Latest news with #SilverSluggers
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Yankees-Red Sox Blockbuster Trade Possibility Would Bring $120M Superstar to Bronx
The New York Yankees may be looking for infielders near the trade deadline. The team has been using DJ LeMahieu and Jorbit Vivas at second base and plans to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to third base after Oswaldo Cabrera's injury. However, LeMahieu is hitting just .239 in 15 games and has a .640 OPS. He is no longer the same player who won two batting titles and three Silver Sluggers. The Yankees could add an infielder to move LeMahieu into a bench role. One player who could surprisingly be available is Alex Bregman of the Boston Red Sox. He signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox in the offseason, but is on the injured list right now. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are struggling and may very well be sellers by the time the July 31 deadline rolls around. CBS Sports' Matt Snyder named Bregman as a player the team could trade away, and the Yankees may be willing to make it happen. NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a grand slam in the frst inning against the New York Yankees in Game 2 on May 14, 2017... NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a grand slam in the frst inning against the New York Yankees in Game 2 on May 14, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City."I think the biggest and most intriguing name is Alex Bregman," wrote Snyder. "He just went through a lengthy free agency before landing with the Red Sox on a creative three-year deal, but it has an opt-out clause after this season. He's injured right now, but prior to that was having his best season in years, perhaps even since he finished second in MVP voting in 2019 (that's what things like batting average, OPS+ and WAR say). If things continue on this path, Bregman could well be the big name this trade season." Bregman's contract has an opt-out after this season, so the Red Sox are risking him walking for nothing in return. He was hitting .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs before his injury and would most likely find a better contract on the open market. For the Yankees, Bregman would be able to slot in as the everyday third baseman, allowing Chisholm to play second base, where he started the season. He would be a clear upgrade for their infield and will likely end up being a rental. Even if Bregman does not opt out, his payroll is just $25 million for this season, as his deal has $60 million in deferred money. Adding him as a rental would cost the Yankees a lot of prospect capital as is, but adding him from the Red Sox would cost them even more. However, it is a price the Yankees may be willing to pay in order to maximize their chance at a World Series this year. Meanwhile, the Red Sox may have to come to terms with the fact that trading him to the Yankees may yield the best return. If their season slips away, then they will have to seriously consider trading Bregman. More MLB: Yankees Bring Back All-Star, Place Reliever on IL in Massive Roster Move
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies' Bryce Harper Says 1,000 RBI 'Not Enough' After Reaching the Milestone
Bryce Harper already had a slew of accomplishments to his name entering his latest Phillies game. 2012 Rookie of the Year. Eight All-Star Games. Four Silver Sluggers. Two MVPs. And now, 1,000 career RBIs. Harper blooped a single into left field in the fifth inning Friday night, scoring a runner from third and reaching the plateau that under 300 major leaguers have across the sport's 132 year lifespan. Advertisement After the game, Bryce gave NBC Sports Philadelphia a classic answer on the milestone. "Not enough," Harper said. "Got to keep going. Obviously a really cool accomplishment, but I always want more." The achievement is impressive on its own, but add in the speed that Harper did it, and he's suddenly in some truly elite company. He's the only active player to reach 1k hits, walks, and RBI all before the age of 33. Of the other 13 players, 11 are already in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Albert Pujols is practically a lock to head to Cooperstown as well. The final member of that group is Barry Bonds. Advertisement If that's not a testament to Harper's future HOF chances... Bryce Harper acknowledges the Philadelphia crowd after driving in the 1,000th run of his major league Streicher-Imagn Images "It's great," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after the game. "That list that he's on, there's some pretty heavy names on there. It's quite a group that he's a part of. Just goes to show how great of a hitter he's been." With the moment now behind him, Harper has to look forward and work on continuing his recent turnaround at the plate. After a rough stretch in late April, Bryce is slashing .320/.433/.520 in his past seven games. It'll take some time to get his season numbers back to where they normally are, but the surge is a great sign for the Phillies and their star. Related: Phillies' Aaron Nola Has Heartfelt Reaction to Mick Abel News
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The First Home Run of a Yankees Legend Came on May 4
