WACO, Texas (AP) — Olivia Miles poured in career highs with 40 points and 10 3-pointers to lead No. 17 TCU 83-67 over No. 12 Baylor on Thursday.
Miles scored 10 points in the first half before an outrageous, 23-point third quarter in which she went 7 of 9 from behind the arc, and accounted for all but two of the Horned Frogs' 25 points.
She turned a four-point halftime lead into a 13-point advantage by the end of the third, scoring the most points in a single quarter by any Division-I player since Caitlin Clark on Feb. 15, 2024.
Miles is also the first Division-I player in the last 25 years to make 10 3-pointers on the road against a ranked opponent, per ESPN.
She hit her 10th 3-pointer with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter. It's her second-straight game with 31 or more, in a season in which she's never scored fewer than 12 points in a game.
Marta Suarez also added 27 points to go with six rebounds for the Horned Frogs (22-4, 10-3 Big 12).
Taliah Scott led the Bears (21-5, 10-3) with 22 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and crossed the 1,000-point threshold for her career. Jana Van Gytenbeek had 14 points to go with six assists. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs scored 14 to go with five rebounds and two blocks.
The Yankees are inviting another reliever to spring training.
New York has signed right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, according to multiple reports. If he makes the club, Montero will earn $1.8 million, according to insider Hector Gomez.
Montero, 35, is coming off an up-and-down season with the Astros, Braves and Tigers. Although the right-hander pitched to a 4.50 ERA in three appearances in Houston and a 5.50 ERA with Atlanta across 36 appearances after being traded, he turned things around in the Motor City after being dealt again, pitching to a 2.86 ERA in 20 appearances with the Tigers.
In 10 career seasons, Montero is 23-30 with 30 saves, a 4.68 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP across 380 appearances. He was on the Astros' World Series-winning team in 2022, pitching to a 1.93 ERA across 10 appearances in that postseason.
With the departures of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, the Yankees are looking to retool the bullpen. Aside from closer David Bednar, and relievers Camilo Doval, Tim Hill and Fernando Cruz, there are spots open to those who can win a job this spring.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Asia Boone and Tonie Morgan each scored 19 points and Clara Strack posted a double-double as No. 18 Kentucky breezed past Texas A&M 75-55 on Thursday night.
Boone was 5-of-11 shooting, with four made 3-pointers, and Morgan added eight assists. Strack had 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for the Wildcats (19-7, 6-6 Southeastern Conference).
Strack continued her double-double average at 16 points and 10.5 rebounds per game heading into the contest. She has 13 double-doubles on the year after entering tied for the 14th-most double-doubles in the country.
The Wildcats opened the game on a 16-0 run to build a commanding 27-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. Boone had eight points in the quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers during the opening run.
It was 38-18 at the half, and the Aggies never got closer than a 17-point deficit after that.
The Aggies (10-10, 2-9) have lost four consecutive games on the road.
They were led by Ny’Ceara Pryor, who had 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Janae Kent added 13 points, and Fatmata Janneh added 10 and eight rebounds.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right, and first baseman Freddie Freeman shake hands during DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –– Dave Roberts has had a lot of great teams during his tenure as Dodgers manager.
But his 2026 squad, he believes, is “probably the best team we’ve had on paper.”
Dave Roberts and Freddie Freeman shake hands during DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026. AP
There’s plenty of premium talent, of course, from returning stars including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, to this offseason’s blockbuster additions of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz.
There’s also ample depth, from longtime veterans in Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman, to younger options including Andy Pages, Roki Sasaki, Hyeseong Kim and a crop of other talented pitchers returning from injury.
Shohei Ohtani throwing a baseball during spring training. Getty Images
Yet, as Roberts spoke at a Cactus League media day event Thursday, on the eve of his team’s first workout of spring training at Camelback Ranch, there was another, more intangible dynamic bolstering his belief in this year’s team.
“Knowing we have a target (on our backs) –– as we should if we’re the defending champions –– but to still focus on yourselves and what’s forward, that’s what our guys do a good job of,” Roberts said. “It’s easy to say, to not concern yourselves with people that are trying to knock you off the hill or whatever analogy. But it’s harder to do in practice.”
