Portland Diamond Project's stadium funding bill passes Oregon Senate
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Major League Baseball is one step closer to sliding home in Portland after the Oregon Senate passed a bill that would grant funding to build a stadium in the city.
The Portland Diamond Project and several city leaders have thrown their weight behind , which would allow lawmakers to allocate $800 million in funding toward the construction of a new ballpark.
Independent Portland bookstore sees ramifications of nationwide funding cuts
SB 110 builds on a pre-existing law from 2003, which set aside $150 million in financial support for the professional team that fanatics have urged for several decades. Instead of public funds, the bill's revenue source would be taxes charged to local and visiting baseball players and other organization employees.
They would be expected to repay the bonds within 30 years.
At the first public hearing for the measure, supporters contended that investing in an MLB team would also serve as an investment for the city as a whole.
The Oregon Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue then earlier this month. With the official approval of the Senate, it now moves to the Oregon House.
Port of Portland to vote on revoking DEI policies
The Portland Diamond Project has advocated for a local franchise since its founding in 2017. The organization has already proposed the South Waterfront's Zidell Yards as the team's potential stomping grounds.
PDP Founder and President Craig Cheek that ballpark's first opening day wouldn't be until 2028 or 2029. MLB Commissioner he hopes to begin the process of expanding the league with two new teams before his retirement in 2029.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this bill.
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New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Twenty things I'm hearing and watching for on MLB trade deadline with 50 days to go
The MLB trade deadline is now just 50 days away. Where did the time go? Each trade deadline is different in terms of the buyers and sellers and the magnitude of moves, and this year will be no different. So, what can we expect, beyond the unexpected, this trade season? I've been talking and texting with front office executives and evaluators throughout baseball to gauge how the early trade conversations are going. Here are 20 things I'm hearing, watching for, and thinking about with 50 days until the July 31 trade deadline. 1. The Orioles and Diamondbacks will be the headliners of the trade deadline if they decide to be 'sellers.' Baltimore would be able to dangle starting pitchers like Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano and position players like Cedric Mullins and Ryan O'Hearn, among others. All five will be free agents after this season. Arizona has four significant impending free agents it could trade including starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly as well as both of its infield corners, first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suárez. Advertisement 2. After subpar starts, the Braves, Red Sox and Rangers don't appear to be postseason teams this year, but most in the industry believe they will make trades to try to improve their respective rosters for the rest of this season and next rather than being typical sellers. The Braves will focus on acquiring more pitching (starting and relieving). The Red Sox will try to deal one of their outfielders for starting pitching help and an upgrade at first base. The Rangers will generally look for bats if they can't get their own guys going. 3. The front offices of most of the contending teams are underwhelmed by the players the obvious sellers — the Athletics, Marlins, Pirates, White Sox and Rockies — have to dangle for potential deals. GO DEEPER MLB trade targets to address the biggest need for each contending team 4. The Angels, who are currently a game below .500, don't seem inclined to be sellers right now, but that should change by the end of July; if that happens, they'll have two power bats they could offer in DH Jorge Soler and LF Taylor Ward, along with starting pitcher Tyler Anderson and closer Kenley Jansen. 5. Among their counterparts, front-office executives believe Orioles general manager Mike Elias and Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto are under the most pressure at this year's trade deadline. Elias because he seems to be focusing on adding a top-of-the-rotation starter and doesn't appear to have the mindset to be a seller right now, though, in my opinion, he probably should be. His job could be on the line this trade deadline. In terms of Dipoto, many in the industry believe he should add a significant bat to Seattle's lineup; with such a strong farm system and ownership willing to increase payroll, there is no excuse not to this year. 6. The Mets and Phillies look headed for an epic division race in the NL East, but between now and July 31 they're also in a race to see which team can bolster its bullpen the best. According to industry sources, both organizations are focused on high-leverage arms and will be chasing similar relievers. Advertisement 7. The Padres know they need another bat to lengthen their lineup and are focused on acquiring a left fielder. They might be willing to again dangle their best prospects to get it done as they try to take advantage of their roster's window to win a World Series. 