San Diego cut payroll by $96 million in the past year, the New York Mets by $50 million and the Los Angeles Angels by $49 million, among nine teams that slashed spending in a tepid free-agent market that sparked player unrest. The average salary increased 1.5% to $4.98 million on opening day, according to a study by The Associated Press. Other teams cutting were the Chicago White Sox (by $47 million), Colorado ($33 million), Minnesota ($32 million), Detroit ($20 million), Boston ($15 million) an
All-Star J.D. Martinez’s debut with the New York Mets will be delayed as the veteran continues to ramp up physically after signing late in spring training, manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday. “We’re not going to see him in a while,” Mendoza said. Mendoza said Martinez was off Sunday and probably won't play again until Tuesday.
Right-hander Phil Bickford was released by the New York Mets on Tuesday after clearing waivers, the second major league player cut loose this month after winning in salary arbitration. The 28-year-old reliever will receive $217,742 in termination pay rather than the $900,000 salary chosen by a three-person panel over the Mets' $815,000 offer. Under baseball's collective bargaining agreement, salaries determined in arbitration are not guaranteed.
Baseball players’ association head Tony Clark is hopeful 2024 uniforms will soon be altered following complaints by his members. The uniforms designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics have been criticized by players for pants that are somewhat see through and for lettering, sleeve emblems and numbering that are less bulky and apparently smaller. "You just don’t expect to have conversations about uniforms,” Clark said Thursday after meeting with New York Yankees players.
Marcus Stroman threw 2 1/3 innings in his first spring training start with the New York Yankees on Sunday, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two. “I felt good in spurts today, just wasn’t overall over the 50 pitches,” Stroman said. Stroman went ahead 0-2 in the count on five of his first six batters, but had the count reach 3-2 on four of them.