL Central skippers in the Kansas City Royals' Matt Quatraro and A.J. Hinch of the Detroit Tigers.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MANAGER</th>
<th>1ST</th>
<th>2ND</th>
<th>3RD</th>
<th>POINTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Vogt</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>142</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Quatraro</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>73</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A.J. Hinch</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joe Espada</td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aaron Boone</td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Kotsay</td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td></td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rocco Baldelli</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Cora</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Vogt led the Guardians to a 92-69 regular-season record and helped Cleveland advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2016.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I don't know how to feel right now," Vogt said on <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetworkPR/status/1859017868563935652">MLB Network</a> after receiving the honor, adding, "The players did this. If the players don't do what they're capable of, this wouldn't be possible."The 40-year-old, who had never managed before this season, replaced longtime Guardians skipper Terry Francona. He's the fifth-youngest manager to win the award, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Youngest MOY winners (age by last day of regular season): 2019 Rocco Baldelli: 38y, 4d 1994 Buck Showalter: 38y, 80d 1983 Tony La Russa: 38y, 363d 2007 Eric Wedge: 39y, 247d 2024 Stephen Vogt: 39y, 334d h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/EliasSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliasSports</a>— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1859015634933203125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Vogt, who played 10 big-league seasons, retired from playing following the 2022 campaign after hitting a home run in his last MLB at-bat.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 12: Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after defeating the Detroit Tigers during Game Five of the Division Series at Progressive Field on October 12, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Guardians' Vogt named AL Manager of the Year after stellar 1st season 

The Kansas City Royals entered the offseason looking to add players after their best season in ne...

The Kansas City Royals entered the offseason looking to add players after their best season in nearly a decade, and it looks like they have a couple of targets in mind.Kansas City has checked in with the Philadelphia Phillies about third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10702" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10702">Alec Bohm</a> and the Los Angeles Angels about outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5431" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5431">Taylor Ward</a>, sources told <a href="https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-offseason-trade-possibilities-2025">MLB.com's Anne Rogers</a>.The Royals' interest in both players comes three days after they were reportedly discussing a trade with Cincinnati that would send right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10668" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10668">Brady Singer</a> to the Reds for second baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12444" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12444">Jonathan India</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kansas City has made upgrading its offense a priority this winter, according to Rogers. The Royals finished 20th in wRC+ even with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12336" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12336">Bobby Witt Jr.</a> producing an MVP-type season and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2082" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2082">Salvador Perez</a> having a solid year at the dish.Bohm, 28, made his first All-Star team in 2024, posting a .779 OPS (117 OPS+) with 44 doubles and 97 RBIs.He struggled in the second half, hitting .251/.299/.382. Bohm continued to perform poorly in the playoffs, collecting one hit in 13 at-bats during the Phillies' NLDS loss to the New York Mets.Meanwhile, Ward hit 25 homers and drove in 75 while appearing in a career-high 156 games for the Angels last season. The 30-year-old is not due to become a free agent until 2027 and is projected to earn $9.2 million through arbitration.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 05: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the eighth inning during Game 1 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Report: Royals checked in on Phillies' Bohm, Angels' Ward

New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was named the American League Rookie of the Year by the Ba...

