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Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves Face 'Unthinkable' Michael Harris II Decision as Concerns Mount
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Atlanta Braves saw a brutal losing streak extend to seven games after falling to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday and their issues are getting difficult to ignore. The team sits at 10 games below .500 and 14 games back from the lead in the National League East division and it's starting to seem as if their playoff streak is going to come to an end. Among the many issues have been a shaky bullpen, injuries and streaky hitting throughout the lineup. But one of the biggest has been the lack of offense from center fielder Michael Harris II. "Despite playing elite defense, Harris is one of the worst qualified centerfielders in baseball this year thanks to a bat that has gone missing in action," wrote Mitchell Barbee of FanSided. "With the Braves continuing to free fall, the club might have to do the unthinkable to get their centerfielder back on track." Harris has a concerning .237/.265/.343 slash line so far this year, which marks lows across the board for his four-year career with the Braves. Despite his stellar defense and emergence as one of the team's cornerstone players, the Braves have to consider sending Harris to the minor leagues where he can work on retooling his approach to the plate. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves looks on prior to facing the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 08, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C.... ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves looks on prior to facing the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 08, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) More Cox/Getty "The Braves desperately need to get Harris back on track, but if the lefty continues to look as lost as he does at the plate, they might have no option but to send him down for 10 days to get his swing back on track," Barbee added. "The Braves are certainly not expected to banish Harris to the minors forever, but if Harris cannot make the adjustment quickly, the Braves might have no other option but to play Eli White and Jose Azocar in center while Harris relearns his power stroke." As harsh as Harris' season has been so far, the Braves have good reason to believe he can bounce back with a brief change of scenery. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award thanks to a special combination of defense and offense after slashing .297/.339/.514 that year. His offense has regressed every year since, but those tools must still be there somewhere. If the Braves can unlock a turnaround by sending him to the minors for a bit, their lineup could get a major boost when he returns. More MLB: Yankees Given Trade 'Priority' as Infielder Faces Cut
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
The Yankees Officially Have A Devin Williams Problem
New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams, center, talks to Anthony Volpe as they huddle with ... More teammates during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday, April 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) When the New York Yankees traded for Devin Williams over the winter, they thought they were locking down the closer spot with one of MLB's best relievers. After yet another disastrous outing last night, it's clear that they have to reconfigure their plans. The Yankees plated a run in the bottom of the eighth yesterday to take a 2-1 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays. This is the exact scenario they envisioned when they acquired Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin. The closer took the ball to start the top of the ninth, but allowed a single, a hit-by-pitch, and a two-run double before getting pulled out of the game. The next pitcher, Mark Leiter Jr., gave up a single that scored another run, which was charged to Williams, and the Yankees lost 4-2. Yesterday's game was Williams's first appearance in six days. His previous outing on April 19 was an even bigger disaster. The Yankees entrusted him with an 8-4 lead in the ninth inning, but he let the Tampa Bay Rays tie the game on a walk and three hits (another batter reached on an error). That blow-up sent the game to extra innings, where they lost 10-8. Williams hardly resembles the dominant reliever he was in Milwaukee. In six seasons with the Brewers, he posted a 1.83 ERA over 241 games and averaged 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He won the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year Award and made All-Star appearances in 2022 and 2023. In his first 10 outings with the Yankees, he has allowed 21 baserunners in eight innings with 12 runs (10 earned). He has never given up more than 15 earned runs in a season, but he's already two thirds of the way to that total. It's clear that the Yankees have to make a change. Manager Aaron Boone was noncommittal on Williams remaining the closer in his postgame comments. The team has enjoyed stellar relief pitching this season from nearly everyone else in the bullpen besides Williams. His most likely replacement as the closer would be Luke Weaver, who held that role down the stretch last year and into the playoffs, and has a perfect 0.00 ERA through 11 games and 13 innings with only three hits and five walks allowed. Williams's collapse could be costly to him in more ways than one. He will reach free agency for the first time in his career following this season. The 30-year-old was on track to potentially set a record for the largest contract ever for a relief pitcher, a distinction currently held by Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets, who is in the middle of a five-year, $102 million deal. A typical Devin Williams season would've almost certainly had him surpassing that figure. Given his catastrophic April, it's impossible to tell what awaits him in free agency. If he turns his season around quickly, a massive contract is still possible. If not, he could have to settle for a much smaller salary on a one-year deal. For the time being, the more urgent need is for him to figure out how to get batters out again and become the pitcher the Yankees thought they were getting when they traded for him.
