Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Wanna bet? If the wager involved Shohei Ohtani, the answer from gamblers was yes more often than it was for any other player in any sport last year, according to data from BetMGM.

When betting on game results in 2025, gamblers placed the most wagers on NFL games. However, when betting on individual athletes, gamblers placed the most wagers on Ohtani, the two-way superstar for the World Series champion Dodgers and National League most valuable player. Saquon Barkley, the running back for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, ranked second.

That data considered only BetMGM wagers that involved individual players — sometimes for awards such as MVP, a spokesman said, but most often for prop bets determined by individual performance.

Read more:Shaikin: Should Angels fans just give up and join the Dodgers bandwagon?

By way of example from another sportsbook, Caesars Sports offered these World Series prop bets for Ohtani: Would he hit a leadoff home run? Drive in at least seven runs? Collect at least 10 hits? Hit a 470-foot home run? Hit at least five home runs? Deliver a walk-off hit? Hit two home runs and strike out 10 batters in the same game? Strike out 20 batters in the series? (Ohtani did not do any of those eight things.)

The most popular major leaguers beyond Ohtani among bettors, according to BetMGM, all were sluggers: Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees ranked second, followed by Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds, Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers and Bryce Harper of the Phillies.

Yet the most notorious MLB prop bets last year involved pitchers, not hitters.

In November, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on federal charges that they “rigged pitches” — that is, they tipped bettors about whether they would throw a pitch outside the strike zone in specified situations and how hard they would throw it. Prosecutors say bettors won hundreds of thousands of dollars for themselves and paid Clase and Ortiz thousands of dollars for their help.

The pitchers have pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for May. Prosecutors told the court last month that Clase, a three-time All-Star, likely would face 87 to 108 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines — that is, up to nine years — if convicted on each of the four counts in his indictment.

The pitchers also face a potential lifetime ban from baseball. Clase, 27, is under contract for $6 million this year; the Guardians hold a $10-million option for 2027 and another for 2028. Investors who pooled their money to support him in exchange for a percentage of his career earnings are at risk of losing their investment.

The types of prop bets placed on Clase and Ortiz may become even less popular next season.

Read more:Plaschke: Thank you, L.A. sports teams, for saving me during the worst year

On the day after Clase and Ortiz were indicted, Major League Baseball announced an agreement with sports book operators to cap such pitching prop bets at $200. The operators, MLB said, represented “more than 98% of the U.S. betting market.”

In its announcement, the league noted that most prop bets are not solely influenced by one person — that is, whether Ohtani hits a home run depends in significant part on how he is pitched.

“However, ‘micro-bet’ pitch-level markets (e.g., ball/strike; pitch velocity) present heightened integrity risks because they focus on one-off events that can be determined by a single player and can be inconsequential to the outcome of the game,” the league statement said. “The risk on these pitch-level markets will be significantly mitigated by this new action targeted at the incentive to engage in misconduct.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Phillies hire Don Mattingly as next bench coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rob Thomson has a new right-hand man.

The Phillies announced Monday that they have hired Don Mattingly as their bench coach.

The move comes after Philadelphia reshaped its coaching staff shortly after the season, shifting former bench coach Mike Calitri into a newly created field coordinator role. The opening allowed the club to pursue a veteran presence with extensive managerial experience — something the front office openly prioritized.

Mattingly, 64, brings more than a decade of experience as a Major League manager. He led the Dodgers from 2010–15 and the Marlins from 2016–22, managing 1,827 games across 13 seasons. The 2020 Manager of the Year then joined the Blue Jays as bench coach ahead of the 2023 season, where he spent the past three years.

It’s a reunion in many ways.

Thomson, Mattingly and Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long all overlapped in the Yankees organization. Thomson joined New York’s Major League staff as field coordinator in 2007. Mattingly served as the Yankees’ bench coach that season, while Long was in his first year as the club’s hitting coach.

Now, Mattingly teams up with his son, Preston, the Phillies’ general manager.

During the Phillies’ end-of-season press conference, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made it clear what the club was seeking in the role.

“Managers use bench coaches in different fashions during a game,” Dombrowski said. “I think it would be ideal to have somebody that has had some managerial experience.”

Mattingly fits that description cleanly.

Beyond the dugout, his playing resumé stands on its own. The 1985 American League MVP spent all 14 of his Major League seasons with the Yankees, compiling 2,153 hits, 222 home runs and a .307 career average. He was a six-time All-Star, a nine-time Gold Glove award winner and remains one of the most respected figures of his era.