New York Yankees right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/11752" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/11752">Luis Gil</a> was named the American League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
2024 AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Luis Gil reacts to this memorable moment with his closest people 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/8fYO2QjR3Q">pic.twitter.com/8fYO2QjR3Q</a>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1858661192715088063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Gil received 15 first-place votes to finish ahead of Baltimore Orioles outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13841" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13841">Colton Cowser</a> by five points.It was the second-closest finish in AL ROY history.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-e3oIo" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/e3oIo/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="499" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure>Gil is the first Yankees pitcher to win Rookie of the Year since Dave Righetti in 1981 after authoring a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA and 10.1 K/9 across 29 starts. He's the 10th Yankees player to claim the honor and the first since <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4773" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4773">Aaron Judge</a> in 2017."It means so much to me," Gil said on <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/1858663923244835023">MLB Network</a> via an interpreter.He added, "When you come up as a rookie player, first of all, your dream is to make it to the big leagues, but once you get there, you want to contribute, you want to do your job."The 26-year-old had five starts where he allowed one hit this season, tying for the most by a rookie since 1893, according to <a href="https://x.com/Alden_Gonzalez/status/1858661670547320885">ESPN's Alden Gonzalez</a>."Congratulations to Luis on an amazing season. He worked so hard to put himself in a strong position heading into spring training after coming back from Tommy John surgery," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in a statement, according to <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1858667476265169333">MLB.com's Bryan Hoch</a>. "Without a guarantee of a major-league spot, he absolutely kicked in the door this spring and went on to have a phenomenal rookie season. Luis continued to mature and develop all year and was one of the pillars of our rotation. I can't wait to see what's next for such a talented, young pitcher."The Yankees don't receive a prospect promotion incentive pick in next year's draft because Gil pitched in 2021 and 2022.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Luis Gil #81 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox to end the top of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 18, 2024 in New York City.

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Yankees' Gil edges out Cowser for AL Rookie of the Year

The New York Mets met with free-agent superstar Juan Soto on Saturday and are hopeful about signi...

The New York Mets met with free-agent superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a> on Saturday and are hopeful about signing the outfielder, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/16/sports/steve-cohen-mets-have-very-detailed-meeting-with-juan-soto-in-california/">New York Post's Jon Heyman</a> reports.Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns, manager Carlos Mendoza, and other high-ranking officials sat down with the 26-year-old at an undisclosed location in California, sources told Heyman, who adds the meeting was a big production and went well.The Mets are considered one of the favorites to land Soto and have the financial support of Cohen, who's one of MLB's wealthiest owners. Soto would be a huge acquisition for New York after it advanced to the NLCS but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Soto has already met with the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. He'll sit down with the Yankees on Monday, Heyman adds.The Dominican Republic native is expected to sign one of the largest contracts in baseball history after hitting .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a league-leading 128 runs scored for the New York Yankees last season.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 09: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees in action during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on May 09, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

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Report: Mets hopeful about signing Soto after positive meeting

Minnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey plans to enter the 2025 campaign wi...

Minnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey plans to enter the 2025 campaign with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3992" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3992">Carlos Correa</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4126" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4126">Byron Buxton</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9757" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9757">Pablo López</a> on the roster despite recent trade speculation."Everyone is always going to ask when you're a team in the payroll bracket that we are," Falvey said, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5923848/2024/11/15/twins-carlos-correa-trade-possibility/?source=emp_shared_article">The Athletic's Dan Hayes</a>."I feel really confident those guys are going to be part of the ability for us to do what we want on the field. They're going to fuel us, hopefully, to some of the success we want to have. ... I feel really good about those players."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The trio will earn a combined $72.5 million next season, which has led to speculation about their futures. The <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/09/sports/yankees-mets-should-test-carlos-correa-trade-waters-with-twins/">New York Post's Joel Sherman</a> suggested earlier in November that the New York Yankees and New York Mets should explore a Correa acquisition.Twins ownership mandated the front office to slash payroll before last season, forcing the club to limit how it spent. The limitations led to bargain shopping, which preceded a late-season collapse and elimination from playoff contention.Minnesota is expected to be hampered by similar payroll restrictions this winter.Last season, Correa was in the midst of an All-Star campaign before plantar fasciitis limited him to 86 games. Buxton continued to perform well when on the field; the outfielder appeared in 102 games, his most since 2017.Meanwhile, López's second season with the Twins didn't go as well as his first, but he was still effective with 15 wins and a 3.65 FIP.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 26: Carlos Correa #4 looks on with Byron Buxton #25 against the Miami Marlins on September 26, 2024 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Twins president plans to keep Correa, Buxton, López

