Latest news with #NationalLeague-high
Newsweek
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
MLB Insider Predicts Yankees Trade For Diamondbacks' $13.5M All-Star
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. Baseball season is heating up, but the New York Yankees have cooled off dramatically. Sitting at 22-28 in their last 50 games, the Yankees have turned a seven-game lead in the American League East into a 5 1/2-game deficit. They're now missing superstar Aaron Judge for what they hope is only about 10 games, and their pitching staff is shorthanded. By the Thursday trade deadline, the Yankees have to add pitching reinforcements if they want any shot at defending their AL pennant from last season. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 29: Zac Gallen #23 greets starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks after Kelly was removed from the game during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase... PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 29: Zac Gallen #23 greets starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks after Kelly was removed from the game during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on March 29, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. MoreThat's why one insider foresees the Yankees acquiring a former All-Star starting pitcher with World Series experience. On Tuesday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted that the Yankees would bring Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen to New York ahead of the 6 p.m. ET Thursday deadline. "The Yankees solved their third-base situation with the trade for Ryan McMahon, then added infielder Amed Rosario, who provides versatility and a good bat versus lefties (.829 OPS)," wrote Bowden. "Now, they are focused on acquiring a starting pitcher and a reliever or two. They will not trade outfielder Spencer Jones or shortstop George Lombard Jr., but are open-minded about swapping their other top prospects in the right deal." Gallen, who turns 30 on Sunday, is a huge reason the Diamondbacks are surprise sellers at this deadline. He's got a brutal 5.60 ERA this season, in large part because he's given up a National League-high 23 home runs. Plus, Gallen is expensive, which might actually work in the Yankees' favor. He'd be owed the remainder of his $13.5 million salary by the acquiring team, though one figures most contenders are prepared to add a bit of payroll. The real question is whether or not the Yankees think the 2023 All-Star who shined in the World Series that year is still hidden among the peripheral stats. More MLB: Dodgers Should Pursue Orioles' 'Hidden Gem' in Last-Minute Deadline Deal
Fox Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
3 Best Trade Destinations for Arizona Diamondbacks Slugger Eugenio Suarez
Eugenio Suarez isn't just hitting at a high level this season: he's obliterating baseballs. Which is why he's on two shortlists right now – MVP candidates and tradeable players. The Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman ranks in the 90th percentile of MLB in barrel percentage and 89th percentile in hard-hit percentage. That's given him a National League-high with both 36 home runs and 86 RBIs, while boasting a .598 slugging percentage. A steady presence at the hot corner, he's performed on playoff teams and can be a needle-mover for a contender. Granted, part of the calculation in trading for Suarez is that he's a free agent after this season. Which teams could then use a potentially high-usage rental player? Here are three potential destinations: 3. New York Yankees The Yankees are solidified at eight of the nine spots in their everyday order. Third base is the one spot where a definitive upgrade could make a difference, and that could lead to New York making a move for Suarez. Jazz Chisholm played third base last year, but the Yankees have been a revolving door at the position this year, partially due to injury (e.g. Oswaldo Cabrera). Suarez represents a clear-cut answer for the Yankees at the hot corner for the rest of the year and gives them somebody with overwhelming power to hit around Aaron Judge, who's likely going to win his third American League MVP Award in four years. While New York entered Wednesday's MLB action first in on-base percentage (.334), slugging percentage (.454) and home runs (160), having Judge, who has been hitting at a level unseen since peak Barry Bonds over the last four years, plays a role in it being top of the sport in several power categories. Suarez gives them another bat that does major damage and subsequently gives them a better chance to run down the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. The Yankees could offer a trade package to the Diamondbacks centered around infielder Oswald Peraza and right-hander Chase Hampton, among other prospects, for Suarez. So, why is a team that represented the AL in the 2024 World Series and has a need at third base not the No. 1 fit for Suarez? The answer is a question: how many times are the Yankees going to make a blockbuster trade for an impact player, let alone one that's a free agent at the end of the year after the quantity of pitchers it traded for Juan Soto (namely, Michael King and Randy Vasquez), in particular, blew up in their face? Plus, how much would acquiring Suarez close the gap between the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers or Houston Astros in the AL? It's unrealistic to expect the Yankees to get back to the World Series in the wake of their starting rotation being ravaged by injuries (Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt). 2. Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee is on a roll and tied with the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League Central at 60-41. A weakness? The Brewers entered Wednesday 24th in MLB in home runs (96), and that's the No. 1 area that Suarez would improve for their ballclub. While Caleb Durbin has held his own at third base this season, the rookie infielder can also play second base and come off the bench throughout the rest of the season. Suarez would be an upgrade for the Brewers at third base, while becoming the most intimidating hitter in their order. Moreover, Suarez would be a veteran offensive complement to a young positional core that's headlined by Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Sal Frelick and Joey Ortiz. This is a franchise that prides itself on great pitching and great defense, but it has continually failed to win the NL pennant in recent memory due to its offense not having enough firepower. Suarez doesn't match the Brewers' offense up with the Los Angeles Dodgers or division-rival Cubs, but he certainly gives them a boost. If you're going to consistently be a 90-plus-win team and not spend big money, why not make impact moves with the intention of making a championship push? The 2015 Kansas City Royals are the perfect example of embracing this philosophy, as they had a small window with a deep core, acquired a pair of All-Stars in ace Johnny Cueto and infielder Ben Zobrist and went on to win the World Series that year. Even though Kansas City lost both players to free agency in the ensuing offseason, winning the title made it all worth it. Milwaukee could center a Suarez trade package around one of infielders Mike Boeve and Luke Adams and 2024 second-rounder Bryce Meccage. The only factor that could stop the Brewers from pursuing a trade for Suarez, though, is them potentially feeling that if they're going to step out of their comfort zone and make a trade for an impact bat (the last time the Brewers traded for an All-Star-caliber hitter was Willy Adames in 2021), it should be for a player who's under contract for the foreseeable future. 1. Seattle Mariners Seattle traded Suarez to Arizona in the 2023-24 MLB offseason, and it would greatly benefit from his return. Since making the playoffs in 2022 and even dating back to the 2021 season, the Mariners have been competitive enough to be in the wild-card mix until the cows come home, but rarely is it enough for them to actually crack the October spectacle, let alone win the AL West. The No. 1 reason for their shortcomings is consistently a lack of offense. This season, Seattle's lineup has been respectable, but it needs more to contend. Suarez would take over at third base for Seattle, where he started for the Mariners from 2022-23. Furthermore, he'd give the heart of the Mariners' order a second hitter who does considerable damage, taking pressure off Cal Raleigh to play hero. Rookie Ben Williamson has been respectable at third base, but the Mariners can't expect to get to the playoffs and then make noise relying on internal growth. They need to make a splash and get proven, impact hitters like Suarez. And if Julio Rodriguez gets hot late in the season or, say, J.P. Crawford or Dylan Moore starts to slug with more frequency, then Seattle has an even more balanced offense and arguably its best attack since 2022. Of course, this would complement a rotation that's arguably the best in the AL, one that includes Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo and more. Seattle could base a trade offer for Suarez around a combination of its young pitchers, including two or more of Brandyn Garcia, Michael Morales, Teddy McGraw and Ahston Izzi. The Mariners are 54-47, a current wild-card team and five games behind the Astros for first place in the AL West. If now isn't the time to make a push, then when is? Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks Eugenio Suárez recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Nats, Padres, Yankees Have Something In Common: Transitioning From Juan Soto
The Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres will always be connected by a historic trade that sent superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the West Coast. But the Padres and New York Yankees will also be connected by a Soto trade. And the Yankees and New York Mets will always be connected by Soto leaving the former for the latter after just one season. What do the Nationals, Padres and Yankees all have in common, outside of previously having Soto in their dugout? Successfully transitioning from him. Here's how all three teams turned the page on Soto. Washington Nationals (2022 MLB Trade Deadline) The Nationals were at the bottom of the pack and couldn't find common ground on an extension with Soto during the 2022 season. With Soto two-and-a-half years away from free agency, Washington made the bold choice to trade the young star for a king's ransom. San Diego received: OF Juan Soto, 1B Josh Bell Washington received: SS CJ Abrams, OF Robert Hassell III, LHP MacKenzie Gore, OF James Wood, RHP Jarlin Susana, 1B Luke Voit To be clear, the Nationals recently lost 11 consecutive games and look poised to post a losing record