Verlander: Cohen persuaded him Mets are building a winner
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen was on the line. That conversation led to an $86.7 million, two-year contract on Dec. 5, a deal that was finalized two days later. Entering their third season under Cohen, the Mets have committed $476.7 million to seven free agents. He also got his first win in nine career World Series starts in Game 5 as Houston beat Philadelphia in six games, earning his second World Series ring. Verlander is guaranteed $43,333,333 in each of the next two seasons, matching Scherzer's annual salary in a $130 million, three-year deal through 2024.
wftv.comMets set to shatter payroll records, soar to about $350M
Steve Cohen's New York Mets are on track to shatter spending records in his third season as owner, boosting payroll to about $350 million for purposes of the luxury tax and poised to pay a penalty of about $80 million. New York added veteran starters Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana plus reliever David Robertson and Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga while re-signing center fielder Brandon Nimmo.
news.yahoo.comJustin Verlander, Max Scherzer and then what? Mets still need more pitching
After the news broke — reportedly, deGrom did not give the Mets a chance to match the Rangers' five-year, $185 million offer — Eppler texted him. The Mets will pair Verlander with Max Scherzer, acquired last offseason, to replicate their tantalizing co-ace formula of 2021. Verlander and Scherzer both are outliers on the aging curve, remarkable anomalies defined by their defiance of the decline expected of athletes entering midlife. The point is not that Verlander, or Scherzer for that matter, won’t each be worth the co-AAV record $43.33 million the Mets will pay them next year. Rather, in order for these “impact” pitchers to be at their most impactful in the important moments, the Mets might need to ration their innings.
wftv.comDíaz, Mets ink $102M, 5-year deal, record for MLB closer
NEW YORK — (AP) — All-Star closer Edwin Díaz and the New York Mets finalized their $102 million, five-year contract Wednesday — the largest for a reliever in baseball history. Díaz can opt out after three seasons, and the deal includes a team option for 2028. The 28-year-old right-hander became a free agent Sunday following a sensational season with the Mets. Needing to rebuild most of their pitching staff, they started at the back end of the bullpen and quickly locked up Díaz with a record deal before other teams were permitted to negotiate with him. Edwin Diaz deal is done," Mets owner Steve Cohen tweeted Wednesday after Díaz passed his physical.
wftv.comPuerto Rican judge issues restraining order against Ricky Martin
The order was signed Friday, and authorities visited an upscale neighborhood in the north coastal town of Dorado where the singer lives to try to serve the order, police spokesman Axel Valencia said. It was not immediately known who requested the restraining order.
news.yahoo.comDeGrom out with shoulder issue, dealing huge blow to Mets
Mets deGrom Baseball FILE - New York Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom smiles after the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 29, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin, File) (Corey Sipkin)SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — The New York Mets will be without one of the sport's most dominant pitchers to start the season. Jacob deGrom will miss significant time because of inflammation in his shoulder area, a huge blow to a team that heavily invested in making a deep run this season. The Mets said an MRI earlier in the day showed a stress reaction on his scapula that caused inflammation. We are dealing with a bone issue and when you are dealing with bone, they calcify.
wftv.comInjured Mets' deGrom out for major time, no set return date
Mets deGrom Baseball FILE - New York Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom smiles after the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 29, 2021, in New York. The two-time Cy Young Award winner won't throw for up to four weeks and there is no timetable for his return, the Mets announced Friday. The Mets had considered their rotation a major strong suit this season after signing three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and trading for All-Star Chris Bassitt. Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker comprise the remainder of the Mets rotation. Right-hander Tylor Megill or left-hander David Peterson are the most likely options to join the Mets rotation.
wftv.comInjured deGrom to miss major time, no projected return date
Mets deGrom Baseball FILE - New York Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom smiles after the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 29, 2021, in New York. The Mets had considered their rotation a major strong suit this season after signing three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and trading for All-Star Chris Bassitt. After getting off to a sensational start last year, deGrom didn’t pitch after July 7 because of a sprained elbow. Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker comprise the remainder of the Mets rotation. Right-hander Tylor Megill or left-hander David Peterson are the most likely options to join the Mets rotation.
wftv.comMets, Yankees had understanding on hitting coach Chávez
Mets general manager Billy Eppler said he spoke to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman well before hiring away Eric Chávez as the team's hitting coach and that both sides had an understanding that Chávez may end up in Queens. The 44-year-old Chávez was hired by the Yankees in November as one of two assistants to new hitting coach Dillon Lawson — and projected to take on a role beyond his title. A few weeks later, the Mets hired the 17-year big leaguer to be their primary hitting coach.
news.yahoo.comNew York Mets hire Buck Showalter as manager
NEW YORK — (AP) — Buck Showalter has been hired as the New York Mets manager, bringing him back to the Big Apple to take over his fifth major league team. New York has been searching for solid leadership ever since — in the dugout and the front office. The Yankees (1996) and Diamondbacks (2001) both won the World Series in the first season after Showalter left. He led Arizona to 100 wins in 1999 before losing a playoff series to the Mets. Showalter becomes the fifth for the Mets in just more than four years.
