Edition: U.S. / Global

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Baseball

Dodgers Set to Hire Farhan Zaidi, a Small-Market Executive, as G.M.

By TIM ROHAN
Farhan Zaidi is poised to go from the Oakland A’s front office to the team that had baseball’s highest payroll last season.
Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics, via Getty Images

Farhan Zaidi is poised to go from the Oakland A’s front office to the team that had baseball’s highest payroll last season.

Zaidi has worked in consulting, in business development for a division of a sports magazine, and in the Oakland Athletics’ front office for the last 10 years.

Sports of The Times
Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to return to the Yankees next season, with three years and more than $60 million remaining on his contract.

With Alex Rodriguez Coming Back, Things Look Bleak in the Bronx

By JULIET MACUR

As Rodriguez brings his drug-laden baggage back to his team, a strange bit of fallout has occurred: Some people are feeling sorry for the Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez reportedly admitted to using performance enhancing drugs after federal prosecutors granted him immunity in a wide-ranging investigation of Anthony Bosch.

Alex Rodriguez Told Federal Agents of Doping in Bosch Case, Report Says

By STEVE EDER

Rodriguez, the Yankees third baseman, told federal agents in January that he had used performance-enhancing drugs supplied by Anthony Bosch’s South Florida clinic, according to a report in The Miami Herald.

Brad Halsey, a left-hander, was 14-19 in 88 games with the Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Oakland Athletics from 2004 to 2006.

Brad Halsey, Former Major League Pitcher, Dies at 33

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mr. Halsey, who died in a fall, pitched for three teams, including the Yankees, and gave up Barry Bonds’s 714th career home run in 2006.

Juan Lagares is the third Mets outfielder to win a Gold Glove. Last week, he won a Fielding Bible award.

Given Chance, Mets’ Juan Lagares Hauls In a Gold Glove

By TIM ROHAN

With regular playing time, Lagares, 25, blossomed into perhaps baseball’s best defensive center fielder, widely praised for his technique, his arm, his speed and his instincts.

Roundup
Alex Rodriguez at an Alabama-Texas A&M football game last month. Documents recently unsealed in a case against Yuri Sucart show that he paid Sucart about $1 million as part of a settlement agreement.

Alex Rodriguez Could Be Called to Testify in His Cousin’s Case

By STEVE EDER

Rodriguez’s doping ban might be over, but his legal woes could linger well into spring training of 2015 with the Yankees.

David Robertson had 39 saves in his first season as the Yankees’ closer.

A $15.3 Million Pitch, With a Catch

By TIM ROHAN

David Robertson received a qualifying offer from the Yankees — a one-year pact that would pay him handsomely. If he signs elsewhere, his new team will be required to forfeit a draft pick.

The Cubs executives Jed Hoyer, left, and Theo Epstein, right, yielded the floor to Joe Maddon.

Cubs, After Clearing Air Over Joe Maddon Hiring, Turn Attention to a Drought

By BEN STRAUSS

Maddon called his new job as Chicago’s manager “a one-in-107-year opportunity,” referring to the time that has passed since the team last won a title.

The Giants were said to have offered Pablo Sandoval a three-year, $40 million contract in the spring that he rejected. Sandoval had 26 postseason hits.

Pitchers, Hitters and a Panda

By BENJAMIN HOFFMAN

Monday is the deadline when teams will have to decide whether to offer their eligible free agents a $15.2 million qualifying offer that protects them if the player decides to sign elsewhere.

News From A.P. and Reuters »

More Baseball News

Editors' Picks
Alex Gordon (4), a Royal for eight seasons, with his teammates after he hit a game-ending home run against the Twins on Aug. 26.

Loyal to the Royals, Hoping for a Renaissance

By TYLER KEPNER

The Kansas City Royals entered September clinging to first place in the A.L. Central and aiming for their first playoff spot since they won it all in 1985. Will their patience finally be rewarded?

Oakland’s Jarrod Parker first needed Tommy John surgery on his elbow when he was in Arizona’s minor league system. He recently had a second operation and is not expected to return until 2015.

Speedy Pitches, Not Recoveries, in a League of Rising Scars

By TYLER KEPNER

Success, and the health required to sustain it, can be fleeting, especially for pitchers in the major leagues who undergo Tommy John surgery.

The Mariners have a section that holds “K” cards when the strikeout specialist Felix Hernandez pitches.

Now Pitchers Have the Power

By TYLER KEPNER

At the midpoint of the major league season, teams are putting up anemic offensive numbers not seen in at least a generation.

On Baseball
Tony Gwynn stroked a run-scoring double for the San Diego Padres against the Chicago Cubs in 1994.

In a .338 Lifetime Average, Every Day Counted

By TYLER KEPNER

Tony Gwynn, who died of cancer, said proudly that he learned something new at the ballpark every day, a simple, powerful lesson in a sport with a punishing schedule.

Pete Tucci has built his company into a bat supplier for more than 150 major leaguers.

Bespoke Bats Are Must-Have Accessories for Picky Hitters

By ZACH SCHONBRUN

Boutique bat companies specializing in custom products have attracted major league players by responding quickly to their requests.

On Baseball
Gregory Polanco, a pitcher when the Pirates found him, hit a three-run homer against the Mets in the fifth inning Thursday.

Pirates’ Gamble Produces a Star

By TYLER KEPNER

After a carefully crafted trip from prospect to professional, the 22-year-old right fielder Gregory Polanco has become the Pirates’ latest star rookie.

The Mets’ Curtis Granderson hit a single against the Yankees’ shift on Monday at Yankee Stadium.

Who’s on Third? In Baseball’s Shifting Defenses, Maybe Nobody

By DAVID WALDSTEIN

Major league teams are embracing the shift on defense as never before, and it is radically reshaping how the infield looks and plays.

Multimedia
Jeter passed Lou Gehrig on the Yankees’ career hits list with his 2,722nd. Timeline
Highlights and Milestones: Derek Jeter

The longtime Yankees shortstop is in his 20th and final season. His many milestones and career highlights are compiled here with related video, and articles and photos from the Times archive.

Up Close on Baseball’s Borders
By TOM GIRATIKANON, JOSH KATZ, DAVID LEONHARDT and KEVIN QUEALY

Data released by Facebook offers a look at the geography of baseball fandom, ZIP code by ZIP code.

The great Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, in 1967. Interactive Feature
Laughter Amid the Tears — A Cubs Quiz
By BARRY BEARAK

With the Cubs heading to the Bronx to play the Yankees — a rare event — it’s a good time to bone up on some Cubs lore with this quiz.

Photos: Baseball, Anyone? Anyone?
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Attendance at ballparks can be spotty this time of year because of the weather, but the first week and a half of the 2014 season has produced some bleak scenes.

Scoreboard and Schedule

Video Highlights

Times Journeys