“Up-and-Coming Star Luca Nardi Aims for Major Upset Against Carlos Alcaraz in Doha | ATP Tour”
In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, all eyes are on the upcoming match between Luca Nardi and Carlos Alcaraz in Doha. Rising star Luca Nardi is ready to make a name for himself by taking on the formidable Carlos Alcaraz in what promises to be a thrilling showdown on the ATP Tour. Don’t miss out on the action as Nardi plots to upset the odds and make a statement on the court. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting match-up! #Tennis #ATPTour #LucaNardi #CarlosAlcaraz #DohaOpen
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The Yankees are sampling a Cookie to bolster their starting pitching depth.
The club signed former Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco to a minor league deal, The Post confirmed on Monday.
If Carrasco reaches the majors, he will earn a $1.5 million base salary with a chance to make up to $2.5 million in performance bonuses, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported.
The Yankees have signed former Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco to a minor league contract. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Carlos Carrasco returned to the Guardians last year after spending the first 12 years of his MLB career with them. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Carrasco, who turns 38 in March, posted a 5.64 ERA across 21 starts and 103 ⅔ innings for the Guardians last season.
In three seasons with the Mets from 2021-23, the veteran pitched to a 5.21 ERA across 61 starts.
Taking a flier on Carrasco gives the Yankees another arm to provide depth for their rotation.
They already have six starters for five spots if everyone stays healthy, which has made Marcus Stroman a trade candidate if the Yankees can find a taker for him.
Beyond Stroman and their projected rotation of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, the Yankees have depth starters Will Warren, Clayton Beeter (if he does not become a reliever), JT Brubaker and Allan Winans on their 40-man roster.
The New York Yankees have made a big move to bolster their pitching staff by signing former New York Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The veteran right-hander brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team, adding another reliable arm to their rotation.
Carrasco, who spent the last nine seasons with the Mets, has consistently been one of the top starters in the league. Known for his impressive command and ability to keep hitters off balance, he will be a valuable addition to the Yankees’ pitching staff.
With the addition of Carrasco, the Yankees now have even more depth in their rotation, giving them a formidable group of starters to rely on throughout the season. This move reinforces the team’s commitment to building a strong pitching staff and competing for a championship in the upcoming season.
Fans can look forward to seeing Carrasco take the mound in pinstripes and contribute to the team’s success on the field. His presence will undoubtedly make the Yankees an even more dangerous team to face in the American League.
Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco agreed to a Minor League deal with the Yankees, according to a report from the YES Network’s Jack Curry on Monday. The team has not confirmed.
Carrasco, who turns 38 in March, went 3-10 with a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts in 2024 for Cleveland, where he’d played his first 11 seasons before being traded to the Mets prior to the 2021 campaign.
Carrasco has a career record of 110-103 with a 4.14 ERA in 15 seasons for the Guardians and Mets. His best season was 2017, when he won a career-high 18 games — tying three other pitchers for the Major League lead — and finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting. As recently as 2022, he won 15 games for New York.
According to recent reports, the New York Yankees have signed former Cleveland Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco to a minor league contract. Carrasco, who has been a reliable starter for the Indians for several years, will now have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ rotation.
This signing comes at a time when the Yankees are looking to add depth to their pitching staff, especially with the uncertainty surrounding several key pitchers due to injuries. Carrasco, known for his strong command and ability to generate strikeouts, could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s rotation.
While Carrasco will initially start in the minor leagues, there is a possibility that he could be called up to the major league squad if he performs well and the team has a need for his services. Yankees fans will surely be keeping a close eye on Carrasco’s progress as he works his way towards potentially making an impact at the big league level.
Elena Rybakina pushes restart, this time without Goran Ivanisevic
The early days of January looked a new dawn for Rybakina. She had hired a new and experienced coach in Goran Ivanisevic, and, just as importantly, seemed to have parted ways with her old coach, Stefano Vukov, who has been provisionally suspended from the WTA Tour after allegations of abuse.
But any thoughts of a fresh start faded quickly, when she asked Vukov to join her in Australia. Soon Goran was gone, and Rybakina was knocked out of the year’s first Slam by eventual champ Madison Keys.
