INSIDER
MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams
Read full article: MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teamsMajor League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026.
MLB wants the Tampa Bay Rays to play in the area if hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field is unfit
Read full article: MLB wants the Tampa Bay Rays to play in the area if hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field is unfitMajor League Baseball hopes to find the Tampa Bay Rays a temporary home near their fanbase for the start of the 2025 season if their home field can't be repaired in time.
Baseball is back in the Olympics in 2028. What the rosters will look like is hard to say
Read full article: Baseball is back in the Olympics in 2028. What the rosters will look like is hard to sayThe on-again, off-again relationship between the Olympics and baseball is heading toward another reconciliation in 2028.
Rev It Up: MLB to hold Braves-Reds game at Bristol Motor Speedway next August
Read full article: Rev It Up: MLB to hold Braves-Reds game at Bristol Motor Speedway next AugustMajor League Baseball is coming to Bristol Motor Speedway with the Braves and the Reds taking part in the Speedway Classic in August 2025.
Sons of former big-league stars Ortiz, Ramirez and Grudzielanek among MLB draft picks in late rounds
Read full article: Sons of former big-league stars Ortiz, Ramirez and Grudzielanek among MLB draft picks in late roundsMajor League Baseball’s three-day amateur draft concluded on Tuesday, with the 30 teams blazing through 300 picks in less than 3 1/2 hours.
Robot umpire challenge system could be tested next spring training, 2026 regular-season use possible
Read full article: Robot umpire challenge system could be tested next spring training, 2026 regular-season use possibleMajor League Baseball could test robot umpires as part of a challenge system in spring training next year, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026.
Australian second baseman Travis Bazzana taken by Cleveland Guardians with top MLB draft pick
Read full article: Australian second baseman Travis Bazzana taken by Cleveland Guardians with top MLB draft pickAustralian second baseman Travis Bazzana was taken by the Cleveland Guardians with the No. 1 pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft when three players from Wake Forest were selected in the top 10.
50 years after Hank Aaron's 715th homer, Hall of Fame announces statue, Postal Service unveils stamp
Read full article: 50 years after Hank Aaron's 715th homer, Hall of Fame announces statue, Postal Service unveils stampBaseball’s Hall of Fame will unveil a bronze statue of Hank Aaron on May 23 on the first floor of its museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes MLB investigation of Shohei Ohtani will be short but isn't sure
Read full article: Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes MLB investigation of Shohei Ohtani will be short but isn't sureBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he hopes the sport’s gambling investigation of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will be short but he isn’t sure.
New uniform designs drawing plenty of scrutiny during opening days of spring training
Read full article: New uniform designs drawing plenty of scrutiny during opening days of spring trainingWhat the players are wearing has garnered as much attention as what they’re doing in the first few days of spring training.
Former Mets GM Billy Eppler suspended through World Series for fabricating injuries
Read full article: Former Mets GM Billy Eppler suspended through World Series for fabricating injuriesFormer New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler was suspended through the 2024 World Series by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, who concluded he and other team employees fabricated injuries to create open roster spots.
Atlanta to host 2025 MLB All-Star Game after losing 2021 game over objections to voting law
Read full article: Atlanta to host 2025 MLB All-Star Game after losing 2021 game over objections to voting lawMajor League Baseball will play its 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, four years after moving the event from Truist Park to Denver’s Coors Field over objections to changes in Georgia’s voting rights laws.
MLB owners approve A’s move from Oakland to Las Vegas, with a new ballpark to open in 2028
Read full article: MLB owners approve A’s move from Oakland to Las Vegas, with a new ballpark to open in 2028The Oakland Athletics’ move to Las Vegas has been approved by Major League Baseball team owners in a 30-0 vote.
MLB team owners set to vote Thursday on proposed relocation of Athletics to Las Vegas
Read full article: MLB team owners set to vote Thursday on proposed relocation of Athletics to Las VegasMajor League Baseball owners are set to vote on the proposed relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas at the end of their league-wide meeting Thursday.
If you think the World Series sped by, it did. 9-inning games averaged the fastest time in 27 years
Read full article: If you think the World Series sped by, it did. 9-inning games averaged the fastest time in 27 yearsNine-inning World Series games averaged 3 hours, 1 minute, the fastest since 1996, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Rob Manfred says it would be difficult to pause MLB's season for the 2028 LA Olympics
Read full article: Rob Manfred says it would be difficult to pause MLB's season for the 2028 LA OlympicsBryce Harper wants big leaguers to play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says pausing the regular season to make that happen would be difficult.
