Former Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart bids $115 million on share of Oakland Coliseum

Former Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart submitted a $115 million bid to buy the city of Oakland’s share of the Coliseum with plans to develop the site, he told the San Francisco Chronicle.

With both the NBA’s Warriors and NFL’s Raiders leaving the site in recent years, the A’s are the last pro team using the Coliseum. The team has undergone steps to build a new ballpark at Howard Terminal, about seven miles uptown.

The A’s currently own the other half of the Coliseum.

In a Tweet on Saturday night, Stewart, who grew up in the area, said doing “right by our community” is the driving force behind the bid. He told the Chronicle he has ideas of developing the area and potentially building a new stadium there if plans for the Howard ...

LHP Martin Perez returns to Boston Red Sox on one-year deal, source says

Veteran left-hander Martin Perez has agreed to a one-year, $5 million guaranteed contract to return to the Boston Red Sox, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Saturday.

Perez’s agreement, which was first reported by The Athletic, includes a club option for a second year in 2022.

Perez gets $4.5 million with a $6 million option or $500k buyout for 2022. https://t.co/tmHZuuhIM3

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 16, 2021

ValleyCats sue Major League Baseball, Houston Astros for $15M

The Tri-City ValleyCats have sued Major League Baseball and the Houston Astros for their unilateral decision to end their affiliation with the minor league organization. The suit seeks in excess of $15 million, ValleyCats chairman Doug Gladstone said Friday morning.

The team took the action after MLB decided to sever ties with the minor league team and a number of other affiliates around the U.S….

The ValleyCats filed suit Thursday night in the state Supreme Court’s commercial division for breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference. Gladstone said the value of the franchise has been greatly reduced by losing affiliation.

The sharply worded 33-page complaint accuses Major League Baseball of using “bullying” tactics to pit minor ...

Yankees sign pitcher Corey Kluber, two-time Cy Young Award winner

Just hours after bringing back The Machine, the Yankees acquired a Klubot.

An incredibly busy 24-hour span for the Yankees — arguably busier than the previous 96 days of their offseason combined — concluded when they signed two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to a one-year, $11 million contract, an industry source confirmed. “Talkin’ Jake” from Jomboy Media first reported the agreement.

Combined with the re-signing of top priority DJ “The Machine” LeMahieu to a six-year, $90-million pact and avoiding arbitration with eight players, the Yankees provided a great deal more clarity to both their roster and their payroll. If they are resolute on not exceeding the $210 million luxury-tax threshold, then they are ...

Angels agree to terms with free-agent veteran catcher Kurt Suzuki, per report

The Angels have agreed to terms with free-agent veteran catcher Kurt Suzuki on a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Suzuki, 37, has spent the last two seasons with the Nationals, and he was a significant contributor during their 2019 championship run. Over the last three seasons, Suzuki has batted .268/.332/.453 (105 OPS+) with 31 home runs in 223 games. In the abbreviated 2020 season, Suzuki had a 99 OPS+ in 33 games for Washington. Across his long 14-year career, Suzuki has an OPS+ of 92 with 133 home runs and one All-Star appearance. With the Angels, Suzuki is likely to split time behind the plate with Max Stassi.

Rays plan to open season with fans at Tropicana Field

The Rays are planning to open the 2021 season with a limited number of fans attending games at Tropicana Field.

Seating will be limited to around 7,000 per game, with fans sitting in small pods distanced from other groups. Masks will be required under Major League Baseball’s rules.

The plan is evolving, sometimes daily, and subject to change based on the status of coronavirus cases in the Tampa Bay area and the state.

The Rays are hoping conditions are more favorable by April —as vaccines become more available and cases stop spiking — and that they can increase capacity as the season goes on. Conversely, a surge in cases could delay or derail the plan. Permission from MLB and governmental authorities is also required.

Here’s where top int’l prospects are signing

Headlining this year’s class is Yoelqui Céspedes, the younger half-brother of free-agent outfielder Yoenis Céspedes. At age 23, Yoelqui could be the first player in the group to reach the Major Leagues. He is considered a five-tool player with above-average tools across the board. The outfield prospect defected from the Cuban National Team in June 2019 while participating in the Can-Am League in New York, and while in Cuba, he played for his country’s World Baseball Classic and Caribbean Series teams. He also starred for Granma in Cuba’s Serie Nacional from 2015-17.

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon will retire after 2021 season

Mike Shannon’s 50th season calling radio broadcasts for the St. Louis Cardinals will apparently be his last.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan Caesar reports that Shannon, 81, will close out his broadcasting career with the 2021 season. Beginning in 1972, the longtime announcer began calling games on KMOX with legendary play-by-play man Jack Buck following a nine-year playing career with the Cardinals….