8. The Dodgers are most focused on getting their starting pitchers healthy and back on the mound including Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Tony Gonsolin. If the Dodgers can get them healthy for the stretch run, they really don't have an obvious need to address at the deadline. They have the best offense and lineup in baseball, top to bottom, and when healthy, arguably the best rotation, too. But can their pitchers get healthy? If not, the Dodgers will look to trade for yet another starter. 9. The Royals are shopping for corner outfield help and realize they'll probably have to trade one of their top catching prospects to make it happen. 10. The Mariners appear to be focused on acquiring a middle-of-the-order bat, either a first baseman or third baseman, and have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball from which to trade. They match up perfectly with the Diamondbacks for either Naylor or a reunion with Suárez. GO DEEPER MLB trade deadline Urgency Index 1.0: Who needs what? Who needs it most? 11. The Cardinals will be open-minded about adding at the trade deadline, but if things go south in the coming weeks, don't expect them to turn into traditional sellers. They are committed to building for the long term so expect every move they make between now and the deadline to reflect that approach. Being open to adding doesn't mean if they get the right offer for closer Ryan Helsley or a starting pitcher like Erick Fedde or Miles Mikolas, they won't jump on it — they will. All three will be free agents after this season. 12. Don't expect the Marlins to trade Sandy Alcantara (7.14 ERA over 13 starts) while his value is down. Instead, they're expected to keep him until he regains his Cy Young Award form, which might not happen until later this year and maybe even next. They can always shop Alcantara, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, in the offseason or the next trade deadline. (His contract includes a $21 million team option for 2027.) However, the Marlins will listen to inquiries on their corner outfielders this summer since teams like the Padres and Royals might overpay for Kyle Stowers or Jesús Sánchez. Advertisement 13. The Nationals are looking for an ace to pair with MacKenzie Gore at the top of their rotation. That will be their priority at the trade deadline and in the offseason. It appears their ownership could be willing to spend more in the offseason to make impactful moves and start getting serious about trying to contend. 14. The Tigers are for real. They'll be aggressive at the trade deadline to bolster their bullpen and lengthen their lineup, with a power-hitting third baseman being their biggest need. Like the Mariners, a reunion with the Diamondbacks' Suárez could be the best fit. Arizona could put Jordan Lawlar at third base to build for next year and let him work on his development in the majors in the second half of the season. 15. As we've written many times, the Pirates have no interest in trading Paul Skenes as this year's deadline. However, multiple GMs have told me that won't stop them from making serious offers to acquire him. And, if you're the Pirates, you have to listen because you have so many needs to fill — on your big-league team and also in your farm system. The return for Skenes in a trade would have to be even more than the haul the Nationals got for Juan Soto at the 2022 deadline. However, he is the best pitcher in baseball, with four more years of team control, so it arguably would be worth paying that type of package. I learned long ago in baseball … never say never. 16. The Cubs have a clear path to an NL Central title and are planning to be aggressive at the trade deadline, looking for a strong starting pitcher and bullpen help. 17. The Giants believe in stability and continuity so, outside of adding another bat, don't expect a lot of moves from them at this deadline. They need more offense — they rank 24th in OPS — and could use an upgrade at first base or in right field. Naylor would be a good fit because he's a rental and wouldn't block their top prospect, first baseman Bryce Eldridge. The Giants usually don't like short-term solutions, but in this case, it would make sense. 18. The Blue Jays have made acquiring a starting pitcher their priority at this trade deadline. They match up well with the Diamondbacks for one of their impending free-agent starters, Gallen or Kelly, if Arizona decides to sell, or perhaps with the Angels for Anderson. 19. Similar to recent years, the Guardians have been asking around about the availability of possible right-field upgrade options, hoping to improve the production in the middle of their lineup. Advertisement 20. There is a lot of buzz in the industry that Braves manager Brian Snitker and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy could retire at season's end, which would be a big loss for the sport. Both are classy people with impressive track records who have been great for the game. It's disappointing that both of their teams might look to sell at this year's deadline. That said, I would never bet against either one of them or the teams they manage. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Steph Chambers, Kevin C. Cox, Matthew J. Lee / Getty Images)
New York Times
40 minutes ago
- New York Times
Phillies MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch
There is an absolute in the years since Dave Dombrowski assumed control of the Phillies, and that is an active trade deadline. He has engineered 12 deadline trades in four years. He acquired two players — Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa — at the 2022 deadline who are still on his roster. He's obtained others — Ian Kennedy, Rodolfo Castro and Austin Hays — who left less of a mark on the Phillies. Advertisement Dombrowski figures to be active again come July; these Phillies are in deep with a $305 million payroll. They still have flaws. The Phillies entered this season attempting to strike a difficult balance; they did not sign a free agent to a multi-year contract over the offseason, and resisted trading their best prospects. This, then, was a bridge year. The Phillies are trying to win, but without sacrificing everything. It makes this a fascinating deadline for Dombrowski, who has to issue a referendum on this roster's chances for a World Series title. Dombrowski has never been afraid to flip middle-tier prospects in July trades. He has protected his best farmhands at previous deadlines. The Phillies went deep into trade talks last summer with the Chicago White Sox regarding Garrett Crochet, a deal that would have required surrendering a massive prospect package. Those talks fizzled. There might not be a player of Crochet's caliber available at this year's July 31 deadline. Even if there is, Dombrowski has made Andrew Painter untouchable. Other prospects might have since ascended to that status. Here's a primer on what to monitor in the weeks ahead. It's no secret the Phillies will look to fortify their bullpen. It is a familiar need. The Phillies searched for bullpen help at the 2022 and 2024 trade deadlines; they went with 'proven veteran' types like David Robertson and Carlos Estévez. Under Dombrowski, the Phillies have targeted velocity when building a bullpen. They had the hardest-throwing bullpen in baseball in 2023 and the third-hardest in 2024. They've dipped to sixth in 2025 — that includes José Alvarado's high-powered fastballs from earlier this season. They could be hunting in July for more velocity. Dombrowski will go into this trade deadline knowing he'll have Alvarado, suspended by MLB until Aug. 18, for the season's final six weeks. The lefty is ineligible for the postseason if the Phillies qualify. They do not know how effective Alvarado will be upon his return, but that adds a layer to Dombrowski's decision-making. Advertisement So does this: The Phillies might have a surplus of starting pitching, depending on Aaron Nola's health and Andrew Painter's ascension, which could bump some starters to the bullpen in August or September. This matters too: This year's postseason schedule calls for an extra off day during the National League Division Series, which means a team would need only three starters in a five-game series. So a bullpen acquisition at the trade deadline has to be more than a marginal one; the Phillies might not be looking for someone to help them reach October, rather someone who can be trusted to pitch in high-leverage postseason situations. That is a high bar. Whether that pitcher becomes available or the Phillies decide to meet the price remains to be seen. Here lies, yet again, another festering problem. The Phillies entertained an outfield addition at the 2023 trade deadline, but opted to stick with Johan Rojas in center and Brandon Marsh in left. They plucked Hays from the Baltimore Orioles last July, only to see that transaction flop when Hays suffered myriad injuries. They tried another marginal addition over the offseason by signing Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal. The outfield free-agent market has not borne much fruit: Anthony Santander, Tyler O'Neill, Michael Conforto and Jurickson Profar (suspended) have all struggled for various reasons. The only free-agent outfielder from the middle class who has produced, Harrison Bader, is having his best season in years. The Phillies made a bet on Kepler as a bounce-back candidate. They have hidden him against lefties through a platoon, yet Kepler is a below-average hitter overall in 2025. He's played an average left field. If the Phillies want an outfield reinforcement in July, they might have to think creatively again. Many contenders are seeking a right-handed bat. Left field, at least in the past, would be a logical place to stick one. Advertisement The Phillies entered the week tied for 25th in home runs by right-handed hitters. They've averaged 102 homers from righties over the past four seasons. They are on pace for 64 in 2025. The last time they did not have a righty who bashed 20 homers in a season (excluding 2020) was 2015. Slugging numbers are down across the sport, rendering any available power hitter a hot commodity. Some teams could simply double down on pitching and defense. The Phillies have one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball. If they cannot obtain power, maybe they rearrange things to optimize for defense. This qualifies as a good problem for the Phillies to solve, considering how much Mick Abel's stock has risen following a forgettable 2024 season. He's pitched with conviction in the majors. He has emerged as a more confident strike-thrower; it is a transformation that could entice other clubs. Abel, for now, is crucial rotation depth because Nola could be sidelined through the All-Star break. At that point, if Nola is ready, Abel would probably return to the minors. Sometime in July, the Phillies expect Andrew Painter to factor into their rotation plans. That would bump Abel even further down the depth chart. If the Phillies retain Abel, he'd still be on the outside of an