The Yankees inked right-hander Adam Ottavino to a three-year, $27 million deal last week, adding a key component to what appears on paper to be one of the deepest bullpens ever assembled. For the second year in a row, New York looks poised to dominate the late innings with a group known for high strikeout rates and putting zeros on the board.

With Bryce Harper and Manny Machado reportedly seeking deals in the eight to ten-year range, much of the discussion around baseball in recent weeks has centered around how long is too long when it comes to free agent contracts. Although things have picked up a bit of late, the market as a whole continues to move at a snail's pace while the world waits to see where these two megastars will sign.

Everything changes over time, even baseball. It’s no surprise that the role of the starting pitcher has morphed during the past two dozen years. From stricter pitch counts and heavier reliance on bullpens for strikeout purposes to dramatic changes in strategy like bullpen games, openers, and piggyback starts, starters must be more flexible and adaptable than ever. Considering the intense physical and mental exertion that goes into a game for a starting pitcher, some hurlers have famously fastidious pre-game routines that help them align mind and body for the arduous task ahead.

There is no shortage of popular baseball-centric accounts on social media, many which have created their own niche and serve a specific purpose. Whether it be sharing the latest trade rumors or posting player-related memes, it's often a single person or a small team behind many of these heavily-followed handles.

Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona joined golf standout Marina Alex on Thursday to preview the start of the 2019 LPGA Tour season, discussing a number of topics that included Cooperstown as well as Mets manager Mickey Callaway. The trio will compete for a $1.2 million purse at the inaugural Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.

In inking veteran reliever Andrew Miller to a two-year deal, the Cardinals are banking on a return to form for the once-dominant southpaw who spent significant time on the shelf last season.

Forget Fenway Park — David Price and the Boston Red Sox are feeling every bit at home at the Flush Factory. And in Houston, George Springer and the Astros are just as likely to be talking Boogie Bombs as balls and strikes. Why is Xander Bogaerts making an L with his fingers and dancing on second base? Who's the Ninja on Phil Hughes' Twitter feed? What's with Derek Fisher and llamas?

The Yankees added another marquee arm to an already stacked bullpen, bringing coveted free agent Adam Ottavino into the fold. A New York City native and childhood Yankees fan who once told a Triple-A coach that he’d “strike Babe Ruth out every time” (h/t Mike Petriello and MLB.com’s Statcast Podcast), the right-hander matched a career-high with 75 appearances last season, fanning a whopping 112 batters in 77 2/3 innings.

Stepping into the shoes of a legend is never easy, especially for one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Public address announcer Paul Olden did just that, taking over for one of baseball's most revered voices as the Yankees opened their new $2.3 billion ballpark back in 2009.

Debating which players should be enshrined in Cooperstown is a practice almost as old as the Hall of Fame itself, one that invokes passionate discussion within the baseball community. Those lucky enough to be chosen become immortalized among the best to ever grace a big league diamond, the highest honor the game offers.

Raised in the Boston suburb of Brookline, former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's dream since a young age was to work for his hometown team. He not only lived out that fantasy, but throughout New England will forever be known as the man responsible for constructing a club that ended the franchise's 86-year championship drought, a once seemingly endless stretch of futility that spanned several generations of Bostonians.

David Price's October struggles are a topic that's followed him around for the better part of a decade, often overshadowing what has been a successful career. Effective out of the bullpen during Tampa Bay's pennant-winning playoff run in 2008, the 33-year-old's trouble on the big stage has come mostly as a starter, something he's been paid a lot of money to do.

When managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner mandated that the Yankees get under the $197M luxury tax threshold for the first time since the system was introduced in 2003, many speculated it was with an eye on an enticing 2018-19 free agent class that includes megastars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

The Yankees made the first big splash in what should be a very active off-season on Monday, acquiring left-hander James Paxton from Seattle in exchange for a trio of prospects that included highly-touted southpaw Justus Sheffield.

As he crouched in the on-deck circle, David Wright felt more nervous than he had in his entire career. After all that rehab work, all those months and years spent waiting for this moment, the New York Mets’ captain finally made it back into a major league game Friday night.

Hal Steinbrenner says his New York Yankees may need a starting pitching upgrade if they're going to reach their first World Series since 2009. Steinbrenner, the Yankees managing general partner, said Wednesday the club will explore the trade market for an arm, especially considering the recent loss of left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who had season-ending Tommy John surgery on June 7.

For the second time in a week, the Yankees have re-upped with a key veteran leader as they prepare to make another run at their first title since 2009. New York has reached a one-year, $8 million agreement with left-hander CC Sabathia, as first reported by the New York Post's Joel Sherman and later confirmed by multiple sources. The deal is pending a physical.

Although it takes a significant number of people to stage the grand production that is a major league baseball game, what really matters ultimately gets decided between the white lines. From scoreboard technicians to peanut vendors, everyone plays their role from the time the umpire yells “play ball!” to when that all-important last out is made.

In part one of this series, we discussed the history of official scoring in New York City and flipped the pages of baseball’s rule book to Section 9. Part two looks at how calls are appealed, formally and otherwise.

The Arizona Fall League has been a breeding ground for some of baseball's most prized prospects since its inaugural 1992 season, a showcase that plays out for approximately six weeks in half a dozen Phoenix-area stadiums each year. Every August it's decided who will play in the AFL, with six minor leaguers from each organization making the initial cut.