Liam Hendriks spent more seasons with the Athletics than any other team in his career, so he has ...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2851" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2851">Liam Hendriks</a> spent more seasons with the Athletics than any other team in his career, so he has strong feelings about them moving out of Oakland."It definitely sucks," Hendriks said during an appearance on "<a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1857509109056094536">Foul Territory</a>.""Both my wife and I watched that last game in Oakland and I teared up. It was an emotional day."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hendriks, who's under contact with the Boston Red Sox, spent some of his best years with the Athletics between 2016 and '20.The right-hander credited the organization for giving him an opportunity to prove himself, which allowed him to improve from "mediocre" to one of the game's top closers."I don't think without Oakland, I'd be where I am today," Hendriks explained.The Australian hurler also didn't hold back when pointing the finger at A's owner John Fisher as the reason Major League Baseball no longer exists in Oakland."It just sucks. I've said it before, but you're rewarding the ineptitude of an owner," Hendriks said.Fisher, son of Gap founders Donald Fisher and Doris F. Fisher, inherited his fortune from his parents. In 2005, he sold his ownership stake in the San Francisco Giants to buy the Athletics and has been <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athletics/as-owner-talks-selling-the-team-raiders-relocation-more-2892582/">accused</a> of deliberately tanking the franchise so he could move it to Las Vegas.The Athletics will play at a minor-league park in West Sacramento for the 2025-27 campaigns before moving to Las Vegas.

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 8: Liam Hendriks #16 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates on the field following the game against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum on September 8, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Astros 4-2.

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Hendriks saddened by Athletics' move: Rewarded owner's 'ineptitude'

The Las Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman Brayden McNabb agreed to a three-year extension Frida...

The Las Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1866" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1866">Brayden McNabb</a> agreed to a three-year extension Friday.The deal carries an average annual value of $3.65 million.McNabb is in his eighth season with the Golden Knights after stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 33-year-old leads Vegas with a +11 rating and 36 blocked shots while also sitting third on the club with 28 hits this season. He's appeared in all 16 of the Golden Knights' games and played in all 82 of their contests in each of the past two campaigns.McNabb is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (518), hits (1,256), and blocked shots (1,144).

MONTREAL, QC - June 20: Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Semifinals of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on June 20, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Golden Knights, McNabb agree to 3-year extension with $3.65M AAV

Roki Sasaki hasn't pitched a game in Major League Baseball, but he's already receiving compliment...

Roki Sasaki hasn't pitched a game in Major League Baseball, but he's already receiving compliments from big leaguers."I would say that's top-five stuff in the entire world," free-agent closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5444" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5444">Paul Sewald</a> said of the young pitching phenom during an appearance on "<a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1856804229697974661">Foul Territory</a>.""For those who haven't seen him, you're going to be wowed by his stuff."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Sewald, who has saved 84 games and struck out more than 10 hitters per nine innings throughout his career, knows a little bit about getting out big-league hitters.Sasaki has been a major offseason talking point after the Chiba Lotte Marines announced the 23-year-old will be posted at some point this winter.Eight teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets, are reportedly showing early interest in the right-hander, who posted a 2.02 ERA and 11.4 K/9 in 414 2/3 innings over five seasons for the Marines.Sewald, who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, hopes he winds up playing for whatever team Sasaki joins, mentioning a connection to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17234" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17234">Yoshinobu Yamamoto</a> gives the Dodgers a strong avenue to sign him."We will see where he goes," Sewald, 34, said. "If I don't end up in L.A., I'm hoping he doesn't end up in L.A. as well because that would be quite the combination of a team that won the WBC (World Baseball Classic) ... I hope I'm on whatever team he goes to."

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 20: Roki Sasaki #14 of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game against Team Mexico at loanDepot Park on March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

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Sewald: Sasaki has 'top-5 stuff in the entire world'

The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the team announced...

