Latest news with #JuanSoto
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Padres, with deadline looming, face key decisions on Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez
SAN DIEGO — The man who indirectly brought two of the Padres' best pitchers to this city stood near home plate, catching up with a former colleague. It was Monday afternoon at Petco Park, and in between innings of a simulated game thrown by Michael King, Juan Soto had strolled over from the visiting clubhouse. The outfielder, clad in shorts and a New York Mets tee, laughed and chatted with Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla. Advertisement It was less than two years ago that the Padres, seeking to address multiple needs and knowing they would not extend or re-sign him, traded Soto for a package that included King and pitching prospect Drew Thorpe. The blockbuster exchange would influence the fortunes of two franchises. The New York Yankees advanced to the 2024 World Series, with Soto batting in front of Aaron Judge. The Padres went on to play a tightly contested division series against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with King and Dylan Cease — acquired in a trade that saw Thorpe flipped to the Chicago White Sox — fronting their rotation. This was how the Padres turned trading Soto, a generational talent, into a win-now deal. And this is similar to how the Padres might turn trading Cease or closer Robert Suarez into something along the same lines. Neither pitcher is a generational talent, and both are several months closer to potential free agency than Soto was in December 2023. Still, with Thursday's trade deadline looming, the Padres face significant decisions on Cease and Suarez. Monday night against Soto's Mets, the Padres won despite subpar performances from the aforementioned pair. Cease, perhaps the top rental starter on the trade market, struck out nine batters but also was struck by a comebacker and later surrendered a grand slam. Suarez, one of the best available rental relievers, served up a ninth-inning solo homer. By the end of a walk-off victory that included a five-run bottom of the fifth and two spectacular Fernando Tatis Jr. catches, Cease and Suarez had been reduced to footnotes. There is a chance that either pitcher's outing will end up being a farewell. The Padres, since last offseason and certainly in recent weeks, have discussed the idea of moving Cease and/or Suarez. The former will enter free agency this winter represented by Scott Boras, who secured for Soto the largest contract in professional sports history. The latter recently hired agent Bryce Dixon, and the expectation is that Suarez will decline a pair of $8 million player options for 2026 and 2027. Advertisement With limited payroll flexibility and less prospect capital than they possessed a year ago, the Padres could try to send one of these expiring deals to another postseason contender in exchange for new prospect capital and some salary relief. In theory, San Diego could then use those resources to acquire club-controlled players at positions of need. As of late Monday, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller still seemed to be aiming high. League sources said the Padres remained among the teams in pursuit of Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. Meanwhile, despite reports that the Boston Red Sox had taken Jarren Duran off the market, San Diego continued to express interest in the longtime target. Preller, famous for his exhaustiveness, was said to also be considering such commodities as high-end relief and starting-pitching depth. The Padres survived a scare to their existing depth in Monday's third inning. That was when Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor hit a 99.6 mph grounder that jumped and struck Cease in the back of his head, the ball ricocheting nearly to the third-base dugout. Cease crumpled to the ground, then sat up as multiple athletic trainers rushed to his side. He eventually threw a few trial pitches and stayed in the game, getting seven more outs before he exited following the fifth-inning grand slam. Cease was not available to reporters after the game, having left the clubhouse to undergo what manager Mike Shildt described as precautionary imaging. The right-hander hasn't missed a start since the end of his rookie season, and his durability is one reason the Padres — who face questions related to the health of King and fellow starter Yu Darvish — might be reluctant to trade him. Scary scene at Petco Park as Francisco Lindor hit Dylan Cease in the back of a head with a comebacker. Here's the play: — Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 29, 2025 Monday afternoon at least brought a more positive development for King. Sidelined by a nerve issue since May, the right-hander threw 40 pitches over two-plus simulated innings. His fastball ranged from 91 mph to 94 mph, and King afterward declared himself '100 percent.' He also reiterated his confidence that he would return from the injured list before his bobblehead night at Petco Park on Aug. 20. Shildt did not divulge the team's timetable, but the manager called King's progress 'very, very, very encouraging.' Advertisement Like Cease and Suarez, King is expected to become a free agent in a few months, and the Opening Day starter might have been a trade candidate himself had he not missed the past two months. Cease and King also remain obvious candidates to receive and reject qualifying offers after the season — a scenario that likely would result in draft-pick compensation for the Padres. Suarez, currently on a five-year, $46 million contract, does not appear to be a candidate for a qualifying offer. That, along with the ascension of Adrian Morejon in a deep bullpen, might make the Padres more inclined to move the major-league saves leader. There is, of course, at least one other scenario: Absent compelling offers, the Padres could keep both Cease and Suarez for another playoff chase. For now, however, the potential for a different outcome continues to loom. King, who has been traded twice since the Miami Marlins drafted him, expressed admiration for a teammate with similar experience. 