Baseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of Tropicana Field , with the goal of having the home of the Tampa Bay Rays ready for the 2026 season.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to win his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge is likely to earn his second AL honor when the Baseball Writers' Association announces its balloting Thursday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague as their hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008.

Chris Sale was one of the ace left-handers Tarik Skubal idolized as a teenager. Now the two will be linked forever after winning their first Cy Young Awards on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball scrapped plans to play regular-season games next year in Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tampa area politicians will be given time to sort out the Rays' ballpark situation following Hurricane Milton, and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said there has been no thought to allowing the team to explore a relocation.

NEW YORK (AP) — Roki Sasaki's posting will likely extend into the 2025 international signing period, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday, allowing teams as much as $7,555,500 to sign the prized Japanese pitcher.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox and veteran outfielder Austin Slater agreed to a $1.75 million, one-year contract on Wednesday. Slater could earn $500,000 in performance bonuses under the terms of the deal.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Seth Brown and the Athletics reached agreement Wednesday on a $2.7 million contract for the 2025 season, with the outfielder and first baseman avoiding salary arbitration.