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Major League Baseball
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sources: rays wander franco arrested for shirking investigators
At least two people have filed legal action against Franco, who also is under investigation for allegedly having a relationship with a third minor, sources told ESPN, although there has been no formal complaint to authorities from the third girl. He was placed on paid administrative leave in August by Major League Baseball, which is also investigating the allegations.

blue jays 'very disappointed' shohei ohtsni chose dodgers, gm says
Since missing out on Ohtani, the Blue Jays have brought back Gold Glove outfielder Kevin Kiermater with a $10.5 million, one-year deal, and added utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa with a $15 million, two-year contract. Atkins said outfielder and designated hitters are the positions he was most likely to add to before spring training.
 
judge orders wander franco release as investigation continues
Authorities have accused Franco of taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl's mother. They accuse Franco of sending the mother monthly payments of $1,700 for seven months and buying her a car "in order to allow the relationship and let her go out with him wherever she wanted," according to the document, which quoted the girl.
 
yankees sign rhp cody poteet to replenish pitching staff
He was 2-4 with a 4.45 ERA in nine starts and 10 relief appearances for Miami in 2021-22, striking out 53 and walking 27 in 58⅔ innings. A fourth-round pick by the Marlins in the 2015 amateur draft, he is 19-39 in 100 starts and four relief appearances in eight minor league seasons.

angels, rhp zach plesac agree to 1-year, 1m deal
Plesac, who turns 29 this month, was selected by Cleveland in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB draft out of Ball State and spent part of five seasons with the franchise. He was 26-27 for the Guardians with a 4.20 ERA in 84 games (83 starts). He struck out 359 batters in 466⅔ innings.
 
ex-dodger julio urias won't face felony charges , da says
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office determined Tuesday that it will not file felony charges against former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias following his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, writing in its charge-evaluation worksheet that "neither the victim's injuries nor the defendant's criminal history justify a felony filing."



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related link
Dodgers P Julio Urias arrested on domestic violence charges
by: ceejay - september 5, 2023
 
juan soto, yankees agree to record $31 million salary for '24
Soto's salary, reached minutes before the deadline for players and teams to submit their desired figures ahead of a potential arbitration hearing, topped the $30 million Shohei Ohrani obtained last offseason. Soto, like Ohtani last year, is heading into his final season before free agency.


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Soto, still only 25 years old, has led the majors in walks each of the last three years but has also accumulated 91 home runs during that stretch, during which he slashed .276/.425/.502. His adjusted OPS of 157 is the fifth-highest all time through a player's age-24 season, trailing only Ty Cobb, Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

marcus stroman, yankees agree to 2-year, $37m deal,sources say
Stroman, 32, made the National League team after posting a 2.96 ERA in the first half of 2023 with the Chicago Cubs, the fourth-best mark in the NL. He made only six starts (along with two relief appearances) in the second half after suffering hip and rib injuries and allowed 23 earned runs in 24 innings, pulling his season-long ERA down to 3.95.
 
mets to honor dwight gooden in april, darryl strawberry in june
Gooden, 59, was a four-time All-Star while playing for the Mets from 1984-94, winning the 1984 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1985 NL Cy Young Award. He went 194-112 with a 3.51 ERA and 2,293 strikeouts in 16 seasons.- Strawberry, 61, was an eight-time All-Star, including seven during his time with the Mets from 1983-90. He hit .259 with 335 homers, 1,000 RBIs and 221 stolen bases in 17 seasons.


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Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden thought back to what might have been, how their starry accomplishments would have been so much greater had they not succumbed to the drugs and alcohol that shattered their careers.

Meet the Mets
Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry will become the ninth and 10th members of the Mets to have their numbers retired by the franchise.

PLAYERNUMBER
Casey StengelNo. 37
Gil HodgesNo. 14
Tom SeaverNo. 41
Mike PiazzaNo. 31
Jerry KoosmanNo. 36
Keith HernandezNo. 17
Willie MaysNo. 24
x-Dwight GoodenNo. 16
y-Darryl StrawberryNo. 18
z-Jackie RobinsonNo. 42

x-On April 14, 2024;
y-On June 1, 2024
z-Retired league-wide by MLB
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Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer into Baseball Hall of Fame​


The 2024 Hall of Fame class will include two of the best pure hitters of their era and one of the greatest, most indelible third basemen in baseball history. Joe Mauer, Todd Helton and Adrian Beltre were elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday, results of which were presented from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Beltre, who received support from 95.1% of the 385 writers who cast ballots, and Mauer, voted in by 76.1% of BBWAA members, made it in their first year of eligibility. Helton (79.7%) was making his sixth attempt. The three will be joined by Jim Leyland, the 22-year manager who was voted in by the Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Players Committee in December, at an induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, on July 21.

Beltre, who didn't make his first of four All-Star teams until his age-31 season, received the fourth-highest vote percentage for a third baseman in his first year on the ballot, behind only George Brett, Chipper Jones and Mike Schmidt.