Indeed, for all the money they’ve spent and talent they’ve accrued in recent years, the Dodgers have been steadfast about how their behind-the-scenes culture has buttressed their on-field success.
Players, coaches and executives have all pointed to the team’s clubhouse chemistry as the bedrock to their back-to-back World Series championships.
Even with the influx of new faces, the consistency of their core has served as a stabilizing foundation.
Roki Sasaki pitches during spring training. Getty Images
To that end, the Dodgers made some long-anticipated moves in the final days of their offseason this week, locking down some familiar faces in order to keep the gang together.
On Wednesday, the club re-signed veteran reliever Evan Phillips to a $6.5 million deal, ensuring he will stay with the organization after being non-tendered earlier this winter (as a way to preserve space on the team’s 40-man roster).
On Thursday morning, a $10 million contract extension was struck with Muncy, one that will keep what is now the franchise’s longest-tenured player in the fold through 2027 (and potentially 2028 thanks to a $10 million club option).
And on Thursday afternoon, fan favorite and longtime veteran Kiké Hernández re-signed with the Dodgers on a $4 million contract, too, marking the third-straight winter he has returned to Los Angeles as a free agent.
“You know, Michael Jordan couldn’t do it without Scottie Pippen and the other guys on that team,” fellow veteran Miguel Rojas said at last month’s Fanfest event, speaking specifically of Hernández but delivering a message that applies to many around the clubhouse. “We’re all part of this, and we’ve all been part of this for the last couple years.”
Will Klein throwing during spring training. Getty Images
Exactly how the team’s final winter moves will impact this upcoming season, of course, remains to be seen.
Muncy was already entrenched as the team’s starting third baseman for this year. And Phillips and Hernández are unlikely to play until “sometime in the summer,” Roberts said, with Phillips still recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery and Hernández from an elbow procedure he had early this offseason.
But their presence, Roberts noted, is impactful –– making their returns an important tone-setter as camp gets underway.
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Consider: After Phillips was non-tendered at the start of the offseason, Roberts said the reliever “wanted to kind of see what was out there, which I respect; he earned that right.” And yet, he ultimately decided to return to the Dodgers, even if his eventual place in a beefed-up bullpen remains unclear.
“Evan understanding the value of whatever role we need him, it’s of importance,” Roberts said. “And to have that reinforced this year is huge.”
Hernández also faces an uncertain role this season, whenever he completes his surgical rehab. But that’s been the case for the utilityman over the past several seasons, when he has grinded through limited playing time in the regular season only to deliver when called upon in October.
“When it comes to crunch time,” Roberts said, “he’s gonna be counted on.”
Even Muncy’s extension served as a sign of the team’s priority on maintaining cohesion, proactively locking up a veteran who Roberts said goes “very under the radar in terms of what he’s done for us to win three championships.”
Put those moves together, and they represent one more reason Roberts and the Dodgers boast such confidence in this year’s team.
They have a huge payroll (now up to $409 million for luxury tax purposes). They have an almost endless supply of big-name players. And now, they enter the spring with a few fitting final roster moves, subtle additions that could nonetheless have profound impacts as well.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Janiah Barker scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Talaysia Cooper added 17 points and four steals, and No. 22 Tennessee rolled past Missouri 98-53 on Thursday night.
Barker shot 9 of 16 from the field and 2 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Lady Vols (16-6, 8-2 Southeastern Conference), who had lost three of their last four games.
Alyssa Latham added 15 points (7-for-10 shooting), Nya Robertson scored 14, and Deniya Prawl notched her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for Tennessee.
The Lady Vols took a double-digit lead just under eight minutes into the contest and stretched their advantage to 30 with a 9-0 run in the second quarter. They held a 53-22 lead at the half. Barker scored 16 points and shot 6 for 9 in the first half, and Latham added 10 points. Tennessee shot 55% as a team in the opening half and held Mizzou to 27%.
