Tatis Jr. broke onto the scene in the second half of the 2019 season, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in the game. His 2020 season, while abbreviated by the COVID-19 pandemic, was even more impressive.

The 22-year-old star batted .277 with 17 home runs and 59 games, compiling 45 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He finished in fourth place in National League MVP voting and led the Padres to their first playoff berth in over a decade.

Tatis Jr.’s accomplishments are almost unprecedented at such a young age, and so is his shiny new contract extension. It is the third-most valuable in the history of Major League Baseball, surpassed only by Mike Trout’s current deal with the Los Angeles Angels and Mookie Betts’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that he signed last year.

The Dominican shortstop is set to be one of the leaders of a Padres team that looks poised to compete for championships both now and in the future.

After signing his new whopping contract, Tatis Jr. is now expected to report to Padres Spring Training next week.

The post Fernando Tatis Jr. and Padres Agree to Massive 14-Year, $340 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The addition of Pillar to the mix in Queens represents an important addition of a right-handed bat and a strong defensive outfielder to a group that was previously heavily-slanted towards lefties.

Pillar joins an outfield mix that also includes Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Dominic Smith. The California native had a strong season in 2020 with the Red Sox and the Rockies, who acquired him in a trade deadline deal. He batted .288, the highest average of his eight-year career, with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs.

The Mets will likely opt to mix-and-match their four top outfield choices, with Pillar looking like a good bet to see time in all three positions. He should be especially useful in a potential platoon with Brandon Nimmo, who has struggled mightily against left-handed pitching in his career.

Pillar’s new contract with the Mets is reportedly worth $5 million and includes an option that could give him a second year in Queens at the same $5 million price tag.

The 32-year-old veteran will report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, for Spring Training over the next couple of weeks.

The post OF Kevin Pillar Signs 1-Year Deal with Mets appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Turner has been Los Angeles’ primary third baseman for the past seven seasons, transforming himself into one of the game’s best and most consistent hitters after a disappointing beginning to his career with the Orioles and Mets.

The Southern California native, a 2017 NL All-Star and the owner of a career .292 batting average, was up to his old tricks with the Dodgers in 2020. In 42 games, Turner batted .307 with a .400 on-base percentage, to go with 4 home runs and 23 RBIs. He was a key part of the team’s postseason success, as well, batting .250 with 3 home runs, including 2 in the Dodgers’ World Series triumph over the Rays.

While there was some speculation that Turner could sign with a team like the NL rival Atlanta Braves, it turns out that he is set to spend his next two seasons as he has for the better part of the last decade, manning the hot corner for one of the best teams in the game.

The post 3B Justin Turner Sticks with Dodgers on 2-Year, $34 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“King Felix”, once one of the most dominant starters in the league in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was set to get a chance to play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 season and looked sharp in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the start of the season and ultimately led the Venezuela native to opt out of the season.

The 34-year-old veteran had a bittersweet departure from Seattle as he became gradually less and less effective. After making six All-Star appearances between 2019 and 2015 and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, he began to see a dip in effectiveness in 2015 and saw his ERA soar above 4 every year since 2017.

He was a shell of his former self in 2019, putting up a dreadful 6.40 ERA along with a 1-8 record in 15 starts.

If there’s any place where Hernandez could get a fair shot to get his career back on track, it is in Baltimore. The team has plenty of rotation openings heading into the 2021 season, and the former star is nearly certain to get a chance to pitch in the Big Leagues again.

The post Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Orioles appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The diminutive second baseman was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2004 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University by the Red Sox, and has spent the entirety of his career with the same franchise.

Breaking into the big leagues in 2006, it didn’t take long for the California native to become established as the team’s second baseman. In only his first full season, Pedroia hit .317 and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award while helping lead the team to a World Series title.

The next year, he took home the 2008 AL MVP Award and made the first of four AL All-Star teams to which he would be named throughout his career.

Pedroia also collected four Gold Glove Awards, the last of which came in 2013, when he once again helped Boston to a World Series title.

Unfortunately, just a few years later Pedroia’s knees began to trouble him, and he missed part of the 2017 season after undergoing surgery. In 2018 and 2019, he barely saw the field thanks to continued setbacks, and he didn’t play in 2020.

His failing knees were ultimately what caused Pedroia to end his career, as he explained to reporters that he can no longer run enough to play.