Abreu gives up 2-run homer in Astros' Game 7 loss after suspension upheld but pushed to next year
Read full article: Abreu gives up 2-run homer in Astros' Game 7 loss after suspension upheld but pushed to next yearBryan Abreu gave up Nathaniel Lowe’s two-run homer in the Houston Astros’ 11-4 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series after his two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Adolis García delayed until the start of next season.
With new rules, MLB to draw more than 70 million fans, highest attendance since 2017
Read full article: With new rules, MLB to draw more than 70 million fans, highest attendance since 2017More than 70 million fans will attend Major League Baseball games for the first time in six years, a post-pandemic rebound for a sport that instituted its biggest on-field changes in decades.
The Rays are finalizing plans for a new stadium, which means MLB expansion could be on deck
Read full article: The Rays are finalizing plans for a new stadium, which means MLB expansion could be on deckThe Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing plans for a new ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg, which is a positive development for baseball fans in Florida.
The Rays are finalizing plans for a new stadium, which means MLB expansion could be on deck
Read full article: The Rays are finalizing plans for a new stadium, which means MLB expansion could be on deckThe Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing plans for a new ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg, which is a positive development for baseball fans in Florida.
Padres reliever Robert Suárez suspended for 10 games, 6th pitcher penalized for sticky stuff
Read full article: Padres reliever Robert Suárez suspended for 10 games, 6th pitcher penalized for sticky stuffSan Diego Padres reliever Robert Suárez has been suspended for 10 games by Major League Baseball, the sixth pitcher penalized for using banned sticky stuff.
Kids Again: MLB makes strides in attracting younger fans, ticket buyers in growing the game
Read full article: Kids Again: MLB makes strides in attracting younger fans, ticket buyers in growing the gameBryce Harper and the Phillies hit Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday to play the Washington Nationals in the annual Major League Baseball Little League Classic at 2,366-seat Historic Bowman Field.
Manfred has no intention of altering Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball
Read full article: Manfred has no intention of altering Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseballBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has no intention of altering Pete Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball and said the sport’s commercial deals with gambling companies have no impact on the status of the career hits leader.
MLB experimenting with pearl white baseballs to rid sticky stuff problem
Read full article: MLB experimenting with pearl white baseballs to rid sticky stuff problemPristine white baseballs that would not require rubbing are under consideration by Major League Baseball as a way to solve the issue of pitchers using sticky substances for better grip.
MLB open to consider increasing time on pitch clock in postseason
Read full article: MLB open to consider increasing time on pitch clock in postseasonBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred will consider increasing time on the pitch clock for the postseason but is reluctant to adjust an innovation the sport considers a great success.
Phillies' John Middleton and Royals' John Sherman join MLB relocation committee, AP source says
Read full article: Phillies' John Middleton and Royals' John Sherman join MLB relocation committee, AP source saysA person familiar with the appointments tells The Associated Press that owners of teams in two of the Oakland Athletics’ former cities will help evaluate whether the franchise should move to Las Vegas.
With Griffey's help, MLB hosts HBCU All-Star Game hoping to create opportunity for Black players
Read full article: With Griffey's help, MLB hosts HBCU All-Star Game hoping to create opportunity for Black playersMajor League Baseball opened its All-Star weekend in Seattle with a showcase game for top players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Yankees pitcher Cordero is suspended for the rest of the season under MLB's domestic violence policy
Read full article: Yankees pitcher Cordero is suspended for the rest of the season under MLB's domestic violence policyNew York Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero has been suspended for the rest of the season by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred for violating the sport’s domestic violence policy.
Manfred says big Oakland turnout doesn't change 'decade worth of inaction'
Read full article: Manfred says big Oakland turnout doesn't change 'decade worth of inaction'Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says that one big turnout by Oakland Athletics fans doesn’t change “a decade worth of inaction,” as he defended earlier comments about the “reverse boycott” held in protest of the team’s proposed move to Las Vegas.
MLB sued by 17 ex-scouts who say they were discriminated against because of their age
Read full article: MLB sued by 17 ex-scouts who say they were discriminated against because of their ageSeventeen former Major League Baseball scouts who say they were discriminated against because of their age have sued the league, its teams and Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Governor signs public funding bill for new A's stadium in Vegas, growing global sports destination
Read full article: Governor signs public funding bill for new A's stadium in Vegas, growing global sports destinationNevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has signed into law a $380 million public financing package to help build a Major League Baseball stadium for the Oakland Athletics on the Las Vegas Strip.