Despite 43 years in Major League Baseball as a player and coach, Mattingly has yet to win a World Series. The Phillies — who have reached the postseason four straight years without a championship — will look to see if that changes with “Donnie Baseball” now on the staff.

Don Mattingly met with the media Monday. You can watch the full availability below:

Bo Bichette to Philly? Making a case to sign the former All-Star originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Right-handed hitting could remain a clear priority for the Phillies, even as the calendar turns to January.

On Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Phillies have an interest in infielder Bo Bichette, adding them to a growing list of teams linked to the 27-year-old free agent.

The appeal is straightforward. Bichette hits right-handed, brings lineup balance and, importantly, has shown a willingness to move off shortstop — a flexibility that could make a fit in Philadelphia possible.

Bichette’s market is not a simple one. Productive position players under 30 rarely linger in free agency, but injuries and defensive questions over the past two seasons have complicated his value, even as his career offensive numbers remain strong.

A familiar profile

Bichette’s offensive resumé closely mirrors that of Trea Turner, one of Dave Dombrowski’s largest free-agent commitments in his time with Philadelphia.

Across four full seasons (minimum 120 games) prior to free agency, Turner had hit .298/.353/.476 (.829 OPS). Under the same criteria, Bichette posted a nearly identical .301/.343/.478 line (.821 OPS). Over that span, the two were separated by just 12 hits and 13 at-bats.

Both led the league in hits twice and earned two All-Star selections before hitting the open market.

Turner ultimately commanded an 11-year, $300 million deal before the 2023 season, driven largely by his speed. Bichette does not offer that same element, and his defense is a significant question mark.

In 2025, Bichette recorded minus-13 Outs Above Average at shortstop, placing him in the lowest percentile league-wide, according to Statcast. Turner also struggled defensively in his career, but is coming off a phenomenal year with the glove. For Bichette, a move off shortstop would be a guarantee in any agreement.

Making room for Bo

Until this postseason, Bichette had played exclusively at shortstop, logging 6,184 career innings at the position. A left knee sprain sidelined him late in September, but he returned for the World Series and made a smooth transition to second base, committing no errors.

There is risk in projecting him at second or third long-term, but the bat could justify it.

If the Phillies explored moving an infielder, Alec Bohm stands out. The 29-year-old third baseman is set to reach free agency next offseason, and Bichette would represent an offensive upgrade with a similar contact-oriented approach.

A Bryson Stott trade would be a different calculation. Stott remains under control through 2028 and has experience at shortstop, but moving him could help facilitate a deal for a catcher if the Phillies are unable to re-sign J.T. Realmuto.

From a lineup perspective, Turner and Bichette separating sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper is an easy fit on paper.

Beyond the peripherals

Bichette’s offensive profile is atypical, in a good way.

He sprays the ball to all fields. For his career, he has pulled 28.2 percent of batted balls, gone straightaway 37.1 percent of the time and used the opposite field on 34.7 percent — roughly nine points below league average in pull rate and more than nine points above average to the opposite field.

Primarily a fastball hitter, Bichette was productive against all pitch types in 2025. He hit .308 against fastballs and posted a career-high .313 average with 67 hits against breaking pitches.

His most damage came against offspeed offerings, mostly changeups, where he hit .319 with 10 extra-base hits and a .609 slugging percentage, despite seeing the pitch just 10.4 percent of the time.

Bichette is also comfortable expanding the zone.

The Phillies ranked third in MLB last season in out-of-zone swing rate at 30.7 percent, while Bichette owns a career mark of 35.7 percent (per FanGraphs). While that approach carries risk, it has not hindered his production.

In 2025, he posted an 18.4 percent swing-and-miss rate, ranking in the 83rd percentile, and has made contact on 89.3 percent of in-zone swings over his career.

It’s an aggressive profile, but one that has consistently worked.

What would it cost?

Projecting Bichette’s contract is tricky because of his positional uncertainty.

The situation draws parallels to Marcus Semien prior to the 2022 season. Semien had spent most of his career at shortstop before shifting primarily to second base in 2021, when he slugged 45 home runs for Toronto. Despite a crowded shortstop market that offseason, Semien still secured a seven-year, $175 million deal with Texas, effectively receiving shortstop-level money to play second base.

This offseason features a thin free-agent infielder class. With limited supply, Bichette remains positioned to command a strong market, even this late into the winter.

A deal in the range of six years and $180 million is plausible, particularly if the Phillies structure it to manage luxury tax penalties in the front-half. That could require moving Bohm’s projected $10.25 million arbitration salary, similar to how the club handled Matt Strahm.

Such a move could also complicate a Realmuto reunion, pushing the Phillies toward younger, controllable catching options.

Whether Dombrowski is willing to reshuffle the roster to that degree remains an open question. But Bichette represents the type of offensive addition that could meaningfully change a lineup that has reached the postseason four straight years without a title.

A connection worth noting

There is also a familiar thread.

“When you talk about calm, he’s about as calm as it gets,” Bichette told Sportsnet ahead of Game 6 of the World Series, referring to Don Mattingly, the Phillies’ new bench coach.

Bichette and Mattingly built a strong relationship in Toronto, one that was visible even after the Blue Jays’ Game 7 loss to Los Angeles. That connection alone would not drive a signing, but it is part of the backdrop.

For a Phillies team searching for lineup balance and another dependable right-handed bat, Bichette checks a lot of boxes — if they’re willing to make another splash.

The Yankees and Miami Marlins are in trade talks about a potential deal for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, according to a report by Chris Kirschner and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who added that "no deal was close" as of Sunday morning.

The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are also believed to be interested, according to a subsequent report by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Mets have also shown interest.

The 27-year-old RHP is under team control through the 2028 campaign and estimated to make $3.75 million in this year's arbitration, according to Spotrac.com.

In a career-high 137.2 IP across 26 games this past season, Cabrera went 8-7 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He had 150 strikeouts to 48 walks and 10 hit batters.

The 2025 campaign saw him progress from his 2024 season, in which he was 4-8 with a 4.95 ERA over 20 games and 96.1 IP.

Cabrera went 7-7 with a 4.24 ERA through 22 games (20 starts) and 99.2 IP in 2023. He was 6-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 14 games (all starts) and 71.2 IP the previous year.

His debut season, the 2021 campaign, saw him go 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA in seven games -- all starts.

Cabrera's MLB debut was Aug. 25, 2021, when he allowed three runs on four hits in 6.1 IP of Miami's 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals.

The Marlins signed Cabrera as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in July 2015.

The Yankees added some infield depth on Sunday morning, agreeing to a deal with veteran Paul DeJong.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, DeJong is joining the Yankees on a minor league deal that includes an invite to major league spring training. 

DeJong, 32, began his career by playing seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, earning his lone All-Star appearance in 2019. Since 2023, the infielder has bounced around to a handful of teams, including 57 games with the Washington Nationals in 2025. 

Over the course of nine major league seasons, DeJong has a career slash line of .229/.294/.416 with 146 home runs and 423 RBI. And while he came up as a shortstop, DeJong has played all over the infield, so he'd provide some versatility for a Yankees team that knows shortstop Anthony Volpe likely won't be ready to start the 2026 regular season.

On paper, Tatsuya Imai certainly seemed like a potential fit for the Mets. 

He’s still just 27 years old, brings a ton of potential upside coming over from Japan, and wasn’t commanding too much in free agency with his market not developing as hoped. 

However, the team reportedly was never serious about pursuing the right-hander before he reached an agreement on a three-year pact with the Astros on Thursday. 

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, that’s because the Mets weren’t sold on Imai as an impact starter. 

With the way his contract with Houston is set up -- including incentives based on innings pitched and opt-outs after every year -- it seems other clubs may have felt the same way. 

Imai pitched to a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts over 162.2 innings last year for the Saitama Seibu Lions. 

There are, however, some concerns about the righty making the transition to the States. 

So now, the Mets will have to turn their attention elsewhere if they hope to add to their rotation this offseason. 

Feinsand again connected them to Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, two of the best available in free agency.

It remains to be seen if David Stearns will shell out the money and years the top arms are seeking, though. 

Here is the latest news and buzz surrounding free agent outfielder/first basemanCody Bellinger and his chances of returning to New York with the Yankees or Mets...

---

 

Jan. 10, 6:33 p.m.

Contract negotiations between the Yankees and Bellinger are currently described as at an impasse and New York is reportedly now operating under the assumption that the outfielder is going to sign somewhere else, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.

The Yanks' latest offer to Bellinger of a five-year deal for at least $30 million per year remains far off from what Bellinger and his camp, including his agent Scott Boras, are looking for which is reportedly a seven-year contract with an AAV of more than $30 million.

With both sides unable to reach an agreement, Olney reports that New York is now seeking additions elsewhere and barring a shift in the negotiations, Bellinger's tenure with the Yankees is likely over.

New York can shift their focus to other possible targets such as Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, both of whom have been on the Yankees' radar this offseason and who have remained in conversations with the organization during the Bellinger negotiations. 

The Yankees also continue to engage other teams in trade possibilities.

