Latest news with #ex-Yankee
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Aroldis Chapman expects boos in latest Bronx return as Red Sox closer's trade stock keeps rising
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free For now, Aroldis Chapman is with the Red Sox, pitching at nearly peak form after several mediocre seasons that began in his latter stages with the Yankees. The left-hander could end up being a coveted trade candidate, especially if Boston remains on the outside of the playoff race. Advertisement Before that happens, though, Chapman has a chance to close games in the heated Yankees-Red Sox rivalry for the first time — and he said Friday he has a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Stadium crowd this weekend. 'I think they're going to boo me,'' Chapman said through an interpreter before Friday's series opener in The Bronx. 3 Aroldis Chapman throws a pitch during the Red Sox's June 3 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Advertisement Asked if that would bother him, the ex-Yankee closer laughed and said, 'No, it's not the first time that it would happen.' That's certainly true, as Chapman had a very rocky tenure with the Yankees that included parts of seven seasons. It ended in particularly ugly fashion as Chapman missed a month late in the regular season when he got a leg tattoo in mid-August and it got infected. Advertisement 3 Aroldis Chapman walks off the field during the Yankees' game against the Rays in August 2022. Charles Wenzelberg He returned in September, but was left off the ALDS roster when he skipped a team workout prior to the start of the series. 'There were a lot of ups and downs,'' Chapman said. 'I try to think about the good moments I spent here.' CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS Advertisement The positives included three All-Star appearances, but the lows were more memorable — including Jose Altuve's walk-off homer in Game 6 to clinch the ALCS in 2019 and Mike Brousseau's go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 5 of the 2020 ALDS that helped seal the series for the Rays. 3 Carlos Narváez and Aroldis Chapman react after the Red Sox defeated the White Sox on April 13. Getty Images Chapman went on to sign with the Royals that offseason and was traded to the Rangers in the middle of the year, where he went on to help Texas win a World Series title. After spending last year with the Pirates, Chapman, 37, signed a one-year, $10.75 million deal with Boston. He entered Friday with a 0.960 WHIP in 25 innings over 27 appearances. Chapman can still hit triple digits. Advertisement Chapman's fastball velocity is also a bit higher than it was a year ago, an improvement he called 'nothing special. I just keep working hard and want to help my team win and get back into the playoffs.' There are plenty of contenders who will be looking for bullpen help in the next month or so and Chapman could again factor in those conversations.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
A's manager Mark Kotsay has long, embarrassing journey in awkward ejection
For once, someone may have missed the Coliseum. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay had to make a 330-foot-plus walk of shame after being ejected from Sunday's win over the Phillies since the home team clubhouse at Sutter Health Park — a minor-league park in Sacramento serving as the team's temporary home — is located beyond the outfield walls. While almost all his fellow managers can just retreat through their dugout to the clubhouse, Kotsay instead had plenty of time to think about his ejection in the seventh inning of a 5-4 win. Advertisement 4 On the bright side, Kotsay got his steps in for the day. @uprootedoakland/X 'It's long. It's long, definitely,' Kotsay said with a laugh. 'There was a moment where I thought, should I jog? And then I thought, actually no, I think (Phillies starter Jesus) Luzardo could use a little break.' The Athletics are playing in Sacramento while they prepare for their eventual move to Las Vegas and their home games are hosted at the home of the Giants' Triple-A affiliate. Advertisement Minor-league parks are not as lavish as major-league ones, which can create the awkward situation like the one that unfolded Sunday. In a 3-3 game in the seventh, Kotsay earned the booth for disagreeing with a first-pitch strike call against Miguel Andujar with two on and two outs. 4 Kotsay yelling at umpire Roberto Ortiz. Getty Images Advertisement Kotsay noted in the ex-Yankee's previous at-bat, Andujar also disagreed with a call and the manager said to let him know if he felt a wrong call had been made so he could take it up with umpire Roberto Ortiz. Andujar felt the first pitch in the seventh missed but it was ruled a strike. Kotsay argued the call from the bench before being ousted, and he then walked to the plate to let Ortiz hear it. Kotsay's outrage included some finger pointing. 4 Mark Kotsay did some finger pointing. @uprootedoakland/X Advertisement 'I was obviously frustrated with the first call, I expressed that, but I was more frustrated in the reaction that I got back from the umpire,' Kotsay said. 'And that's what we kind of talked about. I made sure that he was aware that I was frustrated with how he treated me. I know he's frustrated with my disagreement in the balls and strikes, which he's perfectly allowed to be, but I think we agree to disagree in that situation.' Kotsay then made the trek down the left field line toward the wall, walking 330-something feet. 4 On the bridge side, the Athletics won. @uprootedoakland/X The game had to be paused while he walked, with some of the fans giving him an ovation. One reporter told Kotsay he clocked him walk at 48 seconds. The A's eventually rallied for two runs in the eighth to end their 11-game losing streak. Kotsay watched the end of the game in the training room. Advertisement 'No one in that room was happy about losing 11 straight games and there's obviously emotion that's pent up,' Kotsay said. 'Sometimes, that volcano erupts. There was nothing preconceived, there was no thought process, it was just reactionary to the moment in the game. It was a big moment in the game. 'I think I've grown up a little bit as a manager over the last three years, calmed down in certain ways and been able to be a better communicator and today I wasn't maybe the best of communicators to the umpire.'
