Category: Sports News

As expected, Mets left-handed relieverA.J. Minter has exercised his player option for the 2026 season.

The option is worth $11 million.

Minter, who signed a two-year deal with the Mets last offseason that contained an opt-out after the first year of the deal, missed most of the 2025 season due to a torn lat muscle that required surgery.

Before getting hurt, Minter was stellar, posting a 1.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while striking out 14 in 11.0 innings spanning 13 appearances.

Aside from Minter, Brooks Raley is the only 2025 bullpen member who seems like a lock to be back.

Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto are all free agents.

Members of the Mets' 40-man roster who could be relief options next season include Drew Smith (who should be ready to go after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery), Huascar Brazoban (who is arbitration-eligible), Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross.

Edwin Diaz is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, though it stands to reason that the Mets will make a strong push to re-sign him.

Reed Garrett, who has been a mainstay the last two seasons, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.

Downtown Los Angeles was transformed into a sea of Dodger blue and white Monday, as thousands of fans from across Southern California filled the streets to get a glimpse of the back-to-back World Series champs.

Crowds at Metro stations and around downtown broke out into spontaneous “Go Dodgers” cheers and chants while fans awaited the team's celebratory parade before a rally at Dodger Stadium, capping off the team's World Series run with a dramatic Game 7 finisher.

Fans lined staircases, scaled streetlights, packed freeway overpasses and crammed into balconies along the parade route, in hopes of a better view of the dynasty-making Dodgers, who secured baseball's most coveted title with a star-studded lineup that hailed from around the globe — similar to the city of immigrants it represents.

Some said they arrived before sunrise to secure prime parade-route seats. Parents joked about cases of the "Dodger flu" allowing their school-age children to join in the historic day. Angelenos from all walks of life danced and cheered as stereos and car speakers blasted Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, Nate Dogg and, of course, Randy Newman's "I Love L.A."

“Back-to-back, baby!” a teenager shouted over the chorus of vuvuzelas and music.

The citywide celebration mostly featured good-natured revelry, but the Los Angeles Police Department reported at least one severe injury as officers attempted to clear downtown streets after the parade. It wasn't immediately clear what happened, but the LAPD issued a dispersal order around 1 p.m., blaming the crowd for blocking officers from reaching the injured person.

The agency reported that some rowdy fans had refused to leave, including a DJ who set up and played music to an estimated 700 people. Several others also set off fireworks.

Police also reported that a California Highway Patrol vehicle was surrounded and vandalized by parade participants.

By 2:30 p.m., however, the LAPD reported that the large crowds had mostly left the area and thanked those who supported the Dodgers "in a respectful and peaceful manner."

Tens of thousands of people could be seen packed between downtown's skyscrapers, but the LAPD did not provide an official estimate on the size of the parade crowd. Dodger Stadium, which has the highest capacity in baseball, was packed.

As the team's open-air, double-decker buses hit Temple Street on Monday morning, fans neared hysteria, shouting their favorite players' names and raising their fists in the air.

From one of the buses, pitcher Blake Snell pointed at the crowd while an armada of buzzing aerial drones dodged blasts from confetti cannons. A “Freddie! Freddie!" chant broke out when fans spotted the Dodgers' first baseman, renowned for his World Series heroics.

"This is insane," Freeman said of the parade crowd. "I feel like it’s almost double from last year."

Further down the route, Jane Lee held up a sign for pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who cemented his World Series MVP status in Game 7 when he took the mound to record the final eight outs after starting Game 6. On top of winning MVP of the series, Lee designated him “best pitcher” on her homemade sign, which ended with a word written in Japanese.

“Arigato!” the Monterey Park resident said. Others echoed her shout, and it soon became a raucous chorus of gleeful thank-yous for the Japan native — fully embraced by the city of Angels.

Ken Suzuki, a college student from Japan, brought similar energy to 2nd Street, where he waved a Japanese flag.

“I’ve followed Yamamoto since he played in Japan. It’s so wild to see him dominate on such a big stage,” Suzuki said.

The parade kicked off at 11 a.m. By noon, the team arrived at their stadium, where players and staff thanked fans and commemorated a historic season — and called for another.

“What’s better than two? Three! Three-peat! Three-peat!” Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, shouted to the roaring crowd.

All day, Dodgers fans couldn't shake off their glee.

In knee-high Dodgers socks along the parade route, Mark Krojansky waxed poetic over the fact that his kids had already experienced three Dodger championships. He'd had to wait three decades between the 1988 win and 2020 — but said it was well worth it.