initial 2026 rotation projection. The Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Nola under contract, with Jesús Luzardo and Painter under club control. All of this must factor into the calculus the Phillies use in assessing Abel's place in the organization. Should the Phillies believe Abel's transformation merits a longer look, they could toy with the idea of him as a reliever for the stretch run, then revisit things in the offseason. The Phillies will receive calls on Aroon Escobar, a stocky infielder who hits the ball hard. The 20-year-old Venezuelan generated interest among clubs at last year's trade deadline despite being sidelined by persistent shin splints. Eduardo Tait, a big-bodied catcher who does not turn 19 until August, is a potential trade chip. Rival evaluators have questioned whether Tait sticks behind the plate, but that is not a universal opinion. The job requirements for a big-league catcher could be drastically different by the time Tait reaches the majors. (Top photo of Dave Dombrowski: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Inside the rise of Tommy Kahnle, the Detroit Tigers reliever with an elite changeup
Sixty-one. That's how many consecutive changeups right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle threw during the New York Yankees' 2024 postseason run — a streak that began in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians and ended in Game 3 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Advertisement "I wasn't really sure what the number was," Kahnle said, reflecting on his 61 changeups in a row, "but in the back of my head, I'm like, 'I have not thrown a fastball in a long time.' It was working." The Detroit Tigers signed Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract and have wasted no time calling on their new high-leverage reliever in some of the most important moments this season, including save situations in the ninth inning. The 11-year MLB veteran has racked up eight saves in 28 games for the Tigers in the 2025 season, following a total of just eight saves in 390 games in his first 10 seasons. Get a grip on a great Father's Day gift: Our new Tigers book! He is throwing his changeup a career-high 84% of the time. Advertisement "Speaking of unicorns, it's a pitch where everyone in baseball knows how he pitches," manager A.J. Hinch said, "and yet he finds a way to get soft contact and miss bats and continue to pound the zone. Fun player because he can be utilized at any point of the game, and he doesn't change." MILESTONE: Tigers' Tommy Kahnle reflects on 10 years of MLB service time: 'It's an honor' Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) throws against New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, April 7, 2025. Kahnle is a changeup artist. But the 35-year-old wouldn't be who he is without a lesson from pitching coach Carlos Chantres more than 13 years ago. A career-changing adjustment occurred in 2011, when Kahnle pitched for the Charleston RiverDogs, the Low-A affiliate of the Yankees. Advertisement He didn't make his MLB debut until 2014. "It's been a while," Chantres said. "Back then, we didn't have all the technology we have now," Chantres continued. "It was old-school baseball — use your eyes, see what hitters do. He had a two-seam changeup. We weren't seeing the swing and miss." Carlos Chantres, who works as the Latin American pitching coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. One day in 2011, during a pregame bullpen session at a small South Carolina ballpark, Chantres approached Kahnle with a simple question: "Tommy, how do you grip your changeup?" Kahnle didn't say a word. He just held up the two-seam changeup grip. "Most of your fastballs are four-seam, right?" Chantres asked. "Yeah," Kahnle said. Advertisement "Then why don't we try a four-seam changeup grip?" Chantres asked. "It seems like hitters are seeing this one pretty good." Since Kahnle threw a four-seam fastball, switching to a four-seam changeup grip helped him tunnel the two pitches, making the changeup mirror his fastball out of the hand before dropping late and generating swings and misses. To this day, Kahnle still uses that grip. "He liked the feel," Chantres said. JEFF SEIDEL: Tigers have 'madhouse of a bullpen,' and Will Vest leads the vibe In 2011, the Yankees — and every other MLB team — didn't have advanced technology like they do in 2025. There was just a computer system and a camera, so Chantres couldn't fully evaluate the new changeup in the bullpen. Advertisement The real test came in a live game. Once Kahnle threw it, the feedback from hitters was immediate. The four-seam grip gave the changeup more depth. It missed bats. "Oh (expletive), there it is," Chantres said. BULLPEN STRIKES AGAIN: Tigers bring back 'pitching chaos' strategy for win, led by Brant Hurter 'Always had a great changeup' For a long time, Kahnle's changeup complemented his four-seam fastball, which maxed out 100.6 mph in 2017. He also mixed in a sinker, slider, cutter and curveball at various points in his career, but the fastball remained his primary weapon, followed by the changeup as his second-most-used pitch. Advertisement His fastball velocity began to dip in 2019. That's when the changeup took over as his go-to pitch. "I always had a great changeup," Kahnle said. "We just didn't utilize it a lot because I had an elite fastball at the time. Eventually, we made the switch. Every year since then, the usage has just gotten higher and higher." In 2019, Kahnle