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Pirates star Paul Skenes' strikeouts to help Gary Sinise Foundation for 2nd straight season
Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes was named the team's opening day starter for Thursday evening's matchup against the Miami Marlins. Skenes, who won the National League Rookie of the Year Award last season, will be trying to strike out as many batters as he can – and all for a good cause. He teamed up with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) for a strikeout campaign. For each strikeout Skenes throws this season, he pledged to donate $100 to the organization. "I am very excited to partner again with the Gary Sinise Foundation and help our veterans and first responders during the 2025 season," he said in a news release. "I have tremendous respect and admiration for the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect and serve our communities. GSF provides an amazing platform to honor and support those who have done so much for me. I look forward to another year of supporting this amazing cause." Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise started his foundation in 2011 after spending the previous decade volunteering with other organizations. In the past decade, the foundation has helped expand service efforts, providing the military, veteran and first responder communities with additional fundraising and outreach. "A big thank you and much gratitude to Paul for his awesome support of GSF and for this amazing offer and invitation to batting practice for the top donor. Incredible! We are getting great things done at the Gary Sinise Foundation and we appreciate your support of Paul and what he's doing to help us," Sinise said in a news release. "Just go easy on my Cubs this season will ya, Paul," he added. The foundation also invited MLB fans to join Skenes in his efforts to raise $100,000. Skenes will personally thank the individual who makes the largest donation between the launch and the Pirates' home opener on April 4. The person will be able to do a meet-and-greet and get tickets for the team's game against the New York Yankees. It's the second season Skenes has partnered with Sinise's foundation. He recorded 170 strikeouts last season and finished third in National League Cy Young Award voting. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Times
17-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Yankees gave Jasson Domínguez a special locker inside their clubhouse
TAMPA, Fla. — When Jasson Domínguez first entered the New York Yankees' spring-training clubhouse this offseason, he immediately noticed his locker was sandwiched between two MVP winners. Domínguez has prime real estate in the back right corner that's usually reserved for the club's most prominent position players, a telltale sign of how much the Yankees believe in the 22-year-old's future. Advertisement On Domínguez's left inside the Yankees' clubhouse is two-time MVP Aaron Judge. On his right is 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger. Combined, Judge and Bellinger have 17 years of big-league experience. Both were hyped prospects. In Judge's case, the superstar mightily struggled in his first major-league stint with the Yankees in 2016, striking out in 44 percent of his plate appearances. Judge revamped his swing that offseason, then rebounded to hit 52 home runs and win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Bellinger debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers at 21 years old in 2017, hit 39 home runs and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Both players have experiences that can greatly benefit Domínguez. Judge knows what playing with pressure and expectations in New York is like. Bellinger has won a World Series and experienced the lowest of lows two years after winning the MVP: The Dodgers non-tendered him. So, the Yankees decided when laying out the locker assignments that Domínguez should take over where Anthony Rizzo was once stationed. 'I looked in the clubhouse and saw my locker next to Judge and Bellinger, I was kind of surprised,' Domínguez said Monday morning. 'It's a good thing to be in that group and be able to learn from them.' Jasson Domínguez absolutely hammers one over the wall off Carlos Rodón — Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) February 17, 2025 Domínguez is expected to be the Yankees' starting left fielder when the new season opens. He's gotten a crash course on the position this offseason, and he said he's becoming more comfortable reading different angles off the bat. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he's 'hoping and expecting he's a big part of things this year.' The hopes are so high that he's one of the candidates who could lead off for the Yankees on Opening Day. The Yankees believe in his ability to get on base and be a table-setter for Judge. Advertisement 'He's definitely a five-tool player,' Judge said of Domínguez. 'The sky is the limit for him. 'Me and Bellinger were joking with him about, 'Hey, you have two Rookie of the Years right next to you. This is going to be your year. You go out there and do your thing, something special is going to happen.' We're definitely going to be on him and try to be a good resource and just be good mentors to him.' In the Yankees' first full team workout on Monday, Domínguez clobbered a home run from the right side of the plate off Carlos Rodón. Domínguez turned on a fastball at the top of the zone, which opened the eyes of everyone at George M. Steinbrenner Field because that's his weaker side. Domínguez said he felt 'lost' from the right side of the plate last season; he had a paltry .510 OPS in 65 minor league at-bats from the right side. Boone said Domínguez is further along in his development from the left side than the right, but he believes he'll have the ability to control the strike zone just as well from the right side as his career advances. He wouldn't commit to playing Domínguez against tough left-handed pitchers just yet, but there's optimism that he will be an impactful player for the Yankees on both sides of the plate. A look around the Yankees clubhouse — Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) February 13, 2025 'It's live BP, but that's a pretty good pass to show you he's got power right-handed like he does left-handed,' Boone said. 'I think over time, we'll look up and he'll be a guy who's still switch hitting years from now and a factor at switch hitting.' In 2016, Carlos Beltrán requested Judge's locker should be next to his corner space during spring training. Beltrán, who was 39 at the time, said the reason he wanted Judge next to him was because he knew that he'd eventually become the face of the franchise. It's too early to know if that distinction will ever come one day for Domínguez, but it's obvious the Yankees hope The Martian's locker is in the back right corner for the next decade-plus.