“This could be the only time for many, many years, you never know,” Krojansky said. “We deserve it.”

The 2025 Dodgers team has been a bright spot during an otherwise tumultuous year for the region, after wind-driven firestorms devastated thousands of homes in January and then widespread immigration sweeps began over the summer by the Trump administration, specifically targeting Los Angeles.

Carlos Soto, a San Bernardino resident, said the parade was a much-needed respite after the challenging year.

"I definitely feel the city needs a lift," Soto said. "It is something that brings the community together across nationalities and political lines and unites everybody — it's something that's very needed."

Chuck Berez, a decades-long Dodgers fan from L.A., was walking toward the parade route Monday morning and said the love from the organization and its fans embodied the city itself.

“They stick together. … You got to weather the storm and look at the big picture,” Berez said. “The way they came through in the clutch, you know, just showing you their resilience and their experience.”

Los Angeles transplant Aaron Wole, a hospital worker originally from Florida, felt that spirit these last few weeks. Despite being a lifelong Rays fan, he donned an Ohtani jersey Monday morning at the parade.

“When in Rome, you got to do as the Romans.… This doesn’t happen much in Florida,” Wole said. “In moments like these, you feel included in the community. It really feels like a great atmosphere with all these fans.”

Times staff writer Jack Harris contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

After the $500 million Dodgers' title repeat, what's next for MLB? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The $500 million Los Angeles Dodgers‘ thrilling World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays attracted record international attention for Major League Baseball, affirmed LA’s status as the sport’s best team and drew more attention to baseball’s payroll disparity heading into what is likely to be contentious labor negotiations.

Los Angeles’ 5-4, 11-inning win over Toronto in Game 7 on Saturday night capped a postseason with seven winner-take-all games, two more than any previous year.

Shohei Ohtani is building a case as the sport’s best player ever with his unprecedented two-way performances, captivating audiences outside the U.S. unlike any previous player.

“It just absolutely been the greatest benefit to the game that you can imagine throughout the year,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Toronto’s success this year sparked interest throughout Canada, which gave the Blue Jays nationwide support.

Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh already have committed to play for the United States in next year’s World Baseball Classic, which is gaining increased interest with each addition.

And MLB is negotiating to send big league players to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during an extended All-Star break.

“Players are interested in playing, whether it’s for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world,” union head Tony Clark said.

The Dodgers are already talking about a three-peat

Minutes after the Dodgers became the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman said matching that pinstriped power was the next goal.

“The Yankees are three-time back-to-back,” he said, “so we get to use that same narrative next year.”

Those Yankees are among just four instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships alongside five by the 1949-53 Yankees, four by the 1936-39 Yankees and three by the 1972-74 Oakland Athletics.

Big market spending sparks talk of salary-cap proposal

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attracted attention after the National League Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee when he yelled to Los Angeles fans: “They said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

Los Angeles entered the World Series having spent $509.5 million in major league payroll and projected luxury tax, plus another $6.5 million for pitcher Roki Sasaki’s minor league signing bonus.

Including Sasaki’s bonus, the Dodgers spending for its two World Series title teams totaled at least $890 million. The New York Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year after getting knocked out in last year’s NLCS, have spent about $860 million in 2024 and ’25.

In a sign of how much payroll disparity has increased, the Athletics spent less than $150 million over the same period.

Manfred repeatedly has said owners haven’t settled on their labor proposals, but the players’ association is bracing to resist a push for a salary cap. Demand for a cap from owners is what led to a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95 and the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.

The labor contract expires on Dec. 2, 2026, and bargaining is likely to start this winter or spring.

More Japanese players likely headed to MLB

Following the success of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, more Japanese players may sign with MLB teams.

Munetaka Murakami, a third baseman and first baseman who turns 26 in February, is expected to be posted by the Yakult Swallows. He hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs this year, limited to 56 games by an oblique injury. A two-time Central League MVP, in 2022 he hit 56 homers to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown.

Kazuma Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman. will be posted by the Yomiuri Giants. He has 248 homers in 11 Central League seasons, hitting 30 or more from 2018-23.

Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander, could be posted by the Seibu Lions. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s prior team record of 16 from 2004.

Here come the robots

Game 7 of the World Series was MLB’s last with human umpires making all ball/strike calls.

Starting next season, the Automated Ball/Strike System will be installed in all big league ballparks and batters, catchers and pitchers will be able to appeal decisions to a high-tech system of cameras tracking each pitch and judging whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone.

Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game and a team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for video review, which has been in place for many calls since 2014. Teams that exhaust their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning.