11:57 PM ET Two of the biggest stars in hip-hop battled on Thursday night at Magic City in Atlanta to kick off Season 2 of “Verzuz.” With beef, controversy and drama filling the air, social media was ready to see potential fireworks as Jeezy and Gucci Mane squared off in the latest showdown of the
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11:41 AM ET EPA/YONHAP The Korea Baseball Organization, the highest level of baseball in South Korea and one of the first major professional sports leagues to return to action during the coronavirus pandemic, has entered its home stretch as the Korean Series will determine the 2020 KBO champion. The matchup features the NC Dinos, who
5:41 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The New York Mets have signed right-hander Sam McWilliams, who’s spent six years in the minor leagues with three other organizations. The Mets announced the one-year contract Friday. The 25-year-old will get $750,000 in the majors and $195,000 in the minors. The 6-foot-7 McWilliams was in Tampa
8:22 PM ET Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment, helping clear room on the 40-man roster for three young prospects who were not part of the team’s run to the World Series. Renfroe, 28, appeared in 42 games with 34 starts during the pandemic-shortened
3:39 PM ET ESPN News Services The Boston Red Sox have hired Will Venable to be a bench coach on manager Alex Cora’s staff. Venable spent the past three seasons with the Chicago Cubs as a first- and third-base coach after a 12-year career as a major league outfielder, mostly with the San Diego Padres.
7:00 AM ET Sam MillerESPN.com Close ESPN baseball columnist/feature writerFormer editor-in-chief of Baseball ProspectusCo-author of “The Only Rule Is It Has To Work” For many of us, one of the first hints that are parents are not gods, not superheroes, not even particularly significant in a world of 7 billion, comes in the stands of
10:16 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman‘s suspension for throwing near the head of Tampa Bay’s Mike Brosseau was reduced from three games to two after he appealed the decision. Major League Baseball announced the result of the appeal on Thursday. It was heard by special assistant to the commissioner
3:28 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — The Brewers have promoted Matt Arnold to senior vice president and general manager. Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns announced the move Thursday and said it “formalizes how we have operated over the last few years.” Stearns previously held the title president of baseball operations and general
12:09 PM ET The Los Angeles Dodgers will begin defense of their World Series championship on the road against the Colorado Rockies as part of an Opening Day quadruple-header to be broadcast on ESPN on Thursday, April 1, 2021. In all, ESPN will cover 11 season-opening games, involving 19 different teams, over the first week
7:10 PM ET The Los Angeles Dodgers are among the latest baseball teams to implement layoffs as MLB faces the possibility of a second season with limited fan access amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The team informed employees throughout the franchise of layoffs on Wednesday. The Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among
3:27 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and will be suspended for the entire 2021 season, sources told ESPN. It is the second PED suspension for
3:52 PM ET Seattle Sounders FC announced on Tuesday that Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Seattle Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. and his family have been added to the Major League Soccer club’s ownership group. – Carlisle: Can MLS complete playoffs outside bubble?– MLS Cup playoffs: Who’s in, fixtures and more– MLS on
12:13 PM ET Chicago Cubs drought buster Theo Epstein is stepping down as president of baseball operations Nov. 20. Epstein, 46, has been with the Cubs for nine seasons. When he first arrived he tore the club down to completely rebuild, and after a few very lean years, the project culminated in the 2016 World
5:44 PM ET Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the right shoulder he dislocated celebrating a home run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, sources told ESPN. Bellinger is expected to miss 10 weeks, which would put him on track to return by spring training, sources told
12:40 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are the leading candidates returning to baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot in a year without any favorites among the new names. Schilling was third behind Derek Jeter and Larry Walker with 278 of 397 votes last year, finishing at 70%
1:26 PM ET The Atlanta Braves signed left-hander Drew Smyly to a one-year, $11 million contract on Monday, the team announced. The 31-year-old Smyly was 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances last season for San Francisco, which signed him to a one-year major league contract in January. Smyly was
6:24 PM ET San Diego Padres right-hander Mike Clevinger is set to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2021 season. The team made the announcement Monday, saying that they’ve also re-signed Clevinger to a two-year deal. The agreement replaces Clevinger’s two remaining seasons of arbitration eligibility.
12:24 PM ET ESPN News Services Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is hospitalized in intensive care in Orange County, California, the team announced Sunday. Lasorda, 93, is resting comfortably, according to the team. “The family appreciates everyone’s thoughts and prayers; however, they request their privacy at this time,” the Dodgers said. Lasorda attended