Baseball Wiretap

Rob Manfred Hopes Shohei Ohtani Investigation Takes 'Short Time'

Mar 28, 2024 2:07 PM

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday the league is committed to its investigation of the scandal surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and hopes it will take a "short" time to resolve.

Last week Ohtani's interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired after questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from the superstar's bank account to a bookmaking operation.

espn.com

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Legal, Misc Rumor

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Yankees Move Gerrit Cole To 60-Day IL

Mar 28, 2024 2:09 PM

Any dreams of a speedy return to the mound for reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole were dashed Thursday when the New York Yankees moved the right-hander to the 60-day injured list due to elbow inflammation.

On March 16, Cole said he wouldn't throw for three to four weeks in an effort to heal his ailing throwing elbow, telling reporters that nerve irritation and edema were the source of his problem, with rest and recovery the prescription.

espn.com

Tags: New York Yankees, Injury

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Rangers' Max Scherzer Could Return Earlier Than Expected

Mar 28, 2024 8:40 AM

The Texas Rangers may not place Max Scherzer on the 60-day injured list to begin the season.

That may indicate that Scherzer could return earlier than expected in the aftermath of his offseason back surgery to repair a herniated disc.

Scherzer, 39, had originally been expected to miss the first couple months of the season. 

The Rangers acquired Scherzer from the New York Mets last trade deadline.

Buster Olney/ESPN

Tags: Texas Rangers, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Miguel Rojas Calls Out Jazz Chisholm Over Explosive Critique

Mar 28, 2024 8:30 AM

Miguel Rojas was bothered by recent comments from former teammate Jazz Chisholm, saying "you don't even know me," and implying that the Miami Marlins star should "respect everybody" in the clubhouse.

Rojas and Chisholm were teammates on the Marlins for parts of three seasons from 2020 to 2022, which were Chisholm's first three years in the Major Leagues.

During an appearance on "The Pivot" podcast, Chisholm referred to that period as the "worst three years of probably my life" and took multiple shots at an unidentified team "captain," an apparent reference to Rojas, who was the Marlins' de facto captain at the time.

"You can't be a team leader when you've got guys that's been in the clubhouse that's been in there nine or 10 years even though they suck," Chisholm said. "They've been there for nine or 10 years and the team calls them the team captain. But they're not a good captain, they're not a good person, you're not even a good athlete at this point. You're just here and you're bringing down the young guys that are supposed to be good."

Rojas spent parts of eight seasons with the Marlins before being traded last year to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran infielder said Tuesday that Chisholm is "entitled" to his opinion of his playing abilities but bristled at the apparent attack on his character.

"Whatever you want to say about me as a player, you can have that opinion," Rojas said. "But you saying that I'm a bad person when you don't even know me, that's kind of what bothers me."

ESPN

Tags: Miami Marlins, Misc Rumor

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Aaron Boone To Juan Soto: Don't Defer To Yankees Veterans

Mar 28, 2024 8:27 AM

Aaron Boone wants Juan Soto to treat the New York Yankees as his club too.

Asked how Soto will fit into a team with Aaron Judge as the acknowledged superstar and Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton entrenched as veteran leaders, Boone said, "My message to him is: It's his clubhouse, too, and we want to learn and grow from you and want you to feel empowered to say and do whatever you feel like you need to do."

The Yankees acquired Soto in a trade with the San Diego Padres this offseason.

"Look, anytime you're a player coming over to a team for the first time, I'm sure you're toeing the water a little bit, getting a feel for everything," Boone said. "I do feel like the team from a bonding standpoint has come together really well this spring in short order. I would include Juan in that. He seems very comfortable, he seems happy. I think our leaders do a great job of making guys feel at home. From a leadership and what kind of vocal role he takes, that probably still remains to be seen."

David Schoenfield/ESPN

Tags: New York Yankees, Misc Rumor

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Will Smith, Dodgers Agree To Ten-Year, $140M Deal

Mar 28, 2024 1:07 AM

Catcher Will Smith and the Dodgers agreed to a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, it was announced Wednesday, the latest deal in an offseason of massive spending by a Los Angeles team that is locking up its core members.