threw 51.9% changeups, 44.2% four-seam fastballs and 3.9% sliders. From there, his changeup usage surged — all the way to 84% in 2025. Since 2019, only Devin Williams (2,541) and Trevor Richards (2,201) have thrown more changeups than Kahnle's 2,088 among MLB relievers. Advertisement Hitters still haven't solved it: They're batting just .155 off Kahnle's changeup since 2019 — and only .148 in 2025. By 2022, fellow pitchers had picked up on Kahnle's changeup usage, though hitters had been aware of it for a few years. That season, he pitched for the Dodgers. His changeup became a running joke in the clubhouse. "A lot of guys with L.A. were chirping about it: You could throw this pitch 100 times, they know it's coming, and they still can't hit it," Kahnle said. "It gave me a good laugh." [ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER! Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ] Advertisement Sometimes, Kahnle second-guesses the extreme changeup usage, which has been north of 70% in four straight seasons. He entered 2025 with the Tigers hoping to scale it back, but the data — and the results — keep reinforcing the changeup. So do his teammates. "You know it's coming, and you still really can't hit it," said Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka, who caught Kahnle for years in the Yankees' organization, dating to their time in Low-A Charleston in 2011 — the year Kahnle learned the four-seam changeup grip. "It's definitely something special." The person behind the pitcher Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle works out during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Kahnle and Higashioka met for the first time in 2011. Advertisement They had just turned 21. "We were all pretty wild back then," Higashioka said. Every day, Kahnle refused to tie his shoes while running in warmups and shagging fly balls during batting practice, but he eventually laced them up for the game. "Tommy, you're going to twist your ankle," said Chantres, the pitching coach who taught Kahnle the changeup grip. "You got to tie your shoes." "No, Carlos, I've got the strongest ankles in America," Kahnle said. He's goofy like that. "Tommy still is wild," Higashioka said. For example, Kahnle shaves his entire body as a personal punishment when he allows a run — a tradition he started in the minor leagues and still follows today. He is the loudest player in the Tigers' clubhouse, collects Philadelphia Eagles jerseys, wears a Notre Dame football helmet and keeps a video game console with a monitor in his locker. He's also known for his caffeine addiction, having graduated from five Red Bulls a day to two C4 Energy drinks and two large cups of coffee. Advertisement How does Kahnle describe his personality? "High-energy, carefree, just having fun," he said. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) high-fives teammates after the win over the Baltimore Orioles during Game 2 of a doubleheader at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, April 26, 2025. It's impossible not to love him. "He keeps everyone loose," Higashioka said. Kahnle and Higashioka worked together for a few years in the minors with the Yankees, then again in the big leagues after Kahnle returned to the Yankees in 2017, following stints with the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox. Higashioka had a part in the evolution of Kahnle's changeup usage. "When he came back to us, he was throwing more fastballs," Higashioka said. "Over time, the data was showing that his changeup was unhittable, so the coaches kept pushing us to throw more and more changeups. Apparently, it doesn't matter if people know it's coming. It's that good." 'Big statement for him' The personality, the contract, the changeup — it has all led Kahnle to becoming a key piece of the Tigers' bullpen in the 2025 season. In Detroit, he has stepped into a closer role for the first time in his 11-year MLB career. Advertisement His journey traces back to that grip change in 2011. And Kahnle still credits Chantres. A TEAM PLAYER: Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle not picky about role with A.J. Hinch, Chris Fetter Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle reacts after the Tigers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. "That's a good feeling as a coach," said Chantres, now 49 and working as the Chicago Cubs' Latin American pitching coordinator. "I've been in this game for many years. A lot of guys that I've taught got to the big leagues, but when people remember stuff like that, it's a good feeling." In 2025, Kahnle owns a career-best 1.24 ERA with eight walks and 26 strikeouts across 29 innings in 28 games, notching eight saves in 11 opportunities. He generates whiffs, limits walks and induces ground-ball contact. Advertisement The Tigers have deployed a two-closer system this season, with Kahnle and fellow right-handed reliever Will Vest combining for 19 saves: 11 from Vest, eight from Kahnle. Kahnle is happy to pitch in any role. But the Tigers want him — and his changeup — in the biggest moments. "Every good team needs a good closer — somebody you can rely on to keep the score where it's at and win games," Higashioka said. "The fact that he's closing, and the Tigers have the best record in the American League, that's a big statement for him." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Advertisement Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tommy Kahnle and elite changeup fueling Detroit Tigers bullpen
