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A visit by any sports champion to the White House is supposed to be a day of celebration. The president gets to have a little fun with a sports team and the players and coaches get to enjoy an unusual yet well-deserved spotlight. Today, just hours before taking on the Washington Nationals to open a three-game series, the Los Angeles Dodgers will visit the White House for the recognition. But due to the political climate, the Dodgers’ visit is already controversial. In part, that is because of the move by the current administration to take down pages on websites that honored Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson and other notable historical figures, only to be restored after public outcry. The Dodgers have done a lot of good things when it comes to supporting the progress of minorities, so it would be disappointing if there is not a statement made in some fashion to show support for Robinson and protest the moves against diversity, equality, and inclusion made by the administration.
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Today’s Headlines
Vlad Jr. Gets His Payday: 14 Years, $500M
A deadline is a deadline until it isn’t. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally got the big bucks he was seeking from the Toronto Blue Jays, reportedly agreeing to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension late Sunday. The deal does not include deferrals. Guerrero, a 26-year-old who signed when he was 16, and the Jays had been negotiating most of the offseason. The first baseman set a deadline of Feb. 18 to get a deal done. That date passed without the sides reaching an agreement, and Guerrero said the two sides weren’t close. It appeared Guerrero would finish the season and head to free agency. But the Jays, famously spurned the past couple offseasons by top free agents, reapproached Guerrero as the season was about to start, which eventually led to this deal. Now, he will be a Blue Jay for life. Guerrero, a four-time All-Star and runner-up for the 2021 AL MVP, has a career slash line of .287/.362/.498 with 160 homers and 511 RBIs since making his MLB debut in 2019. He is making $28.5 million this season, with his new deal averaging $35.71 million per year. Now, the Jays will turn their attention to other pending free agents, including shortstop Bo Bichette and right-handed starter Chris Bassitt.
Dramatic Win Puts Giants At 8-1
If the conclusion of the first full week of the MLB schedule is any indication, the NL West is going to be a dogfight over 162 games. While the unbeatable Los Angeles Dodgers lost for the second time (more on that later), another team has emerged as an early-season surprise. That would be the San Francisco Giants, who improved to 8-1 with a walk-off win, beating the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Wilmer Flores‘ single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Flores’ winner came one pitch after Mariners’ right fielder Victor Robles made a stunning catch by flying into the netting in foul territory, yet had to leave the game with what the team has called a left shoulder injury. The severity is not known, but it looked pretty bad.
Phillies Take Series From Dodgers
Can a three-game set in April be a preview of the NL Championship Series? Sure, but that is getting way ahead of ourselves. Still, the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies expect to be playing deep into October, and an NLCS matchup wouldn’t be surprising. The Phillies scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, with Edmundo Sosa beating out the back end of a potential double play that allowed Max Kepler to score, to take two out of three from the defending World Series champs. The Dodgers entered the series undefeated at 8-0 and are now 9-2. Nick Castellanos hit a third-inning grand slam for the Phillies, while Teoscar Hernández homered twice and drove in five runs for the Dodgers. All three games were decided by one or two runs.
Padres Erase Early Deficit, Upend Cubs
In a game featuring more quirks and only slightly less dramatics than the Giants-Mariners game, the San Diego Padres improved to 8-2 following their 8-7 road win over the Chicago Cubs. Fernando Tatis Jr. scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth on what seemed like an inning-ending double play when Cubs first baseman Justin Turner dropped the throw, allowing Manny Machado to reach safely. It was the final act of a game that featured eight runs in the first inning — including a pair of run-scoring balks by Logan Gillaspie — and saw the Cubs blow a 7-3 lead after two innings.
