Miguel Cairo & Carlos Mendoza Make MLB History as First Venezuelans to Manage Against Each Other

Miguel Cairo and Carlos Mendoza have made Major League Baseball history.

The 51-year-old Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder and current interim manager for the Washington Nationals and the 45-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball manager for the New York Mets became the first Venezuelans in MLB history to manage against each other.

Miguel Cairo & Carlos Mendoza“It’s two countrymen, friends, and now to be exchanging the lineup at home plate, we’re excited about it. We’re proud to represent the Latinos in the United States, represent our country in the United States, and of course represent our organizations,” Cairo said before his club’s 8-1 loss. “To me, it’s a dream come true.”

Mendoza was hired by the Mets after the 2023 season, becoming the third Venezuelan manager in major league history. Cairo became the fourth when Washington promoted him to interim manager in July after firing Dave Martinez.

“It’s just an honor for both of us,” Mendoza said. “I’m humbled by it. You know, this is a big deal back home. I didn’t recognize that until it was brought up to me.

Before the game, Cairo and Mendoza posed for photos behind the plate with their arms around each other’s shoulders, then embraced before returning to their respective dugouts. After the first pitch, the game ball was taken out of play, bound for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Cairo and Mendoza both have ties to the New York Yankees organization. The Yankees were one of nine teams Cairo played for during a 17-year career, and Mendoza was a longtime coach with the organization before the Mets hired him. The two overlapped when Cairo worked as a Yankees minor league infield coordinator.

Ozzie Guillén was the first Venezuelan to manage in the majors. He led the Chicago White Sox from 2004-11 and won a World Series title in 2005, then managed the Miami Marlins in 2012. Al Pedrique was Arizona’s manager for half of the 2024 season, but the Diamondbacks and White Sox did not play each other that year.

Asked if he was surprised the milestone had not come sooner, Cairo said the path to becoming a big league manager was difficult for everyone.

“You have to through the minor leagues, you have work your way up. You have to really work,” he said. “Nothing is easy and you’ve got to earn it. And, you know, he earned it. I think I earned it.”

 

New York Yankees Acquire Amed Rosario from Washington Nationals

Amed Rosario is heading to the Big Apple.

The New York Yankees have acquired the 29-year-old Dominican professional baseball utility player from the Washington Nationals in exchange for two minor leaguers, giving the club a versatile right-handed hitter it had coveted before Thursday’s trade deadline.

Amed Rosario  A former top prospect with the New York Mets, Rosario is batting .270 with five home runs and a .736 OPS this season. But he’s hitting .299 with an .816 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season and the Yankees are expected to use him primarily against lefties.

Defensively, he gives manager Aaron Boone a multipurpose player.

Rosario has started 20 games at third base and 13 at second base this season and has also made starts at each outfield position and at shortstop during his nine-year career.

The move comes a day after the Yankees completed a trade with the Colorado Rockies for veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon.

Unlike McMahon, who is under contract for the next two seasons for $32 million, Rosario will become a free agent after this season.

The Yankees will pay Rosario the balance of the one-year, $2 million deal he signed with Washington in January.

“When I heard where I was going, I kind of didn’t believe it,” Rosario said in Minnesota after the Nationals’ game vs. the Twins on Saturday. “I mean, at some point I kind of knew I was going to get traded, but I didn’t know it was going to be today.”

The Yankees nearly signed Rosario before last season, but he chose to sign a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays instead. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July and finished the season with the Cincinnati Reds after being claimed off waivers.

“He’s actually been a guy who we’ve tried to kind of get the last couple of years to varying degrees,” Boone said. “Provides some defensive versatility, speed and really gets lefties, so I think it kind of makes our bench and the balance of our roster a little more workable.”

This is the third straight year Rosario has been moved close to the trade deadline.

The Yankees will be his sixth team since the end of the 2023 season.

“I feel great, because whenever teams are in playoff contention they always acquire me towards the end,” Rosario said. “I just feel really good about that.”

Rosario cost the Yankees right-hander Clayton Beeter, a 26-year-old right-hander in Triple-A who has made five major league relief appearances, and Browm Martinez, an 18-year-old outfielder in the Dominican Summer League.

The Yankees acquired Beeter, a second-round pick in 2020, from the Dodgers for Joey Gallo in 2022. He made his major league debut last season and gave up six runs in 3⅔ innings across two relief appearances this season.

Martinez is batting .404 with a 1.139 OPS in 18 games this season, his second in the Dominican Summer League. He signed with the Yankees for $130,000 last year.

Tampa Bay Rays Slugger Junior Caminero to Compete in MLB’s Home Run Derby

Junior Caminero is ready to come out swinging…

The 22-year-old Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, who leads all American League third basemen in home runs, said Wednesday that he’ll take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta.

Junior Caminero“I’m going to put on a show. I’m going to try to put on a show just to give the fans the opportunity to get to know me, see my power,” Caminero said before Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. “Just being there with all those other [MLB] All-Stars, it’s going to be something very special.”

Caminero followed that up by hitting his 22nd home run of the season in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s game. He is batting .254 with 58 RBIs in 87 games this season.

He is the sixth contestant for the Home Run Derby, joining Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins and Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

MLB still has to name two more contestants to fill out the field of eight sluggers.

Caminero was chosen as a replacement for the MLB All-Star Game earlier this week as a substitute for the Boston Red Sox‘s injured Alex Bregman.

Caminero will be the fourth Tampa Bay player to compete in the Home Run Derby, joining Evan Longoria (2008), Carlos Pena (2009) and Randy Arozarena (2023).

Pittsburgh Pirates Star Oneil Cruz to Compete in the MLB’s Home Run Derby

It’s batter up for Oneil Cruz. 

The 26-year-old Dominican professional baseball center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who made headlines over the weekend for an inspiring high-speed throw, has accepted an invitation o compete in Monday’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta.

Oneil CruzCruz is the fifth player to commit to the competition, held one day before the MLB All-Star Game.

The others are Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.

“I’m really, really happy just because that’s what I do,” Cruz said ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Kansas City. “I like to hit balls far. I think I’m going to enjoy it a lot.”

Cruz, 26, is known for having a powerful bat and regularly delivers some of the hardest-hit homers.

His home run May 25 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers had an exit velocity of 122.9 mph and was the hardest-hit homer in the 10-year Statcast era. 

But Cruz has never hit more than 21 in a season, and that was in 2024. He’s on track to set a high this year and has 15 in 80 games.

“They’ve been trying to get me in the Home Run Derby for the last couple years, but last year, I was coming back from an ankle injury and was not feeling that good at that time,” Cruz said. “But I’m in a good spot right now.”

Cruz has 55 career homers in 324 games with the Pirates.

Cruz will be the first Pittsburgh player to participate in the Derby since Josh Bell in 2019.

Other Pirates to be part of the event were Bobby Bonilla (1990), Barry Bonds (1992), Jason Bay (2005), Andrew McCutchen (2012) and Pedro Alvarez (2013).

“Oh, man, I can’t wait to see him hit down there,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s going to make Atlanta look small after seeing him hit [batting practice] down there last year and the year before. Just really excited for him and the opportunity he’s got to go be a part of that.”

Overall, Cruz is batting just .203 this season but leads the National League with 28 steals.

Among the players to turn down an invite to the eight-player field are two-time champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and 2024 runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals.

Defending champion Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers recently turned down a spot as a consideration to nagging injuries.

Top power threats Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers also are expected to skip the event.

Amed Rosario Agrees to One-Year Contract with Washington Nationals

Amed Rosario is heading to The District.

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with the 29-year-old Dominican professional baseball and utility player on a one-year contract.

Amed RosarioFinancial terms haven’t been disclosed, but MLB.com reported the deal is worth $2 million.

Rosario, 29, batted .280 with three home runs, 32 RBIs and 13 steals in 103 games between the Tampa Bay RaysLos Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds in 2024.

A versatile defender, Rosario manned several different positions — including playing 27 games at second base, 26 in right field, 15 at third base and 14 at shortstop last season.

Rosario is a career .273 hitter with 63 homers, 366 RBIs and 449 runs scored for the New York Mets, (2017-20), Cleveland Guardians (2021-23), Dodgers (2023-24), Rays (2024) and Reds (2024).

Astros’ Ronel Blanco Throws First No-Hitter in Major League Baseball This Season

Ronel Blanco has secured a special first…

The 30-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher, who made his first Opening Day roster, has thrown the first no-hitter in Major League Baseball this season.

Ronel Blanco Blanco struck out seven and walked two in the Houston Astros‘ 10-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Blanco, who didn’t play in the MLB until he was 28, was making just his eighth career start. He wouldn’t even be in Houston’s rotation if not for injuries to Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy.

“It’s been a very long road traveled for me,” he said in Spanish through an interpreter. “A lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of falls, a lot of me getting back up. But I think all of that has been worth it for me to be able to get to this moment.”

He walked George Springer to start the game and again with two outs in the ninth.

When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end it, Blanco smiled broadly before raising his arms above his head just before being mobbed by teammates.