The Tigers (16-11, 4-8) were paced by Grace Slaughter's 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Shannon Dowell added 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Mizzou dropped their second straight contest after a three-game win streak.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Lanie Grant scored 15 points, Indya Nivar added 14 and No. 21 North Carolina routed SMU 94-42 on Thursday night for its eighth straight victory.
Courtney Banghart secured her 400th career win to become one of 48 active coaches in Division I women’s basketball to reach the mark.
North Carolina jumped out to a 28-9 lead by the end of the first quarter after making 6 of 8 3-pointers, while SMU went 3-for-14 overall. Five different Tar Heel players made a 3-pointer in the first quarter, with Laila Hull going 2 for 2.
Then the Tar Heels went on a 14-0 run, with 3-pointers by Nyla Brooks and Taliyah Henderson, early in the second quarter for a 31-point lead. Hull made North Carolina's ninth 3-pointer of the first half — on just 12 attempts — for a 49-18 lead at the break.
North Carolina's lead did not drop below 31 points in the second half.
Henderson finished with 13 points and Hull had 11 for North Carolina (21-5, 10-3 ACC).
Zahra King led SMU (8-17, 1-12) with 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting. The Mustangs have lost six straight games.
The Tar Heels finished 12 of 26 from 3-point range, while SMU went 12 of 52 overall (23%).
Up next
SMU: Begins a three-game homestand on Sunday against Pittsburgh.
UNC: Goes down the road to play at No. 11 Duke on Sunday.
UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 2: Nate Williams #19 of the Long Island Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Grand Rapids Gold on February 2, 2026 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Marcus Stevens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Education Day is always an adventure. Whether it be on Long Island or elsewhere in the league. So far this season, every home team has won during Education Day, and the Delaware Blue Coats hoped to follow suit. Long Island had other plans as birthday boy Nate Williams scored 30 points, and E.J. Liddell had a massive double-double, which was able to lift the Nets past the Blue Coats, 123-107.
This game also marked the final game before the All-Star break for both teams. Both teams now have one week off, with two players from Delaware being selected for All-Star festivities in Los Angeles this weekend, and zero from Long Island. Could the All-Star break see players finally move around within the Brooklyn organization? The parent club has an opening caused by some imbalance in their deadline day moves. The Nets dumped three players while adding two, leaving them with an opening on the big club’s roster.
So far, no movement on filling that gap, nor even confirmation that the missing piece could be found in the Nets G League roster. It’s very plausible that Liddell gets lifted to a standard deal, opening a two-way spot for a player like Williams or Grant Nelson. It’s all fungible.
Long Island was once again with all three of the Brooklyn two-way players, but had no players on assignment as the rookies stayed in Brooklyn. The only player who didn’t play in this one for the Nets was Dre Davis, which was a coach’s decision.
Long Island got off to a hot start and never looked back. After taking a 10-point lead into the second quarter, Long Island extended it to a nearly 20-point lead as halftime rolled around. The Nets never looked back in the second half either, as Williams, Liddell, and Grant Nelson went off in this one to secure the 16-point victory.
Nate Williams entered this one knowing he wanted to show up and show out on his 27th birthday which, spoiler alert, he did. Oftentimes, we may see a lot of changes in All-Star week which this year is in Los Angeles. This may players being called up, whether to a standard deal or a two-way deal, or players being sent down, or assigned to a hybrid status: playing for Long Island but on a regular G League contract, not a two way. For Williams, his play has cemented one thing: that he deserves a call-up, whether it be in Brooklyn or elsewhere.
Birthday Buckets🎂 Nate Williams leads all scorers with 30 points on his 27th birthday 🎊 pic.twitter.com/2MT6N9ttF8
The 6’6” wing is the player with the most NBA experience on the team, a total of 47 games over parts of three NBA seasons. So, while he’s a bit older than 23-year-old Grant Nelson or the slightly younger Chaney Johnson who’s on a two-way, Williams is the most experienced. The New York native (Rocheseter) separated himself head and shoulders from everyone else. Williams finished the game connecting on 12 of his 23 shots, for better than 50%, and went 3-of-9 from deep for a huge 30-point game.
