Category: Baseball

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Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is only a month away and sportsbooks across America are loading up their respective betting menus.

Not only can you wager on regular-season win totals for every team along with the forever-popular awards and futures markets, but you can dabble on player totals for home runs, stolen bases, strikeouts and more.

You got the itch yet?

I’ve circled three season-long baseball bets for us to make as the calendar heads for March and yes, they’re all bets that I made personally.

Let’s jump into the fun.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 33.5 home runs 

This is a great buy-low spot on Vladdy Junior.

After blasting 48 homers in 2021, the soon-to-be 25-year-old followed up with 32 the year after and only 26 last year. The surprising power dip has baseball pundits scratching their heads, while bookmakers lower his totals.

Vladdy’s highest home run total ever was 39.5 heading into the ‘22 campaign, and now you can go “Over” 33.5 on a guy who has a whole lot to prove.  

“I feel great,” Guerrero Jr. recently told the Toronto Sun. “If you asked me this last year or a couple years ago, after the first game of spring training, I felt tired. But this year, my legs are there. The energy level is there.”

I’m betting on Guerrero Jr. mashing a bunch of taters.

PICK: Guerrero Jr. (-105 @ FanDuel) Over 33.5 home runs 

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Last Wednesday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was slated to take the mound at 10:25 a.m. for his bullpen session when the Dodgers‘ morning meeting ran long. Yamamoto hadn’t started his normal workout routine yet, and he wasn’t sure how he’d get warmed up in time to remain on schedule.

This presented a quandary.

In Japan, his days were mapped out meticulously. Players knew what to do and when to do it, with little wiggle room to stray from the plan. He couldn’t be late.

“Here, it’s not like that,” Dodgers manager of performance operations Will Ireton assured his team’s new ace. “He is so respectful … You have to be like, ‘No, it’s really OK.'” 

Yamamoto is learning about the flexibility he is awarded stateside this spring. Beyond the obvious changes going from Nippon Professional Baseball to the majors — the baseball is slightly bigger and less tacky, and MLB‘s five-man rotations require starters to pitch more frequently than the once-a-week schedule in NPB — it is the small adjustments that often can get overlooked in a player’s move from Japan to the U.S.

That’s where it helps having someone like Ireton, who speaks both the Japanese language and the Dodgers’ baseball language. He is there to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

He can discuss baseball strategy with Yamamoto, and he can also help make introductions. He can relay pitching data to Yamamoto, and he can also assure the scrupulous pitcher that it’s fine when plans change. He can ask Yamamoto what he’s looking to do in a bullpen session, and he can also offer up places to eat (like the Japanese restaurant he suggested seven minutes away from Yamamoto’s place in Arizona). 

“Will has more bandwidth,” manager Dave Roberts said, “than maybe anyone in the organization.” 

Ireton, who grew up in Japan, is most well-known for his three years spent as Kenta Maeda‘s interpreter with the Dodgers from 2016 to 2018. During that time, he became something of a local celebrity among the team and its fans for his energy and sense of humor, which was well-documented on Maeda’s Instagram page. 

Ireton earned the nickname “Will the Thrill” from president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman for his exuberant nature, positive attitude and willingness to go all out in whatever task was asked — be it dancing in the dugout before a game, shagging a pop fly in batting practice, or, as he once did in March 2017, deadlifting 405 pounds while donning a tiger mask and a wrestling singlet in the Dodgers’ spring training clubhouse as players across the room chanted his name. 

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TAMPA, Fla. — There’s been no shortage of giddiness around George M. Steinbrenner Field this February. 

Yankees fans show up to the campgrounds early in the mornings, well before players even arrive, to catch a glimpse of stars driving into work. The high-pitched sounds of children screaming in delight? That’s typically the result of receiving a signed autograph. People are constantly crowding the team store, attempting to get their hands on a No. 22 jersey. 

Inside the clubhouse, there’s a certain buoyancy to the place. Fresh and talented blood is mixing with established star veterans to create a high and infectious energy. The confidence emanating from the 31-acre complex starts with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge batting in the same lineup and ends with a pinstriped belief that this is the year the Yankees return to the World Series.

Without further ado, here are five observations from Yankees spring training. 

1. The Juan Soto show

Ah, yes, the main character, the leading man, in this production. Soto is the always-smiling superstar who fits right into the Yankees clubhouse. Whether he’s bouncing from room to room, taking a minute to relax by sitting at his locker, or talking shop with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the field, Soto looks comfortable with New York on his chest, and it’s easy to imagine the slugger signing a long-term deal there. Of course, even if Soto is as advertised, the Yankees have to win, first and foremost, to convince the generational star to stay. Judge is relying on the Yankees’ loud fan base to sell out the Bronx and do the convincing for him.

“I think the fans, when we show up on [Yankees’ home opener] April 5th, will do a lot of convincing, too,” Judge said. “I think we’ll be good.”

Speaking of that home opener, Soto seems anxious about playing in the Bronx. He said his biggest challenge this year will be to keep his emotions in check in front of home crowds, particularly because he’s looking forward to the large contingent of Yankees fans who represent the Dominican Republic.

