Marc Carig

New Jersey

Senior Managing Editor, MLB at The Athletic

Senior managing editor, @TheAthleticMLB. 🇵🇭

Articles

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays fail to reach long-term contract extension

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Marc Carig

After once again striking out in their seemingly neverending quest to land a big-time free agent, the Toronto Blue Jays added yet another ignominious setback to their ledger, failing to sign a long-term contract extension with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.A four-time All-Star, a son of a Hall of Famer, and the franchise's most prominent player, Guerrero imposed a Monday night deadline to get a deal done, in hopes of concluding a high-stakes negotiation that at times had grown contentious.
Angels, Yusei Kikuchi agree to 3-year, $63 million deal: Source

Nov 25, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig |Will Sammon

The Los Angeles Angels bolstered their standing as the most aggressive team of the offseason thus far, agreeing Monday to their biggest splash yet: a three-year, $63 million deal with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, a source briefed on the deal confirmed. The 33-year-old Kikuchi was an All-Star in 2021 and made 32 starts in each of the past two seasons with a 105 ERA+, making him a slightly above-average pitcher.
Roki Sasaki, the highly coveted Japanese ace, will be posted to MLB

Nov 9, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig

The Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki's club in Nippon Professional Baseball, announced early Saturday morning that they will post the 23-year-old right-hander, thus making him available to MLB teams in what is expected to be a wide-open sweepstakes for his services. Because of his age, Sasaki will be considered an international amateur in MLB's system, meaning that he would make the minimum salary and his bonus will be capped.
9 ways baseball has changed since Yankees, Dodgers last met in World Series

Oct 24, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig |Rustin Dodd |Levi Weaver

It's fun to play on the internet and encounter treasures like the full television broadcast of the 1981 World Series. Pearl Bailey sang the anthem. The lead play-by-play voice belonged to a man better known for his work on Saturdays, Keith Jackson. And because streaming was a concern reserved only for urologists, the game could only be watched on ABC. Whoa, Nellie!Yeah, a lot has changed about baseball in the 43 years since the Yankees and Dodgers last met in the Fall Classic.
5 storylines to watch

Oct 20, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig |Tyler Kepner

For the first time in nearly four decades, two of baseball's bluebloods are squaring off in the World Series. Despite consistently ranking as the game's top spenders and featuring rosters assembled by front offices known for being on the cutting edge, these star-studded teams have not met in the World Series since 1981. Here are five storylines to watch ahead of the best-of-seven series, which begins on Friday in Los Angeles. 1.
Skip Schumaker reportedly leaves Marlins to become winter's top managerial target

Sep 28, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig

Skip Schumaker, who has long been expected to be the most sought after manager in the big leagues this winter, informed Miami Marlins players after their 15-5 victory on Friday night in Toronto that he would not be returning for 2025, according to multiple published reports. A day later, the Marlins announced that Schumaker would not manage the final two games of the season, having left the club to be home in California to tend to a family health issue.
Thank you, Oakland A's

Sep 24, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig

By now, much of the rage has passed. The takes have gone cold, the vitriol has been spewed, and all the jokes have been told about the dopey owner being born on third base and thinking he's hit a triple. The Oakland Athletics will soon pass into history, which means the time has come to move on from the sadness of the funeral and turn instead to a much-deserved celebration of life. In that spirit, this should be said: To the Oakland A's, thank you. For 57 summers, Oakland has had its own team.
Seattle Mariners

Aug 22, 2024 | sports.mynorthwest.com | Ken Rosenthal |Marc Carig |Brent Stecker |Kristie Rieken

Scott Servais’ tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners is over just before the end of his ninth season with the team. The Mariners announced Thursday afternoon that Servais has been relieved of his duties effective immediately, with former M’s catcher Dan Wilson hired as the team’s new manager. In addition to the change at manager, the Mariners have let hitting coach Jarret DeHart go.
Mariners expected to fire manager Scott Servais

Aug 22, 2024 | nytimes.com | Ken Rosenthal |Marc Carig

The Seattle Mariners' stunning collapse has prompted a change in leadership, with the club expected to replace manager Scott Servais with Dan Wilson, sources briefed on the Mariners' plans told The Athletic. The official announcement is expected on Thursday. The Mariners have turned a 10-game lead in the American League West into a five-game deficit in the standings, jeopardizing what seemed to be a march toward the postseason for a franchise that is still in search of its first pennant.
A special series in The Athletic

Jun 25, 2024 | nytimes.com | Marc Carig

The greatness of baseball as we know it - all of its beauty, its charm, its mystery - is predicated on balance. Success pushing back against failure. Chance infringing upon skill. The hitter standing up to the pitcher, the only player who can start the chain of action that has entranced generations of fans. That balance is so sacred to this sport that any disruption to it triggers backlash.