The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the team announced Thursday.The Rays were in search of a temporary home after the roof of Tropicana Field was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton. The stadium won't be fixed until the start of the 2026 season."It is singularly the best opportunity for our fans to experience 81 games of major-league Rays baseball," Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said, according to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3128351" href="https://thescore.com/news/3128351">The Associated Press</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"As difficult as it is to get any of these stadiums up to major league standards, it was the least difficult. You're going to see Major League Baseball in a small environment."Steinbrenner Field has an 11,026-seat capacity and is the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The facility is also equipped with major-league-standard equipment and facilities."We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a major-league-quality facility for them to utilize this season," Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement, according to <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1857108900224340396">MLB.com's Bryan Hoch</a>."In times like these, rivalry and competition take a back seat to doing what's right for our community - which is continuing to help families and businesses rebound from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton."The Yankees will receive roughly $15 million in revenue for allowing the Rays to use their facility, a source told the AP. The Rays chose Steinbrenner Field over BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, which is the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Other facilities across the country and internationally were also considered.The impact the change has on the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees' Single-A affiliate who play at Steinbrenner Field, is unclear.

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 06: A wide angle general view of the New York Yankees playing against the Tampa Bay Rays during Spring Training on March 6, 2024, at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

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Rays to play 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $2.5-million contract with veteran infielder Kevin N...

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $2.5-million contract with veteran infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8235" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8235">Kevin Newman</a>, the team announced Thursday.The deal also includes a $2.5-million club option for 2026 with a $250,000 buyout. Newman spent last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting .278/.311/.375 with 17 doubles and eight steals in 111 games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 31-year-old is a versatile defender who amassed 10 defensive runs saved across five different positions for the D-Backs last season.Newman should provide the Angels with a stopgap at shortstop after the club announced <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15522" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15522">Zach Neto</a> underwent shoulder surgery last week. General manager Perry Minasian said Neto could miss the start of the season, but the timetable isn't firm."He had a surgery a couple days ago, and I'm not one for timeframes, but he could miss the start of the season," Minasian said of Neto, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/zach-neto-undergoes-right-shoulder-surgery">MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger</a>."We'll see where that goes. But he did have the surgery on the shoulder. I can't get into details. But he will miss some time. And how much time, we'll see."Los Angeles designated catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8187" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8187">Matt Thaiss</a> for assignment to open up a roster spot for Newman.The Angels have been busy this offseason, trading for slugger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3605" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3605">Jorge Soler</a> and depth piece <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8230" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8230">Scott Kingery</a>. They also signed veteran starter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4432" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4432">Kyle Hendricks</a> and catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2068" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2068">Travis d'Arnaud</a> and claimed first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12766" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12766">Ryan Noda</a> off waivers from the Athletics.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Kevin Newman #18 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws to first base for an out against the Miami Marlins during the second inning of the game at loanDepot park on August 20, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

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Angels, Newman agree to 1-year, $2.5M deal

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a two-year contract with catcher Travis d'Arnaud on Tuesday.  D'...

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a two-year contract with catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2068" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2068">Travis d'Arnaud</a> on Tuesday.D'Arnaud's deal is worth $12 million, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1856440605590634974">Jeff Passan of ESPN</a>. Angels general manager Perry Minasian believes the addition of d'Arnaud will help with the development of 24-year-old catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12411" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12411">Logan O'Hoppe</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I think it's gonna be great for a guy like Logan, who's coming into his own, to have somebody with him as part of that tandem," Minasian said, according to <a href="https://x.com/Alden_Gonzalez/status/1856445858474275184">Alden González of ESPN</a>. "To have somebody with him like a Travis d'Arnaud, that will really help his career moving forward."The 35-year-old backstop became a free agent last week after the Atlanta Braves declined an $8-million option on his contract for 2025. He hit .238/.302/.436 in 2024 in 99 games, with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Travis d'Arnaud #16 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 14, 2022 in Washington, DC.

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Angels, d'Arnaud agree to 2-year deal reportedly worth $12M

The San Francisco Giants have put two of their longest-tenured players on the trade block.  Outfi...