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Padres have their pick of pair of free agent starters
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 (one scout says he sees similarities to Greg Maddux). It won't be easy as King has East Coast roots (the ex-Yankee is from Rhode Island). 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.
Newsweek
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Yankees Castoff Faces Reckoning on Braves Future as $100 Million MVP Nears Return
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. Alex Verdugo, who spent one disastrous year with the New York Yankees last season, entered free agency after collecting $9.2 million from the Yankees. Not only was no team willing to match or exceed that contract, Verdugo reportedly did not receive a single offer. That changed on March 20 when the Atlanta Braves signed Verdugo. But to get on the path back to the big leagues, the 28-year-old former Los Angeles Dodgers No. 1 prospect had to settle for a one-year, $1.5 million deal. But that wasn't all. Verdugo also had to agree to return to the minor leagues. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Alex Verdugo #8 of the Atlanta Braves during the MLB game at Chase Field on April 25, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Alex Verdugo #8 of the Atlanta Braves during the MLB game at Chase Field on April 25, 2025 in Phoenix, April 17, the ex-Yankee finally got the call. He undoubtedly provided a spark. The Braves stood at a dismal 5-13 when Verdugo joined the team. Since then, Atlanta has won 16 of 24 games to finally reach the .500 mark prior to Wednesday's game hosting the Washington Nationals. Nonetheless, Verdugo's position on the Braves roster, and certainly in the team's starting lineup, remains in doubt. The reason can be summed up in three words: Ronald Acuña Jr. The 27-year-old, four-time All-Star missed most of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee — three years after suffering the same injury in his right one. But on Tuesday he finally played his first minor league rehab game — and homered. Acuña Jr. could now return to the majors in less than three weeks. And that means Verdugo, who has just 23 hits in 99 plate appearances and a sluggish .640 OPS, may find himself squeezed out. More MLB: Ex-Yankee With 'Off-Field Issues' Expected Back in Majors After Braves Shocker With Michael Harris II holding a firm grip on center field, competition for the third starting outfield spot comes down to Verdugo and Eli White, who is putting together a career year with an .842 OPS. Based on their current numbers, Verdugo should find his job in jeopardy. But according to Braves Fansided scribe Nick Halter, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker may demote White anyway. "White's hot start hasn't been trusted by Snitker, with the manager pulling the outfielder in multiple spots and continuing to put his bat at the bottom of the lineup," Halter wrote on Tuesday. The 30-year-old White is a 2016, 11th-round draft pick of the then-Oakland Athletics, out of Clemson. Verdugo was the Dodgers' second-round pick in 2014 and was so highly regarded as a prospect that he was a key piece sent to Boston in the 2020 trade for Mookie Betts. On the other hand, if Snitker makes his decision based on actual performance at the plate, rather than reputation and "trust," Verdugo will clearly be the odd man out in Atlanta. More MLB: Yankees Castoff Ignored in Free Agency May Soon Get Dumped by Braves
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Wells' grand slam gives him 5 RBIs in 10-run 7th inning as Yankees beat Padres 12-3
NEW YORK (AP) — Austin Wells had five RBIs in a 10-run seventh inning, hitting a tying single and then his first career grand slam, as the New York Yankees rolled to a 12-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. Aaron Judge launched his 12th homer of the season in the fourth for the Yankees, who snapped a three-game skid. New York was leading 8-3 when Wells lifted a full-count changeup from ex-Yankee Wandy Peralta into the right-field seats to turn the game into a rout. The Yankees had their biggest inning this season, getting seven hits off Adrian Morejon (1-1) and Peralta. Wells started the outburst with an RBI single that scored Jasson Domínguez from second to tie it at 3. Trent Grisham took a four-pitch walk against Peralta to give the Yankees the lead after pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt was intentionally walked. Ben Rice hit a two-run double for a 6-3 advantage. Cody Bellinger added an RBI single after Judge was intentionally walked, and Anthony Volpe hit an RBI single before Wells went deep. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an RBI double in the seventh off Fernando Cruz (1-0) but the Padres left the bases loaded after taking a 3-2 lead. Judge homered off former teammate Michael King to extend his on-base streak to 32 games. Bellinger scored on a throwing error by Tatis in right field later in the fourth. Manny Machado scored San Diego's first run on a balk by Clarke Schmidt in the fourth. Jackson Merrill had two hits in his return from a hamstring injury and scored the Padres' second run on a sacrifice fly by Jason Heyward. King allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. Schmidt permitted two runs and seven hits in six innings. Key moment After giving up Tatis' double, Cruz walked Luis Arraez but struck out Machado to keep the deficit at one run. Key stat Rice got his fifth hit in 31 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season. Up next San Diego RHP Dylan Cease (1-2, 5.61 ERA) opposes New York LHP Max Fried (6-0, 1.01 ERA) in Wednesday night's series finale. ___ AP MLB:
