The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed a new six-year contract with star pitcher Cristopher Sanchez, securing the left-hander until at least 2032 in a deal reportedly worth $107m.
The agreement officially begins in 2027 and includes a team option to extend the commitment into the 2033 season.
While the franchise has not disclosed the official financial terms, reports indicate the 29-year-old will earn $107m (£84.5m) over the next seven campaigns.
This comprehensive package incorporates his existing $3.5m salary for the upcoming 2026 season.
Rewarding a spectacular rise
The lucrative deal acts as a major reward for the National League Cy Young Award runner-up.
He has firmly established himself as one of baseball’s premier starting pitchers since cementing his place in the Philadelphia rotation.
Following a breakout All-Star campaign in 2024, the formidable ace elevated his performances to an even higher standard last year.
The standout talent recorded an impressive 13-5 win-loss record alongside a stellar 2.50 earned run average.
Solidifying the rotation
By locking down their prized asset, the organisation has solidified its starting rotation for the foreseeable future.
The franchise will now hope this significant investment provides the reliable foundation required for a deep post-season run.
Major League Baseball has placed Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they await trial for an alleged pitch-rigging scheme.
The duo previously remained on paid leave after pleading not guilty to multiple conspiracy charges.
Federal prosecutors accuse the pair of intentionally throwing balls to financially benefit gamblers wagering on individual pitches.
Joint agreement reached
The decision to suspend their pay follows a mutual agreement between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
“As the legal proceedings involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue to move forward, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will remain on non-disciplinary leave from the Club without pay until further notice,” MLB said in a statement.
“This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz.”
“MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed.”
Severe potential consequences
North American baseball’s governing body typically avoids issuing formal suspensions while active legal proceedings remain unresolved.
However, the transition to unpaid status reflects the significant weight of evidence presented in the ongoing federal case.
The 28-year-old closer and his 27-year-old team-mate face serious charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery to influence sporting events.
If convicted, the most severe charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Jury selection for their upcoming trial in the Eastern District of New York is scheduled to begin on 2 November.
Hundreds of pitches scrutinised
While the initial November indictment alleged rigged pitches across nine games, recent court filings suggest a much broader scope.
Defence attorneys noted in February that the government is now examining alleged performance manipulation spanning at least 48 games between the 2023 and 2025 seasons.
Legal representatives for the former All-Star closer have identified at least 250 specific pitches that attracted suspicious wagers.
In response to the unfolding scandal, the league has formally requested sportsbooks to impose strict limits on micro-betting markets.
MLB is actively seeking to cap individual pitch wagers at $200 (£158) and prohibit their inclusion in lucrative parlay bets to deter future corruption.
Venezuela’s thrilling 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic championship drew an audience of nearly 11 million viewers, doubling the television ratings of the 2023 final.
The historic broadcast attracted exactly 10,784,000 baseball fans to witness the South American nation claim the international crown.
This figure represents a staggering increase from the 5.4 million people who tuned in to watch Japan defeat the Americans in the previous iteration of the global tournament.
Surpassing domestic milestones
Tuesday night’s marquee fixture proved significantly more popular than recent major domestic baseball broadcasts.
The flagship American network reported an average television audience of 10.2 million for the deciding contest, comfortably outperforming each of the first four games of the 2023 World Series.
Interest in the wider competition has also experienced a massive surge over the past two years.
Tournament-wide growth
Across all broadcast platforms throughout the event, the international baseball tournament maintained an impressive average of almost 1.3 million viewers per game.
This marks a resounding success for the sport’s organisers, easily eclipsing the 506,000 average recorded during the preceding global showpiece.
Such a dramatic rise in viewership highlights the expanding worldwide appeal of the sport and the increasing prestige of national team representation.
Team USA suffered a 3-2 defeat to Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic final after controversial pitching restrictions prevented closer Mason Miller from entering a tied ninth inning.
A late rally sparked by Bryce Harper had levelled the scores, shifting momentum towards the Americans in Miami.
However, manager Mark DeRosa was forced to leave his most dominant relief pitcher in the bullpen during the decisive final frame.
The San Diego Padres had explicitly instructed the national side to only use their highly-valued asset in a definitive save situation.
Frustration over major league interference
With the game tied, Garrett Whitlock was instead called upon and ultimately surrendered the championship-winning run to the South Americans.
DeRosa admitted after the game that he was simply honouring the wishes of the 26-year-old’s major league employers.
“Had we taken the lead, he was coming in, but I wasn’t going to bring him into a tied game.”
The sixth instalment of the international tournament has been hailed as a commercial success, but strict usage limits imposed by club executives continue to undermine the on-field product.
Venezuela overcome similar hurdles to claim title
The victorious manager, Omar López, faced intense pressure from multiple franchises regarding the availability of his own relief corps.
After leaning heavily on his bullpen to eliminate Italy in Monday’s semi-final, the 47-year-old woke up to text messages demanding he rest key pitchers for the showcase event.
“Oh God, here we go again.”
Despite the bureaucratic hurdles, the Caribbean nation successfully navigated the restrictions to deliver a monumental victory for a country currently enduring unprecedented political turmoil.
Insurance issues and spring training injury fears remain significant stumbling blocks for the global showcase, preventing several elite stars from participating altogether.
Aaron Nola will start for Italy against Venezuela in Monday’s World Baseball Classic semi-final in Miami, replacing Michael Lorenzen on the mound.
Manager Francisco Cervelli made the late pitching change just hours before the highly anticipated clash at loanDepot park.
