MLB

11:43 AM ET Five of 789 professional athletes infected with COVID-19 were later found to have suffered inflammatory heart disease in the largest study to date on the cardiac impact of the virus in sports. In data published Thursday in JAMA Cardiology, doctors affiliated with six U.S.-based leagues followed the 789 infected players last year

7:00 AM ET New York Mets fans, riding the wave of new owner Steve Cohen’s money and enthusiasm, began the offseason hoping to end up with at least two players — and dreaming on three — from the group of Francisco Lindor, Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, George Springer and DJ LeMahieu. The Mets landed only

2:32 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Wednesday that he couldn’t comment on his previous remarks about Mickey Callaway’s conduct due to Major League Baseball’s ongoing investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the team’s former pitching coach. Antonetti joined Terry Francona for the manager’s Zoom availability from

3:09 PM ET Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — – Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Tim Locastro has tested positive for COVID-19. Manager Torey Lovullo said on Wednesday that Locastro tested positive on Tuesday night and would be out for 10 days unless there had been a false positive. Lovullo added that Locastro feels good and currently has

7:00 AM ET In 1997, the Chicago White Sox famously made what is known as the “White Flag Trade.” Pitchers Wilson Alvarez, Danny Darwin and Roberto Hernandez were dealt to the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline for a slew of prospects, effectively ending any chance the White Sox had at the postseason. The

7:44 PM ET Associated Press CLEARWATER, Fla. — After playing in his first game with the Philadelphia Phillies since his arrest on domestic violence charges two years ago, Odubel Herrera apologized and vowed he’s a better person. “I feel sorry because I made a big mistake,” Herrera said Tuesday. “I know some people are not

7:00 AM ET MLB InsidersESPN The last time we saw the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays were the class of the division while the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays were putting together playoff runs of their own — and the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles were battling at the bottom

6:37 PM ET Associated Press For Chris Owings’ first seven years in the majors, he could pop into the video room to take a look at his at-bats during a game. Then last season, the utility infielder for the Colorado Rockies had to make due with a printout. “You’d come back in the dugout and

5:48 PM ET Associated Press Garrett Richards had gotten only one out during his first spring training start, loading the bases and walking in one run before the Red Sox stopped the inning after 23 pitches. Then he went back out for a 1-2-3 second inning. “It’s building blocks man,” he said after being rescued

7:00 AM ET My least favorite thing of late February: Shoveling snow for the seventh time in the month. My favorite thing: My annual scroll through all the non-roster invitees to spring training. While every team brings many of its top prospects to major league camp, it’s the veterans who make these lists interesting. You

9:37 PM ET ESPN News Services ABERDEEN, Md. — Vi Ripken, matriarch of the famed Orioles family that includes Hall of Fame son Cal Ripken Jr., has died. She was 82. Family spokesman John Maroon said Sunday that she died on Friday, a day before her birthday, in Aberdeen, where a youth stadium carries the

6:23 PM ET ESPN News Services Trey Mancini received a standing ovation and applause from both dugouts Sunday during his first live at-bat after missing the 2020 season while recovering from Stage 3 colon cancer. When the Baltimore Orioles first baseman came up in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he drew a nice

7:05 AM ET What Kevin Mather did last week was to effectively trigger a klieg light over a pitch-dark, rat-infested corner of baseball. Everybody in the sport is aware of the noncompetitive behavior present among many of the 30 teams. Everybody can hear the gnawing on good faith and on the integrity of competition. Everybody

5:36 PM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — DJ LeMahieu and the New York Yankees are happy there will be a little bit of baseball normalcy when spring training games begin on Sunday. As in, fans in the stands when the Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field. Due to restrictions brought about

6:03 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — After a difficult few seasons for Miguel Cabrera, the Detroit Tigers slugger has a chance to remind fans just how much he’s accomplished in his career. Specifically, Cabrera has an opportunity to reach two major milestones in 2021. He is 13 home runs shy of 500 and 134

5:07 PM ET Chicago Cubs shortstop Javy Baez and left fielder Joc Pederson have one thing in common besides being 28 years old and free agents after this season: Both have something to prove in 2021. The lefty-hitting Pederson wants to show he can be an everyday player instead of just a platoon guy against

7:00 AM ET With MLB spring training games set to begin Sunday across Florida and Arizona, it is officially baseball season once again. The start of a new season means seeing players like Francisco Lindor, Trevor Bauer and Nolan Arenado in their new uniforms along with a chance to get a glimpse of some of

11:51 AM ET Francisco Lindor continues to endear himself to the fan base of his new team, rocking a replica of the New York Mets jacket worn by Eddie Murphy in the classic movie “Coming to America” while making his entrance at the team’s spring training facility Thursday morning. Francisco Lindor wearing the jacket from