Jan. 8, 9:02 p.m.

Although there's a gap between Bellinger and the Yankees, the latest report shines a light on how far New York is willing to go with the outfielder.

According to The Athletic's Brendan Kuty, the Yankees' latest multi-year deal had an average annual value of more than $30 million a year. However, the report states Bellingers' camp continues to push for a seven-year contract. 

If Bellinger accepted the $30 million-plus AAV deal, it would have him as the fifth-highest-paid outfielder in baseball. Juan Soto ($51 million), Aaron Judge ($40 million), Mike Trout ($35.5 million) and Mookie Betts ($30.4 million) are the others. 

The 30-year-old outfielder/first baseman had a great season in his first year in The Bronx, and the Yankees have made re-signing Bellinger a priority this offseason.

Other teams linked to Bellinger this offseason include the Cubs, Dodgers and Mets. 

Jan. 6, 1:13 p.m.

There is "clearly a gap" between Bellinger and the Yankees, Jack Curry of YES reported on Monday during an appearance on Yankees Hot Stove.

According to multiple reports, Bellinger has been seeking a six- or seven-year contract.

In addition to the Yankees, the Mets have been heavily linked to Bellinger.

Bellinger's ability to play all three outfield spots and first base is appealing, and sets him apart from fellow free agent Kyle Tucker.

However,  Bellinger's career OPS+ of 120 is dwarfed by Tucker's career OPS+ of 140.

When it comes to the last three seasons, Tucker has an .892 OPS (150 OPS+), while Bellinger's is .815 (125 OPS+).

Jan. 4, 7:09 p.m.

After making a formal offer to the outfielder earlier this week, the Yankees have reportedly made a second offer to the 30-year-old, per NY Post's Joel Sherman.

The offer comes on the heels of the news that New York is eying starting pitcher Edward Cabrera in a possible trade with the Miami Marlins, which connects to the Yankees' offer to Bellinger because if he were to stay in New York he would likely play left field, alongside Aaron Judge in right and Trent Grisham in center.

With that outfield configuration, the Yanks could afford trading away a player like OF Jasson Dominguez to a team, like the Marlins, for a different area of need such as starting pitching, although Sherman writes that that is merely speculation.

However, it does help that both teams have been trade partners in the past which shows a willingness on both sides to get a potential deal done.

Jan. 2, 5:22 p.m.

As the offseason continues, it seems the Yankees have formally made an offer to Bellinger earlier this week, per the NY Post's Jon Heyman.

It's no surprise the Yankees did so, as Bellinger is the team's No. 1 target this offseason, but Heyman added that with both sides in a weekslong standoff, the Mets can't be ruled out.

Other teams linked to Bellinger are the Dodgers, where the outfielder started his career, and the Giants. Heyman also adds the Blue Jays as a potential landing spot if Toronto does not land Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette.

Dec. 26, 9:50 a.m.

While the holiday season has lowered the hot stove temperature, it appears the Yankees' hopes of re-signing Cody Bellinger remain high enough.

A reunion with the star outfielder is still a priority in the Bronx, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and the club feels "pretty confident" he won't move boroughs for a deal over in Queens.

The pursuit of Bellinger is also endorsed by the Yankees' captain. Heyman reports Aaron Judge is "a big advocate" for a long-term commitment with the former MVP, who hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI as a one-year rental in pinstripes last season.

It's unclear when Bellinger will take himself off the free-agent market, but with high demand from championship contenders, some projections have him earning around $30 million annually on a six-year contract. The Yankees may have to sweeten the pot in order to convince him to stay.

Dec. 14, 7:35 p.m.

While reports indicated that the San Francisco Giants "do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment" required to sign free agents this offseason, they aren't checked out of the marketplace altogether.

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported recently that the Giants “have checked in on” Cody Bellinger, the Yankees' No. 1 target.

Bellinger proved to be a big part of the Yanks' last season, contributing well on both sides of the ball with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and a .272/.334/.480 slash line for an .813 OPS (125 OPS+ and wRC+) while ranking in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (seven) and with 12 defensive runs saved.

Dec. 4, 11:42 a.m.

While other suitors are certainly in the mix, Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees' No. 1 target, and the club is making a "big effort" to bring him back, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Heyman lists the Mets, Phillies, Angels, and Dodgers as other possibilities.

ESPN's Jeff Passan has previously reported that signing Bellinger would be a "multipart move" for the Yankees, as the club would almost certainly need to move one of their other outfield pieces --potentially Jasson Dominguez or up-and-coming prospect Spencer Jones.

With Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer, the Yanks would have a surplus of outfielders if Bellinger was to re-sign.

