#Gold Glove

The MLB Hot Stove's recent days have brought us both the feel-good and feel-bad stories of this offseason. The feel-bad story, of course, involves the possibility of Trevor Bauer being signed by some desperate team, so let's forget that and consider for a moment Andrew McCutchen "returning home" to the Pittsburgh Pirates. As Kevin Henry notes,…

In stretching out Trea Turner's $300 million contract over 11 years, the Phillies diluted the average annual salary for luxury-tax purposes and payroll flexibility. It's the approach they took four years ago in signing Bryce Harper. The length of Turner's deal, like Harper's 13-year pact, was predicated on economics, not baseball. But the Phillies…

I write this piece every year, but I never could have predicted what happened in 2021. Usually, "bold predictions" come up short because they're too bold. For instance, last year I picked Austin Slater to hit more homers than in his previous four seasons combined (he came close, missing by two!) and Duane Kuiper projected double-digit homers for…

A look at who is trending up and down the past week in Minnesota sports, featuring Twins newly re-signed shortstop Carlos Correa, Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov and a couple Vikings standouts including Justin Jefferson. Carlos Correa, Twins shortstop (UP ⬆) He's home. After swinging.291/.366/.467 with 24 doubles, a triple and 22 home runs in 2022,…

The New York Mets reportedly have concerns about Carlos Correa's surgically repaired leg. Although the leg hasn't given Correa much trouble during his big league career, teams are weary to dish out a long-term contract to the star shortstop. It was the primary reason for Correa's deal with the San Francisco Giants falling apart. So what should…

Twenty years ago, the Yankees would spend like drunken sailors and throw caution to the wind in free agency. There was an abundance of all-star caliber shortstops who hit the free agent market over the past two offseasons, and the Yankees passed on every single one of them. Sitting in the wings is their top prospect Anthony Volpe, who looks to take…

The New York Mets and shortstop Carlos Correa have yet to finalize their 12-year, $315 million contract. BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER Monday, The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal reported that talks between the Minnesota Twins and Correa have "begun to accelerate," leaving the fate of the Mets deal…

Rays officials couldn't have been much more pleased with how the 2019 season turned out. They made it to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons as the core of young players they cleared room for in previous roster reshaping developed into impact players, and they boasted openly about how well set up they were for the future. "There's so…

The 1997 Florida Marlins would infamously win the World Series in such a way that would make Yogi himself a little jealous. Edgar Renteria walk off single to bring the title to a club that was just five years old which had been an unfathomable achievement. The spotlight will forever shine on that magical October, but let's move it away from the…

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Guardians still need a catcher. Manager Terry Francona said patience is required and that executives Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff will deliver a backstop. That is a good thing because as Casey Stengel said a long time ago, "If you don't have a catcher, you're going to have a lot of passed balls." The winter meetings…

MLB.com predicted the best Texas player in 2023 and he wasn't on the club in 2022. The Texas Rangers have made plenty of noise this offseason when it comes to starting pitching. One of those hurlers could be the team's best player in 2023, according to MLB.com. The site put together predictions on which player would be the best player for each…

This is the one in a series of stories looking at members of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 40-man roster. When you discuss underdogs or players that come out of nowhere, it's Jared Triolo. Triolo was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates 72nd overall in 2019 out of the University of Houston. Since joining the Pirates in 2019, Triolo has seen a steady rise…

This offseason has the potential to go many different ways for the Cubs. There are a multitude of players at the top of the free agent market that would fit well on this Cubs roster. Jed Hoyer's front office could also opt to make a big trade this winter, leveraging some of the organization's young talent to acquire impact players at the big-league…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

11 days ago, the New York Mets had shocked the world and announced a $315 million deal with star shortstop Carlos Correa, even though he had failed his physical with the San Francisco Giants. But they quickly found out the Giants' concerns were there for a reason. They didn't like something they saw in a 2014 surgery and the deal is on hold. Fans…

CLEVELAND - Think about how much has changed in a year. Last January, baseball stood still, and we were left to talk ourselves into Bradley Zimmer, ponder José Ramírez trades and evaluate commissioner Rob Manfred's negotiating tactics. It was bleak. But the lockout ended, Ramírez signed a long-term deal, Zimmer lasted one day of the regular season…

Pitchers and catchers report next month. Somewhere in the middle of it. A long way from Opening Day on March 30 in Boston, but the distance is shrinking. The holiday themes are over unless I'm suddenly motivated by Valentine's Day. Nothing so far about Cupid's arrow, but I decided this morning to take a stab at some 2023 predictions. Here are five,…

Whether it's the Astros' hunt for a second straight World Series title, the UH Cougars' pursuit of another deep NCAA tournament run or the continued rebuilding efforts of the Rockets and Texans, 2023 is shaping up to be an intriguing year in the Houston sports scene. Chron's Josh Criswell and Michael Shapiro tackled the top 10 questions facing the…

Javier Báez is headed to Detroit on a six-year, $140 million deal, The Athletic confirmed on Tuesday. The deal is pending a physical. Báez, who turns 29 Dec. 1, will be the third on the list of top free-agent shortstops to sign in the last few days, with both Marcus Semien (seven years, $175 million) and Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million)…

Seemingly out of nowhere, the day before Christmas, the Toronto Blue Jays pulled a monster trade that not only shook up the American League East but also re-shifted. We reached out to Johnny Avello, director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, and a member of the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, for his thoughts on the trade the brought…

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell's Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, . And to get it regularly in your inbox. Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year! 2022 was a roller coaster for the Padres. So what do they have in store next year? Here are 23 predictions for'23: 1. The Padres will win the West. I'm getting the…

If you want to know why the odds are against the Red Sox making the playoffs, forget about the trade deadline, injuries, or underperformance. Just check out the schedules. Playing in the AL East exacts a toll, and nowhere is that more acutely felt than in the race for the final wild card spot. The Blue Jays and Mariners currently hold the top two…

There's no brighter star in the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball universe than Mookie Betts. Betts has accomplished virtually everything you can imagine in MLB, both at the individual and team level. He won the MVP award in 2018 with Boston, won the World Series that season and then again in 2020. He's won six Gold Glove awards and five Silver…

The Rockies likely had some lofty expectations when they signed Ryan McMahon to a six year, $70M contract prior to the 2022 season. The third baseman was coming off his best season in the Majors, a campaign that included being a Gold Glove finalist (next to Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado) and an improvement at the plate. McMahon struck out less…

For the second straight offseason, A's general manager David Forst is having serious discussions with multiple teams about trading his best young player - catcher Sean Murphy this time. That doesn't necessarily mean it will be business as usual for the frugal A's at the Winter Meetings, though. Forst heads to San Diego Sunday with the hope of…

There are New Year's resolutions, but how about new season predictions? There are many facets of the Nationals to consider, from the Major League level to the Minor League system to the Draft. As we look ahead to 2023, here are three things I am thinking and my predictions for them. Prediction: CJ Abrams will take leap into Gold Glove…

ANAHEIM - When the MLB trade deadline passed and Shohei Ohtani remained in the Angels' clubhouse, it signaled that the club has no intention of rebuilding in 2023. And one of the moves they did make - trading closer Raisel Iglesias and the $51 million remaining on his contract - left no doubt that they are creating space to reload for another run…

The San Francisco Giants postponed a news conference Tuesday to introduce Carlos Correa after a medical concern arose during the All-Star shortstop's physical, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the Giants have not announced publicly any…

The Mets kept up their incredible spending spree this offseason early on Wednesday morning with an agreement for Carlos Correa to play third base. The Yankees have made their fair share of big splashes over the past couple of weeks, too. However, there are probably a few fans wishing there was a splash to replace Josh Donaldson at third base. New…

Throughout the rest of the offseason, as the Orioles deliberate the best way to add another starting pitcher to the rotation, the calculus could shift the organization's thinking more toward pursuing a trade than signing a free agent. The free agent market for higher-end talent has already dwindled in that area, and Baltimore has appeared hesitant…

Cody Bellinger sounded like he was attracted to what he heard about playing at Wrigley Field, and said he appreciated the chance to now play for two iconic franchises. But at the end of the day his one-year decision to play for the Cubs is a $17.5 million business decision. And at the end of next year how that decision gets measured might have more…

Mookie Betts is a multi-position baseball player who has played at second base, right field, and center field as well. Furthermore, he is an extremely talented batter who knows how to hit the ball well. But you may not know that Betts is a multi-sport athlete as well. The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder is a professional bowler as well. Furthermore,…

Lorenzo Cain's improbable career may be winding to a close, as the former All-Star was designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Cain's production had slipped in recent years from his All-Star seasons of 2015 and 2018 and his Gold Glove award of 2019. The fan-favorite was a key player on the Brewers' playoff run in 2018, which…