Helton saw his support increase dramatically in recent years, from 52% in 2022 to 72.2% in 2023 to nearly 80% in 2024. His career numbers -- a .316/.414/.539 slash line, 2,519 hits, 369 home runs and 1,406 RBIs, not to mention three Gold Gloves -- put him in elite territory at his position,

Mauer won batting titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009, becoming the only catcher in history to lead his respective league in batting average on three separate occasions. Voted American League MVP after a sensational 2009 season, Mauer is one of six catchers ever with at least three Gold Gloves and three Silver Sluggers.

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source: diamonbacks, joe pederson agree to deal
The 31-year-old Pederson has been a consistent power threat for a decade, with 186 career home runs for the Dodgers, Cubs, Braves and Giants. The left-handed-hitting outfielder was an All-Star with Los Angeles in 2015 and San Francisco in 2022 but wasn't as productive last season, batting .235 with 15 homers.

source: rangers reach deal 1-year deal with david robertson
Robertson, who turns 39 in April, had 18 saves last season between the Mets and the Marlins, he was traded to Miami for two minor leaguers before the deadline. Over 15 seasons, Robertson, an All-Star in 2011, has also amassed 162 holds while going 63-42 with a 2.90 ERA, 1,055 strikeouts and just 330 walks.
 
diamond sports agrees with rangers, guardians, twins on cable contracts
The deals are still pending the approval of a bankruptcy judge who is expected to rule Feb. 9. Assuming the agreements are finalized, Diamond has vowed to broadcast games for the 12 MLB teams that would remain within its portfolio for entire 2024 season.

theo epstein joining fenway sports group as part owner, advisor
Fenway Sports Group owns the Red Sox, the Philadelphia Penguins, Liverpool of the English Premier League and NASCAR's RFK Racing. In his new role, Epstein said, he will be "asking questions, offering opinions, building trust, and supporting the terrific people at FSG to help us reach new heights."
 
hyun jin signs record 8-year in return to kbo
The 36-year-old left-hander's deal with the Eagles, for whom Ryu played from 2006 to 2012, includes the most guaranteed money ever for a KBO player. The contract is the longest in league history. Ryu would be 44 and the KBO's oldest-ever player if he sees out the deal. Ryu played six seasons for the Dodgers and spent four years with the Blue Jays, posting a 78-48 regular-season record with a 3.27 ERA in 186 outings, mostly as a starter. Ryu was 98-52 with a 2.80 career ERA through seven seasons in the KBO.

sources: pirates , mitch keller agree on five-year extension
Keller, 27, had a breakout 2023 season in which he was an All-Star for the first time and struck out 210 in a career-high 194⅓ innings, anchoring a rotation in which he soon could be joined by Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft.
 
brewers sign free agent catcher gary sanchez to one-year contract
Sánchez, 31, hit 19 homers last season while playing for the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. In 75 games, he had a .217 batting average with a .288 on-base percentage, .492 slugging percentage and 47 RBIs.

tim anderson, marlins agree to one-year, $5m deal, sources say
His previous success led to a Team USA spot for the WBC, where he shined at the plate and played some at second base. He has spent his entire MLB career at shortstop. Anderson has a .282 career batting average with 98 home runs, 338 RBIs, 528 runs scored and 117 stolen bases.
 
jackie robinson statue cleats heading to Negro League baseball museum
The bronze cleats from a Jackie Robinson statue that was cut at the ankles and stolen last month will be donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, League 42's executive director told ESPN on Friday. The statue of Robinson was erected in the park in 2021.

jen pawol becomes first women to umpire spring game since 2007
It took eight years but Jen Pawol made the leap from the minors to a major league game spring training contest as umpire at the Grapefruit League opener between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches on Saturday.


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MLB's move comes 27 years after the gender barrier for game officials was broken in the NBA, nine years after it ended the NFL and two years after the men's soccer World Cup employed a female referee.
 
former kansas city royals infielder ul washington dies at 70
Washington hit .251 with 27 home runs, 255 RBIs and 132 stolen bases in 907 career games with the Royals, Montreal Expos (1985) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-87). He helped Kansas City win its first American League pennant in 1980. But he might best known for playing with a toothpick in his mouth.

former al mvp josh donaldson retires after 13-year career
Donaldson finishes his career with 279 home runs, 1,310 hits and a long-earned reputation as a someone who competed with an edge, unafraid of offending opponents. Over the course of his career, Donaldson played in nine different postseasons, hitting five homers in 50 games.
 

2023-2024 MLB offseason grades for all 30 teams​


We've been waiting to unveil our final offseason grades ... and waiting ... and waiting. We can wait no longer. Even though Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and J.D. Martinez remain unsigned among the major free agents, and useful players such as Michael Lorenzen, Adam Duvall and Tommy Phamare still out there, it's the middle of spring training. The Dodgers and Padres open in Korea in less than two weeks. We have to roll this out and move on.

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