'I give a lot of props to him because you've got to still go out here and pitch when your name's getting thrown around,' King said of Cease. 'And he's a pro. He's going to shut out the noise … It's a business, so it's a tough game. But wherever he is, I like him in my rotation.' (Top photo of Padres pitcher Dylan Cease:)
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlos Mendoza ejected after Juan Soto was called out on a questionable strike three
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected against the Padres on Monday night after defending Juan Soto, who was arguing a strike three call made by the home plate umpire.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza ejected in third inning of Monday's game vs. Padres
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the third inning of Monday's game vs. the San Diego Padres after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez. Jimenez called Juan Soto out looking on a curve that got the outside part of the plate, and Soto immediately expressed his frustration with the call. Mendoza then came out to defend Soto and was tossed. This is a developing story and will be updated...
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, slowed by injuries and scrambling to patch rosters with help for battered bullpens and other positions ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. HT Image Opening the season with a top payroll of $326 million, the New York Mets have a 1 1/2-game NL East lead but are 17-20 since mid-June. Just $200,000 behind them in spending, according to Major League Baseball's figures, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are four games ahead in the NL West but are 5-13 since July 3. Third at $294 million, the defending AL champion New York Yankees blew a seven-game division lead and trail AL East-leading Toronto by 5 1/2 games after a 22-28 skid that started in late May. 'It is in a lot of ways a game of survival,' New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. While all three are in playoffs positions, they have not had the seasons they hoped for. All three teams were considered 'winners' of the offseason. The Mets lured Juan Soto from the Yankees for a record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Dodgers added prized pitcher Roki Sasaki and left-hander Blake Snell along with reliever Tanner Scott, outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Hyeseong Kim. The Yankees brought in Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Devin Williams. Projected lineups and the ones in box scores have been markedly different. The Mets have used 13 starting pitchers, losing Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning for significant stretches. 'We're not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves. Nobody will,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'We're facing a lot of adversity, but every team goes through it.' Los Angeles had 14 pitchers on the injured list in early June and has used 16 different starters. 'It was very important to have the depth. We went through a lot last year and I didn't think that we would kind of match what we did last year, but sure enough we have," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "To kind of manage it hasn't been easy, but we're doing it." The Yankees lost ace Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to torn UCLs and Luis Gil to a lat strain. They are now without two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge for at least 10 days because of a flexor injury. Los Angeles leads the major leagues with 1,495 player days on the IL, the Mets are fifth at 1,095 and the Yankees sixth at 1,022. Philadelphia, 1 1/2 games back of the Mets in the NL East, has the fewest IL days at 214. In addition to relievers, the Mets could use a center fielder and an upgrade at third. The Yankees added infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario, boosting payroll and tax by $11.56 million. Modern MLB is a sport for the wealthy. Just two of the current division leaders were not among the top seven spenders as of opening day: Detroit (19th at $148 million) and the Chicago Cubs (14th at $195 million). And the spending doesn't include luxury tax, with seven teams projected to pay. The Dodgers were on track at the season's start to owe a record $151 million — more than the payrolls of seven teams. The were were projected at $73 million and the Yankees $52 million, with Philadelphia, Toronto, San Diego and Boston at lesser amounts. 