Williams impressive day didn’t stop there. He hauled in seven rebounds, as well as picking up two assists.This was very much a statement game for Williams, as he is hoping to secure his spot back in the NBA.
E.J. Liddell, had another massive game. While his shooting output was small, eight shots taken, Liddell finished the game with 13 points. While this was far from Liddell’s biggest games, he played one of his most complete games vs. Delaware, the 76ers’ affiliate.
Liddell was a huge difference-maker under the basket, hauling in 12 rebounds. To cap off his impressive game, Liddell tallied two assists and one steal. Liddell has told ND that he strives to be the best regardless of where he’s playing. But one has to wonder if he was thinking of that coveted standard spot with Brooklyn.
From a player who had a double-double to one who very nearly had one, Grant Nelson looked unstoppable at times. While Nelson was very clearly still on a minutes restriction as he entered the All-Star break, his time on the court has been slowly creeping back up. The North Dakota native and Alabama product played the most minutes since being injured in this one, finishing Thursday’s game with 25.
Nelson is showing teams what he’s capable despite the restriction. He tallied 18 points, connecting on six of his 13 tries. He also hauled in a whopping nine rebounds. Nelson also had an assist and a steal to his credit. Nelson has been rumored as a two-way candidate since June when he passed on being taken in the second round of the draft in hopes of being signed by the Nets to a $600,000 deal. His injury slowed down that thinking, but as recently as last week he told ND that remained his goa.
Malachi Smith tallied 19 points in this one, which was good enough for second on the team. Smith continued to be Long Island’s most complete player, as he hauled in eight rebounds and tallied seven assists. He also had one steal to his credit and after two straight games of five turnovers shrunk that number to two on Thursday. The 6’4” combo guard could be a dark-horse candidate for any team’s two-way opening.
Tyson Etienne had a very uncharacteristic game putting one of his worst shooting performances yet, connecting on one of his 11 shots, including going one-for-10 from deep. Etienne finished with eight points, scoring six of them from the foul stripe. He also had four rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
The third and final Brooklyn two-way player, Chaney Johnson, came off the bench. Johnson looked electric as he tallied 15 points, connecting on five of his six shots. He also had four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks for another very complete game. Lately, Johnson has been living up to his two-way hDelype.
Hunter Cattoor also contributed 12 points off the bench. Cattoor shot the ball well, connecting on three of his seven tries, all from outside the arc. While Terry Roberts had a goose egg in the scoring category, he hauled in eight rebounds and distributed three assists. Roberts also etched his name in the history books, becoming the third player in franchise history with 300 assists.
Final score: Long Island Nets 123, Delaware Blue Coats 107.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (13-9) now get to enjoy a week off before they return to the court on Thursday, February 19th, for a showdown with the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans affiliate. The game tips off at 12:00 p.m. for a matinee showing and can be watched on the NBA G League site, as well as on the NBA app.
For the second straight spring, the Yankees will have Grapefruit League games to try out ABS, except this time it is going to be for real and in play once the regular season begins.
That has forced the Yankees to develop a strategy for how to best use the challenge system and take advantage of the two they get each game (they are retained if the challenge is successful).
“We’ll set that more in place when we get ready to break camp and then probably continue to evolve with it throughout the year,” manager Aaron Boone said Thursday afternoon after the club held a morning meeting for ABS education and strategy. “We’ve done a lot of work on it behind the scenes, a lot of meetings this winter going through it. I feel like, right now, we’re in a pretty good place with it as far as trying to continue to educate our players and understanding leverage and things like that.
Aaron Boone is pictured during the Yankees’ spring training workout on Feb. 12, 2026 in Tampa. Charles Wenzelberg
“Everyone’s free to challenge right now. We’ll see how it continues to unfold.”
Over the winter, Boone had indicated he was leaning toward not allowing his pitchers to challenge calls — a strategy that seemed to be popular among managers at the winter meetings — because they tend to think anything borderline is a strike.
But as of Thursday, he had softened somewhat on that stance, at least at this point in the spring.
