Shushkewich: Hicks' strong rookie season with Marlins helps him land WBC roster spot

“Heading into the 2024-25 offseason, catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) knew that a change of scenery could be on the horizon.

The former Toronto Mets and Arkansas State University backstop started the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers, playing alongside Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) in double-A Frisco, but finished the campaign with the Detroit Tigers. Hicks and right-hander Tyler Owens were dealt at the trade deadline to the AL Central squad, with veteran backstop Carson Kelly heading to Texas in return. “

Read More
Elliott: Blue Jays add four Latin Americans to top bonus rankings

Latin America continues to be a baseball talent hotbed as well as a source of investment for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Vice-president Andrew Tinnish along with Sandy Rosario, director of Latin American operations, his assistant directors Harry Einbinder and Francisco Plasencia, plus cross checker Lorenzo Perez, added four signing bonuses of $200,000 or more led by Venezuelan C Juan Caricote, who was given a $1.95 million signing bonus.

Read More
Whicker: Big-league teams handing out big contracts before CBA expires

“Those GoFundMe pages really work.

The destitute Pittsburgh Pirates kept reaching underneath sofa cushions until they found $29 million to give Ryan O’Hearn, over two years. O’Hearn is 32, has 84 home runs and is a lifetime .252 hitter. Then they traded for Brandon Lowe, who was a reliable infielder at Tampa Bay and will cost them $11.5 million in the last year of his deal. Lowe had 31 home runs last year and has a lifetime OPS of .807. Hey, it’s not Clemente and Stargell, but it’s an investment. It is hoped that owner Bob Nutting still has S&H Green Stamps left. “

Read More