His career will go down as one of the most memorable in Red Sox history, and fans will miss their scrappy second baseman.

The post Red Sox Legend Dustin Pedroia Retires After 14 Years appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Curacao native and the Phillies reportedly agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract according to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal.

Gregorius was wanted back by Philadelphia throughout the offseason, largely because of how much of a bright spot he was on a disappointing Phils team in 2020. The infielder batted .284 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs, providing a left-handed power threat alongside Bryce Harper in the team’s lineup.

Gregorius, who will turn 31 later this month, provides the Phillies with a proven commodity at shortstop instead of having to rely on unproven youngsters like Scott Kingery at the position. He impressed the Phillies’ brass and teammates throughout last season thanks to his reliability and positive clubhouse presence.

Philadelphia, who also signed catcher JT Realmuto to a big contract extension last week, will hope that Gregorius will play a key role as the team looks to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.

Fresh off signing his new contract, Gregorius will report to Phillies Spring Training in Florida later on this month.

The post Didi Gregorius Returns to Phillies on a 2-Year, $28 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Culley has had a long career in the league, having coached for six franchises since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a wide receivers coach back in 1994. Since then, he has held that role for several teams, most recently with the Ravens over the past two seasons.

The 65-year-old coach is being tasked to bring some stability to a tough situation in Houston. After two consecutive AFC South division championships in 2018 and 2019, the team went 4-12 last season and fired head coach Bill O’Brien.

With quarterback DeShaun Watson having asked for a trade, Culley will have to put his offensive knowledge to use in order to restructure a team that will surely miss its biggest offensive star.

The Texans will ostensibly be in rebuilding mode in the upcoming season, which should give Culley the freedom to implement his style without being solely judged by his win-loss record.

Expect the new deal to be made official by the team over the next few days and for the terms of the contract to be announced.

The post Houston Texans Hire David Culley as Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The former Braves and Angels shortstop is a defensive wizard, known for producing some of the best up-the-middle plays of anyone in the league. Throughout his Major League tenure, he has been an inconsistent hitter but most of those woes have always been canceled out by his premier defense.

Simmons posted a .297 batting average with the Angels last season with no home runs and very little power production. However, his glove remained as reliable as always, saving plenty of hits up the middle for his team.

The Twins will plug Simmons into the shortstop role next season and move long-time infielder Jorge Polanco to second base. The team hopes that Simmons will help improve its defense and give its team’s pitchers a nice boost. Any offensive production from Simmons would be considered a bonus, but that isn’t a priority for a Twins team with one of the best lineups in baseball.

The newest Twin is set to report to Spring Training in Florida over the next few weeks after the deal is officially announced.

The post Twins Add SS Andrelton Simmons for 2021 Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, with Ramos’ contract expiring at the end of June and no agreement for a new contract having been reached, it appears as if the Spanish international could end up elsewhere next season.

The latest team to have decided to make a bid for Ramos, according to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, is Paris Saint-Germain, who has reportedly offered the center-back a 3-year contract worth $15 million per year.

PSG has yet to add a Champions League title to its club’s trophy case, and Ramos could be the missing piece that brings that long-awaited piece of silverware to the French capital. Ramos is an expert in the Champions League, having won four of them in his career.

Real Madrid continues to have Ramos lead its defense, as the Sevilla native started 18 games this season despite nursing injuries at times.

Will Real Madrid find a way to keep their longest-tenured player, or will they let the unthinkable happen and allow him to move to a Champions League rival? Only time will tell.

The post PSG Reportedly Offers Sergio Ramos a 3-Year Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The newest addition to the Boston squad, according to reports, is utilityman Enrique Hernandez, who has agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with his new team.

Hernandez spent the past six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was a key piece of their roster as a handy option off of the bench. With the ability to play almost anywhere on the field, he was an important piece for them which provided their roster with much-needed depth and a more than capable bat.

Despite only averaging .240 during his career, Hernandez has some pop in his bat and has hit 71 home runs in only 690 career games. He appeared in 100+ games for the Dodgers every season between 2015 and 2019, solidifying his role as a “glue guy” for their contending squads.

It is not immediately known how Hernandez will fit in with the Sox, but he should be a candidate to play plenty for a team that looks to be in rebuilding mode over the next couple of seasons.

The newest Red Sox member will report to camp in Florida next month with his new team.