“I’m not at the point of not allowing pitchers [to challenge] — I am less comfortable,” Boone said. “Catcher probably No. 1 with who I’m the most comfortable with challenging. Then hitter, then pitcher, probably in that order.”
Max Fried is hoping to possibly gain some leeway this spring.
“I guess I’m going to have to really pay attention here in spring training, see if my eyes are as good as I think they are,” Fried said. “If I’m really good in spring, I might have a little more liberty of doing it in-game.”
Another rule change came down the chute Thursday when MLB owners voted to enforce the rule that first and third base coaches must remain in their boxes until a pitch is thrown.
That became an issue during a Yankees-Blue Jays series at Rogers Centre in 2023, when the Blue Jays got upset with Yankees coaches straying outside of their boxes, which could help them get a better angle to pick up tipped pitches and relay that to runners or hitters.
“It’s probably a good thing to regulate that,” Boone said Thursday. “We talked about that at the winter meetings in our managers meeting. … Overall, I think it’s probably a good thing, just for the competitiveness of the game.”
Luis Gil threw the equivalent of two innings in live batting practice Thursday, hitting 95 mph and striking out Aaron Judge while building up to about 35 pitches.
“I think he’s had a really good winter as far as strength and conditioning-wise and getting himself in a good place, ready to come in,” Boone said. “That talent hasn’t gone away. He’s a young man that you can tell is very hungry right now and he wants to go out and prove that he’s that guy that he was in ’24.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr., #20 of the Utah Jazz boxes out Doug McDermott #7 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half of their game at the Delta Center on February 11, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Chris Haynes, Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to have surgery on his left knee.
BREAKING: Utah Jazz star Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his left knee to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/pHeJT8NphE
Haynes mentions that he is having the surgery to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade.
So what’s a PVNS growth? It sounds like it’s a benign tumor that can grow over time and can cause problems if not taken care of at some point. Here’s a lot of information about it.
🚨Jaren Jackson Jr.
Diagnosed with PVNS in knee!
*Teaching Point*
PVNS stands for Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Knee
Now it is often referred to as Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor – TGCT)
The other point of interest: did the Jazz know about this? Apparently, this popped up in the physical after the trade? Tony Jones provided more context with that.
The Jazz knew about JJJ’s knee previously. They were going to shut him down. Jaren was adamant that he wanted to play once at home before the surgery. They set his restriction at 25 minutes. That’s one reason he didn’t play in the previous fourth quarters, per sources
Now, this is something you could quibble with. Was Markkanen and Nurkic injured when they rested during those fourth quarters too?
Regardless, it’s nice that Jazz fans got a chance to get a flavor of what this could be because it looked really good. Markkanen and Jackson look and play huge together and have a chance to be a dominant force starting next season.
Obviously, the internet jumped on the story and what seemed like a clear tanking move by the Jazz, but that feels disingenuous. Do we really think a player would go through a literal surgery for a tank to happen? Does it coincide nicely with what is best for the Jazz long-term? Absolutely, and no doubt the Jazz were likely happy to let him make a decision for surgery that he might not have had the right opportunity to make it happen. This is a great opportunity to do an optional surgery, and it will help him stay healthier long-term
On Zach Lowe’s podcast, he mentioned that the door isn’t shut on him returning, but it’s very possible this is the last we’ll see of Jaren Jackson Jr. this season.
Bryan Hudson prepares to throw a pitch for the White Sox during an August 2025 game.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Bryan Hudson fills a need for the Mets and will have a legitimate opportunity this spring to show he’s worthy of opening the season with the club.
The lefty reliever, acquired this week from the White Sox for cash considerations, threw his first bullpen session for the Mets on Thursday and left an immediate impression on manager Carlos Mendoza.
“The one thing that stuck out to me was the intensity,” Mendoza said. “For him to be like 92 [mph], that’s not normal, in a good way. This is a guy that is always tinkering with mechanics, and today he got behind the baseball pretty good.”
Bryan Hudson prepares to throw a pitch for the White Sox during an August 2025 game. Getty Images
The Mets have a need for a second lefty reliever behind Brooks Raley, with A.J. Minter expected to continue his rehab from lat surgery into May.