Altogether, Shannon will have spent 63 years with the St. Louis organization. Prior to joining the Cardinals’ radio broadcast team, he worked in the team’s front office for one year as assistant director of promotions and sales.

MLB rule changes: League still discussing universal DH and expanded playoffs for 2021 season

Major League Baseball, fearing that the pandemic could create havoc with their scheduling once again, is proposing the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and extra-inning games beginning with a runner on second base, two persons with knowledge of their discussions told USA TODAY Sports.

The persons were unauthorized to publicly discuss MLB’s plan because of the on-going negotiations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, which must approve the rule changes.

Yet, the rules that were implemented for the first time in 2020 during the 60-game shortened season, designed primarily to limit the length of games during the pandemic, were widely embraced by the players, with MLB managers advocating for the rules to return.

...

New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu finalizing six-year, $90M contract, sources say

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu and the New York Yankees are finalizing a six-year, $90 million contract, sources familiar with the agreement told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

LeMahieu finished third in the American League MVP voting after winning the AL batting title with an MLB-leading .364 average over the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, becoming just the fourth player in Yankees history to lead the majors in that category, along with Mickey Mantle (.353 in 1956), Joe DiMaggio (.381 in 1939) and Lou Gehrig (.363 in 1934).

It was the second career batting title for the 32-year-old LeMahieu, who won the National League crown with a .348 batting average for the Colorado Rockies in 2016. He joined Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty (1899, 1902) as the only ...

Giants sign Alex Wood to one-year contract

The Giants signed free-agent left-hander Alex Wood to a one-year, $3 million contract on Thursday. Wood can make an additional $3 million in performance bonuses.

Wood was an All-Star for the Dodgers in 2017 and has a career record of 53-44 with a 3.45 ERA in eight Major League seasons, also appearing for the Braves and Reds. The 30-year-old went 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA in nine games, including two starts, for Los Angeles in 2020.

Theo Epstein to Join Commissioner’s Office After Leaving Cubs

Former Cubs and Red Sox executive Theo Epstein will join the MLB commissioner’s office as a consultant in 2021, the league announced on Thursday.

Epstein will “work with baseball analytics experts from the Commissioner’s Office and the Clubs to determine the likely effects of various contemplated rule changes,” per an MLB statement.

“This is one of the most accomplished and thoughtful people in our sport,” Manfred said on Thursday. “I am grateful that he has accepted our invitation to complement our ongoing efforts and provide his insights on making the best game in the world even better for the next generation.

Mickey Mantle baseball card shatters record, sells for $5.2 million

Don’t put that in your bike spokes!

A Mickey Mantle baseball card has shattered a 5-month-old record for highest-selling sports card of all time, going for $5.2 million, PWCC Marketplace announced on Thursday.

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 9—PSA is a grading system that ranges from 1-10—took the record from a one-of-one Mike Trout rookie that sold for $3.94 million in August. It’s believed that there are only six PSA 9s of that Mantle card still in existence.

Rob Gough, the actor who acquired streetwear brand Dope in 2017, purchased the ‘52 Mantle, which former NFL lineman Evan Mathis sold in 2018 for $2.88 million.

“The 1952 Topps Mantle is the holy grail of sports cards,” Gough said. “As a kid ripping packs in the ‘90s, I always ...

Reliever Archie Bradley reaches one-year deal with Philadelphia Phillies, sources say

Relief pitcher Archie Bradley has reached a one-year, $6 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Bradley was not re-signed by the Cincinnati Reds after he was acquired in a midseason trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The right-hander pitched well in his six regular-season appearances with Cincinnati, giving up just one run over 7⅔ innings. He allowed the deciding run in Game 1 of the team’s National League wild-card series against the Braves, which Atlanta won 1-0 in 13 innings.

Overall, he was 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 16 appearances between the two teams.

After 17 pickoff throws, he still stole second

It was June 1, 1986, and it was a big day for Reds starter Chris Welsh.

The 31-year-old was making his debut for Cincinnati—the hometown team he grew up cheering for—and he was excited.

“Yeah, I had my family and my friends there,” Welsh, now a Reds broadcaster and author, tells MLB.com. “I remember it as clear as you can look back from now to 1986.”

But right away, the lefty got himself into trouble: He walked Vince Coleman.

The reigning NL Rookie of the Year was the fastest man on the planet and 1985’s stolen base king. He’d once been clocked at a blistering 31.6 feet/second. He’d swipe close to 550 bags in his first six big league seasons. He was not a guy you wanted anywhere near the basepaths.

