Detroit News

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit — When those within the baseball industry assess the Tigers’ future — evaluators, instructors, coaches, front office personnel — their immediate praise point is the young starting pitching prospects. Unquestionably, the talented arms and upside of Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, and even the injured Alex Faedo and Joey Wentz,

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit — Being managed by a former catcher can be rather hellish for a catcher. “It’s a blessing and a curse,” Tigers skipper and former big-league catcher AJ Hinch said last month. “The blessing is, we have a lot of expertise and a lot of feel for the position. The

Lynn Henning   | The Detroit News Whether one, three, five, or 10 men deserved to be knighted Tuesday with a winning Baseball Hall of Fame vote is a matter that can be chewed upon at length. Or, at least until next December when another round of hot-burner baseball banter renews. What can’t be refuted, not

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit – The Tigers Tuesday night were closing in on a deal with veteran catcher Wilson Ramos. The deal, first reported by WOW Deportes and confirmed by The News, will be for one year and $2 million upon completion of medicals. Ramos, 33, has a .274/.321/.434 slash-line over his

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Show Caption Hide Caption Manager AJ Hinch: State of the Tigers Tigers manager AJ Hinch is preparing to greet pitchers and catchers in Lakeland on Feb. 17 and the rest of the squad a week later. The Detroit News Detroit — Until he’s told otherwise, Tigers manager AJ Hinch is

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit – What is the saying: If you don’t fail, you don’t learn? Well, if that is true, Niko Goodrum learned a ton last season. Even though his 38.6 percent strikeout rate in 179 plate appearances probably should be viewed more as a slump than a binding indictment of

Jake Seiner  |  Associated Press New York — The baseball Hall of Fame won’t have any new players in the class of 2021 after voters decided no one had the merits – on-the-field or off – for enshrinement in Cooperstown on this year’s ballot. Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were the closest in voting by

Associated Press Philadelphia — The “Sign J.T.” chants from fans gathered outside the ballpark during the pandemic-altered season and echoed by Bryce Harper and many players on the Philadelphia Phillies were loud and clear. It’s happening. The Philadelphia Phillies and two-time All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto agreed Tuesday on a $115.5 million, five-year contract, two people familiar with

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit — Until he’s told otherwise, Tigers manager AJ Hinch is preparing to greet pitchers and catchers in Lakeland on Feb. 17 and the rest of the squad a week later. Beyond that, though, everything is pretty fluid in terms of logistics and COVID-19 protocols. “We don’t know what (spring

Ronald Blum  |  Associated Press New York — Wanting to slash salary to avoid paying luxury tax, the New York Yankees opted to make a rare trade with the Boston Red Sox. Boston acquired struggling reliever Adam Ottavino along with minor league right-hander Frank German from the Yankees on Monday for a player to be

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit — Daniel Norris remembers the first time he shared a living space with Matthew Boyd. It was back in 2013, in Lansing, when they were both pitching for the Lugnuts, the Blue Jays’ Low-A affiliate. “I told him he could come live with us,” Norris recalled in a Zoom

Jake Seiner  |  Associated Press The Cactus League and Arizona community leaders have asked Major League Baseball to delay the start of spring training due to coronavirus concerns just over three weeks before pitchers and catchers are supposed to report. The Cactus League made the request in a letter to Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred obtained

Ronald Blum  |  Associated Press New York — The Yankees made another high-risk offseason addition to their starting rotation, acquiring right-hander Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday for four prospects. Pittsburgh received right-handers Roansy Contreras and Miguel Yajure, infielder Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith. Taillon, 29, has not pitched since May 1,

Jerry Green  |  Special to The Detroit News Until then, the home-run sluggers were beefy white men with ruddy jowls. Babe Ruth. Jimmie Foxx. Hank Greenberg.  Then came Henry Aaron. Slender. Black. Dignified. Gracious. Henry Aaron exploded the stereotypes and succeeded mightily against the prejudices that had lingered in Baseball for nearly a century.  There

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit — Veteran left-hander Derek Holland has apparently agreed to a minor-league deal with the Tigers. At least that’s what he posted on his Twitter feed Saturday night. The Tigers did not immediately confirm the deal. Holland, 34, has pitched for five teams in his 12-year career. He had

By Paul Newberry  |  Associated Press Atlanta — Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record and gracefully left his mark as one of baseball’s greatest all-around players, died Friday. He was 86. The Atlanta Braves, Aaron’s longtime team, said he died peacefully in his

Chris McCosky   | The Detroit News Detroit — This little anecdote from the recently completed Dominican Winter League finals will warm the heart of manager AJ Hinch. The championship game was Monday. Tigers left-hander Gregory Soto, pitching for Aguilas Cibaenas, already had pitched three scoreless innings in the playoffs. But before the final game, he approached

Kristie Rieken  |  AP Sports Writer Houston – Outfielder Michael Brantley has agreed to a $32 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the contract, which is pending a successful physical, had not

Ronald Blum and Rob Gillies  |  Associated Press Toronto — All-Star outfielder George Springer became the most prominent among baseball’s free agents to reach an agreement this offseason, a $150 million, six-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity

Beth Harris  |  Associated Press Los Angeles — Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda was memorialized during a private service at Dodger Stadium before his burial on Tuesday. Lasorda died Jan. 7 after a heart attack at age 93. His casket, covered with a huge assortment of blue and white flowers, was placed on the