Teams can have solid starting pitching, strong middle relief and a potent offense, but if they don’t have a closer waiting in the bullpen to finish off games, wins won’t be easy to come by. And while not every club has an Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen waiting in the

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox have committed to Eloy Jimenez as their right fielder of the future. According to a source, the club is finalizing a long-term deal with the highly-touted outfield prospect expected to be worth a maximum of $77.5 million over eight years -- including two club

Closer Craig Kimbrel has compiled an impressive resume during his nine seasons in the big leagues, recording a microscopic 1.91 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP, 333 saves and a 14.7 K/9 rate. Below you will find a list of the latest news and rumors surrounding the right-hander, who remains unsigned.

In the wake of Mike Trout’s reported 10-year, $360 million extension revealed Tuesday, which brings his current contract to an astounding 12 years and $426.5 million, eyes naturally turned toward the next-biggest potential free agent, Mookie Betts, and whether he would also be interested in avoiding the open market. But

TOKYO -- While most eyes have been on Ichiro Suzuki this week, Yusei Kikuchi doesn’t mind. He’s as big a fan as anybody of the Mariners’ icon and has enjoyed his front-row seat to history. When Kikuchi first signed with Seattle in January, he’d only seen Ichiro from afar. Growing

MLB.com columnist Will Leitch’s series on the Data Decade, closing out this remarkable decade of baseball, runs every other Wednesday. Today, we look at the 10 best first basemen of the decade. • Previous stories in this series: Best 10 catchers In many ways, the first baseman has lost some

Eloy Jiménez has yet to appear in a big league game, but he's already finalizing a big-time contract. The sport’s No. 3 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, worked out a long-term deal with the White Sox on Wednesday, eight days before the club opens the 2019 season at Kansas

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryce Harper is thrilled for his buddy Mike Trout, even if it ends the dream of the pair roaming the same outfield for the Phillies. Trout agreed Tuesday to a record-smashing 12-year, $430 million contract extension, according to sources. The deal is not yet official. Harper texted

MLB.com is keeping track of each team’s Opening Day starting pitcher as they are announced. Noted in parentheses are how many times that pitcher has started on Opening Day. AL EAST Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman (2nd) vs. DET 2018 OD starter: J.A. Happ Stroman was solid in his first opening

Spring Training is in full swing, and Opening Day is fast approaching. For some players, the Cactus League in Arizona and Grapefruit League in Florida provide nothing more than a chance to shake off some rust. For others, it’s an opportunity to win a roster spot or a starting position.

Many of the game’s top prospects had a chance to gain experience and show what they could do against Major League competition during Spring Training, but Opening Day is near, and teams are whittling down their rosters. Most of the prospects remaining in camp are either already assured of a

Is this your year to hoist a fantasy title (or two, or three)? MLB.com is here with the draft tools to help make that dream a reality. Top 800 fantasy player rankings: Whether you play in a standard-size league or a more challenging one, use this exhaustive list as your

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Rays and infielder/outfielder Brandon Lowe have agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract extension with two club options, the team announced Wednesday. Lowe’s extension runs through the 2024 season, with the Rays having club options for '25 and '26. With the deal, Lowe will make

TAMPA, Fla. -- Luis Severino reported no issues after making 25 tosses at a distance of 60 feet on Wednesday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field, marking the right-hander's first on-field action in two weeks. Severino said his mechanics felt "a little bit off" due to the layoff, but there

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Craig Kimbrel in a Brewers uniform? It may be far-fetched for a team already stretching the budget, but the image was pretty compelling to some of the other men in Brewers uniforms. The Athletic (subscription required) reported Tuesday night that the Brewers were in talks with Kimbrel,

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Gregory Polanco may soon be ready to play right field again. Working his way back from surgery in September to repair the labrum in his left shoulder, the Pirates starter is increasing the intensity of his defensive drill work and could play the outfield in a Minor

TOKYO -- Ichiro Suzuki didn't get any hits in the Mariners' 9-7 Opening Day win over the A’s in the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday, but the venerable outfielder clearly was the hit attraction for a sold-out crowd relishing his return to Japan. Ichiro popped out in the third and worked

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Alex Bregman was back in the weight room 12 hours after last season ended, though he hadn’t planned it that way. He did this despite being physically spent, mentally drained. “I was so mad,” he said. “Sad and angry and kind of depressed. I couldn’t

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels and Mike Trout have agreed to a record-setting 12-year contract worth $426.5 million, according to sources. The Angels have not confirmed the deal. Trout, 27, was eligible to become a free agent after the 2020 season upon the completion of the six-year, $144.5 million deal

The best players in baseball in 2018 were ... well, they were Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, obviously. Plus Jacob deGrom, and Max Scherzer, and Francisco Lindor, and on and on. There's so many superstars in the game right now. But the names you know right now that you may

Here’s a roundup of the latest injury news around the Majors. Michael Fulmer, Tigers After seeking three separate opinions on his sore right elbow, Fulmer revealed Wednesday that he will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament. Fulmer has not yet scheduled the surgery or picked

TOKYO -- Many of the Mariners' familiar names are gone after an offseason makeover by general manager Jerry Dipoto, but the new crew made its presence felt in a 9-7 win over the A's on Wednesday in the first game of the Opening Series at the Tokyo Dome.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Gio Gonzalez spent his offseason waiting for a phone call, watching hundreds of others report to big league camps while he remained unsigned in South Florida, throwing on high school and college fields in an attempt to simulate Spring Training. Even under normal circumstances, a chance to

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Rhys Hoskins said there is no reason to worry, but he is battling “mild” soreness in his left shoulder. Hoskins is expected to be in the Opening Day lineup on March 28. “It’s not in question,” Hoskins said. “It’s nothing to worry about.” Hoskins said he first