New York Times
06-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Pete Alonso to return to Mets on 2-year, $54 million deal: Sources
Pete Alonso, the first baseman known for his signature power and zest for hitting home runs, has agreed to a two-year, $54 million contract to return to the New York Mets, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday. The deal, which will pay Alonso $30 million in 2025, includes a player option for $24 million in the second year. Advertisement A four-time All-Star, Alonso, who will play his age-30 season in 2025, ranked as the best available player at his position. He entered this offseason as the No. 8 player on The Athletic's Free Agent Big Board and was projected by The Athletic's Tim Britton to receive a five-year, $130 million deal. A long-term deal to Alonso's liking never materialized, leading to a lengthy stay in free agency. After signing Juan Soto, the Mets refrained from signing anyone else to more than a three-year deal. By the end of December, it became clear that Alonso would have to set his sights on a shorter-term contract to stay with the Mets. By January, negotiations between the club and Alonso's agent Scott Boras grew so laborious that Mets owner Steve Cohen called them 'exhausting.' Under Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets showed financial restraint in dealing with Alonso, a fan favorite in New York. Alonso has the misfortune of playing in the wrong era for his skillset and role. Perhaps in a previous generation, negotiations would've gone differently. Generally, team executives these days harbor aging concerns with players like Alonso. Power stands out as Alonso's one major skill, and he supplies it at a rate that rivals almost anyone. Since debuting in 2019 and winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award that same year, only Aaron Judge (232 home runs) has hit more home runs than Alonso (226). Alonso has spent his entire career with the Mets, the organization that drafted him in the second round in 2016, becoming one of the franchise's most popular players. In the club's all-time records, his home run total ranks third. When he was Rookie of the Year in 2019, Alonso led the major leagues with 53 home runs, a Mets single-season record. Alonso also holds the club's single-season record for RBIs (131 in 2022). Advertisement Alonso's biggest hit occurred in October. He hadn't had an extra-base hit over his last 40 at-bats before stepping to the plate in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. With the Mets facing elimination, Alonso launched a go-ahead three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mets then advanced to the National League Championship Series, the farthest into a season Alonso has ever played. PETE ALONSO!!!!!!!!!!!!! #POSTSEASON — MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2024 Alonso's postseason heroics coupled with a .999 OPS in October salvaged a sub-standard 2024 based on a high bar that he has set. Ahead of free agency, Alonso hit 34 home runs with 88 RBIs, a .240 batting average and a .788 OPS (123 OPS+). Those are solid numbers, but his home run total was his lowest over a full season, his OPS dipped well below his career mark (.854) and he struggled most of the season with runners on base. Some scouts and executives wonder how valuable Alonso will be once his physical tools start to wane as he gets older. Generally, that tends to be the worry for all power-hitting first basemen, especially the right-handed batters. The scouts and executives also question what would happen if his chase rate climbed. Alonso doesn't walk at an exceptionally high rate (usually around 10 percent of the time). It's not as if he helps with stolen bases, either. And he is not a graceful athlete, scouts say, as a defender. Though when it comes to Alonso, those who have coached or played with him say there's no denying how much he cares to win and wants to improve. He puts in the work. And he plays every day; he didn't miss a single game in 2024 after missing just 24 the previous five seasons combined. There's value in availability, consistency and a desire to get better.
