Latest news with #BaseballOperations
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dodgers Fans Get Disappointing Update on Trade Deadline Plans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Los Angeles Dodgers did their best to avoid a return of their biggest problem from last year, but even their best efforts haven't worked. After the team suffered several high-profile pitcher injuries en route to their latest World Series championship, the front office added Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and others to the pitching staff. But the Dodgers have more than a dozen pitchers on the injured list anyway and it's far from certain that their team will ever be at full strength. "There is always the threat of setbacks, like what happened with Evan Phillips, who underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday for an injury that was initially expected to sideline him for only two weeks," Jack Harris noted for the Los Angeles Times. "And even once pitchers do come back, their levels of performance are subject to variance." Those concerns are enough to drive hopes that the Dodgers will reinforce their staff with some additions before the trade deadline. It seems like some difference-making arms could be made available, such as Tomoyuki Sugano from the Baltimore Orioles or Andrew Heaney from the Pittsburgh Pirates. GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 14: President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the media during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 14, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo... GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 14: President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the media during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 14, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by) More Sloter/Getty But the Dodgers were so aggressive this past winter in order to avoid paying a premium at midseason. And it seems they will still avoid doing so despite the persistent injuries, according to an update from Harris that many Dodgers fans will find disappointing. "Even if only half of the arms currently on the IL get back to where they were before, they could still have a pitching staff capable of contending for another World Series title," he noted. "Because of that, it seems unlikely they'll make overly aggressive moves on the trade market leading up to the July 31 deadline. ... For now, they continue to trust that pitchers such as Snell, (Tyler) Glasnow and (Shohei) Ohtani will be impact contributors for the stretch run of the season." Refusal to take an aggressive approach at the trade deadline might serve as a bummer for Dodgers fans, but it could be a necessary symptom of assembling such a deep and talented roster. More MLB: Mets Make IL Decision on Francisco Lindor After Broken Toe Vs. Dodgers
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Phillies Front Office Trends Suggest Ex-Yankees All-Star Could Be Bullpen Trade Target
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philadelphia Phillies endured a surprising sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday and it prompted some big changes to the roster. As the team looks to recover from the loss of reliever Jose Alvarado after a harsh suspension, it made a series of moves in a surprising bullpen shakeup. The Phillies designated Jose Ruiz for assignment, called up Seth Johnson from Triple-A, moved starter Taijuan Walker to a relief role and brought young starter Mick Abel into the rotation. But even as the team looks to bounce back from the sweep with that series of changes, it seems unlikely they are finished addressing their relief corps. "The Phillies will shop in the reliever aisle," Scott Lauber reported for The Philadelphia Inquirer. "With (Dave) Dombrowski leading the front office, the Phillies dealt for a reliever at three of the last four deadlines." SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 28: President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski of the Boston Red Sox reacts before the 2019 Opening day game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 28, 2019 in... SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 28: President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski of the Boston Red Sox reacts before the 2019 Opening day game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 28, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston)Given that history and the team's need, Lauber suggested the Phillies could add Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman in a trade. "Even if the Red Sox don't fully wave the white flag, they could trade lefty closer Aroldis Chapman, who has provided a solid return (2.05 ERA, 8-for-9 in save chances through Thursday) on their $10.75 million, one-year investment," Lauber wrote. "He's throwing more strikes, too, reducing his walk rate to 9%, his lowest mark since 2020." Though Chapman is enjoying a resurgent season with the Red Sox, he's best known as a former superstar with the New York Yankees, for whom he earned three of his career seven All-Star nods as the best closer in all of baseball at the time. Though he's no longer on that level, his season in Boston so far is showing he could be a significant add for a team pushing toward the World Series. The Phillies are hoping to qualify as that kind of team, though they'll need to sort out their bullpen first. More MLB: Phillies' Bryce Harper Breaks Silence on Kyle Schwarber's Upcoming Free Agency
Washington Post
4 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Slugger Adolis Garcia sits again as Rangers look for him to make 'mechanical changes' at plate
ARLINGTON, Texas — Slumping Rangers slugger Adolis García was held out of Texas' lineup for the third consecutive day Sunday, with president of baseball operations Chris Young saying the club wants the 2023 ALCS MVP to make some mechanical changes. 'We need him to kind of commit to some of these changes that we think will get him back to the '23 version of himself and help him be the player that we know he can be,' Young said before Texas' series finale against St. Louis.
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Phillies' Dave Dombrowski on NL East: 'dogfight all year long'
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski joined Joel Sherman & Jon Heyman this week on The Show. Watch now:
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Padres Reportedly Make Contract Decision On Michael King, Dylan Cease
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The San Diego Padres seem poised to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for a spot in the World Series once again this season. After getting just one win away from a bid for the National League Championship Series last fall, the team has surged to a 27-15 start going into Friday, sitting just one game behind the powerhouse Dodgers for first place in the National League West division. The team is enjoying a Most Valuable Player Award caliber season from Fernando Tatis Jr., strong contributions from Manny Machado in his 14th big-league season, and a solid follow-up campaign from sophomore sensation Jackson Merrill. But perhaps its greatest strength is the pitching staff. The team's bullpen has one of the lowest ERA marks of any team and is tied for the Major League Baseball lead with 16 saves so far. And the starting staff has been even more impressive, with Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Nick Pivetta and Dylan Cease leading the way. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres speaks to media prior to an Opening Day game against the San Francisco Giants at... SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres speaks to media prior to an Opening Day game against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park on March 28, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by) More Sloter/Getty But with two of those names set for major free agency negotiations at the end of this season, the Padres have had an important decision to make. Both Cease and King are in their final years of arbitration eligibility and will seek hefty, long-term contracts after this season if they aren't extended first. The Padres could ultimately let both of them walk or find a way to keep them both, but Jon Heyman of the New York Post has reported that the team is targeting King alone. "The Padres are hopeful of re-signing one of two star free-agent starters — and word is the one they'll likely target is Michael King," Heyman wrote. "King is a star now but he'll likely cost less than Dylan Cease due to Cease's total track record. Cease is back on his game thanks to a dominating slider." It might come as a surprise to hear that King will come at a lower cost than Cease, given the current season. King has maintained a 2.32 ERA with 56 strikeouts in his first nine starts, while Cease has been hit for a 4.60 ERA with 58 strikeouts in his first nine starts. Last season yielded similar results. But Cease has long been seen as one of the best swing-and-miss pitchers in baseball, making at least 32 starts in each of the last four seasons. Meanwhile, King became a first-time starter last year and hadn't made 10 starts in a season up to that point. More MLB: Aaron Judge Expected to Make Strong Juan Soto Gesture Before Subway Series