The post Red Sox Add Enrique Hernandez for 2 Years, $14 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Tatis Jr. broke onto the scene in the second half of the 2019 season, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in the game. His 2020 season, while abbreviated by the COVID-19 pandemic, was even more impressive.

The 22-year-old star batted .277 with 17 home runs and 59 games, compiling 45 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He finished in fourth place in National League MVP voting and led the Padres to their first playoff berth in over a decade.

Tatis Jr.’s accomplishments are almost unprecedented at such a young age, and so is his shiny new contract extension. It is the third-most valuable in the history of Major League Baseball, surpassed only by Mike Trout’s current deal with the Los Angeles Angels and Mookie Betts’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that he signed last year.

The Dominican shortstop is set to be one of the leaders of a Padres team that looks poised to compete for championships both now and in the future.

After signing his new whopping contract, Tatis Jr. is now expected to report to Padres Spring Training next week.

The post Fernando Tatis Jr. and Padres Agree to Massive 14-Year, $340 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The addition of Pillar to the mix in Queens represents an important addition of a right-handed bat and a strong defensive outfielder to a group that was previously heavily-slanted towards lefties.

Pillar joins an outfield mix that also includes Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Dominic Smith. The California native had a strong season in 2020 with the Red Sox and the Rockies, who acquired him in a trade deadline deal. He batted .288, the highest average of his eight-year career, with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs.

The Mets will likely opt to mix-and-match their four top outfield choices, with Pillar looking like a good bet to see time in all three positions. He should be especially useful in a potential platoon with Brandon Nimmo, who has struggled mightily against left-handed pitching in his career.

Pillar’s new contract with the Mets is reportedly worth $5 million and includes an option that could give him a second year in Queens at the same $5 million price tag.

The 32-year-old veteran will report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, for Spring Training over the next couple of weeks.

The post OF Kevin Pillar Signs 1-Year Deal with Mets appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Turner has been Los Angeles’ primary third baseman for the past seven seasons, transforming himself into one of the game’s best and most consistent hitters after a disappointing beginning to his career with the Orioles and Mets.

The Southern California native, a 2017 NL All-Star and the owner of a career .292 batting average, was up to his old tricks with the Dodgers in 2020. In 42 games, Turner batted .307 with a .400 on-base percentage, to go with 4 home runs and 23 RBIs. He was a key part of the team’s postseason success, as well, batting .250 with 3 home runs, including 2 in the Dodgers’ World Series triumph over the Rays.

While there was some speculation that Turner could sign with a team like the NL rival Atlanta Braves, it turns out that he is set to spend his next two seasons as he has for the better part of the last decade, manning the hot corner for one of the best teams in the game.

The post 3B Justin Turner Sticks with Dodgers on 2-Year, $34 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“King Felix”, once one of the most dominant starters in the league in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was set to get a chance to play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 season and looked sharp in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the start of the season and ultimately led the Venezuela native to opt out of the season.

The 34-year-old veteran had a bittersweet departure from Seattle as he became gradually less and less effective. After making six All-Star appearances between 2019 and 2015 and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, he began to see a dip in effectiveness in 2015 and saw his ERA soar above 4 every year since 2017.

He was a shell of his former self in 2019, putting up a dreadful 6.40 ERA along with a 1-8 record in 15 starts.

If there’s any place where Hernandez could get a fair shot to get his career back on track, it is in Baltimore. The team has plenty of rotation openings heading into the 2021 season, and the former star is nearly certain to get a chance to pitch in the Big Leagues again.

The post Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Orioles appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The diminutive second baseman was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2004 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University by the Red Sox, and has spent the entirety of his career with the same franchise.

Breaking into the big leagues in 2006, it didn’t take long for the California native to become established as the team’s second baseman. In only his first full season, Pedroia hit .317 and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award while helping lead the team to a World Series title.

The next year, he took home the 2008 AL MVP Award and made the first of four AL All-Star teams to which he would be named throughout his career.

Pedroia also collected four Gold Glove Awards, the last of which came in 2013, when he once again helped Boston to a World Series title.

Unfortunately, just a few years later Pedroia’s knees began to trouble him, and he missed part of the 2017 season after undergoing surgery. In 2018 and 2019, he barely saw the field thanks to continued setbacks, and he didn’t play in 2020.

His failing knees were ultimately what caused Pedroia to end his career, as he explained to reporters that he can no longer run enough to play.

