Happy Thursday, Dodgers fans. Cactus League play is just around the corner for the Boys in Blue.
As we await the joy of getting to see World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto return to the mound on Saturday, here are some of the top headlines from around Major League Baseball.
Brewers Extend Manager for Three More Years
The reigning back-to-back National League manager of the year was rewarded by the team on Thursday.
The Milwaukee Brewers gave Pat Murphy a three-year extension, ESPN reports.
In addition to the three years — 2026 through 2028 — the deal also includes a club option for 2029, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
It also “guarantees $8.95 million in new money and makes him one of the highest-paid managers in MLB,” Jeff Passan of ESPN said.
Pitch-Rigging Trial Could Move to October
The trial of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who are accused of tipping pitches to bettors in exchange for kickbacks, is likely to move to the fall, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Both have pleaded not guilty and are free on bail, though they are on the MLB’s restricted list.
They were scheduled to have their trial begin in May, though Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto “suggested she’ll ultimately shift the date to the fall,” Meisel wrote.
Those involved were ordered to submit their preferred new trial date by Monday.
If October is indeed the new trial date, it will be interesting to see if the legal proceedings overlap with the World Series.
Yankee Says He’ll Do Something Only Ever Done by Ohtani
Infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. has made public his intentions to join Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in an exclusive club that was empty until last season and now only includes the Japanese two-way player.
Chisholm told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic that he wants to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, which was done for the first time in history by Ohtani just last year.
“Reminded that 50-50 has been accomplished just once in MLB history, he shrugged,” Kirschner wrote. “’You’re looking at the second one,’ Chisholm said.”
The quest may seem nearly impossible, but Yankees teammate Aaron Judge expressed confidence to Kirschner.
“He really can accomplish anything,” Judge said.
