WEATHER ALERT
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.
Billy Eppler resigns as Mets GM, and is under investigation by MLB, according to AP source
Read full article: Billy Eppler resigns as Mets GM, and is under investigation by MLB, according to AP sourceBilly Eppler has resigned as New York Mets general manager, and a person familiar with the probe said he is under investigation by Major League Baseball.
David Stearns agrees to become Mets president of baseball operations, according to reports
Read full article: David Stearns agrees to become Mets president of baseball operations, according to reportsDavid Stearns has agreed to become president of baseball operations for the underperforming New York Mets, according to several reports.
Mets owner Steve Cohen considering trade deadline selloff, but Showalter, Eppler safe through season
Read full article: Mets owner Steve Cohen considering trade deadline selloff, but Showalter, Eppler safe through seasonMets owner Steven Cohen is threatening his underperforming team with the prospect of a trade deadline selloff unless New York gets back into contention for a playoff berth.
Mets ace deGrom whiffs 5 of 6 batters in 1st rehab start
Read full article: Mets ace deGrom whiffs 5 of 6 batters in 1st rehab startNew York Mets ace Jacob deGrom struck out five of the six batters he faced and threw 18 of 24 pitches for strikes Sunday night in his first minor league rehab start for Class A St. Lucie.
Mets' Marte loses grandmother 2 years after wife's death
Read full article: Mets' Marte loses grandmother 2 years after wife's deathNew York Mets outfielder Starling Marte has been placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother, which came nearly two years to the day after his wife died of a heart attack.
Mets cut slumping Canó with almost $45 million left on deal
Read full article: Mets cut slumping Canó with almost $45 million left on dealRobinson Canó has been cut by the New York Mets with nearly $45 million remaining on his contract, ending an ill-fated marriage and possibly signaling the end of his decorated major league career.
Injured Mets' deGrom out for major time, no set return date
Read full article: Injured Mets' deGrom out for major time, no set return dateNew York Mets ace Jacob DeGrom will miss major time because of inflammation in his shoulder area, a huge blow to a team that heavily invested in making a deep run this season.
AP source: Mets add CF Marte with $78 million, 4-year deal
Read full article: AP source: Mets add CF Marte with $78 million, 4-year dealThe New York Mets have bolstered their lineup with three free-agent deals, adding speedy center fielder Starling Marte to go along with Mark Canha and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar.
Eppler, joining Mets, embraces return to `intimidating' NYC
Read full article: Eppler, joining Mets, embraces return to `intimidating' NYCBilly Eppler embraced the bright lights of the big city, promising on his first day as Mets general manager to pursue pricey free agents and create a perennial World Series contender.
Angels' Mike Trout hears his playoff clock ticking
Read full article: Angels' Mike Trout hears his playoff clock tickingFILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros in Anaheim, Calif., in this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, file photo. Mike Trout is back in spring training with the Angels to chase his first playoff victory. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Mike Trout is beginning a new season with the same old question. How long will the Los Angeles Angels' three-time AL MVP have to wait for his first playoff victory? Not even the expanded 2020 postseason helped Los Angeles, which finished 26-34 for its fifth straight losing campaign — the franchise's worst stretch since the 1970s.
LEADING OFF: Ailing players heal up, Yanks back in Cleveland
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Ailing players heal up, Yanks back in ClevelandMinnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder Manuel Margot (sore foot) was scratched from the lineup. Acuña was scratched Sunday with renewed irritation in his left wrist. Because of the reworked schedule caused by the virus outbreak, the Yankees didn’t play in Cleveland this year.
Pandemic playoffs: Brewers, Astros in despite losing records
Read full article: Pandemic playoffs: Brewers, Astros in despite losing recordsMembers of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game to earn a playoff birth Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Louis. That’s when the Brewers, at 29-31, open their series against Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler at Dodger Stadium. In a win-and-you’re-in game, St. Louis clinched by beating Milwaukee 5-2. That’s how you see it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. St. Louis played a total of 58 games — it was prepared for a doubleheader in Detroit on Monday if needed to settle the playoff picture.
Angels fire GM Billy Eppler after 5 straight losing seasons
Read full article: Angels fire GM Billy Eppler after 5 straight losing seasonsANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels fired general manager Billy Eppler on Sunday after the team finished its fifth consecutive losing season under his watch. The Angels finished 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened season with a star-studded roster including three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani. Eppler rebuilt a farm system that was left barren by former GM Jerry Dipoto, and he both signed Trout to a massive contract extension and persuaded Ohtani to bring his two-way talents to the Angels. Yet Eppler never managed to sign enough quality pitchers to prevent Trout's Angels from being a perennial also-ran. Eppler repeatedly guessed wrong in his signings from Matt Harvey to Julio Teheran, leaving the Angels with one of the majors' worst starting rotations for much of his tenure.
Angels SS Andrelton Simmons opts out of final 5 games
Read full article: Angels SS Andrelton Simmons opts out of final 5 gamesLos Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Angels SS Andrelton Simmons opts out of final 5 games
Read full article: Angels SS Andrelton Simmons opts out of final 5 gamesLos Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shortstop Andrelton Simmons has opted out of the remainder of the Los Angeles Angels' season. But the Angels haven't publicly closed the door on Simmons' return, and he could be given a qualifying offer. The Angels haven't had a winning season during Simmons' five years in Anaheim, although Simmons said last week he wasn't discouraged by the lack of team success. Simmons also said he hadn't been involved in any recent contract talks with the Angels, but he had enjoyed playing for the club.
Angels' Shohei Ohtani strains arm, won't throw for 4-6 weeks
Read full article: Angels' Shohei Ohtani strains arm, won't throw for 4-6 weeksOhtani is traveling with the Angels to Seattle, where they open a six-game road trip Tuesday night. The Angels also use Ohtani as their primary designated hitter between his mound starts, and he is day-to-day as a hitter, the team said. Ohtani said afterward he was reluctant to throw at his full velocity, but believed he would be capable with time. He went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts during 10 largely successful starts, and he batted .285 with 22 homers as a designated hitter. He spent 2019 solely as the Angels' designated hitter while patiently rehabbing his pitching arm, hitting steadily but not spectacularly.
AL MVP Trout still doesn't feel comfortable about this year
Read full article: AL MVP Trout still doesn't feel comfortable about this yearTrout and his wife, Jessica, are expecting the couple's first child in August. Honestly, I still dont feel that comfortable," he said. The three-time AL MVP continues to have discussions with general manager Billy Eppler and manager Joe Maddon. Trout did leave open the possibility of possibly not playing until the baby arrives. I'm appealing to our guys to be as informed as they can and then arrive at their own truth.
Shohei Ohtani returns to 2-way role with Angels this season
Read full article: Shohei Ohtani returns to 2-way role with Angels this seasonANAHEIM, Calif. Shohei Ohtani will resume his two-way career with the Los Angeles Angels when baseball returns. Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed Tuesday that his Japanese star will pitch and hit in the majors this season. He wasn't expected to pitch in 2020 until at least May, and Eppler confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic hasn't altered the Angels' plans. Eppler said none of the Angels' players are currently intending to opt out of playing in the shortened season. Eppler confirmed that first-round pick Reid Detmers will be on the Angels' summer roster as the 56th player, although the left-handed starter hasn't officially yet been added.