“It’s going to feel like home,” Soto said of playing at Yankee Stadium. “It’s going to feel great, but it’s going to be a lot of pressure, too.”

2. DJ looking explosive
With all the buzz engulfing Soto at Yankees camp, DJ LeMahieu’s progress has flown under the radar. The two-time batting champion, who turns 36 in July, enters the season as the oldest player on the Yankees roster. He knows he has a lot to prove after a mediocre 2023 season that saw him perform 4% worse (96 OPS+) than the average major league hitter. Even though it’s early, and players often attest to being in the best shape of their lives in these first few weeks of spring training, LeMahieu is so far receiving high praise that had been missing last spring.

He just completed his first fully healthy offseason since 2020, which was the same year he led the league in hitting for a second time. Now, with his toe injury and sports hernia behind him, LeMahieu’s good health this winter allowed him to train frequently, and he’s looking forward to turning the page from last year. On Monday, in his Grapefruit League debut, LeMahieu went 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Aaron Boone gushed afterward about how explosive he looked at the plate. LeMahieu has the tall task of being a leadoff hitter for a deep lineup that now includes Juan Soto. The offense will have a scarier look to it if LeMahieu can be its table setter on a nightly basis. 

3. Dugie bringing the energy

Alex Verdugo has already integrated himself so well with the Yankees that it looks like he’s been in the organization for years. He might as well have been, since no one in Boston would recognize his new clean-shaven look, anyway. Whether it’s teasing Anthony Volpe’s spiky hair by referring to him as Jersey Shore’s DJ Paulie D, or cracking more jokes during batting practice, Verdugo’s easygoing attitude and cheerful disposition is a major reason Yankees’ spring training has a different vibe to it this year. He’s that guy who is always tormenting his teammates and keeping the atmosphere light, taking a page from Anthony Rizzo’s playbook on how to keep everybody loose.

And if that makes you worried about Verdugo’s sense of focus and attention — he is, after all, just a year removed from Alex Cora benching him on two separate occasions, for a lack of hustle on the bases and for showing up late on game day — then look no further than Judge’s reaction to the signing. Apparently, Judge has been asking the Yankees front office to acquire Verdugo “for years.” Judge complimented Verdugo for being a gamer who plays through injuries and shows up ready to go every day. It’ll be hard for Verdugo to slack off when the Yankee captain is paying such close attention.

4. “Nothin to it” for Nasty Nestor

Nestor Cortes supplied what was easily my favorite quote of spring training. After the left-hander struck out Soto all three times they faced off in live batting practice, Cortes was quick to humble himself when asked about the feat. 

“Nah, it’s too early for him to be out there,” Cortes said of Soto. “It’s probably the first live pitching he’s seen since last season. Nothin’ to it.”

Accordingly, Soto homered and picked up five RBIs and two hits in his first four spring training at-bats, so there’s no concern about him. Instead, Cortes’ whiffs against Soto gave us a better idea of how effective the southpaw already is, this soon into spring training. In that lefty-lefty matchup, Cortes looked like the starting pitcher who broke out for the Yankees in 2022, when he went 12-4 and posted a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts. Cortes believes he can return to that form this season, now that his rotator cuff strain is fully behind him.

5. First-class experience

Trent Grisham is pleasantly pleased with what he called a “first-class experience” since he joined the Yankees. The outfielder, acquired from the Padres in the Soto trade, said the Yankees have “everything you need” for players to be their best selves. Whether it’s their large training and weight room, intricate spring training schedule, endless resources, or his new teammates, Grisham said the Yankees have welcomed him to the organization in a way he hadn’t previously experienced while playing in San Diego or Milwaukee. 

Grisham couldn’t put his finger on what exactly it is about the Yankees organization that feels like such an upgrade to him. He chalked it up to, well, “the feel of the place.” 

“After just being here for a day, you can kind of feel that hunger, that drive, that keeps us all focused on one goal,” Grisham said. “That’s very refreshing.”

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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The New York Yankees pulled off the blockbuster trade of the MLB offseason, acquiring star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. The trade marked the second time in the past 17 months that the now-25-year-old was traded, the other time being in 2022 when the Washington Nationals sent him to San Diego.

While Soto expressed excitement about being a Yankee, the outfielder also opened up about how he thought the team he began his MLB career with would be the one he ended it with.

“I never wanted to leave Washington,” Soto told The Athletic in an interview published on Wednesday morning. “It was a great team. I knew everybody there, from the bottom all the way to the top. I was really comfortable, and it felt like home for me. I was happy. I had a house in Washington. I was really comfortable up there. Out of nowhere, they made that decision. They thought it was the best thing for the team. I just respected it because they were really clear with me. That’s one of the things I really respected from [general manager Mike] Rizzo. He was really clear about the trade stuff. 

“But definitely I never thought I was going to leave D.C. I was really thinking I was going to stay there for my whole career.”

Soto began his career with the Nationals in 2018 and won the World Series with them in 2019. Roughly two-and-a-half years away from free agency, Soto reportedly declined a 15-year, $440 million extension from Washington, who then traded him to San Diego at the 2022 MLB trade deadline.