'I'm a piker now compared to the Dodgers,' Mets owner Steve Cohen said during spring training. All seven teams set to owe tax would be in the 12-club playoffs if the season ended now along with Houston, currently just below the tax threshold. In the past decade, three teams outside the top 10 spenders have won titles: Atlanta in 2021 (14th), Houston in 2017 (18th) and Kansas City in 2015 (13th). While the biggest spender has won twice, the Dodgers in 2020 and Boston in 2018, a top six payroll has won six titles of the past 10 titles. Some owners say MLB should push for a salary cap in negotiations to replace the collective bargaining agreement that expires in December 2026, a proposal the players' association would fight. 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not,' baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us.' Last year, the top three spenders reached the League Championship Series along with Cleveland, which finished at No. 25. Ten of 20 LCS teams in the last five years paid tax. 'I have the ability to spend if I have to,' Cohen said. 'I want to win and I want to I can on the field.' ___ AP freelance writer Ken Powtak contributed to this report. ___ AP MLB:
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries
NEW YORK — Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, slowed by injuries and scrambling to patch rosters with help for battered bullpens and other positions ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Opening the season with a top payroll of $326 million, the New York Mets have a 1 1/2-game NL East lead but are 17-20 since mid-June. Just $200,000 behind them in spending, according to Major League Baseball's figures, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are four games ahead in the NL West but are 5-13 since July 3. Third at $294 million, the defending AL champion New York Yankees blew a seven-game division lead and trail AL East-leading Toronto by 5 1/2 games after a 22-28 skid that started in late May. 'It is in a lot of ways a game of survival,' New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. While all three are in playoffs positions, they have not had the seasons they hoped for. All three teams were considered 'winners' of the offseason. The Mets lured Juan Soto from the Yankees for a record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Dodgers added prized pitcher Roki Sasaki and left-hander Blake Snell along with reliever Tanner Scott, outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Hyeseong Kim. The Yankees brought in Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Devin Williams. Projected lineups and the ones in box scores have been markedly different. The Mets have used 13 starting pitchers, losing Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning for significant stretches. 'We're not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves. Nobody will,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'We're facing a lot of adversity, but every team goes through it.' Los Angeles had 14 pitchers on the injured list in early June and has used 16 different starters. 'It was very important to have the depth. We went through a lot last year and I didn't think that we would kind of match what we did last year, but sure enough we have,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. 'To kind of manage it hasn't been easy, but we're doing it.' The Yankees lost ace Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to torn UCLs and Luis Gil to a lat strain. They are now without two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge for at least 10 days because of a flexor injury. Los Angeles leads the major leagues with 1,495 player days on the IL, the Mets are fifth at 1,095 and the Yankees sixth at 1,022. Philadelphia, 1 1/2 games back of the Mets in the NL East, has the fewest IL days at 214. In addition to relievers, the Mets could use a center fielder and an upgrade at third. The Yankees added infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario, boosting payroll and tax by $11.56 million. Modern MLB is a sport for the wealthy. Just two of the current division leaders were not among the top seven spenders as of opening day: Detroit (19th at $148 million) and the Chicago Cubs (14th at $195 million). And the spending doesn't include luxury tax, with seven teams projected to pay. The Dodgers were on track at the season's start to owe a record $151 million — more than the payrolls of seven teams. The were were projected at $73 million and the Yankees $52 million, with Philadelphia, Toronto, San Diego and Boston at lesser amounts. 'I'm a piker now compared to the Dodgers,' Mets owner Steve Cohen said during spring training. All seven teams set to owe tax would be in the 12-club playoffs if the season ended now along with Houston, currently just below the tax threshold. In the past decade, three teams outside the top 10 spenders have won titles: Atlanta in 2021 (14th), Houston in 2017 (18th) and Kansas City in 2015 (13th). While the biggest spender has won twice, the Dodgers in 2020 and Boston in 2018, a top six payroll has won six titles of the past 10 titles. Some owners say MLB should push for a salary cap in negotiations to replace the collective bargaining agreement that expires in December 2026, a proposal the players' association would fight. 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not,' baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us.' Last year, the top three spenders reached the League Championship Series along with Cleveland, which finished at No. 25. Ten of 20 LCS teams in the last five years paid tax. 'I have the ability to spend if I have to,' Cohen said. 'I want to win and I want to I can on the field.'