“I see it as a great blessing, a great blessing for me and my family,” he said. “With the arrival of my daughter I see it as a life-changing experience, and I dedicate this to my family and my daughter.”

It was the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and the first in the majors since Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen threw one against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 9 of last year.

Houston’s previous no-hitter came about a week before that one when Framber Valdez did it in a 2-0 win over Cleveland on August 1.

Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz each homered twice as the Astros won their first game of the season after losing four to the Yankees. Houston’s Joe Espada became the first manager in major league history to get his first win in a no-hitter.

“I couldn’t be any happier for the way today turned out,” Espada said.

The Astros are the fourth team in MLB history to get their first win of the season in a no-hitter, and the first since Boston’s Hideo Nomo pitched one against the Orioles in 2001. Nomo’s no-hitter that year came on April 4. That was the record for the earliest no-hitter by calendar date, according to Sportradar, but Blanco’s gem broke the mark by three days.

Blanco threw 105 pitches, averaging 93.6 mph with 31 fastballs and also throwing 36 changeups, 34 sliders and four curveballs.

Espada said the changeup was the key to Blanco’s success Monday.

“It makes the fastball and the slider that much better,” he said. “The way it comes out of the hand, it looks just like his fastball and hitters are committed to potentially swinging at a fastball and the ball just kind of falls in the zone. It’s a pitch that he’s worked really hard on and it paid big dividends tonight.”

Toronto manager John Schneider agreed.

“Really good changeup, it was almost like a split, slider combo,” he said. “Give him credit — that’s really hard to do. I know he hasn’t been starting much, but he was really good and his changeup was outstanding.”

Jeimer Candelario Agrees to Three-Year, $45 Million Contract with Cincinnati Reds

Jeimer Candelario is seeing Red(s) 

The 30-year-old Dominican American professional baseball third baseman has agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, adding the veteran switch hitter to a plethora of young infielders as the Reds position themselves for a run at the National League Central title.

Jeimer CandelarioCandelario was non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers following the 2022 season but rebounded with a stellar 2023, setting career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (70) while hitting .251/.336/.471 and playing first and third base for the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. His deal with the Reds includes a club option for $15 million in 2027, sources said. 

He joins a Reds team that already features young infielders Elly De La CruzMatt McLainNoelvi Marte, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jonathan India. Another infielder, Spencer Steer, is expected to move to left field, where he would complement outfielders TJ Friedl, Will Benson and Jake Fraley.

Candelario’s deal, first reported by MLB.com, could free up Cincinnati to use its depth to pursue a trade for a pitcher, though the Reds already have added right-hander Nick Martinez to their rotation and right-hander Emilio Pagan to their bullpen on two-year deals.

Cincinnati’s last postseason appearance in a full season came in 2013, and following an 82-80 performance in 2023, owner Bob Castellini said he intended to expand the Reds’ payroll with hopes of usurping the incumbent division winner, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Cubs. The Reds, typically among the lowest-payroll teams, have guaranteed $87 million to free agents.

Multiple teams pursued Candelario this winter, looking at his versatility as well as his ability to hit from both sides of the plate as pluses. Over his eight-year career, Candelario has hit .243/.325/.414 with 88 home runs and 318 RBIs in 746 games.

Ali Sánchez Agrees to 1-Year Deal with Pittsburgh Pirates

Ali Sánchez is battening down the hatches

The 26-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball catcher has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving the team another player to throw in the mix behind the plate with Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis.

Ali SánchezSánchez spent last season with Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, hitting .311 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 67 games. He also threw out 22 baserunners.

Sánchez has appeared in seven Major League Baseball (MLB) games, five for the New York Mets in 2020 and two for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.

While Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has insisted that Davis, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft, will get a chance at catcher, Sánchez’s arrival gives Pittsburgh flexibility at the position. Davis played primarily in right field after making his major league debut in June.

The Pirates also claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Munoz off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Muñoz, 23, went a combined 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA in 34 appearances at multiple levels of the minors in 2023.

Reynaldo López Agrees to $30 Million, Three-Year Contract with Atlanta Braves

It’s a Brave(s) new world for Reynaldo López.

While keeping up their search for starting pitching, the Atlanta Braves added another reliever to their bullpen Monday by agreeing to $30 million, three-year contract with the 29-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher.

Reynaldo López,The deal calls for López to make $4 million in 2024 and $11 million in the next two seasons. There is an $8 million club option for 2027, with a $4 million buyout.

López, a right hander, pitched for three teams in 2023, combining to go 3-7 with a 3.27 ERA and six saves over 68 appearances with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. He had 83 strikeouts in 66 innings — a career-best average of 11.3 Ks per nine innings — with a fastball that averaged 98.2 mph.