“You knew when he was on base, his ...

For Angels broadcaster Victor Rojas, a minor league GM job made sense

This time a year ago, Rojas was preparing for his 11th season as the Angels’ play-by-play broadcaster on Fox Sports West. The baseball industry was preparing for a season like any other. Then the novel coronavirus pandemic struck.

It did not strike all parties equally. Players fought, and eventually gained, the right to pro-rated salaries in a 60-game season. Owners reportedly lost money across the board. Behind the scenes, layoffs and furloughs hit team employees of all stripes – scouts, analysts, minor league players. Broadcasters were not exempt from the weirdness of it all.

Looking out into a stadium of empty fans was nothing compared to looking out on the calendar and not knowing what’s next.

“What’s the certainty of ...

What if every MLB player was a free agent every year? How extreme 45-year-old idea would create baseball chaos

Professional baseball players are famously not fond of the peripatetic lives they live in the minors, and of course those who settle in as journeyman at the highest level continue to endure the regular upheavals of uprooting their lives each winter and spring (albeit with better compensation and working conditions than those of minor leaguers). Few relish this sort of existence, and it becomes even more unsatisfying as players start their own families.

As such, players under this “one and done” system would probably be especially amenable to re-upping with their teams from the season prior. Add in the possible desire for ownership to achieve some semblance of carryover, and you’ve got incentives on both sides to keep the relationship ...

Reliever Pedro Baez reaches 2-year deal with Houston Astros, sources say

Right-handed reliever Pedro Baez has agreed to a two-year contract with the Houston Astros, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The deal includes an option, sources said, and has a number of escalators and a buyout. It is expected to fall in the $12-14 million guaranteed range.

Baez, 32, finished the 2020 season as the third-longest-tenured member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, behind only Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen.

MLB suspends political donations after DC riot

Major League Baseball is suspending all political contributions in the wake of last week’s invasion of the U.S. Capitol by a mob loyal to President Donald Trump, joining a wave of major corporations rethinking their efforts to lobby Washington.

“In light of the unprecedented events last week at the U.S. Capitol, MLB is suspending contributions from its Political Action Committee pending a review of our political contribution policy going forward,” the league said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Following the insurrection last week by Trump supporters while Congress attempted to certify the results of the presidential election, many companies have said they will avoid making donations to members of the House and ...

The Costs and Benefits of Six-Man Rotations

In other words, the extra day of rest doesn’t appear to be worth that much. If you take my math at face value and assume that all previous starts were on regular rest — a poor and lazy assumption that I’m absolutely going to make for the sake of time — that works out to something like 6.5 runs over the entire season. Though I’m tired of saying it, I still will — I have very little confidence in this number. As a ballpark guess, however — and pun very much intended, I have a reputation to uphold — I think it gets the job done.

Okay, so teams can get an indeterminate injury benefit and also maybe save 6.5 runs by going to a six-man rotation. Let’s talk cost. The cost is clear: your top five starters all throw roughly 30 ...

Alex Rodriguez sued by ex-brother-in-law, who seeks millions and claims A-Rod profited from hurricane relief

The former brother-in-law of former MLB star and current baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez is demanding millions of dollars in back pay from the ex-slugger in a civil suit filed to Miami civil court last week. The suit alleges that a business of A-Rod’s tried to profit off of the damage that Hurricane Ike created in 2008 and that the three-time MVP nearly caused the ex-brother-in-law to lose his home.

Constantine Scurtis—the brother of Cynthia Scurtis, Rodriguez’s wife from 2002 to 2008—claims that a business relationship between himself and the former Rangers player began to deteriorate as the ballplayer’s marriage did. They formed a real estate partnership in 2003 where Rodriguez would make most of the money, as his name was the “cash ...

Mark Shapiro gets 5-year extension as Toronto Blue Jays CEO

Mark Shapiro has been given a five-year contract extension as the Toronto Blue Jays’ president and chief executive officer.

Rogers Communications, which owns the team, made the announcement Wednesday.

Shapiro worked for the Cleveland Indians before becoming the Blue Jays’ president on Oct. 31, 2015.

Rogers chairman Edward Rogers said Shapiro’s leadership and commitment over the last five years have been critical to the team’s growth and development.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-13-2021

New York Tribune, January 13, 1921:

The two major leagues [yesterday] signed the new national agreement making Kenesaw M. Landis baseball commissioner with supreme powers as their ruler…

Besides signing the national agreement, the individual major league club owners affixed their signatures to a contract in which they agreed not to publicly criticize each other or talk about one another and to accept any decision made by Judge Landis regardless of their personal opinion of it.