Hudson pitched to a 4.80 ERA in 16 appearances last season between the Brewers and White Sox.
He posted a 1.73 ERA in 43 appearances for the Brewers the previous year.
“He’s had some ups and downs, but we still feel like he can help us,” Mendoza said.
Bo Bichette fields a grounder during the Mets' Feb. 12 session at spring training.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Bo Bichette spent his first day of spring workouts listening intently Thursday as his manager offered tips about fielding his new position.
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At third base on the main field, Bichette absorbed Carlos Mendoza’s words.
Later, Bichette faced Freddy Peralta in a live batting practice session, putting the Mets’ two biggest offseason acquisitions on display.
“I’m meeting a lot of new people and trying to figure out a new routine,” Bichette said. “But it’s honestly really exciting. It almost feels like my first season again.”
Bo Bichette fields a grounder during the Mets’ Feb. 12, 2026 session at spring training in Port St. Lucie. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
But now camp is for real, and Bichette was sure to arrive ahead of next week’s reporting date for position players to get acclimated.
Mendoza’s messages to Bichette on this day focused on timing.
“Part of the transition, even when he’s just taking regular ground balls, is realizing how much time he has [to throw] compared to the shortstop position,” Mendoza said. “The ball is going to get to you a lot quicker — you have got more time. Those are some of the things, besides angles, it’s just a feel for the game clock.”
On the flip side, Bichette is learning he doesn’t have the luxury of as much time when starting a double play.
“You have to be quicker getting rid of the baseball,” Mendoza said. “You have got to give the second baseman a chance. Those are some of the conversations we are having out of the gate, and I am glad he’s here early so we can get that out of the way.”
What are Bichette’s early takeaways about the position?
“It’s more forward-to-back than side-to-side,” Bichette said. “Shortstop you definitely have to come in, but having more time at third base is something that I am getting used to — understanding that I can take a little more time.”
But Bichette isn’t ready to quantify his comfort level at third base.
“I am not sure I can put a number on that,” he said. “I haven’t played any games, so that is going to be my biggest hurdle, but I am excited for it.”
Bo Bichette fields a grounder at third base during the Mets’ Feb. 12, 2026 session during spring training. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Bichette’s offensive potential is what appealed to the Mets.
Last season, he owned a .311/.357/.483 slash line with 18 homers and 94 RBIs in helping the Blue Jays reach Game 7 of the World Series.
The Mets, after missing on free agent Kyle Tucker (who landed with the Dodgers), snagged the 27-year-old Bichette as the rival Phillies were moving toward signing him.
Mendoza has indicated he is leaning toward batting Bichette third in the order, behind Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto.
“There’s a ton of really good players on this team, and I think you can line it up any way,” Bichette said. “But I have hit almost everywhere in my career, so I am ready for whatever.”
Bichette will help anchor a rebuilt infield that includes Jorge Polanco at first base and Marcus Semien at second. Lindor is returning to shortstop but will be absent from the Grapefruit League season as he rehabs from hamate bone surgery in his left hand.
Bichette said he’s spent much of his early time in camp around Polanco, another veteran who was early to report.
Just seeing Bichette in the batter’s box against the Mets’ ace, Peralta, was enough to raise Mendoza’s excitement level on this day.
“You get that kind of matchup, and OK, it’s real now,” Mendoza said. “Just the fact that they are getting ready for their season and they get to go out and do it themselves together.”
The Automated Ball-Strike System might be the most talked-about change in Major League Baseball this coming season, but it won’t be the only adjustment on the field.
MLB owners voted on Thursday to enforce a rule that requires first- and third-base coaches to stay within their designated boxes until a pitch is thrown.
“The clubs approved a rule change on the coaches’ box requiring more adherence to the existing lines in the box,” commissioner Rob Manfred said after the vote at the owners’ annual meetings in Florida.
Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The move is designed to curb pitch tipping and on-field sign stealing — something that has long existed in the sport but has drawn increased scrutiny in recent seasons.
Umpires enforced the measure during Game 7 of the World Series between the Blue Jays and Dodgers last fall, but it will now become standard practice across the league.
Under already existing MLB rules, coaches may not leave their boxes while a pitcher is in contact with the rubber or until a ball is put into play or received by the catcher.
First- and third-base coaches’ on-field movements have allowed them to get better angles and visuals of pitches, making it easier to relay signs to hitters and baserunners.
Coaches can move closer to the dugout or stands for safety concerns, but will receive a warning for violations and face ejection for repeat offenses.
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) is congratulated by Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach/outfield coach Dino Ebel (91) as he rounds third base after he hit a solo home run to tie the game during the ninth inning of Game seven of the 121st World Series between the LA Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
The issue boiled over during a heated May 2023 series between the Yankees and Blue Jays.
With Toronto already irritated over Aaron Judge allegedly glancing toward his own dugout during an at-bat, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker took issue with Yankees third-base coach Luis Rojas’ positioning near the line.
The complaint sparked a fiery exchange between Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Blue Jays skipper John Schneider.
“There’s boxes on the field for a reason,” he said afterward.
For his part, Boone said Thursday’s decision was a “good thing” for baseball.
“It’s probably a good thing to regulate that,” Boone said. “We talked about that at the winter meetings in our managers meeting. … Overall, I think it’s probably a good thing, just for the competitiveness of the game.”
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic that major leaguers will play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Manfred, speaking following an owners meeting Thursday, said there are still issues to resolve with the Major League Baseball Players Association before those Olympic aspirations are a reality, but “I think we’re a lot closer to there than we were the last time we talked about it,” he said.
The six-nation baseball tournament will be played from July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is planning for an extended All-Star break between July 9 and July 21, with the All-Star Game likely at San Francisco on July 11.
An agreement with the union is needed.
“I sense a lot of momentum towards playing in LA in 2028,” Manfred said. “I think we are going to get over those issues. I think people have come to appreciate that the Olympics on U.S. soil is a unique marketing opportunity for the game. I think we had a lot of players interested in doing it and, you know, I feel pretty good about the idea (that) we’ll get there.”
In addition, an agreement is needed on insurance to cover player contracts for time with Olympic teams.
The United States will have an automatic berth in the both the baseball and softball tournaments and the top two other nations from the Americas in next month’s World Baseball Classic will earn berths.
MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game.
Manfred was also asked if the involvement of Casey Wasserman, the prominent businessman and talent agent who has recently lost clients because of his appearance in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein, would deter the league from participating in the Olympics. He declined to comment on Wasserman, who is the chairman of the Los Angeles games, saying, “Look, our dealings are not with Casey. Our dealings are with the institution of the Olympics.”
Manfred on Dodgers: ‘Great teams’ good for baseball
The addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker by the Los Angeles Dodgers to what already was among the highest payrolls again sparked debate over whether management will propose a salary cap in collective bargaining this year.
Manfred said there hasn’t been much movement in salary cap talks.
Tucker, the right fielder who is considered one of the best players in baseball, is the latest accomplished veteran brought in by the Dodgers, who have three of the top eight current contracts by average annual value. Los Angeles also signed top closer Edwin Díaz to bolster its bullpen.
“Look, I think great teams are always good for baseball,” he said. “I think with respect to this particular great team, it added to what we have been hearing from fans in a lot of markets for a long time about the competitiveness of the game. But great teams are always good baseball.”
Bargaining is likely to start this spring on a labor contract to succeed the deal that expires Dec. 1.
“We’re in the preparation process,” Manfred said. “We haven’t agreed on a calendar with the MLBPA and it does take two to tango, as they say, but historically after opening day we kind of get started.”
WBC insurance process
Manfred said there likely isn’t a way around insurance issues that have come up for MLB-contracted players planning to play in next month’s World Baseball Classic. Several stars, including Puerto Rico’s Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, were left off their countries’ rosters because the WBC insurer wouldn’t cover them.
“We like that, when they say they want to play, obviously,” Manfred said. “But then to have a problem with the insurance and the guy being unable to play, we recognize that. I’m just not sure that there is a way around it.”
The tournament is co-owned by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. Insurance is provided by National Financial Partners.