wftv.comAP source: Mets, Eppler near 4-year deal GM deal
NEW YORK — (AP) — The New York Mets were close to completing a deal Wednesday night to hire Billy Eppler as general manager, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. Eppler and the Mets were nearing a four-year contract, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not finalized. But it appears the Mets have finally found their GM following a ridiculed search that had dragged on for more than six weeks since the 2021 season ended. Eppler is expected to be introduced by the team Friday, and he would become the Mets' fifth head of baseball operations in 13 months. The 46-year-old Eppler was GM of the Angels from 2015-20, overseeing five straight losing seasons.
wftv.comAngels' Mike Trout hears his playoff clock ticking
FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros in Anaheim, Calif., in this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, file photo. Mike Trout is back in spring training with the Angels to chase his first playoff victory. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Mike Trout is beginning a new season with the same old question. How long will the Los Angeles Angels' three-time AL MVP have to wait for his first playoff victory? Not even the expanded 2020 postseason helped Los Angeles, which finished 26-34 for its fifth straight losing campaign — the franchise's worst stretch since the 1970s.
LEADING OFF: Ailing players heal up, Yanks back in Cleveland
Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder Manuel Margot (sore foot) was scratched from the lineup. Acuña was scratched Sunday with renewed irritation in his left wrist. Because of the reworked schedule caused by the virus outbreak, the Yankees didn’t play in Cleveland this year.
Pandemic playoffs: Brewers, Astros in despite losing records
Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game to earn a playoff birth Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Louis. That’s when the Brewers, at 29-31, open their series against Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler at Dodger Stadium. In a win-and-you’re-in game, St. Louis clinched by beating Milwaukee 5-2. That’s how you see it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. St. Louis played a total of 58 games — it was prepared for a doubleheader in Detroit on Monday if needed to settle the playoff picture.
Angels fire GM Billy Eppler after 5 straight losing seasons
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels fired general manager Billy Eppler on Sunday after the team finished its fifth consecutive losing season under his watch. The Angels finished 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened season with a star-studded roster including three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani. Eppler rebuilt a farm system that was left barren by former GM Jerry Dipoto, and he both signed Trout to a massive contract extension and persuaded Ohtani to bring his two-way talents to the Angels. Yet Eppler never managed to sign enough quality pitchers to prevent Trout's Angels from being a perennial also-ran. Eppler repeatedly guessed wrong in his signings from Matt Harvey to Julio Teheran, leaving the Angels with one of the majors' worst starting rotations for much of his tenure.
Angels SS Andrelton Simmons opts out of final 5 games
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shortstop Andrelton Simmons has opted out of the remainder of the Los Angeles Angels' season. But the Angels haven't publicly closed the door on Simmons' return, and he could be given a qualifying offer. The Angels haven't had a winning season during Simmons' five years in Anaheim, although Simmons said last week he wasn't discouraged by the lack of team success. Simmons also said he hadn't been involved in any recent contract talks with the Angels, but he had enjoyed playing for the club.
Angels' Shohei Ohtani strains arm, won't throw for 4-6 weeks
Ohtani is traveling with the Angels to Seattle, where they open a six-game road trip Tuesday night. The Angels also use Ohtani as their primary designated hitter between his mound starts, and he is day-to-day as a hitter, the team said. Ohtani said afterward he was reluctant to throw at his full velocity, but believed he would be capable with time. He went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts during 10 largely successful starts, and he batted .285 with 22 homers as a designated hitter. He spent 2019 solely as the Angels' designated hitter while patiently rehabbing his pitching arm, hitting steadily but not spectacularly.
AL MVP Trout still doesn't feel comfortable about this year
Trout and his wife, Jessica, are expecting the couple's first child in August. Honestly, I still dont feel that comfortable," he said. The three-time AL MVP continues to have discussions with general manager Billy Eppler and manager Joe Maddon. Trout did leave open the possibility of possibly not playing until the baby arrives. I'm appealing to our guys to be as informed as they can and then arrive at their own truth.
Shohei Ohtani returns to 2-way role with Angels this season
ANAHEIM, Calif. Shohei Ohtani will resume his two-way career with the Los Angeles Angels when baseball returns. Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed Tuesday that his Japanese star will pitch and hit in the majors this season. He wasn't expected to pitch in 2020 until at least May, and Eppler confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic hasn't altered the Angels' plans. Eppler said none of the Angels' players are currently intending to opt out of playing in the shortened season. Eppler confirmed that first-round pick Reid Detmers will be on the Angels' summer roster as the 56th player, although the left-handed starter hasn't officially yet been added.
MLB will begin testing for opioids following the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs
The league announced Thursday it will starting testing for opioids and cocaine, but has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The new program calls for treatment, rather than suspension, for players who test positive for banned substances, MLB and the player's association said. Under the new changes, MLB will test for opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The changes come months after the July death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Like alcohol, those who test positive will face mandatory evaluation, voluntary treatment and the possibility of discipline.
cbsnews.comMLB will begin testing for opioids following the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs
The league announced Thursday it will starting testing for opioids and cocaine, but has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The new program calls for treatment, rather than suspension, for players who test positive for banned substances, MLB and the player's association said. Under the new changes, MLB will test for opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The changes come months after the July death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Like alcohol, those who test positive will face mandatory evaluation, voluntary treatment and the possibility of discipline.
cbsnews.com