For the first time since 2013, no player received the 75% of votes needed for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Curt Schilling came the closest, appearing on 71.1% of ballots and three other players were over the 50% mark. Despite nobody getting in this year, there was still good news for some eligible players along with plenty of […]

ATLANTA — Brian Snitker choked back tears as he remembered Hank Aaron’s affection for those who didn’t possess his unparalleled talent on the baseball field. During his post-playing career running the Atlanta Braves’ farm system, the Hammer had a penchant for looking beyond the can’t-miss prospects. “He always wanted to move a player up, and he preferred that it wasn’t […]

Curt Schilling would be one of the best pitchers ever held out of the Hall of Fame if he fails to meet the 75 percent voting threshold Tuesday night or in his final eligible appearance on the ballot in 2022. His numbers and three World Series rings elevate his on-field impact above the likes of Don Drysdale, Don Sutton and Jim […]

Free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto is staying in Philadelphia, agreeing to a five-year, $115.5 million deal with the Phillies on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced. Realmuto has been one of the best catchers in baseball in recent years […]

It’s nice to think that Major League Baseball’s 30 owners, its hundreds of players and their many-tentacled business interests will keep public health front of mind when plotting and launching the 2021 season. It’s also helpful to note the many millions and billions of dollars in play could, shall we say, impact their thinking. In about three weeks, pitchers and […]

PHOENIX — The executive director of the Cactus League, which houses 15 teams in 10 Phoenix-area ballparks during spring training, has formally requested that Major League Baseball delay the start of the season by a month. The proposal, sent by Cactus League director Bridget Binsbacher, was endorsed by all eight mayors and a tribal community in the Phoenix area in […]

Spring training in Arizona is scheduled to begin on Feb. 17 but the COVID-19 pandemic could force a delay. Officials from the Cactus League and the communities that host 15 teams have asked Major League Baseball to push back the start of camps and Cactus League games. In a letter dated Friday, which was released by the Cactus League on […]

The New York Yankees are trading reliever Adam Ottavino to the Boston Red Sox, a source confirmed to ESPN. The trade is the first deal between the AL East rivals since one involving Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson in 2014. By moving Ottavino, the Yankees free up some cash, while the Red Sox add a late-inning arm. New York is […]

Previously a Staff Writer at Bleacher Report Cornell University graduate Leaders of all eight Cactus League cities have sent a letter to Major League Baseball saying it would be “wise” to delay the start of spring training due to the high rate of COVID-19 infections in Arizona’s Maricopa County. “In view of the current state of the pandemic in Maricopa […]