May 4 doesn't always jump off the page in Yankees history. But in 1997, it quietly became the start of a legacy that will be remembered forever in the Bronx and throughout baseball. That afternoon in Kansas City, a 25-year-old catcher named Jorge Posada stepped into the box against Royals right-hander Jim Converse and crushed a ball. He sent it over the fence for his first home run in the big leagues. It was the beginning of the last Yankees' dynasty. Advertisement It was really an unassuming moment at the time. The home run came in the seventh inning of a Yankees win, but looking back, it was the first flash of what Posada would become. The numbers he put up the rest of his career speak for themselves: 275 career home runs, five All-Star selections, five Silver Sluggers, four World Series rings. He was a 'true Yankee,' spending 17 seasons in the Bronx and never playing for another team. Posada was more than those numbers. He was considered the heartbeat behind the plate. He was tough, smart, and steady. Posada was a cornerstone of the Core Four. Derek Jeter's best friend. New York Yankees legend Jorge Posada at Old Timers Day in 2024 at Yankee Stadium. © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images And Posada will always be a key part of the Yankees' storied history. Advertisement Ironically, his first homer wasn't hit in front of a packed house in the Bronx. It came on a spring day in Missouri with little fanfare. Posada would go on to homer in the World Series, catch no-hitters, mentor generations of pitchers, and help define an era of Yankees baseball. But May 4, 1997, was the day a legacy began quietly in Kansas City. Related: Yankees Hold Shortstop Out of Game Following Shoulder Issue Related: Yankees Want a Right-Handed Hitter, But Not That All-Star Third Baseman
New York Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How to watch the Dodgers at Braves series as Freddie Freeman returns to Atlanta on national TV
Freddie Freeman, the Brave (Major League Baseball, not 'Lord of the Rings'), earned his spot as a franchise icon. He won an MVP and a championship ring down in Atlanta, with Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove dotting his dozen years of service. Freddie Freeman, the Dodger, is on his way to similar recognition — the California native authored an all-time-cool World Series moment that can still be heard from Elysian Park, and as of this writing, he's a career .315 hitter in LA. Advertisement The 35-year-old Freeman returns to face the franchise that drafted him in 2007. It's a special matchup between two of the sport's recent champions. Accordingly, all three weekend games between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers will receive national broadcasts, with the finale closing out the series on 'Sunday Night Baseball.' By wins above replacement, Freeman is the sixth-best position player in Braves history, which dates back to 1876. He's having a great 2025, too, entering the series with a .319/.407.638 slash line. In most lineups, Freeman would be the bat for opposing arms to pitch around and for managers to account for. In this loaded Dodgers lineup, he's just another occupational hazard. Teoscar Hernández is tied for the second-most home runs in the National League so far (9), and he's tied for the lead in all of baseball in runs batted in (32). Shohei Ohtani is the sport's top run-scorer (32), and he's coming into Friday with a steal in three consecutive games (of course). Elsewhere, Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman have cleanup-worthy barrels, while Will Smith is looking like a Silver Slugger catcher. Just for fun, Andy Pages might be coming around in his age-24 season. Sheesh. The Braves have big bats of their own, of course. Atlanta has gone 14-9 since its disastrous 0-7 start, and took just three total Ls in its last four series (home for Twins and Cardinals, on the road at Diamondbacks and Rockies). The hosts can match Will Smith with Sean Murphy, the catcher with a team-best seven homers in only 60 at-bats. Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies command respect in the middle of the order. Austin Riley's washout 2024 looks exorcised. Marcel Ozuna finds his way to first (.437 OBP, with the most walks drawn in MLB). Advertisement All six probable starters are right-handers. Atlanta gives Grant Holmes the opening MLB Network game, going against LA's dominant Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-2, league-best 1.06 ERA). His stuff is ridiculous and precise. As The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya says, 'there are 325 million reasons to treat Yoshinobu Yamamoto's weekly main event as must-see viewing.' The second matchup, broadcast on Fox, has particularly cool probables. RHPs Roki Sasaki (age 23) and Spencer Schwellenbach (24) are two young talents with drastically different journeys to Saturday's mound. ESPN's Sunday game under the lights re-ups that theme music we're all still nostalgic about. It's fair to expect fireworks in that finale, as both big-name lineups get early strugglers in Dustin May and Bryce Elder. Most wins in both jerseys: Greg Maddux (194 ATL, 8 LAD) Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Freddie Freeman: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
How Vladimir Guerrero Jr Leveraged His Way To $500 Million
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 29: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting ... More an RBI double in the eighth inning during a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on June 29, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by) As arguably the greatest homegrown position player in franchise history, the Toronto Blue Jays have found a way to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr north of the border for the rest of his career. The deciding factor for Guerrero was essentially a blank check offered via extension ahead of his final year of arbitration, a treatment only several players in recent history have received. On Monday, Jeff Passan reported that the two parties were in agreement of a 14-year, $500 million contract extension. In terms of total value, this is the third-highest contract in all of baseball, trailing just Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani. But how did the Blue Jays slugger earn himself one of the biggest paydays in MLB history? TORONTO, ON - APRIL 10: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates his home run ... More against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on April 10, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by) The first factor was age. Guerrero enters his seventh season with the big-league club after just turning 26 years old in March. In that time, Guerrero has accumulated a 21.7 WAR with a .288/.363/.498 slashline over his