MLB commissioner suspects many pitchers are using banned sticky stuff
Read full article: MLB commissioner suspects many pitchers are using banned sticky stuffBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred thinks the use of banned sticky stuff is more widespread than the three pitchers ejected this season for illegal grip aids.
MLB to start months-long approval process for Oakland Athletics' move to Las Vegas
Read full article: MLB to start months-long approval process for Oakland Athletics' move to Las VegasMajor League Baseball laid out a detailed process to approve the Oakland Athletics' move to Las Vegas, which appears set to become the second shift of a franchise in the last half-century.
Mets' Drew Smith suspended 10 games for banned sticky stuff at Subway Series
Read full article: Mets' Drew Smith suspended 10 games for banned sticky stuff at Subway SeriesNew York Mets pitcher Drew Smith was suspended for 10 games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, the fifth pitcher and second on his team penalized for using banned sticky stuff.
Manfred: Vote on Athletics' Las Vegas move could take place at June meetings
Read full article: Manfred: Vote on Athletics' Las Vegas move could take place at June meetingsBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says a vote on the Oakland Athletics’ prospective move to Las Vegas potentially could come when the league’s owners meet next month.
Manfred: 'Sorry' for Oakland fans; A's can compete in Vegas
Read full article: Manfred: 'Sorry' for Oakland fans; A's can compete in VegasBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he feels “sorry for the fans in Oakland” about the Athletics' plans to relocate to Las Vegas but denies claims by Oakland's mayor that the franchise used negotiations with the city as leverage.
Oakland A's purchase land for new stadium in Las Vegas
Read full article: Oakland A's purchase land for new stadium in Las VegasThe Oakland Athletics have signed a binding agreement to purchase land for a new retractable roof ballpark in Las Vegas after being unable to build a new venue in the Bay Area.
MLB game times cut 30 minutes, steals double under new rules
Read full article: MLB game times cut 30 minutes, steals double under new rulesMajor League Baseball’s average game time dropped by 30 minutes during the first four days this season, stolen bases doubled and batting average increased by 16 percentage points from last year’s opening weekend.
After player input, MLB allows some pitch clock delays
Read full article: After player input, MLB allows some pitch clock delaysMLB has clarified its new rules to allow umpires to delay the start of the pitch clock after swings in which a hitter loses footing or when a pitcher covers first base, third or home.
World Baseball Classic keeps growing despite injury risks
Read full article: World Baseball Classic keeps growing despite injury risksThis year’s World Baseball Classic left lasting memories, 47 games over two weeks that restored Japan’s supremacy and reinforced Shohei Ohtani’s unmatched ability while expanding the sport’s global footprint.
WBC returns in March 2026, retaining spring training slot
Read full article: WBC returns in March 2026, retaining spring training slotThe World Baseball Classic will return for its sixth edition in March 2026, with organizers concluding spring training remains a better time than after the World Series or in the middle of the major league season.
'Ghost runner' in extra innings made permanent by MLB
Read full article: 'Ghost runner' in extra innings made permanent by MLBStarting extra innings with a runner on second base during the regular season was made a permanent rules change by Major League Baseball after three seasons of use during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bauer released by Los Angeles Dodgers after suspension cut
Read full article: Bauer released by Los Angeles Dodgers after suspension cutTrevor Bauer was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who cut ties after the pitcher’s unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator.
In Georgia, how sports explain a political battleground
Read full article: In Georgia, how sports explain a political battlegroundGeorgia's U.S. Senate race between Republican Herschel Walker and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock highlights how sports and college loyalties explain a political battleground.
Manfred sure Mets-Yanks collusion query will find no issue
Read full article: Manfred sure Mets-Yanks collusion query will find no issueBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Thursday that Major League Baseball is looking into potentially improper communication between the New York Mets and Yankees regarding star free agent Aaron Judge.
Minor leaguers form union, 17 days after organizing began
Read full article: Minor leaguers form union, 17 days after organizing beganThe Major League Baseball Players Association has become the bargaining agent for more than 5,500 minor leaguers, completing a lightning fast organization campaign that launched just 17 days earlier.