This week, she’ll make her return, coach-free, at the Abu Dhabi Open, the first event of February’s sandy swing through the Saudi peninsula. Rybkina is the top seed, followed by Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina. Badosa’s semifinal in Melbourne makes her a player to watch again.
Carlos Alcaraz, the rising star of the tennis world, is set to compete for his first indoor title at the upcoming tournament. The young Spaniard has been making waves on the ATP tour with his impressive performances and is eager to add another trophy to his collection.
Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina is looking to push the restart button on her season after a string of disappointing results. The Kazakh player has shown flashes of brilliance in the past and will be hoping to find her form once again as she gears up for the upcoming matches.
In a separate event, a U.S. field dominates in Texas as American players showcase their talent and skills on the court. With a strong contingent of players representing the United States, fans can expect some thrilling matches and fierce competition as the players battle it out for the title.
Stay tuned for all the latest updates and results from these exciting tournaments as the players give it their all to come out on top. Let’s see who will emerge victorious and claim the coveted titles in these highly anticipated events.
Los Reales están haciendo un movimiento para reforzar la parte final de su bullpen al llegar a un acuerdo por dos años con el derecho dominicano Carlos Estévez, le informó una fuente a Anne Rogers de MLB.com la noche del miércoles. El club no ha confirmado el pacto, que está sujeto a un examen físico e incluye una opción del equipo.
Estévez, quien cumplió 32 años a finales de diciembre, viene de lo que podría considerarse su mejor temporada hasta la fecha, registrando efectividad de 2.45 (mejor cifra personal) en 54 presentaciones entre los Angelinos y los Filis. El derecho tuvo promedio de carreras limpias de 2.38 y logró 20 salvamentos con Los Ángeles-Anaheim, antes de ser enviado a Filadelfia antes de la Fecha Límite de Cambios.
Su paso por los Filis comenzó de buena manera, aunque tropezó en la recta final. Después de tener efectividad de 1.72 en sus primeras 14 presentaciones con Filadelfia, el cerrador tuvo un porcentaje de carreras limpias de 5.06 en sus últimos seis partidos de la temporada regular y permitió un jonrón decisivo ante los Mets en el Juego 4 de la Serie Divisional de la Liga Nacional.
Estévez ha sido uno de los cerradores más confiables de las Grandes Ligas en las últimas campañas. En el 2023, promedió 11.3 ponches por cada nueve entradas, la mejor marca de su carrera, camino a su primera convocatoria al Juego de Estrellas. Y aunque sus números de ponches bajaron en el 2024, también se redujo su tasa de boletos a menos de la mitad y registró un WHIP de 0.91, el mejor de su carrera.
The Spanish football club Reales has reached an agreement with Carlos Estévez to join their team for the upcoming season. Estévez, a talented midfielder known for his technical skills and creativity on the field, is expected to bring a new level of dynamism to the team’s midfield.
The club’s fans have been eagerly anticipating this signing, as Estévez has been a standout player in the league for several seasons. With his arrival, Reales hopes to strengthen their squad and compete at the highest level in the upcoming season.
Estévez expressed his excitement about joining Reales, stating that he is looking forward to contributing to the team’s success and helping them achieve their goals. Fans can’t wait to see him in action on the pitch and are optimistic about what he will bring to the team.
Stay tuned for more updates on Reales and their new signing as they prepare for the upcoming season. ¡Vamos Reales! #CarlosEstévez #Reales #FutbolEspañol
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Los Rojos de Cincinnati se encuentran en conversaciones avanzadas para reforzar su bullpen con la adquisición de Carlos Estévez, según información de Bob Nightengale de USA Today. El relevista dominicano, conocido por su potente recta y su slider devastador, es uno de los mejores brazos disponibles en el mercado de agentes libres.
Una firma clave para Cincinnati
Cincinnati ha mostrado un gran interés en Estévez a lo largo de la temporada muerta, y parece que las negociaciones están llegando a buen puerto. El equipo de Ohio busca fortalecer un bullpen que, si bien ha mostrado mejorías, aún necesita un cerrador confiable como Estévez.