career. Those metrics combined for an .861 OPS and 137 OPS+, with 160 career home runs. In terms of accolades, 'Vladdy' has reached the All-Star Game each of the last four seasons, alongside two Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove at third base and three seasons receiving MVP votes. From entering the Majors as the top prospect in baseball at 20-years-old, Guerrero has done as much as you can ask from a prospect throughout their first six years under team control. His age and expectations as he enters his prime were the main factor for his contract reaching half a billion dollars. However, with an increasing number of players becoming All-Stars in their early 20s, where does Guerrero rank amongst the rest of the league who would also earn in his tax bracket? Following a rookie season where he finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting, followed by a 60-game, COVID-shortened season where he played every game, Guerrero had his best season in 2021. The slugger led the league in home runs (48), runs (123), OBP (.401), Slugging Percentage (.601) and OPS (1.002). If it were not for Ohtani putting up his best season on both ends of the ball, Guerrero would have more hardware to showcase his historic season, where he made MLB history by launching the most home runs by a player in their age 22 season or younger. Despite his historic season with the longball, Guerrero has been overlooked in comparison to some of the other prospects to reach the Majors at his age. In the 2000's, Guerrero ranks 14th in WAR for players ahead of the age-23 season, trailing Mike Trout at the top of the list by nearly 18 points. When you jump from ages 20-26, Guerrero drops to 33rd on the list. Despite being so low on that list, he only trails Soto on the list in terms financially amongst players ahead of their age 27 season. Of the 32 other players on the list, 11 others received a contract north of $100 million ahead of their age 25 or 26 season. And, even with inflation taken into account (Inflation calculation uses approximate 2.5-3% annual rate), Guerrero's new deal only falls behind Trout for the most of this group. Player (Age, Year of Contract) | Years | Total Value | 2025 Adjusted AAV Juan Soto (26, 2025) | 15 | 765,000,000 | 51,000,000 Mike Trout (26, 2019) | 12 | 504,305,000 | 42,025,417 Vladimir Guerrero Jr (26, 2025) | 14 | 500,000,000 ∣ 35,714,286 Giancarlo Stanton (25, 2015) | 13 | 413,750,000 | 31,826,923 Bryce Harper (26, 2019) | 13 | 390,900,000 | 30,069,231 Alex Rodriguez (26, 2001) | 10 | 397,860,000 | 39,786,000 Manny Machado (26, 2019) | 10 | 355,500,000 | 35,550,000 Miguel Cabrera (25, 2008) | 8 | 235,565,000 | 29,445,625 Troy Tulowitzki (26, 2011) | 10 | 228,737,500 | 22,873,750 Jason Heyward (26, 2016) | 8 | 222,240,000 | 27,780,000 Xander Bogaerts (26, 2019) | 6 | 142,200,000 | 23,700,000 Alex Bregman (26, 2020) | 5 | 112,500,000 | 22,500,000 A contract's value is not the definitive measure of a player's value amongst the rest of the league. However, compared with a tool like WAR, which is an all-encompasing statistic, Guerrero being above players like Machado and Stanton may come as a surprise. This is where the efforts of Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro should be applauded, as they utilized their disadvantages of the Blue Jays in the contract negotiations. Of course, none of this would be possible if it were not for Guerrero's production on the field. Despite being an All-Star in 2023, Vlad had his worst offensive year, finishing with a .788 OPS. His bounce-back 2024 season made the negotiations a lot easier for the agency, which must have began in that season, as Guerrero and teammate Bo Bichette were rumored as potential key pieces to be traded at the deadline. Instead, Toronto decided to keep their franchise centerpieces, and continue to attempt and compete in the talented AL East. NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 and Anthony Santander #25 of the Toronto Blue ... More Jays interact prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, April 4, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) This led to a busy offseason, which brought in key pieces like Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez and Max Scherzer to attempt and get over the hump. Alongside these additions to the team, Toronto also attempted to get the extension with Guerrero completed before the season, and were not successful. This led to the assumption that Guerrero would not continue these negotiations midseason, which was also a strategic move. But these moves are seen all the time in sports economics, and likely would not lead to this significant of an increase. Instead, the driving force to keep their corner infielder in Toronto was likely due to Toronto's inability to sign premiere free agents. Specifically in this recent window of opportunity, the Blue Jays have been amongst the largest bidders for the game's top talent, even in some instances being the highest paying offer. However, the combination of higher income taxes, distance from the typical hometowns of these top-tier players, and the aspect of living in another country yet traveling half of the calendar year back into the United States have caused the Blue Jays to miss out on talent unless they go above the rest of the field. While that increase in contract value is still not always enough for free agents, it increases the importance on team's ability to develop talent and keep them within the organization. Guerrero Jr, who seemingly enjoys the Blue Jays enough to commit to them for the rest of his career, used these specific team factors to his advantage. This philosophy will likely be used as the blueprint for players like Bichette and Dalton Varsho, who are the next players up for extension. As long as the ownership's financial well does not run dry to still acquire outside talent, this could be a more expensive way to compete amongst the other major markets in the sport. Then, when a team is winning, the inconveniences of living in Toronto seem to not be as important.
