Month: December 2022

The Cleveland Guardians have agreed to a two-year, $33 million deal with first baseman Josh Bell that includes an opt-out clause after the 2023 season.

The 30-year-old Bell spent the first five seasons of his career with the Pirates before playing for the Nationals in 2021; and played for both the Nationals and Padres last season after being shipped to San Diego at the deadline as part of the Juan Soto trade.  In 156 games between D.C. and San Diego last year, Bell hit .266/.362/.422 (128 OPS+) with 29 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs, 71 RBI, 78 runs and 3.0 WAR.

Bell – who was an All-Star in 2019 and won a Silver Slugger last season — hit .301 with an .877 OPS for the Nationals last season. A switch-hitter, Bell has generally been better from the right side through his career, though last season he hit better as a lefty.

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Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk announced Tuesday they have fired general manager Jon Robinson. The 46-year-old Robinson became the Titans general manager in 2016. The Titans said vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden will take over player personnel duties for the rest of the season; and they will search for a new general manager this off-season.

Adams Strunk said in a news release: “Since becoming controlling owner in 2015, my goal has been to raise the standard for what is expected in all facets of our organization. I believe we have made significant progress both on and off the field through investments in leadership, personnel and new ideas … This progress includes the core of our business, the football team itself, which is regularly evaluated both by results (wins and losses) and team construction/roster building. I am proud of what we have accomplished in my eight seasons of ownership, but I believe there is more to be done and higher aspirations to be met.”

Robinson was a college football assistant coach before he worked as an administrator and scout for the New England Patriots. He worked from 2013 through 2015 as the director of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before heading to the Titans.  Under Robinson, Tennessee advanced to the postseason four times during his first six full seasons with the franchise. However while the Titans won the AFC South in each of the last two seasons, they lost in the first round in each of the last two postseasons. They also lost in the AFC Championship game after the 2019-20 season.

The Titans (7-5) will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Nashville.

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The New York Mets and free-agent pitcher Justin Verlander have agreed to a two-year, $86 million contract. The deal includes a third-year option worth $35 million.

Verlander — a three-time Cy Young Award winner, nine-time All-Star and 2011 American League MVP — joined the Houston Astros in a 2017 trade from the Detroit Tigers, where he began his MLB career in 2005. The veteran right-handed pitcher holds a career 3.24 ERA and 244-133 record in 17 seasons. His 244 wins are the most among active pitchers and rank 56th in MLB history, and his 3,198 career strikeouts also rank best among active players and 12th in MLB history.

The 39-year-old Verlander went 18-4 with a league-low 1.75 ERA in 28 starts last season for the World Series champion Houston Astros. He went 2-0 with a 5.85 ERA in the postseason, and allowed just four hits and one run in five innings to help the Astros win Game 5 of the World Series.

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The Carolina Panthers announced on Monday they have waived veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield.  Panthers coach Steve Wilks told reporters Monday that Sam Darnold will start in Week 14; and P.J. Walker will be the second-string quarterback.  Said Wilks of Mayfield: “Baker has been nothing but a professional since he’s been here. He is a complete pro. I have tremendous respect for him. He and I had a conversation and I talked about my decision at the time. … This is a tough business. Sitting in this seat, it’s a tough decision on my part, but it was something I felt was the best move for the team moving forward.”

Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, completed a career-low 57.8% of his throws for 1,313 yards, six scores and six interceptions in seven games this season and posted a 1-5 record as a starter. The 27-year-old, who joined the Panthers in a July trade from the Cleveland Browns, completed 21 of 33 passes for 196 yards and two interceptions in his last start, a 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens  in Baltimore on Nov. 20.

The Panthers (4-8) were on bye in Week 13, and will face the Seattle Seahawks (7-5) at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday in Seattle.

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