The Braves, who had an MLB-leading 104 wins this past season but were eliminated in the NL Division Series for the second year in a row by Philadelphia, have been retooling their roster with an eye toward getting over the hump in the postseason.

They re-signed relievers Joe Jimenez and Pierce Johnson to multiyear deals, acquired left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer from the White Sox in a six-player trade and dealt former 21-game winner Kyle Wright, who is set to miss the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury after sitting out most of this past season.

In exchange for Wright, the Braves landed former first-round draft pick Jackson Kowar, who has struggled with the Royals pitching mostly in relief. In a separate deal with Kansas City, Atlanta traded reliever Nick Anderson for $100,000.

All the moves have left the Braves with solid depth in a bullpen that also includes closer Raisel Iglesias and lefties A.J. MinterDylan Lee and Tyler MatzekDaysbel Hernandez and Huascar Ynoa are other bullpen candidates.

“They just looked like they knew they wanted to win at all times,” López said through a translator. “It’s great to be part of that and can’t wait to be out there.”

The only clear move to address a dearth of starting pitching depth was exercising a $20 million option for 40-year-old Charlie Morton, who went 14-12 with a 3.64 ERA last season.

That is, unless they’re planning to move López back to the rotation. He held that role with the Chicago White Sox from 2017-20, going 21-31 with a 4.76 ERA over 81 starts.

He made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2016, and has also played for the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians.

Other than one appearance as an opener, López has been used exclusively as a reliever the last two seasons, with much more success.

“I was open to both options, someone who was looking for a starter or reliever,” López said. “Both options were open.”

The Braves’ rotation is led by MLB All-Star Spencer Strider (20-5, 3.86, a franchise-record 281 strikeouts) and Max Fried, who is heading into his final season before becoming eligible for free agency. The other starting candidates are Bryce Elder, who was selected for the All-Star Game but struggled down the stretch, and 21-year-old top prospect AJ Smith-ShawverDarius VinesAllan WinansDylan Dodd and possibly 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep could also be in the mix.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos appeared to be clearing payroll space to make a run at a starter with a series of moves that sliced 10 players off the Braves’ 40-man roster in the past couple of weeks.

Atlanta declined a $9 million option for outfielder Eddie Rosario, cut ties with relievers Kirby Yates, Brad Hand and Collin McHugh, did not tender a contract to reliever Michael Tonkin, and dealt away arbitration-eligible players such as former ace Michael Soroka, infielder Nicky Lopez and Anderson.

One possible target is out of the running after Aaron Nola agreed to a seven-year deal to remain with the Phillies. Sonny Gray is thought to be another starter on Atlanta’s wish list.

Gerardo Parra Named New First-Base Coach for Washington Nationals

Gerardo Parra has landed his first Major League Baseball coaching job.

The 36-year-old Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder will be the new first-base coach for the Washington Nationals as part of a series of changes to manager Dave Martinez‘s staff announced by the club on Friday after a fourth consecutive last-place finish in the NL East.

Gerardo ParraParra played for the Arizona DiamondbacksMilwaukee BrewersBaltimore OriolesColorado RockiesSan Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals, as well for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Parra is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and won the 2019 World Series as a member of the Nationals.

Miguel Cairo will be Martinez’s bench coach and Ricky Gutierrez is shifting to third-base coach after holding the title of run prevention coordinator in 2023. Chris Johnson was hired as assistant hitting coach.

Holdovers include hitting coach Darnell Coles, pitching coach Jim Hickey, catching and strategy coach Henry Blanco and bullpen coach Ricky Bones.

This is Parra’s first job on an MLB coaching staff. After retiring in 2021, he started working in the Nationals’ front office in 2022. Parra played in the majors for 12 years and signed with Washington in 2019 as a backup outfielder. His choice of “Baby Shark” as his walkup music — a nod to his 2-year-old daughter — became a rallying cry for fans and players while the club won its first championship that season.

Cairo, also a former player, was the minor league infield coordinator for the New York Mets last season. Before that, he was the bench coach for the Chicago White Sox for two seasons.

Coles, Hickey, Blanco and Bones head into their third season in these roles with Washington.

The Nationals did not renew the contracts of bench coach Tim Bogar, third-base coach Gary DiSarcina, first-base coach Eric Young Jr. and assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler.

The Nationals went 71-91 in 2023 as general manager Mike Rizzo continues to try to remake their roster. In the National League, only the Colorado Rockies finished with a worse record this year.

Rizzo and Martinez both got new contracts during the season.

Rizzo has been the team’s GM since 2007. He hired Martinez for his first managerial job before the 2018 season.