MLB

MIAMI — Major League Baseball returns for the 2026 season with Opening Day set to kick off on March 25, featuring the New York Yankees visiting the San Francisco Giants in a marquee matchup. The start of the season launches a 162-game marathon, with all 30 teams aiming to set the tone for playoff positioning and long-term roster success. The first weekend of the season will include 11 games on March 26 and the remaining six teams beginning play on March 27. Thirty of the leag

MIAMI -- Venezuela captured its first World Baseball Classic title with a 3-2 victory over Team USA at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday night, marking a historic moment for the country’s baseball legacy and international competition. In a breaking update, the championship highlighted the global reach of baseball, blending skill, culture, and national pride. Bryce Harper led Team USA with a dramatic home run to tie the game temporarily, but Venezuela ultimately prevailed in the top o

The United States advanced to the World Baseball Classic championship game Sunday night after closer Mason Millersecured a tense 2 to 1 victory over the Dominican Republic national baseball team at LoanDepot Park in Miami. The latest tournament update came after a dramatic ninth inning ended with a controversial strike call that sealed the result and sent United States national baseball team to the final round of the international tournament. With two outs in the ninth inning

HOUSTON — Team USA secured a place in the World Baseball Classic semifinal round Friday night with a 5-3 victory over Canada, setting up a highly anticipated matchup against the Dominican Republic in one of the tournament’s most anticipated international showdowns. The win sends the United States into the next stage of the competition where it will face a Dominican Republic team that has dominated the tournament offensively. The semifinal matchup is scheduled for Sunday eveni

The Italian national team delivered one of the most surprising victories in the history of the World Baseball Classic by defeating United States national baseball team 8–6 on Tuesday night in Houston. Entering the game as heavy favorites, Team USA fell behind early and was unable to fully recover, putting its advancement to the quarterfinals in jeopardy. Earlier in the day, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa mistakenly stated during an interview on MLB Network that the United State

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez, pending a physical and including an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. If finalized, the signing would strengthen a rotation already led by American League standout Tarik Skubal. Valdez, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Houston Astros, joins a staff that also features Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize. The Tigers are evaluating Reese Ol

The Chicago White Sox continued their roster restructuring by acquiring right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin from the Boston Red Sox. The move follows the organization’s decision to reinvest money saved after trading outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets earlier in January. Although Hicks is the most established player in the deal, Chicago reportedly prioritized Sandlin as the key return. To secure the young pitcher, the White Sox ag

The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off a second consecutive World Series title, are now the overwhelming favorites to claim a historic third straight championship following the signing of outfielder Kyle Tucker. Dodgers’ Championship Odds Surge : After defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic Game 7 last season, the Dodgers entered the offseason as +370 favorites to win the 2026 World Series. Following the acquisition of Tucker, widely regarded as the top available free-agen

The 2025-26 Major League Baseball offseason is in full swing, with marquee free agent signings and blockbuster trades reshaping rosters across the league. From Kyle Tucker joining the Dodgers to Bo Bichette signing with the Mets, teams are positioning themselves for a run at the 2026 World Series. Bo Bichette to the Mets : On January 16, infielder Bo Bichette agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets, sources confirmed to ESPN. The contract includes opt

Clayton Kershaw is not finished throwing competitive pitches just yet, committing Thursday to pitch for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic in what could serve as the final on field chapter of his Hall of Fame career. Major League Baseball confirmed Kershaw’s participation ahead of the tournament, which begins March 4 and runs during spring training. The decision comes months after Kershaw announced his retirement following the 2025 season, which concluded with a

The New York Mets made a swift and aggressive pivot in MLB free agency, agreeing to a three year, $126 million contract with All Star infielder Bo Bichette less than 24 hours after losing out on Kyle Tucker, according to sources confirmed Friday. The deal is pending a physical and includes player opt out clauses after both the first and second seasons, giving Bichette significant flexibility while committing the Mets to an average annual value of $42 million with no deferred

The Colorado Rockies endured a historically poor 2025 season, but widespread elbow surgery among pitchers was not a major factor in their struggles. Across Major League Baseball, Tommy John surgery has become increasingly common, yet the Rockies were among the teams least affected. Tommy John surgery, first performed more than 50 years ago by Dr. Frank Jobe, repairs a torn ulnar collateral ligament in a pitcher’s throwing arm. Named after pitcher Tommy John, the procedure has

The Colorado Rockies announced several coaching staff decisions on Monday, confirming that Ron Gideon, Andy González, and Jordan Pacheco will all return to manager Warren Schaeffer’s staff for the 2026 season. Gideon has been promoted to the newly created position of assistant bench coach, while González will continue as third base coach and Pacheco remains assistant hitting coach. Gideon previously served as the team’s first base and outfield coach for seven seasons and has

Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman has quickly emerged as one of the most important building blocks for the franchise’s future. During the 2025 season, Goodman delivered a historic performance that placed him in uncharted territory among catchers in team history and sparked conversations about his long-term legacy in Colorado. Goodman became the first catcher in Rockies history to win the National League Silver Slugger Award at his position. This achievement alone separa

The Colorado Rockies entered 2026 fully aware that meaningful improvement will not come quickly. Newly hired president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has taken charge of a franchise coming off three straight seasons with more than 100 losses, including a historically poor 119-loss campaign in 2025. DePodesta acknowledged the scale of the challenge when he was introduced, emphasizing that rebuilding the Rockies will require patience and balance. Colorado plans to rely o

The Cincinnati Reds have strengthened their bullpen depth by signing right-handed reliever Yunior Marte to a minor league contract, according to a report from Francys Romero. The move adds an experienced arm to the organization as the Reds continue to evaluate bullpen options. Marte pitched in Major League Baseball from 2022 through 2024, spending time with both the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies. During the 2025 season, he took his talents overseas, pitch

Cody Bellinger remains one of the most intriguing free agents on the market, with the New York Yankees and New York Mets both viewed as realistic landing spots. After a strong 2025 season in the Bronx, Bellinger has taken a measured approach to free agency, knowing this contract may be the most significant of his career. Bellinger, now 30, benefited from playing at Yankee Stadium, where he delivered one of his most productive seasons in recent years. Appearing in 152 games, h

The Atlanta Braves can make all the roster upgrades they want, but their success in the 2026 season will ultimately depend on the performance of their core players. While offseason moves have strengthened the team on paper, championships are won by stars producing consistently on the field. For Atlanta, three familiar names stand out as potential difference-makers next season. Although Michael Harris II remains an important piece of the franchise, his potential has already be

The Houston Astros appear ready to move forward without longtime starter Framber Valdez, and their confidence stems largely from the rapid rise of right-hander Hunter Brown. As Valdez seeks a lengthy free-agent contract reportedly worth nine figures, Houston has shown little interest in matching that price. Instead, the organization seems prepared to hand the responsibility of l eading the rotation to Brown as early as the 2026 season. A major reason for that trust can be fou

AP Photo/David Zalubowski The Colorado Avalanche continued their dominant start to the season with a 6–3 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday night in Denver. Nathan MacKinnon recorded two goals and an assist, a performance that moved him past Peter Stastny for second place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. MacKinnon, now at 1,051 career points, trails only Joe Sakic, who amassed 1,641 points during his two decades with the Quebec/Colorado franchise. Cale Makar a