ATLANTA (AP) — Left-hander Drew Smyly became the first of the 181 free agents to switch teams when he agreed Monday to an $11 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, who are looking to bolster a rotation that was depleted by injuries and disappointing performances. The 31-year-old pitched seven games last season for the San Francisco Giants, making five starts. He went 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA. Smyly earned a $1,481,481 prorated base salary from an original $4 million, plus roster and performance bonuses. Smyly adds depth and experience to an Atlanta rotation led by Max Fried, who finished fifth in the NL Cy Young Award voting, and rookie sensation Ian Anderson. The Braves also are counting on the return of Mike Soroka, who missed most of this past season with a torn Achilles. The Braves hope to get more out of Smyly than they did from Cole Hamels, who signed an $18-million, one-year deal for 2020 that became $6,666,667 prorated. He wound up pitching only one game because of injuries... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is believed to be the first female GM in the four major North American professional sports leagues, the Marlins said. “I think this is the most noteworthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947,” said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race and gender in sports at the University of Central Florida. Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a senior vice president. “After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When I got... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is believed to be the first female GM in a major professional sport in North America, the Marlins said. “I think this is the most noteworthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947,” said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race and gender in sports at the University of Central Florida. Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a senior vice president. “After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When I got into this business,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman and Asian American in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is believed to be the first female GM in a major professional sport in North America, the Marlins said. “I think this is the most noteworthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947,” said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race and gender in sports at the University of Central Florida. Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a senior vice president. “After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Tepera? Baseball fans love to argue over who should win big awards. But there likely was no debate about the most surprising name on the list of players getting NL MVP votes Thursday. That was Tepera, the Chicago Cubs reliever who was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA during the virus-shortened season. The 33-year-old righty received a single 10th-place vote for one point, leaving him tied for 18th in the NL balloting, far behind winner Freddie Freeman. Still, that’s more support than the likes of Bryce Harper, Jacob deGrom and Nolan Arenado drew as they got shut out. Tepera struck out 31 in 20 2/3 innings over 21 games, and pitched in the playoffs for the Cubs. A valuable piece of Chicago's bullpen, for sure, but MVP worthy? Turns out there was a simple explanation for the vote. It was a mix-up — one that didn’t affect the results in any way. “I meant to hit Trea Turner and thought I had,” longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Rick Hummel said. No worries, Tepera tweeted. “One... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Tepera? Baseball fans love to argue over who should win big awards. But there likely was no debate about the most surprising name on the list of players getting NL MVP votes Thursday. That was Tepera, the Chicago Cubs reliever who was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA during the virus-shortened season. The 33-year-old righty received a single 10th-place vote for one point, leaving him tied for 18th in the NL balloting, far behind winner Freddie Freeman. Still, that’s more support than the likes of Bryce Harper, Jacob deGrom and Nolan Arenado drew as they got shut out. Tepera struck out 31 in 20 2/3 innings over 21 games, and pitched in the playoffs for the Cubs. Turns out there was a simple explanation for the vote. It was a mix-up — one that didn’t affect the results in any way. “I meant to hit Trea Turner and thought I had,” longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Rick Hummel said. Fondly called “The Commish” by his peers, Hummel in 2006 won the Baseball Writers' Association of America's award for excellence that is presented during the Hall of Fame’s induction ceremonies. Hummel said he intended to click on Turner’s name on a drop-down list, but figures he accidentally clicked Tepera. Turner, the Washington shortstop, finished all alone in seventh place. “I should have double-checked it,” Hummel said. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — As opening day finally approached, Freddie Freeman had far bigger concerns than perfecting his swing and practicing his scoops. Just being able to walk a few steps was hard enough. “It wasn't the way I wanted to start, with COVID,” the Atlanta Braves first baseman said. “I was able to beat it.” And then some. Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” Chicago White Sox slugger José Abreu earned the AL MVP, a reward for powering his team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Freeman got 28 of the 30 first-place votes in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts got the other two firsts to finish second, and San Diego third baseman Manny Machado was third. In a season affected from spring training to the World Series by the pandemic, perhaps it was fitting the final major award of the year went to... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian once served as a batboy for the Texas Rangers when they made road trips to Angel Stadium. He's headed back to Anaheim three decades later as the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract to take charge of a big-budget franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 2009 and didn't appear to be much closer to a breakthrough in the just-completed season. “I think this is going to be a great situation,” Minasian said in an interview with KLAA-AM, the team-owned flagship radio station. “It’s a good group of guys, and I’m looking forward to winning a lot of games.” Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as Atlanta's vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” Chicago White Sox slugger José Abreu earned the AL MVP, a reward for powering his team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Freeman got 28 of the 30 first-place ballots in voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts got the other two firsts to finish second and San Diego third baseman Manny Machado was third. In a season affected from spring training to the World Series by the pandemic, perhaps it was fitting the final major award of the year went to someone infected by the virus. Three weeks before the delayed opening day in late July, Freeman’s body temperature spiked at 104.5 degrees and he lost his sense of taste and smell. At one point, he recalled, he said a little prayer because “I wasn’t ready.” “I got off to such... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Voting for the 2020 National League Most Valuable Player Award, with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points based on a 14-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis: Player1st2nd3rdTotalFreddie Freeman, Braves282-410Mookie Betts, Dodgers2215268Manny Machado, Padres-216221Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres-25201Juan Soto, Nationals-32172Marcell Ozuna, Braves--2167Trea Turner, Nationals---83Mike Yastrzemski, Giants---81Corey Seager, Dodgers---43Trevor Bauer, Reds---32Trevor Story, Rockies---23Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves---21Dominic Smith, Mets---16Yu Darvish, Cubs---14Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals---9Brandon Belt, Giants---2Wil Myers, Padres---2Max Fried, Braves---1Ian Happ, Cubs---1Dansby Swanson, Braves---1Ryan Tepera, Cubs---1Devin Williams, Brewers---1

x-unanimous2020 — Jose Abreu, Chicago 2019 — Mike Trout, Los Angeles 2018 — Mookie Betts, Boston 2017 — Jose Altuve, Houston 2016 — Mike Trout, Los Angeles 2015 — Josh Donaldson, Toronto 2014 — x-Mike Trout, Los Angeles 2013 — Miguel Cabrera, Detroit 2012 — Miguel Cabrera, Detroit 2011 — Justin Verlander, Detroit 2010 — Josh Hamilton, Texas 2009 — Joe Mauer, Minnesota 2008 — Dustin Pedroia, Boston 2007 — Alex Rodriguez, New York 2006 — Justin Morneau, Minnesota 2005 — Alex Rodriguez, New York 2004 — Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim 2003 — Alex Rodriguez, Texas 2002 — Miguel Tejada, Oakland 2001 — Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle 2000 — Jason Giambi, Oakland 1999 — Ivan Rodriguez, Texas 1998 — Juan Gonzalez, Texas 1997 — x-Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle 1996 — Juan Gonzalez, Texas 1995 — Mo Vaughn, Boston 1994 — Frank Thomas, Chicago 1993 — x-Frank Thomas, Chicago 1992 — Dennis Eckersley, Oakland 1991 — Cal Ripken, Baltimore 1990 — Rickey Henderson, Oakland 1989 — Robin Yount, Milwaukee 1988 — x-Jose Canseco,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox slugger José Abreu won the AL MVP prize Thursday, a reward for powering his team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The first baseman from Cuba got 21 of the 30 first-place ballots in voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez finished second and Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu was third. The NL MVP was to be announced later Thursday night. Abreu led the majors with 60 RBIs and 148 total bases, and topped the AL with 76 hits and a .617 slugging percentage. He played in all 60 games during the virus-shortened season as Chicago claimed a wild-card spot. The 33-year-old Abreu batted .317 with 19 home runs, connecting six times in a three-game series against the Cubs in late August. That barrage of longballs at Wrigley Field was part of his 22-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors this year. Abreu was the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year and is a three-time All-Star. He became... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian has been named the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract. “His background in scouting and player development along with his unique understanding of roster construction were the leading factors in our decision," Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as Atlanta's vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, where Minasian became the club's director of pro scouting. Minasian has been a part of ample success over the past six years. Toronto and Atlanta reaching the playoffs five times in that stretch, appearing in three league championship series and winning three division titles. His new team... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian has been named the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract. “His background in scouting and player development along with his unique understanding of roster construction were the leading factors in our decision," Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as their vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, where Minasian became the club's director of pro scouting. The 40-year-old Minasian has been in baseball since he was an 8-year-old batboy for the Texas Rangers, where his father, Zack, was the team's clubhouse manager. He became a clubhouse attendant and eventually an advance scout for the... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox are sticking with new manager Tony La Russa for now, saying they understand the “seriousness” of his latest drunken driving case and will have more to say once it plays out in court. “Tony deserves all the assumptions and protections granted to everyone in a court of law, especially while this is a pending matter,” the team said Thursday in a statement. “Once his case reaches resolution in the courts, we will have more to say. The White Sox understand the seriousness of these charges.” La Russa, a Hall of Fame manager who won a World Series with Oakland and two more with St. Louis, blew out a tire on the grey Lexus he was driving in a collision with a curb that left the vehicle smoking when he was arrested on misdemeanor DUI charges in February, according to an affidavit filed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The case was filed on Oct. 28 — one day before his hiring — after tests taken the night of his arrest showed his blood alcohol concentration... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the decision says the Los Angeles Angels are expected to choose their new general manager Thursday, and Atlanta Braves assistant GM Perry Minasian is the frontrunner. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the Angels aren't making details of the search public. The 40-year-old Minasian has been a high-ranking official in the Braves' front office since late 2017, including the past two years with the additional title of vice president of baseball operations. He previously had a nine-year stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, including six years as their director of professional scouting. Minasian began his baseball career with the Texas Rangers, where his father worked as the team's equipment director. Minasian worked his way up from jobs as a batboy and clubhouse attendant into a scouting role for the Rangers, followed by stints as an assistant to manager Buck Showalter. The Angels are rebuilding... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman accepted the New York Mets' $18.9 million qualifying offer Wednesday to stay with the team for 2021. The 29-year-old right-hander did not play this year, missing the start of the shortened season in late July due to a torn left calf muscle, then announcing Aug. 10 he had opted out because of the coronavirus pandemic. A native of Long Island who grew up about 50 miles from Citi Field, Stroman announced his decision the day after new Mets owner Steve Cohen held an introductory news conference. Cohen bought the team last week from the Wilpon and Katz families for a baseball-record $2.42 billion. “After watching the presser, I’m beyond excited to play for you sir,” Stroman posted on Twitter. “I could feel the excitement and passion you’re going to bring daily. Let’s go be great!” “Marcus, That is great news,” Cohen replied on Twitter. “Looking forward to meeting you soon. I will call you over the next few days to thank you.” Stroman rejoins a... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman and San Francisco starter Kevin Gausman accepted $18.9 million qualifying offers Wednesday, receiving one-year deals to stay with their teams rather than test what they could get in free agency. Four players declined qualifying offers at the 5 p.m. EST deadline: right-hander Trevor Bauer from Cincinnati, outfielder George Springer from Houston, second baseman DJ LeMahieu from the New York Yankees and catcher J.T. Realmuto from Philadelphia. If any of those players sign with a new team, his former club would receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round of next year’s amateur draft or at the end of competitive balance round B. The placement depends on whether the new contract is worth $50 million or more and the revenue-sharing and luxury tax status of the team losing the player. A team signing the player would give up either its third-highest draft pick, its second-highest pick and $500,000 of international signing bonus allotment... [More]

Shane Bieber and Trevor Bauer love to talk pitching. They bonded as teammates with the Cleveland Indians, and stayed in touch after Bauer was traded to the Cincinnati Reds last year. Bieber got a text from Bauer before this season started. The right-handers had the same Las Vegas odds for the Cy Young Award. “I said ... why don’t we go 2 for 2, or something like that?” Bieber said. Why not, indeed. Bieber was a unanimous winner in the American League on Wednesday night, and Bauer became the first pitcher to take home the NL honor for the majors’ oldest franchise. “Nobody’s more deserving of it than him and he knows what he wants and he knows how to go out and get it,” Bieber said. “And we keep in touch. I was truly pulling for him and you know, so is my family. And I know he feels the same way, so it’s special.” Bieber and Bauer, two California natives, made it an Ohio sweep on the mound in 2020. They are the third pair of former teammates to win Cy Young Awards in the same season, according... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Marcus Stroman accepted the New York Mets' $18.9 million qualifying offer on Wednesday to stay with the team for 2021. The 29-year-old right-hander did not play this year, missing the start of the shortened season in late July due to a torn left calf muscle, then announcing Aug. 10 he had opted out because of the coronavirus pandemic. A native of Medford on Long Island, Stroman announced his decision the day after new Mets owner Steven Cohen held an introductory news conference, Cohen bought the team last week from the Wilpon and Katz families for a baseball record $2.42 billion. “After watching the presser, I’m beyond excited to play for you sir,” Stroman posted on Twitter. “I could feel the excitement and passion you’re going to bring daily. Let’s go be great!” “Marcus, That is great news,” Cohen replied on Twitter. “Looking forward to meeting you soon. I will call you over the next few days to thank you.” Stroman projects to be part of a rotation that includes... [More]