“In order to get clubs comfortable with the idea that guys should play earlier in games they otherwise would not play, we had to protect them financially,” Manfred said.
Coach’s boxes
Owners approved a rules change requiring first- and third-base coaches to remain in the marked coaching boxes. Coaches have frequently moved toward home plate, in a better position to better relay signs from the defensive team that may pick up.
Decline of regional sports networks
MLB will produce and distribute local television broadcasts of at least 14 teams this season following financial problems of Main Street Sports Group’s FanDuel Sports Network.
“The RSN situation has an impact on our revenue growth because the decline there is a drag on what is otherwise a growing industry,” Manfred said. “It is true that the smaller markets have been hit harder than the larger markets, which impacts revenue sharing. Having said both of those, I think longer term, our content is inherently valuable. We deliver tons of eyeballs, and I think when we have an opportunity to get to market in 2028, we’re going to be just fine.”
Manfred said the 14 teams are “probably making a little less than they made under their old contracts.”
“The key word there is old,” he added. “The reason those contracts aren’t there anymore was they were not economic given the cord-cutting that’s going on.”
Manfred said of the San Diego Padres’ sale process: “There is robust interest in what is viewed as a really appealing asset.”
Executive council
Milwaukee chairman Mark Attanasio and Baltimore control owner David Rubenstein were voted to the eight-man executive council, replacing Arizona managing general partner Ken Kendrick and Seattle chairman John Stanton. The council also includes San Francisco chairman Greg Johnson and Cleveland chairman Paul Dolan (whose terms expire in 2027) and Miami chairman Bruce Sherman and Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno (2028) and New York Mets chairman Steve Cohen and Athletics managing partner John Fisher (2029).
Corporate deals
MLB approved extensions of its contract with Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. and of the deals for Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications Inc. to carry the Extra Innings package of out-of-market TV broadcasts.
“You try to move on from it. You don’t want to ruin your everyday life from it,” Fried said Thursday at Steinbrenner Field following the first official workout for pitchers and catchers. “But every time I get in the gym or I pick up a ball or anything that has to do with baseball, it’s definitely a motivating factor. You want to always keep getting better, learn from your mistakes and make sure you’re not making the same mistakes over again. So just trying to remember that feeling and using that as motivation to constantly get better every year.”
Following a terrific regular season, in which he posted a 2.86 ERA across 32 starts — earning him a fourth-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting — Fried threw 6 ¹/₃ shutout innings against the Red Sox in his first playoff start.
Max Fried throws a pitch during the Yankees’ spring training session Feb. 12. Charles Wenzelberg
But then in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays, with the Yankees already having dropped Game 1, he picked a bad time for a clunker.
Fried lasted just three-plus innings, getting tagged for seven runs on eight hits and two walks, as the Blue Jays cruised to a 13-7 win.
Two games later, the Yankees season was over, with Fried unable to atone for his dud that tarnished an otherwise strong first season in The Bronx.
“Felt like it was a good year, but at the end, I didn’t have the start that I needed to make,” Fried said. “So definitely left a bad taste in my mouth and motivated me for the offseason.”
Max Fried reacts after allowing a home run during the Yankees’ Oct. 5 playoff game against the Blue Jays. Charles Wenzelberg
That offseason did not look any different for Fried despite him coming off the heaviest workload of his career, he said.
He threw 195 ¹/₃ innings during the regular season and another 9 ¹/₃ in the postseason, but has not altered his preparation or buildup for this season because of it.
“I felt great at the end of the year,” said Fried, who faced hitters on Tuesday at the player development complex. “The last start I made, I was throwing just as hard as I had all year. I was really looking forward to potentially making another start. It wasn’t like I was hanging going into the offseason or anything like that. I felt as good as I did all year.”
Fried was forced to watch the World Series from his couch instead of pitching in it, but believes the Yankees have what it takes to make another run at it this year.
“I personally think that our group is good enough talent-wise to compete with anyone in the game,” Fried said. “Obviously, didn’t have the series that we wanted to and a big part of that was we weren’t able to pitch as well as we wanted and keep us in games.”