Devers: I’m Not Dead Yet
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” That is a quote attributed to Mark Twain, who telegraphed newspapers in the U.S. following the publishing of his obituary. Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers didn’t need to take to social media to prove that he was still kicking despite his stats showing he was flatlining. Instead, his bat did the talking in a doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. Devers drilled an opposite-field homer over the Green Monster, and pinch-hitter Wilyer Abreu singled home the winning run off the Green Monster in the 10th inning as the Red Sox won the opener 5-4. Boston was given new life when Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley melted down in the bottom of the ninth, walking four and allowing two runs to force extras. That seemed to unleash Devers, who then went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and drove in three runs in the Red Sox’s 18-7 victory to sweep the twinbill. Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer as part of a 4-for-5, six-RBI nightcap. When the day was done, Devers had taken a slash line that read .167/.324/.200 and elevated it to .263/.404/.421.
Dollander Solid In Rockies Debut; Veen Called Up
For all the negative things that go on around the Colorado Rockies, Sunday was one of those days of sunshine that could bring brighter things. Right-handed starter Chase Dollander, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his MLB debut and turned in five solid innings as the Rockies beat the Athletics 12-5. The Rockies’ top prospect earned the win after allowing four runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out six. Following the game, it was learned that outfielder Zac Veen, the ninth overall selection of the 2020 draft, was being promoted by the Rockies to make his MLB debut.
Dodgers’ Snell Goes On IL
The first kink in the Dodgers’ pitching plan for 2025 arose when left-handed starter Blake Snell went on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left elbow. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was slated to start Tuesday but spoke with the team following a bullpen session before Sunday’s game in Philadelphia. Snell becomes the sixth starter on the 40-man roster to be put on the IL this season — and that doesn’t include Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar who is rehabbing from his left elbow surgery and is expected to be out until at least May.
Pirates To Restore Clemente Tribute
Sunday should have been about left-handed starter Andrew Heaney’s gutty effort and Tommy Pham’s walk-off in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees. Instead, it was about all the wrong things. After it surfaced Saturday that the Pirates had taken down a logo on the right-field wall to make room for an advertisement, Clemente’s son issued a statement calling out the team for the move. During the game, the Pirates responded with what seemed like a muted apology and promised to restore the logo. All of this happened on the anniversary of the Pirates retiring Clemente’s No. 21.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Fun With Friends
If realignment happens when MLB expands, I would like to petition to get Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants in the same division as Julio Rodríguez and the Seattle Mariners. Adames and J-Rod were on opposite sides this weekend in the only series they will play this season, but the back-and-forth between the two buddies was priceless. Adames got the best of Rodriguez on defensive plays in the opener and finale, while J-Rod gunned down his pal in between.
Was That Almond Or Coconut Milk?
It is a rite of passage for the young players on every team that visits Wrigley Field. And you can blame Starbucks, which has a location right across the street from the famed home of the Cubs. Sunday, it was the young Padres’ turn.
Splash You Very Much
Usually, the buckets of liquid being dumped over a player are saved for an on-field celebration or TV interview. Well, Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez had other plans following the Kansas City Royals‘ 4-1 win over the Baltimore — and Bobby Witt Jr. was the unwitting victim.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Atlanta catcher Sean Murphy (cracked left rib) was activated from the 10-day injured list. Catcher Chadwick Tromp was designated for optioned to Triple-A.
⚾ Milwaukee Brewers left-handed starter Nestor Cortes was placed on the 15-day IL with a strained left flexor. Left-handed reliever Grant Wolfram was called up from Triple-A to make his MLB debut.
⚾ Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman (strained right hamstring) was activated from the 10-day IL. Outfielder Travis Jankowski was designated for assignment.
⚾ Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever Colin Holderman went on the 15-day IL with a sprained right knee. Right-handed reliever Chase Shugart came up from Triple-A.
⚾ St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera left Sunday’s game with left knee inflammation. Herrera is being put on the 10-day IL and will undergo further testing in St. Louis.
⚾ Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino, who was DFA’d by the New York Yankees, elected to become a free agent. Later, it was reported that Ottavino was returning to the Yankees.
Articles You Should Read
Bullpen duty gives Ashcraft adrenaline rush — Mark Sheldon, MLB.com
Q&A with Rob Manfred on the future of baseball — Michael Schmidt, New York Times
Altuve’s left-field experience hinges on better exchanges — Chandler Rome, The Athletic
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