The San Francisco Giants have put two of their longest-tenured players on the trade block.Outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4392" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4392">Mike Yastrzemski</a> and first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8896" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8896">LaMonte Wade Jr.</a> are being made available in trade talks this offseason, reports <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/42331709/mlb-offseason-2024-25-passan-predictions-juan-soto-roki-sasaki-corbin-burnes-pete-alonso">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a>.The Giants are reportedly anticipating a payroll reduction in 2025 with Buster Posey aboard as the organization's new president of baseball operations. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Yastrzemski and Wade are projected to earn a combined $14.2 million through arbitration, and both players are eligible for free agency when the campaign concludes.The 34-year-old Yastrzemski appeared in 140 games last season, slashing .231/.302/.437 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs while playing terrific defense. The grandson of Carl Yastrzemski has never posted a season below 2.0 fWAR during his six campaigns with the Giants.Meanwhile, Wade continued to get on base at an elite clip, finishing ninth in the category among players with at least 400 plate appearances last season.The 30-year-old's 121 OPS+ was also the highest of his career, which has spanned four seasons with the Giants after spending two campaigns with the Minnesota Twins.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: LaMonte Wade Jr. #31 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates with Mike Yastrzemski #5 after scoring in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 22, 2023 in Washington, DC.

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Report: Giants make Yastrzemski, Wade available

Devin Haney is looking to make a big splash in his return fight, and he appears to have found the...

Devin Haney is looking to make a big splash in his return fight, and he appears to have found the perfect opponent.Haney and Teofimo Lopez are in negotiations to face each other in 2025, sources told <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2024/11/11/devin-haneys-return-is-being-negotiated-and-its-a-mega-fight/">Brian Mazique of Forbes</a>.The date and the money involved are unknown, but the event would feature a massive card, be broadcast on ESPN, and be promoted by Top Rank, Mazique reports.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Haney hasn't fought since losing to Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision in April. The result was changed to a no-contest after Garcia failed a drug test.The 25-year-old Haney entered the Garcia fight as the WBC's 140-pound titleholder. He's since been switched to WBC junior welterweight champion in recess due to inactivity.Meanwhile, Lopez has fared well since moving up to the junior welterweight division following his 2021 lightweight title loss to George Kambosos Jr. The 27-year-old has won five straight fights, capturing the WBO title from Josh Taylor in June 2023. He last fought Steve Claggett in June, winning by unanimous decision.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 20: Devin Haney (L) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (R) exchange punches during their Undisputed lightweight championship fight at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on May 20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Report: Haney, Teofimo in negotiations for 2025 fight

Juan Soto will begin his free-agent visits this week, and it looks like the Toronto Blue Jays and...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a> will begin his free-agent visits this week, and it looks like the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox will have the first opportunities to impress the star outfielder.The Blue Jays will be the first team to meet with Soto this week in California, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/42331709/mlb-offseason-2024-25-passan-predictions-juan-soto-roki-sasaki-corbin-burnes-pete-alonso">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a>. The Red Sox also have a meeting planned with the 26-year-old this week, while the New York Mets and New York Yankees have sitdowns scheduled with Soto at some point.Toronto is reportedly serious about adding another star alongside <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8267" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8267">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.</a> after they missed out on signing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> last offseason.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Blue Jays' top target is Soto, and they're considered a viable obstacle to the Yankees and Mets, who remain the favorites for his services, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/11/sports/blue-jays-could-play-spoiler-in-yankees-mets-juan-soto-sweepstakes/">New York Post's Jon Heyman</a>.Toronto had an underwhelming 2024 campaign, finishing last in the AL East with a 74-88 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Blue Jays struggled to score runs, finishing 23rd in the category.Meanwhile, Boston also missed the postseason in 2024 thanks to an 81-81 record. The Red Sox ranked 11th in the majors in FanGraphs' offensive rating and wRC+.The San Francisco Giants don't have a meeting set up with Soto, sources told <a href="https://x.com/jaysonst/status/1856514966100001060">Jayson Stark of The Athletic</a>.The Dominican outfielder is expected to land one of the most lucrative contracts in baseball history following an incredible 2024 campaign with the Yankees, which included a .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a league-leading 128 runs scored.

BRONX, NY - JULY 24: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after he hits a home run during the game against the New York Mets on July 24, 2024 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.

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Report: Soto meeting with Blue Jays, Red Sox this week

Aaron Boone is delighted to return as New York Yankees manager next season after leading the club...