The trade saw Washington send Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to San Diego for pitchers MacKenzie Gore and Jarlin Susana, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood and infielders CJ Abrams and Luke Voit. 

Gore, Hassell and Abrams are former top 10 overall MLB draft picks, with Gore making 27 starts and Abrams totaling 18 home runs and 64 RBIs across 151 games for the Nationals in 2023. Susana, Hassell and Wood haven’t yet reached the big leagues, while Bell and Voit each departed their respective teams after the 2022 season.

Soto, a three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, is coming off arguably his most complete season (2020 was a 60-game regular season) as a hitter; he totaled 35 home runs, 109 RBIs and an MLB-best 132 walks, while posting a .275/.410/.519 slash line. Soto has led the league in walks in each of the past three seasons. The Padres made the playoffs in the season they acquired Soto (2022) but then missed the October festivities this past season.

To acquire Soto, a free agent after the upcoming 2024 season, and fellow outfielder Trent Grisham, New York sent pitchers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez and catcher Kyle Higashioka to San Diego. The Yankees also missed the playoffs last season.

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Cody Bellinger‘s free agency dragged into spring training, and it ended without the long-term deal he sought.

The process led him back to the Chicago Cubs, though, and that was enough to leave the 2019 NL MVP smiling.

“I’m super happy that it worked out the way it did,” Bellinger said Wednesday at a news conference after signing an $80 million, three-year deal this week.

Projected by some when the offseason began to command a deal well over $100 million, the 28-year-old Bellinger and agent Scott Boras settled for a shorter contract that includes opt-outs after the first two seasons.

Teammates wanted Bellinger back after he shined at Wrigley Field in 2023. Management wanted him back, too. Bellinger had hoped for a longer deal, but his focus was on the reunion with Chicago when he spoke Wednesday.

“There’s definitely that thought that goes into and that is the goal, but I talked to Scott continuously to see what was going on,” Bellinger said. “Yes, but with this, I’m very excited with it all and very happy to get going.”

Boras attended the news conference and sat at Bellinger’s side, with Cubs president Jed Hoyer on the other. Baseball’s most famous agent still has three other high-profile players on the market, with Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Matt Chapman.

He compared free agency to “like a turkey and a thermometer.”

“You have to go in, see what the temperature is and evaluate it,” Boras said. “And Cody and I agreed that we’re going to look at this in a couple ways. Jed was very clear that they (wanted him to stay). With this kind of structure and flexibility, this is what we were looking for.

“We have some irregularities going on in this current market. We have close to 11 teams that are spending less money than a year ago on competitiveness when we have record revenues in baseball.”

Boras has long been willing to drag clients’ free agencies into spring training — most famously with Bryce Harper in 2019 before signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with Philadelphia. He said Wednesday that owners sometimes like to get to camp, evaluate and act at that time.

“Each team functions in their own way,” he said. “You have owners who want to be directly involved with the roster and negotiations, and then you have owners like the Cubs who operate in a different way. We have a great communication system with the Cubs.”

Hoyer said talks have been going on for a while.

“With Scott and me, we can take the conversation back in July,” Hoyer said. “My comments to him about Cody have never wavered. We probably talked more often than Scott would have liked.

“I think with any negotiation, sometimes there’s a misperception that we just fire offers back and forth. There’s a lot of talking about what each side wanted, and over the last five to seven days, we kind of targeted a deal that made sense for both sides.”

Bellinger is entering his eighth big league season, all but last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and MVP in 2019, when he hit 47 home runs and drove in 115 runs with a .305 average and .409 on-base percentage. He also won a Gold Glove that season in right field.

Shoulder surgery and other injuries contributed to a dramatic slump in his final three years with the Dodgers — he hit .203 with 41 homers in 1,032 at-bats with a .648 OPS. He was non-tendered after 2022 and signed a $17.5 million, one-year deal with the Cubs, hoping a bounce-back 2023 would lead to a long-term contract. Bellinger certainly performed, hitting .307 with 26 homers and a career-high 20 stolen bases. He finished 10th in NL MVP voting.

The Cubs were considered favorites to get Bellinger back throughout the winter.

“I guess I was always very optimistic,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “This is something that we all asked for, maybe me more specifically during the offseason.

“He fits our team in so many different areas, can close so many different holes whether it’s defensively or offensively.”

Bellinger will make $27.5 million this year. He has a $27.5 million player option for 2025 with a $2.5 million buyout that would be payable Dec. 31, 2024. There is a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout that would be payable in equal installments on Jan. 15, 2026, and Jan. 15, 2027.

First-year manager Craig Counsell said he feels he knows Bellinger from across the field during Counsell’s previous job managing the Milwaukee Brewers. He is just getting to know him on a personal level.

The most impressive thing about Bellinger, Counsell said, is “his ability to play multiple positions at a high level. A multi-position everyday player, left-handed hitter, obviously proven, going to hit in the middle of the lineup. That’s hard to find, and we’re lucky to get him.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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