Top News:
Associated Press:
Padres roll as Fernando Tatis Jr. marks playoff return with HR — SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a towering two-run homer on his first playoff swing in four years and Michael King struck out 12 in his first postseason start as the Padres beat rookie AJ Smith-Shawver and the Braves 4 …
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KNSD-TV, San Diego Union-Tribune, New York Times, Winnipeg Free Press, New York Post and Daily News
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Jack Sommers / Sports Illustrated:
D-backs' Clubhouse Reaction to Being Eliminated from Postseason — It was a disappointing ending to what could have been another run in the playoffs. Instead the Diamondbacks are heading home. — Just like the lights went out on the Arizona Diamondbacks season Monday afternoon …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and Arizona Sports
ESPN:
Mets continue wild ride with 8-4 win over Brewers in playoff opener — MILWAUKEE — Mark Vientos hit a tiebreaking, two-run single during a five-run outburst in the fifth inning as the indefatigable New York Mets continued their thrilling week by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 in an NL Wild Card Series opener Tuesday.
Paul Newberry / Associated Press:
Mets win wild doubleheader opener, Braves take Game 2 as both teams reach playoffs — An improbable comeback by the Mets in the first game of the makeup set secures their playoff berth, while a gritty recovery by the Braves in the nightcap leaves Arizona as the odd team out
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ESPN:
Embattled MLB legend Pete Rose, all-time hits leader, dies at 83 — Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader who was banned from baseball for betting on the sport, has died at age 83, the medical examiner in Clark County, Nevada, confirmed to ABC News on Monday. — Rose was found by a family member.
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TMZ.com:
MLB Legend Pete Rose Dead At 83 — PETE ROSE DEAD AT 83 … 6:55 PM PT — Major League Baseball released a statement following the passing of Pete Rose ... extending their condolences to Rose's family, friends and friends “who admired his greatness, grit and determination on the field of play.”
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WLWT-TV, Cincinnati.com, Larry Brown Sports, Yahoo Sports, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Daily News, Deadspin, New York Post, Greensburg Tribune-Review, Lone Star Ball, Phillies Nation, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, masslive.com, The Japan Times, Red Reporter and ABC13, more at WeSmirch »
Anthony Franco / MLB Trade Rumors:
Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025 — Matt Swartz has created a model to project salaries for arbitration eligible players, which we've been publishing at MLB Trade Rumors for 14 years. — In the baseball industry, teams and agents determine arbitration salaries by identifying comparable players.
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Chaim Bloom to take over as Cardinals president of baseball ops in 2026 — The St. Louis Cardinals are making major changes to their front office — but not until after the 2025 season, team owner and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. announced Monday during his end-of-year news conference.
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Yahoo Sports, Viva El Birdos, New Jersey Online, NESN.com, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Times and Winnipeg Free Press
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Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
MLB announces changes to uniforms for All-Star Game, regular season — Major League Baseball will make two changes related to its uniforms over the course of the next two seasons, the league announced on Monday. The first change will have players return to wearing their primary home …
Associated Press:
MLB shows 1st back-to-back attendance increase since 2011-12 — NEW YORK — Major League Baseball's average attendance rose 0.9% this season, increasing in consecutive years for the first time since 2011-12. — MLB drew 71.35 million fans over 2,413 gates for an average of 29,568 …
Discussion:
Deadspin and baseballmusings.com
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Skubal in Cy form, leads Tigers by Astros in AL wild card — HOUSTON — The fastball torments, the changeup perplexes and the slider befuddles. But what separates Tarik Skubal — and what made his Detroit Tigers teammates confident the success of his incredible regular season …
Discussion:
New York Times, Associated Press and Yahoo Sports
Matt Fisher / WFAA-TV:
Rangers go out with a bang vs. Angels despite season filled with whimpers — The Texas Rangers went out in style with a series sweep of the rival Los Angeles Angels, but concluded their World Series reign without a return trip to October. — ARLINGTON, Texas — With the final pitch thrown …
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Dallas Morning News and Associated Press
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Watch parties, velo machines - Dodgers will try different approach to 5 days off before NLDS — For the third consecutive year, the Dodgers will have five days off before starting their postseason run. The layoff has been followed by quick exits each of the past two years. — And then they rested.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, New York Post and masslive.com
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Handing out MLB's 2024 awards: Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge earn MVPs for all-time seasons — PHOENIX — We were entertained all season by one of the greatest shows on Earth with Shohei Ohtani hitting homers and stealing bases nearly every day - yet wondering whether Aaron Judge's season was even better.