Aaron Boone is delighted to return as New York Yankees manager next season after leading the club to the 2024 World Series."I'm excited to be back and excited to get to lead this crew again," Boone said Monday, according to <a href="https://x.com/snyyankees/status/1856004855946682742">SNY</a>.The Yankees exercised their 2025 option on the skipper's contract last Friday. Boone said the two sides haven't discussed an extension or his future beyond next season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We'll see if there's any more dialogue that goes on," the manager said.Boone added that there will be at least one change on next season's coaching staff, though two is a possibility, according to <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1856010360798457943">MLB.com's Bryan Hoch</a>. He wouldn't reveal what the changes were going to be.The skipper also <a href="https://x.com/YESNetwork/status/1856010682287665605">revealed</a> that he'll travel to California next week with executive Hal Steinbrenner to meet with free-agent outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a> and his agent, Scott Boras, about returning to play with the Yankees, adding that he hopes his team is in the mix for Japanese hurler Roki Sasaki."This is a guy that you can certainly envision coming over here and being an ace and a dominant starter," Boone <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1856009812909474166">said</a> of Sasaki, who spent the 2024 campaign with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.Boone has managed the Yankees since 2018. He owns a 603-429 regular-season record and has three AL East division titles to his credit.

ST. LOUIS, MO - JUL 01: New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) during game one of a doubleheader between the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals on July 01, 2023, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis MO

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Boone 'excited to be back' as Yankees manager in 2025

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy doesn't expect Willy Adames to return in 2025 due to the sho...

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy doesn't expect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wbc/players/4784" href="https://thescore.com/wbc/players/4784">Willy Adames</a> to return in 2025 due to the shortstop's high asking price in free agency."You see the numbers he's probably looking (for), and I don't think we're going to come up with that right now," Murphy said, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewwagner/2024/11/10/awards-accolades-and-planning-as-pat-murphy-looks-to-2025/">Andrew Wagner of Forbes</a>."That's not prudent for our group."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Adames is one of the top free agents available this winter after setting career highs in home runs (32), RBIs (112), steals (21) and games played (161). He was a key contributor for the NL Central-winning Brewers, who won 93 games but were eliminated in stunning fashion by the New York Mets in the NL wild-card series.The 29-year-old said after the series that he'd be interested in returning to the Brewers, but Murphy indicated Sunday he's already looking into alternatives, including possibly moving Platinum Glove winner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10687" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10687">Brice Turang</a> over from second base to shortstop.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Unsurprisingly, Pat Murphy said this afternoon that he doesn't expect the Brewers to retain Willy Adames. Murphy indicated moving Brice Turang to shortstop is a possibility, but his inclination is to keep him at second base, where Turang just won the NL Platinum Glove Award.— Jack Stern (@ByJackStern) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByJackStern/status/1855725708301267348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Adames, who's reportedly willing to switch positions in the right situation, has recently been linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He received a qualifying offer from the Brewers, meaning they'll receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team in free agency.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 30: Willy Adames #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers up to bat during the game against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on September 30, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Murphy doesn't expect Brewers to meet Adames' asking price

With the offseason underway, we rank the top 20 free-agent position players (ages at start of 202...

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Top 20 MLB free-agent position players

The Oakland Athletics are no more.  Beginning Monday, the MLB franchise requested to be referred ...

The Oakland Athletics are no more.Beginning Monday, the MLB franchise requested to be referred to exclusively as the Athletics or A's, according to branding guidelines acquired by <a href="https://x.com/EvanDrellich/status/1853498571934294188/photo/1">The Athletic's Evan Drellich</a>. The team's abbreviation also switched from OAK to ATH.The A's will play in West Sacramento at Sutter Health Park, but there was no mention of the city being connected to the club's branding.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The team's new primary logo is a green "A's" mark, but the primary wordmark of "Athletics" in green script remains unchanged.The A's will play their 2025-2027 seasons in West Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas in 2028 after spending 1968-2024 in Oakland.The franchise's last game in Oakland took place Sept. 26. In the emotional farewell, the A's defeated the Texas Rangers.

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Fans hold up signs prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on Thursday, September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California.

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Athletics franchise officially drops Oakland from branding

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Bryan Mcwilliam

News Editor

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