for a sixth consecutive season since winning the 2019 World Series. The perpetual struggle for their rebuild to make tangible progress in the win column is alarming. But if there's one thing the Nationals have gotten right over the past four years, ironically, it's trading Soto. The trade package that Washington received for Soto included three former top-10 overall draft picks (Gore, Abrams and Hassell), a former second-round pick (Wood) and a young right-handed starting pitcher whose fastball clocks triple digits (Susana). Wood, who made his MLB debut in July 2024, has quickly become one of the most menacing hitters in the sport, possessing overwhelming power from the left side. This season, Wood ranks in the 99th percentile in hard-hit percentage, 98th in barrel percentage and 97th in average exit velocity, per Statcast. The 6-foot-7 outfielder, who's 22, has totaled 21 home runs and 57 RBIs, while boasting a .558 slugging percentage. Abrams was an All-Star last season and has flashed star potential over his three years in D.C. The shortstop has made dazzling plays at the middle infield position, has impact power and a sweet swing from the left side and moves like the wind. Abrams averaged 19.5 home runs and 39 stolen bases per season from 2023-24 and owns a career-best .836 OPS and 137 OPS+ this season. After posting strikeouts at a high clip and finishing 2024 strong, Gore has emerged as Washington's undisputed ace this season. The left-hander owns a 3.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a National League-high 123 strikeouts over 93.0 innings, while pitching through the sixth inning in 12 of his 16 starts. Gore brings the heat but is also precise with the deployment of his curveball and slider. The Nationals could very well have two All-Stars this year from their 2022 midseason trade in Wood and Gore. Meanwhile, Hassell recently made his MLB debut and the still-21-year-old Susana is in Double A. San Diego Padres (2023-24 MLB Offseason) The Padres wanted payroll relief, and the easiest way to do that was not to sign Soto, who was one year away from free agency, to a long-term deal, so they made a blockbuster trade with the Yankees. New York received: OF Juan Soto, OF Trent Grisham San Diego received: RHP Michael King, RHP Randy Vásquez, RHP Jhony Brito, C Kyle Higashioka, RHP Drew Thorpe At face value, the Padres got quantity and four pitchers, a couple of whom could potentially become members of their starting rotation. Then, it became considerable value to the point where San Diego ultimately replenished some of the prospect capital that it sent to Washington for Soto just 16 months earlier. King came up as a starting pitcher with the Yankees but was quickly moved to the bullpen. Late in the 2023 season, he took the hill as a starter once again, making nine starts, and upon arrival in San Diego, became an immediate member of its rotation. Furthermore, King proceeded to have a breakout season, posting a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201 strikeouts across 173.2 innings (30 starts, 31 appearances). The right-hander is currently on the injured list due to a pinched nerve in his pitching shoulder. Prior to the flare, King posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 64 strikeouts over his first 10 starts this season (55.2 innings). King is one of the best right-handed pitchers MLB has to offer. He has a consistent four-pitch arsenal (sinker, four-seamer, changeup and sweeper) and has become the Padres' ace. But wait, there's more on the pitching front. Vásquez was able to hold his own in 20 starts for the Padres in 2024. This season, he has become a staple in San Diego's rotation, posting a 3.60 ERA across his first 16 starts. Now, Vasquez also owns a 5.51 FIP and has frequently had to work out of trouble, but if he can get hold of his consistent, five-pitch arsenal (cutter, four-seamer, sweeper, curveball and sinker), the right-hander is a long-term building block for San Diego. Elsewhere in the trade return, Higashioka hit 17 home runs in 84 games for the Padres in 2024 before signing with the Texas Rangers, and Brito made 26 appearances out of the Padres' bullpen last season. Granted, Brito will miss the entire 2025 season due to a right elbow injury. What happened to Thorpe? He was included in a trade package to acquire Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox two weeks before the 2024 regular season, with the right-hander posting a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224 strikeouts for the Padres last season. New York Yankees (2024-25 MLB Offseason) The Yankees reportedly offered Soto a 16-year, $760 million deal, but the Mets offered him a 15-year, $765 million deal. While the money indicated that keeping Soto was the Yankees' No. 1 choice, they were able to make a handful of void-filling and, in some cases, electric moves by not re-signing him. Yankees' notable offseason moves Signed LHP Max Fried (eight-year, $218 million deal) Acquired OF Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs Signed 1B Paul Goldschmidt (one-year, $12.5 million deal) Acquired RHP Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers Barring a cataclysmic individual collapse, Yankees superstar slugger Aaron Judge is likely to win the American League MVP Award for the third time in four seasons. If AL MVP voting were held tomorrow, Fried may be the runner-up for the award. Fried has been exceptional for