The 32-year-old right-hander steps into the crucial role following an exceptional performance earlier in the tournament.
Impressive group stage form
He previously earned the victory in the group stage finale against Mexico on 11 March.
During that decisive win, the veteran pitcher allowed just four hits across five scoreless innings.
He demonstrated remarkable control by striking out five batters and issuing only a single walk over 69 pitches.
His flawless execution under pressure likely influenced the managerial decision to give him the ball for this knockout fixture.
The road to the final
The European nation will face a formidable opponent, with Keider Montero taking the mound for the South American side.
The 25-year-old right-hander has been entrusted with starting duties as his team attempts to secure a spot in the championship game.
Whoever emerges victorious from this semi-final showdown will advance to face the United States in Tuesday night’s grand finale.
Venezuela have defeated defending champions Japan 8-5 in Miami to reach the World Baseball Classic semi-finals and qualify for the Olympics amid ongoing political turmoil in their home country.
Manager Omar López celebrated the historic quarter-final victory at loanDepot park by placing a cap bearing the international dialling code 58 on his desk.
The gesture served as a poignant reminder of the South American nation’s struggles following the recent capture of president Nicolás Maduro by United States military forces.
Uniting a divided nation
A sold-out crowd in Florida watched their national team accomplish two unprecedented milestones in a single evening.
The victory eliminated the title holders and secured a highly anticipated clash against an undefeated Italian side on Monday.
“If you know someone in Venezuela, call them.”
López urged supporters to share the news of their Olympic qualification and semi-final progression with loved ones back home.
Baseball provides solace
The triumph carries immense emotional weight for a diaspora currently unable to return to their families.
Infielder Eugenio Suárez highlighted the sport’s unique ability to foster unity during periods of profound national distress.
“Baseball is a sport that unites.”
The veteran slugger expressed his immense pride in bringing happiness to a public that desperately deserves a distraction.
A connection to home
“To have a united public, watching us every day in this World Baseball Classic, yelling and supporting us in these games – it’s really special.”
For the thousands of expatriates packing the stadium, the tournament has offered a vital lifeline to their heritage.
Pre-game rituals featured relief pitcher Eduard Bazardo playing traditional drums to ignite the squad’s passion.
Orlando resident Yorjelles Marino described the electric atmosphere as feeling like home, calling the unexpected victory beyond her wildest dreams.
Team USA will face the Dominican Republic in a highly anticipated World Baseball Classic semi-final in Miami on Sunday following victories over Canada and Venezuela.
The two tournament heavyweights will meet at 20:00 ET in what many consider the marquee fixture of the global competition.
Reigning champions Japan were surprisingly eliminated by Venezuela on Saturday, leaving the path clear for a new baseball superpower to be crowned.
Star-studded line-ups collide
The projected starting nines for both nations boast an incredible array of talent, featuring a combined 52 All-Star appearances and five Most Valuable Player awards.
American hopes will heavily rely on starting pitcher Paul Skenes, who is widely regarded as one of the best young arms in the sport.
ESPN baseball expert Jeff Passan described the encounter as an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.
“This is a dream matchup. It is a Dominican lineup loaded with All-Stars and MVP candidates and future Hall of Famers against one of the two best pitchers in the world.”Jeff Passan
Tactical battles and bullpen strength
The Caribbean powerhouse brings a fearsome offensive reputation after outscoring four of their previous opponents by a combined margin of 44 runs to five.
However, their strategy against the Americans will likely hinge on elevating Skenes’ pitch count early in the contest.
Forcing USA manager Mark DeRosa to turn to his relief pitchers before the fourth inning could prove decisive.
Should the game remain close, the Dominican side possesses a fully rested and formidable bullpen of their own.
Relievers such as Camilo Doval, Carlos Estevez, and Seranthony Dominguez provide a significant late-game advantage to the 2013 champions.
“The Americans have the starting pitching advantage with Skenes on the mound, but the Dominican Republic bullpen is stout, and the offense won’t be shut down all night long.”Jorge Castillo
The United States secured their place in the World Baseball Classic semi-finals with a 5-3 victory over Canada in Houston on Friday.
The hard-fought win sets up a highly anticipated Sunday-night clash against a formidable Dominican Republic side.
The Dominican team had earlier breezed past South Korea, invoking the mercy rule during a 10-0 victory in just seven innings.
Webb dominates before bullpen survives late scare
San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb provided a stellar foundation for the Americans by tossing four and two-thirds shutout innings.
Webb struck out five batters and limited the Canadian lineup to just four hits before departing to a standing ovation at Daikin Park.
A Kyle Schwarber groundout and a costly throwing error by Canadian third baseman Abraham Toro helped build an early advantage for Mark DeRosa’s side.
Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong extended the lead to 5-0 with run-scoring singles in the sixth inning.
Canada fight back but fall short
Canada responded immediately when Tyler Black delivered an RBI single off reliever Brad Keller.
The deficit was further reduced to two runs when Bo Naylor launched a two-run homer against left-hander Gabe Speier.
New York Yankees closer David Bednar navigated a tense seventh inning, escaping a jam with runners on second and third with nobody out.
Garrett Whitlock and Mason Miller then combined to secure the final six outs and seal progression for the United States.
Skenes prepares for star-studded Dominican test
Standout rookie Paul Skenes will take the mound for the USA in the semi-final with an expanded 95-pitch limit.
The American ace faces a daunting task against a Dominican offence that has already tied the tournament record with 14 home runs.
While the United States have occasionally struggled for offensive consistency during the tournament, their timely hitting proved just enough to advance.