With the season being over, we can reflect on the Diamondbacks performance in the 2022 season and look at which players contributed the most. The awards in consideration were the Most Valuable Player, Best Hitter, Best Pitcher, Rookie of the Year, Best Reliever, Hitting Prospect, and Pitching Prospect. These are the players who earned those…

The Cubs are getting ready to play ball and take on St. Louis and Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The three teams have more time to enhance their rosters before the start of the 2023 season, but as it stands now the Cardinals are less likely to have an easy jog to the division title. And that's true even after their signing of…

The Orioles' recent signing of Adam Frazier was simultaneously infuriating and intriguing. Although an All-Star in 2021, Frazier was poor for the Mariners last season, and while he might bounce back in 2023, he is far from the impact bat that this fan base was hoping a team with supposed playoff ambitions would attract this winter. However, at $8…

In order to repeat as NL West division champions, the Giants will need continued success from their biggest stars. Career seasons from Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt in 2021 helped propel San Francisco to a franchise-best 107-win season and a division crown. MLB.com released its annual list of the top-100 players in the game heading into the…

Free-agent shortstop Dansby Swanson and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a seven-year, $177 million deal, major-league and team sources confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN's Jeff Passan was first to report the Cubs and Swanson were finalizing a deal. Here's what you need to know: Swanson hit.277 with 25 home runs and a career-high 96 RBIs in 162…

Michael Brantley also has an expiring deal, which could shift Yordan Alvarez to left field full time. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The joy of winning a World Series championship is irreplaceable, but the Houston Astros may have to do some replacing of their own in the coming months. As is customary every MLB offseason, a slew of players who won a world…

It seems we've reached the slow part of the offseason. There's not a lot of Orioles news to talk about right now, outside of a recent utility player signing. Because we're at this point of the offseason, I figured I'd predict the Baltimore Orioles Opening Day infield. For the sake of this post, let's say there are no moves made to change…

Cody Bellinger wants to bet on himself. On Sunday his agent, Scott Boras, said as much. There's little intention to sign a multi-year deal after the Dodgers non-tendered him. From a recent Ken Rosenthal article on The Athletic, Boras' quotes signal his plan for his client clear as day. "I've already been offered multi-years," Boras said Sunday, two…

SAN FRANCISCO -- During the 2021 season, as he watched Cody Bellinger take early batting practice at Oracle Park, a member of the Giants staff talked of the adjustments he would try and make if he could work with Bellinger, who at the time was struggling to push past offseason shoulder surgery. Bellinger never found his old form that year and in…

Carlos Correa bet on himself a year ago, and on Tuesday night, he won big. The 28-year-old shortstop agreed to a massive 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic. Correa's pact with the Giants comes 13 months after he passed on a five-year, $160 million contract offer to stay with the…

There were 11 different players who received a contract of $100 million or more in free agency last offseason, led by Corey Seager who signed a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers. That list will likely be shorter this offseason, but there are still a number of high-profile players set to hit the open market, including New York…

Just being able to write about the Detroit Tigers and any sort of realistic shot at making the playoffs is so refreshing, when such thoughts have been non existent for the past five years, basically since former owner Mike Ilitch passed away. But here we are, with the much heralded prospects arriving in the major leagues and the team actually…

What do you do when you've already reached the pinnacle of your career as a baseball player? When you've won the World Series twice, you've won an MVP Award and finished second two other times, you're a six-time Gold Glove winner and five-time Silver Slugger, and you've already earned more than $100 million with more than $300 million still to come…

Enduring another offseason in the Pittsburgh Pirates' long slog back to respectability, fans were able to take heart this winter that oddsmakers had deemed towering young shortstop Oneil Cruz the leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year honors. That's no longer the case, as the Pirates drove another stake into those fans' hearts Tuesday…

The Chicago Cubs have been'active' this offseason. They signed former National League MVP Cody Bellinger. If his signing pays off is still to be determined, but betting on the 27-year-old, left-handed, power-hitting, plus defender is the exact low-risk, high-reward move that the Cubs should be making. They also shelled out $68 million to…

After waiting until a month after the World Series for the winter meetings to get the ball rolling, Major League Baseball's free-agent spending spree has been something of a runaway freight train. There have already been 30 free agents who signed contracts with an average salary of at least $10 million. And, no, we're not just talking about the New…

Who will be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft? Sportsnaut's latest 2023 MLB mock draft 2023 dives into the best prospects available this year, with many names who will help shape the future of Major League Baseball in the years to come. The first MLB Draft lottery provided a few surprises that shook up the order in Round 1. For the second time…