AP source: MLB, players reach minor league union deal
Read full article: AP source: MLB, players reach minor league union dealA person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the players’ association will submit union authorization cards to an arbitrator on Wednesday under an agreement with Major League Baseball that will lead to collective bargaining for approximately 5,500 farmhands.
MLB prepared to voluntarily recognize minor league union
Read full article: MLB prepared to voluntarily recognize minor league unionMajor League Baseball is ready to voluntarily accept the formation of a minor league union, a key step that will lead to collective bargaining and possibly a strike threat at the start of next season.
MLB adopts pitch clock, shift limits, bigger bases for 2023
Read full article: MLB adopts pitch clock, shift limits, bigger bases for 2023Major League Baseball has adopted its first pitch clock, limits on defensive shifts and larger bases for next season in an effort to shorten games and increase offense in a tradition-bound sport.
Manfred to senators: antitrust exemption stops city switches
Read full article: Manfred to senators: antitrust exemption stops city switchesMajor League Baseball told a Senate committee that the sport’s antitrust exemption prevents teams from moving without approval and allows the sport to maintain the minor leagues at a wide level.
MLB, union have Monday deadline for international draft deal
Read full article: MLB, union have Monday deadline for international draft dealMajor League Baseball made what was termed a “final offer” for an international draft, increasing proposed money for the first year in 2024 by $10 million to $191 million.
Senators ask MLB why antitrust exemption needed in minors
Read full article: Senators ask MLB why antitrust exemption needed in minorsLeaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee have asked baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to explain the impact of potential legislation stripping the sport’s antitrust exemption from covering the sport’s relationship with minor league players.
Ohtani a 2-way All-Star again; 6 Yankees, 5 Braves, Astros
Read full article: Ohtani a 2-way All-Star again; 6 Yankees, 5 Braves, AstrosLos Angeles Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani repeated as a two-way All-Star when he was picked for the AL pitching staff, two days after he was elected to start at designated hitter.
Trout, Ohtani, Betts, Turner to start All-Star Game in LA
Read full article: Trout, Ohtani, Betts, Turner to start All-Star Game in LAMike Trout and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels were elected Friday to start in the July 19 All-Star Game along with outfielders Mookie Betts and Trea Turner of the host Dodgers.
MLB standardizes how baseballs are prepped to be put in play
Read full article: MLB standardizes how baseballs are prepped to be put in playMajor League Baseball is standardizing procedures for rubbing baseballs and their removal from humidors in an effort to establish more consistency amid complaints about slickness that followed the crackdown on sticky substances.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says Rays, A’s need new ballpark deals soon
Read full article: Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says Rays, A’s need new ballpark deals soonBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics need to reach new ballpark deals soon and left open the strong possibility of considering relocation if agreements are not struck.
Bauer grievance hearing begins on attempt to overturn ban
Read full article: Bauer grievance hearing begins on attempt to overturn banThe hearing on Trevor Bauer’s attempt to overturn his unprecedented two-year suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy has begun before an arbitrator.
AP source: Bauer’s appeal of suspension to begin May 23
Read full article: AP source: Bauer’s appeal of suspension to begin May 23A person familiar with the hearing has told The Associated Press that Trevor Bauer’s arbitration appeal of his two-year suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy has been scheduled to start May 23.
LEADING OFF: Verlander pitches as Astros face Twins, Correa
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Verlander pitches as Astros face Twins, CorreaJustin Verlander and the Astros try for their eighth straight win when they visit Joe Ryan and the first-place Twins in a matchup of American League contenders with identical 18-11 records.
Yankees were fined $100,000 for improper use of dugout phone
Read full article: Yankees were fined $100,000 for improper use of dugout phoneThe New York Yankees were fined $100,000 by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred for using their dugout phone to relay information about opposing teams’ signs during the 2015 season and part of 2016.
Manfred gifts players headphones as lockout peace offering
Read full article: Manfred gifts players headphones as lockout peace offeringBaseball Commissioner Rob Manfred gave major league players Bose headphones on opening day as a peace offering after a bitter 99-day lockout that delayed the start of the season.
Interest in MLB season tops ire over lockout: AP-NORC poll
Read full article: Interest in MLB season tops ire over lockout: AP-NORC pollAbout 1 in 4 fans of Major League Baseball feel at least some anger toward the sport after its first work stoppage in a generation, according to a new poll, but the vast majority are still excited about the new season.