Smith, who turns 29 on Friday, was due to hit free agency following the 2025 season. Los Angeles prevented that by giving him a deal that will run through the 2033 season and keep him in the middle of one of baseball's most dangerous lineups.

espn.com

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Terms Agreement

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David Rubenstein Approved As New Orioles Owner

Mar 28, 2024 1:04 AM

Major League Baseball's owners have unanimously approved private-equity billionaire David Rubenstein as the new owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

The accelerated sale, which will eventually give Rubenstein and his ownership group 70% of the Orioles, transferred control of the team to him less than two months after he agreed to buy it from the Angelos family.

espn.com

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Misc Rumor, Team Achievement

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Rays Interested In Niko Goodrum

Mar 27, 2024 7:54 AM

The Tampa Bay Rays have interest in Niko Goodrum, who was reassigned to Minor League camp by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

Goodrum signed a Minor League deal with the Twins in December that includes an assignment clause, which requires the club to offer the player to the other 29 teams.

If any club expresses interest, the Twins have to decide between adding the player to their roster or trading them to the interested club.

Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times

Tags: Tampa Bay Rays, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Joe Boyle To Begin Season In A's Rotation

Mar 27, 2024 7:52 AM

Joe Boyle will begin the 2024 season in the starting rotation for the Oakland Athletics.

The right-hander will be the club's fifth starter behind Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Paul Blackburn and JP Sears.

Boyle, 24, was a fifth-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2020 draft and made his big league debut with the A's last September.

John Shea/San Francisco Chronicle

Tags: Oakland Athletics, Misc Rumor

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Shohei Ohtani's Reps Decline To Say More On Reporting Theft

Mar 27, 2024 7:47 AM

Shohei Ohtani's representatives declined again Tuesday to answer questions about which authorities they have contacted to report their allegation of theft against Ohtani's former interpreter.

Ohtani's lawyers first issued a statement last week alleging that "Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities."

When asked Tuesday to provide proof that Ohtani or his representatives have reported the theft to an investigating agency, a spokesperson for Ohtani declined to comment.

ESPN received no confirmation from any of the likely local, state or federal agencies that could investigate allegations of theft that they received a report from Ohtani's camp.

Tisha Thompson/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Misc Rumor

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Dodgers See 'More Engaging' Shohei Ohtani With Mizuhara Gone

Alden Gonzalez/ESPN

Jordan Montgomery Agrees To One-Year, $25M Deal With D-Backs

ESPN.com

Mets, Yankees Haven't 'Shut The Door' On Jordan Montgomery

Joel Sherman/New York Post

Diamondbacks Closer Paul Sewald Goes On IL With Oblique Strain

Associated Press

Shohei Ohtani Says He Never Bet On Sports, 'Shocked' Interpreter Lied

Alden Gonzalez/ESPN

Yankees' DJ LeMahieu Lands On IL With Bruised Foot

Associated Press

Ezequiel Tovar, Rockies Agree To Seven-Year Extension

Thomas Harding/MLB

Report: Jordan Montgomery Has Multiple Long-Term Offers

Jim Bowden/MLB Network Radio

Yankees Name Luis Gil No. 5 Starter To Begin Season

Mike Axisa/CBS Sports

Dave Roberts Says Gambling Scandal Isn't A Distraction

Jack Harris/Los Angeles Times

MLBPA Committee Appears To Reject Harry Marino

Associated Press

Red Sox, Chase Anderson Agree To One-Year Deal

Shoehei Ohtani To Address Media Over Allegations Against Interpreter

ESPN.com

Brandon Woodruff Won't Pitch This Season, Targets 2025

ESPN.com

Phillies Give Matt Straham Extension, Trade Jake Cave To Rockies

ESPN.com

Padres Celebrate Life Of Late Owner Peter Seidler

ESPN.com

Cardinals Will Send Sonny Gray, Lars Noobaar To IL

ESPN.com

Longtime Orioles Owner Peter Angelos Dies At 94

ESPN.com

Bowden Francis Makes Toronto's Season-Opening Rotation

Arden Zwelling/Sportsnet

Pirates Move Roansy Contreras To Bullpen

Alex Stumpf/MLB