His career will go down as one of the most memorable in Red Sox history, and fans will miss their scrappy second baseman.

The post Red Sox Legend Dustin Pedroia Retires After 14 Years appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Curacao native and the Phillies reportedly agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract according to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal.

Gregorius was wanted back by Philadelphia throughout the offseason, largely because of how much of a bright spot he was on a disappointing Phils team in 2020. The infielder batted .284 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs, providing a left-handed power threat alongside Bryce Harper in the team’s lineup.

Gregorius, who will turn 31 later this month, provides the Phillies with a proven commodity at shortstop instead of having to rely on unproven youngsters like Scott Kingery at the position. He impressed the Phillies’ brass and teammates throughout last season thanks to his reliability and positive clubhouse presence.

Philadelphia, who also signed catcher JT Realmuto to a big contract extension last week, will hope that Gregorius will play a key role as the team looks to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.

Fresh off signing his new contract, Gregorius will report to Phillies Spring Training in Florida later on this month.

The post Didi Gregorius Returns to Phillies on a 2-Year, $28 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Culley has had a long career in the league, having coached for six franchises since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a wide receivers coach back in 1994. Since then, he has held that role for several teams, most recently with the Ravens over the past two seasons.

The 65-year-old coach is being tasked to bring some stability to a tough situation in Houston. After two consecutive AFC South division championships in 2018 and 2019, the team went 4-12 last season and fired head coach Bill O’Brien.

With quarterback DeShaun Watson having asked for a trade, Culley will have to put his offensive knowledge to use in order to restructure a team that will surely miss its biggest offensive star.

The Texans will ostensibly be in rebuilding mode in the upcoming season, which should give Culley the freedom to implement his style without being solely judged by his win-loss record.

Expect the new deal to be made official by the team over the next few days and for the terms of the contract to be announced.

The post Houston Texans Hire David Culley as Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The former Braves and Angels shortstop is a defensive wizard, known for producing some of the best up-the-middle plays of anyone in the league. Throughout his Major League tenure, he has been an inconsistent hitter but most of those woes have always been canceled out by his premier defense.

Simmons posted a .297 batting average with the Angels last season with no home runs and very little power production. However, his glove remained as reliable as always, saving plenty of hits up the middle for his team.

The Twins will plug Simmons into the shortstop role next season and move long-time infielder Jorge Polanco to second base. The team hopes that Simmons will help improve its defense and give its team’s pitchers a nice boost. Any offensive production from Simmons would be considered a bonus, but that isn’t a priority for a Twins team with one of the best lineups in baseball.

The newest Twin is set to report to Spring Training in Florida over the next few weeks after the deal is officially announced.

The post Twins Add SS Andrelton Simmons for 2021 Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, with Ramos’ contract expiring at the end of June and no agreement for a new contract having been reached, it appears as if the Spanish international could end up elsewhere next season.

The latest team to have decided to make a bid for Ramos, according to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, is Paris Saint-Germain, who has reportedly offered the center-back a 3-year contract worth $15 million per year.

PSG has yet to add a Champions League title to its club’s trophy case, and Ramos could be the missing piece that brings that long-awaited piece of silverware to the French capital. Ramos is an expert in the Champions League, having won four of them in his career.

Real Madrid continues to have Ramos lead its defense, as the Sevilla native started 18 games this season despite nursing injuries at times.

Will Real Madrid find a way to keep their longest-tenured player, or will they let the unthinkable happen and allow him to move to a Champions League rival? Only time will tell.

The post PSG Reportedly Offers Sergio Ramos a 3-Year Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The newest addition to the Boston squad, according to reports, is utilityman Enrique Hernandez, who has agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with his new team.

Hernandez spent the past six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was a key piece of their roster as a handy option off of the bench. With the ability to play almost anywhere on the field, he was an important piece for them which provided their roster with much-needed depth and a more than capable bat.

Despite only averaging .240 during his career, Hernandez has some pop in his bat and has hit 71 home runs in only 690 career games. He appeared in 100+ games for the Dodgers every season between 2015 and 2019, solidifying his role as a “glue guy” for their contending squads.

It is not immediately known how Hernandez will fit in with the Sox, but he should be a candidate to play plenty for a team that looks to be in rebuilding mode over the next couple of seasons.

The newest Red Sox member will report to camp in Florida next month with his new team.

The post Red Sox Add Enrique Hernandez for 2 Years, $14 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.