• Celtic are winless in their past four league games against Rangers (D2 L2); they had only failed to win four of their previous 12 Old Firm derbies in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W8 D3 L1).
• Both of the past two league Old Firm derbies have been drawn; Celtic and Rangers haven't played out three successive league draws since October 2002.
• Celtic are winless in the past three occasions that their first league game of a calendar year has come against Rangers (D1 L2), although each were at Ibrox. When playing their league opener of a year at home to Rangers, Celtic are unbeaten in four (W2 D2) since a 4-2 defeat in 1994.
• Rangers have only lost their opening league match in one of the past 14 calendar years (W11 D2), going down 2-1 away to Kilmarnock in 2019.
• The last league meeting between Celtic and Rangers in August featured just nine shots and 0.34 expected goals. Since Opta have this data in the competition (from 2019-20), it's the lowest xG on record in a Scottish Premiership match, and also the second-lowest shot tally in this time, ahead of only St Johnstone v Livingston in May 2021 (seven).
• Celtic have lost five of their 19 league games so far this season. It's already their most defeats in a single campaign since 2020-21 (also five), while they last suffered more defeats in 2012-13 (seven).
• Rangers have won four of their past five league games (L1), just one fewer than they had in their first 14 this term (W5 D8 L1). Both of their defeats so far have been against league leaders Heart of Midlothian.
• This will be the first league Old Firm derby for both Celtic's Wilfried Nancy and Rangers' Danny Röhl.

The strange offseason sweepstakes for Tatsuya Imai has finally come to a close, as the Japanese right-hander is joining the Astros on a three-year contract, per multiple reports.

According to The Athletic's Chandler Rome, the deal maxes out at $63 million with yearly opt-outs. 

With a salary of $18 million that can reach $21 million, based on innings logged, Imai is receiving the third-highest AAV of any Japanese-born pitcher.

Imai's window for a major league contract was closing fast. His deadline to officially sign with a club was Jan. 2, and The Athletic reported earlier this week that the 27-year-old was still taking meetings with interested suitors. 

While it's unclear how serious the Mets were in talks with Imai, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino noted earlier this winter that a "full-tilt pursuit" for the former Nippon League star was never anticipated. 

This was also the case with Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto -- who currently owns the record AAV mark for a Japanese arm -- two offseasons ago. 

There wasn't much noise from the Mets' crosstown rival, either. Jack Curry of YES mentioned last week that the Yankees weren't expected to sign Imai, who happened to be outspoken about his desire to beat the reigning champion Dodgers.

Imai was terrific in 24 starts for the Seibu Lions this past season, registering a sharp 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP across 163.2 innings. He also allowed only 101 hits and struck out 178, producing a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine.

In eight NPB seasons, Imai logged a 3.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, but his last four years on the mound grabbed MLB's attention. With an above-average four-pitch mix that includes a fastball sitting in the mid-90s, he posted ERAs of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34, and 1.92, respectively.

Tatsuya Imai signs with Astros after being linked to Phils originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai has agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Houston Astros, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

This closes the door on a potential Phillies addition that had gained traction recently.

Imai, 27, spent eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Seibu Lions, compiling a 3.15 ERA across 159 appearances. He was coming off a breakout 2025 season, posting a 1.92 ERA in 24 starts with 178 strikeouts over 163 2/3 innings, while significantly improving his command. His WHIP was a career-best at 0.89.

His contract with Houston includes opt-outs after each season with an average annual value of $18 million, with a number of incentives.

The Phillies were among the teams linked to Imai as his posting window neared its Friday deadline, but Philadelphia ultimately did not land the right-hander.

Missing out on Imai keeps the club’s rotation picture largely unchanged — and places added emphasis on its internal decisions.

The Phillies already have significant money, just over $102 million, committed to starting pitching, with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker and Cristopher Sánchez all on multi-year deals, plus Jesús Luzardo in his final year of arbitration.

This move, though, keeps the door open for a reunion with southpaw Ranger Suárez.

Suárez, who will also carry a hefty price tag in free agency, remains an option for Philadelphia to reinforce its rotation without adding an external arm. The club’s top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter, will have the opportunity to compete for a rotation spot in spring training.

With Wheeler’s availability uncertain early next season and the club already pushing luxury-tax thresholds, a reunion with Suárez may still be unlikely, but it would provide continuity to one of the best rotations in the game.

For now, the Phillies will continue monitoring the starting pitching market. Whether that results in renewed talks with Suárez or they stand pat, Imai’s decision elsewhere narrows the options.