Getting this done was a heck of an accomplishment. Trying to get these owners to agree on anything was like herding cats.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-12-2021

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, January 12, 1921:

A three-cornered conference involving John McGraw of the Giants, George Gibson of the Pirates and Fred Mitchell of the Braves, with Rabbit Maranville as the main topic of discussion, was sidetracked early [yesterday] evening after it had been scheduled by the three managers. The pilots were in earnest about the matter, but McGraw was rushed by several of his friends, who insisted upon a fraternal gathering…

Both Gibson and [Pirates President Barney] Dreyfuss were peeved over the outcome of what was supposed to be an important business meeting.
...
[The Braves] say they will give [Maranville] for Carey, Whitted, a shortstop, and a sum of money said to be $40,000.

Yes, I’m sure they would have. ...

MLB 2021` fan plan: No mandate for vaccines or COVID-19 tests

Major League Baseball does not plan to mandate that fans provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result before entering a ballpark this year.

In a memo sent to teams Monday and obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the league outlined what it called its “minimum health and safety standards” for the 2021 season. The league noted that state and local authorities could mandate more restrictive standards and that all policies are subject to change as the public health situation in the United States changes.

The league completed its 2020 regular season without fans in attendance, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Monday’s memo was intended to help clubs plan “safely welcoming fans back to ballparks in 2021.”

In the ...

Sources: White Sox to sign top free agent closer Liam Hendriks

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with closer Liam Hendriks on a multi-year contract, league sources said Monday.

The deal, expected to be the largest yet in a slow-moving offseason market, is pending a physical.

Hendriks, 31, had 14 saves for the Oakland A’s in the shortened 2020 season. He has 39 saves and a 1.79 ERA in the past two seasons — the best ERA of any pitcher with at least 75 innings. He struck out 161 batters in 110 ⅓ innings in that time. In his final appearance for the A’s, Hendriks pitched three shutout innings at the end of Game 3 of the American League Division Series for the win.

Rob Manfred: MLB teams should plan for spring training to start on time, full 162-game season to be played

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred informed clubs Monday that they should be preparing for spring training to start on time in February and to plan on a full 162-game season being played, three people with direct knowledge of the conference call told USA TODAY Sports.

The people spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Major League Baseball was hoping to delay the season by at least a month to provide more time for players and fans to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, enabling fans to get back into ballparks earlier. But the Major League Baseball Players Association vigorously fought it.

MLB does not have the legal right to unilaterally delay the start of the season without ...

Bauer’s case for richest AAV deal legitimate?

A look at Bauer’s record shows a Cy Young Award-caliber 2018 season (2.21 ERA over 175 1/3 innings for the Indians) during which he made his first All-Star team, followed by a dip in ‘19 (4.48 ERA with the Indians and Reds) caused in part by a lingering right ankle injury that he pitched through. Then came ‘20, when Bauer was the best pitcher in the NL, resulting in a landslide win in the Cy Young Award vote.

“The biggest difference is that he has really struggled at times at the MLB level,” an NL executive said, noting Bauer’s inconsistency during the first three full years of his career. “But he’s been durable and he’s on the upswing.”

Strasburg’s deal marked his second big contract after he opted out of the final four years of the ...

A sportsbook is coming to Nationals Park as part of Nationals’ new partnership with BetMGM

The Washington Nationals on Monday announced BetMGM as their exclusive sports betting partner and plans to open a sportsbook at Nationals Park this season.

Financial terms of the multiyear agreement were not disclosed, but the deal will also include the launch of a mobile sports betting app that will be functional within a two-block radius of the stadium, BetMGM branding inside the ballpark and on the team’s social media and digital platforms, and reciprocal benefits for Nationals season-plan holders and members of MGM’s loyalty program.

The BetMGM sportsbook at Nationals Park is tentatively scheduled to open this summer, with betting windows, electronic betting kiosks, food and drink. Plans have yet to be finalized, but the ...

DJ LeMahieu engaging other teams in free agency with Yankees slow to meet his price

A two-time batting champ and the New York Yankees’ best player for two seasons running, LeMahieu, according to a source close to his family, has become dismayed by the slow-play tactics of the Yankees, along with other clubs. Teams that have engaged with the LeMahieu camp say LeMahieu expects more than Josh Donaldson’s four-year, $92 million deal with the Minnesota Twins and at least on par with J.D. Martinez’s five years and $110 million with the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees, LeMahieu’s preferred club after two successful seasons in the Bronx, have not met those terms.

The 32-year-old LeMahieu has, therefore, asked his representatives to re-engage with teams that have previously shown the most interest, the source said, among them ...