the Yankees. Across his first 16 starts, Fried has posted a 2.05 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 97 strikeouts in 101 innings, with the southpaw pitching through seven innings in seven outings and owning an MLB-high nine wins. The former Atlanta Braves star's career-best season to date comes in timely fashion with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole out for all of 2025 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Bellinger has performed to his recent tendencies, possessing pop from the left side and the defensive versatility to play all three outfield positions and first base, if need be. This season, Bellinger has totaled 10 home runs and 38 RBIs, while boasting a .254/.320/.436 slash line. While Goldschmidt likely would've been signed regardless of where Soto ended up – they play different positions – the veteran first baseman is having a resurgent season, boasting a .298/.358/.447 slash line. Meanwhile, Williams is having a rough debut season in the Bronx, but the two-time All-Star has been much better after a tumultuous start that saw his ERA stand at 10.03 on May 6, with the right-hander owning a 1.62 ERA over his last 16.2 innings pitched. After losing Soto, the Yankees got a new ace in Fried — or potentially their 1B ace when Cole returns in 2026 — a proven outfielder with 242 career postseason at-bats in Bellinger, a well-rounded first baseman who's boosting their offense in Goldschmidt and one of the best relievers in the sport in Williams. The combined value of those four players at least matches, if not exceeds what the Yankees gave up to acquire Soto. Plus, Grisham – who the Yankees also acquired in the Soto trade – has hit 15 home runs and owns a career-best .476 slugging percentage this season. Despite a recent six-game skid, the Yankees are still atop the AL East at 45-32. Washington turned one superstar into three players who are or have the chance to become stars and two more wild-card prospects; San Diego turned one superstar into two new starting pitchers, including its new ace; after losing Soto to the Mets, the Yankees built out their roster with depth, including adding a rotation anchor. Are all three teams in a better place now than when they had Soto? That's debatable, but it's difficult to assert that any of them are in a worse place than when they had Soto. They all effectively shifted in their own distinct way. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience New York Yankees San Diego Padres Washington Nationals recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yankees React to Aaron Judge's Historic Moment in Yankees Game
Yankees React to Aaron Judge's Historic Moment in Yankees Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees began a three-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium, and it has been billed as a rematch of last fall's World Series. Advertisement The Dodgers bludgeoned the Yankees last year to win the world championship, and while the series was initially expected to be a classic and be very competitive, Los Angeles prevailed in just five games. Friday's game was a historic one, as reigning league MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge each hit home runs in the first inning. It was the first time in Major League Baseball history that the reigning MVPs from both leagues homered in the first inning of the same game. Judge struck first in the top of that inning with a dinger into center field that opened up the scoring. Judge won his second American League MVP in three years last season with 144 RBIs and 58 home runs, both of which led all of MLB. Advertisement Ohtani, meanwhile, had a National League-high 130 RBIs and 54 homers, and he became the first player in MLB history to have at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in the same season. He came into Friday with 20 home runs this season, which was more than anyone else in the majors. New York came into this game in first place in the AL East with a sizable cushion over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are also in first place in their division, but they're trying to hold off the San Diego Padres, who are just 1.5 games behind in second place. Related: MLB Sends Chris Sale Message After Historic News on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Kuwait Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Smith-Shawver stars as Braves blank Reds
Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman homer as Dodgers top Marlins ATLANTA: A.J. Smith-Shawver carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves defeated the visiting Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Monday in the opener of their three-game series. Smith-Shawver (2-2) pitched a career-high eight innings and allowed no runs on one hit—a leadoff single by Santiago Espinal in the eighth—with four walks and five strikeouts. He threw 99 pitches, 60 for strikes. Matt Olson collected an inside-the-park home run on an unusual play in which Reds rookie left fielder Tyler Callihan stretched out for the catch, temporarily had the ball in his glove, but slammed into the side wall. Callihan broke his left forearm on the play as Olson came around to score. Cincinnati's Brady Singer (4-2) pitched six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. Dodgers 7, Marlins 4 Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman each drilled two-run homers as Los Angeles defeated host Miami in the opener of a three-game series. Ohtani, who hit a National League-high 54 homers last year, has nine this season. Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez went 2-for-2 with his MLB-high 34th RBI of the season. Miami, which has lost eight of its last nine, was led by rookie Agustin Ramirez, who blasted the longest drive of the night—a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth that went 424 feet. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in five innings. Royals 3, White Sox 0 Cole Ragans struck out 11 over five solid innings and Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits with an RBI, as Kansas City continued its recent dominance over visiting Chicago. Maikel Garcia and Drew Waters each had a run-scoring hit, while Garcia and Witt stole two bases apiece for the Royals, who won their third straight and 12th in the last 14 games. Kansas City has won seven in a row and 15 of the last 16 versus Chicago, which managed six hits and fanned 14 times while losing their eighth consecutive road contest against the Royals. Ragans (2-1) scattered three hits, while White Sox rookie Shane Smith (1-2) also was solid but allowed two runs, five hits and three walks while striking out five. Cubs 9, Giants 2 Dansby Swanson went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Ian Happ and Carson Kelly each homered, propelling Chicago over visiting San Francisco. Happ drove in three runs and Seiya Suzuki drove in two as the Cubs won their fourth game in five tries. Matthew Boyd (3-2) threw six innings of five-hit, two-run ball, while striking out seven for Chicago. Landen Roupp (2-3) surrendered five hits and four runs (two earned) across five innings and struck out four. Luis Matos' two-run homer accounted for all of the Giants' offense, and San Francisco's defense committed four errors. The Giants saw their three-game winning streak snapped. Padres 4, Yankees 3 Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning as visiting San Diego rallied past New York. The Padres won their sixth straight game by erasing a three-run deficit against Devin Williams and Luke Weaver (0-1). Williams loaded the bases in the eighth on a four-pitch walk to Luis Arraez. Weaver entered and Manny Machado lined a 1-1 fastball to left field for a two-run double to get San Diego within 3-2. On the next pitch, Bogaerts hit a cutter for a bloop single. Trent Grisham hit a two-run homer for the Yankees in the third. Carlos Rodon limited the Padres to three singles in 6 2/3 innings. Brewers 5, Astros 1 Christian Yelich had a two-run home run and Tobias Myers led a stellar pitching effort in Milwaukee's victory over visiting Houston in the opener of a three-game series. Myers (1-0) allowed one run on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, bouncing back from his previous start when he lasted just two innings. The Brewers' bullpen preserved the lead as Nick Mears, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson and Joel Payamps kept the Astros off the scoreboard. Houston starter Ronel Blanco (2-3) allowed three runs, all in the third inning. He yielded seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings. Cardinals 6, Pirates 3 Willson Contreras had two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, to help host St. Louis come back to beat Pittsburgh. Contreras' fifth home run of the season came off Pirates reliever Chase Shugart (1-2), who allowed all four of the Cardinals' runs in the sixth without recording an out. Jose Barrero finished with two hits and three RBIs and drove in the last two runs of that inning on a ground-rule double down the left field line with the bases loaded. Pedro Pages also had two hits. The Cardinals picked up their third consecutive victory while the Pirates lost their fifth in a row—their longest losing skid of this season. Bryan Reynolds pocketed his fifth home run, a two-run blast off Miles Mikolas to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead after only two at-bats to open the game. Mets 5, Diamondbacks 4 Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso homered, Griffin Canning won his fifth game, and New York held off Arizona in Phoenix. Alonso's two-run homer off Arizona starter Ryne Nelson (1-1) gave the Mets a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, and Lindor's three-run shot off Ryan Thompson in the seventh stretched it to 5-1. Josh Naylor had an RBI single and Eugenio Suarez singled in two runs to close the deficit to 5-4 after Dedniel Nunez walked the first three batters in the eighth, but Reed Garrett stranded runners on second and third with one out on a strikeout and a foul out to preserve the lead. Athletics 7, Mariners 6 (11 innings) Jacob Wilson delivered an RBI single to center with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th inning to give the Athletics a victory over Seattle at West Sacramento, Calif. Wilson also had a tying run-scoring single in the 10th inning for the Athletics, who won for the 10th time in their past 13 games. Wilson had three hits and three RBIs, Luis Urias also had three hits and Shea Langeliers homered and had two RBIs for the Athletics. Ben Williamson had two hits and two RBIs for Seattle, which lost its second straight contest following a six-game winning streak. Miles Mastrobuoni also drove in two runs while J.P. Crawford and Rowdy Tellez each had two hits for the Mariners. – Reuters