Equipos interesados en el dominicano
Si bien los Rojos parecen ser los favoritos para hacerse con los servicios de Estévez, otros equipos como los Medias Rojas de Boston, Cachorros de Chicago, Azulejos de Toronto, Filis de Filadelfia y Yankees de Nueva York también han mostrado interés en el lanzador dominicano.
¿Qué aportaría Estévez a los Rojos?
Estévez, con su experiencia y su capacidad para ponchar bateadores, sería un gran activo para los Rojos. Su llegada al equipo de Cincinnati aportaría estabilidad y profundidad a un bullpen que necesita un líder.
Estévez registró 26 salvados en 54 presentaciones en 2024 entre los Angelinos y los Phillies. Con una relación ponches/boletos de 50/12 en 55 innings con una efectividad de 2.45 y un WHIP de 0.90.
Un mercado de agentes libres muy activo
El mercado de agentes libres ha estado muy activo en las últimas semanas, con varios equipos reforzando sus rosters. La adquisición de Carlos Estévez por parte de los Rojos sería una gran noticia para los fanáticos de los escarlatas, que esperan ver a su equipo competir por un puesto en los playoffs.
El veterano lanzador Carlos Estévez ha estado impresionando a todos en los entrenamientos de primavera de este equipo, mostrando un gran control en sus lanzamientos y una velocidad impresionante en su recta.
Con la lesión del actual cerrador del equipo, se ha abierto la posibilidad de que Estévez tome el rol de cerrador esta temporada. A pesar de que ha sido utilizado principalmente como relevista en su carrera, Estévez ha demostrado que tiene la capacidad y la mentalidad para asumir el rol de cerrador y llevar al equipo a la victoria.
Su experiencia y liderazgo en el bullpen lo hacen un candidato ideal para ocupar esa posición crucial en el equipo. Estamos emocionados de ver lo que Carlos Estévez puede lograr como cerrador y estamos seguros de que será un gran activo para el equipo esta temporada. ¡Vamos Carlos!
T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos (Rafael Silva) are so close to having what they want — the former’s half-brother Jonah living with them, with plans to adopt him since his father is going to be in prison for a long time for securities fraud, conspiracy, tax evasion, and wire fraud — but they have to do something first: meet with a social worker. TV Insider has an exclusive sneak peek of the January 27 episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star (the penultimate of the series!) showing just that.
The social worker turns the conversation to their jobs, noting, “You both work pretty long hours.” But T.K. assures her that they can get off whenever they might need to, and Carlos adds that his mother can be there anytime. She then asks about a typical day’s work. “That’s what we love about our jobs,” T.K. explains. “There’s no typical.” She asks about “wild stories” he must have as a paramedic, and he talks about the toxic gas cloud and lava bombs, and no matter what the latter sounds like, “No movie script would be that ridiculous.”
And for Carlos, as a Ranger? He never knows if it’s going to be chasing down bank robbers or kicking down a door to a cartel stash house. “Amazing,” the social worker says, making a note. “I think I have everything I need.” So did they pass? Watch the full video above for more — and for why we can’t help but wonder about that expression on her face at the end.
“We are going to play all of the emotion between Carlos and T.K. about the adoption,” co-showrunner Rashad Raisani assured us after Carlos made the decision he was on board in Episode 9 and we didn’t see that conversation with his husband. “Episode 11 is all about the adoption. So we will cover that background.”
And when we asked about the couple balancing work and parenthood, all he said was, “You’re putting your finger right on the end of the series. That becomes a major issue, let’s put it that way.” That has us even more worried about the social worker’s reaction in our sneak peek.
In addition to T.K. and Carlos worrying about adopting Jonah, “Impact” sees Owen (Rob Lowe) making a decision about his future, Tommy (Gina Torres) receiving devastating news, Mateo (Julian Works) getting his immigration status threatened after an altercation, a doomsday prepper getting trapped in a bomb shelter, and The 126 and all of Austin bracing for an asteroid crash.
9-1-1: Lone Star, Mondays, 8/7c, Fox
T.K. and Carlos Meet With Social Worker: A Turning Point in Their Journey
In the latest episode of their tumultuous journey, T.K. and Carlos found themselves facing yet another challenge as they met with a social worker to discuss their current living situation. With tensions running high and emotions raw, the two men were unsure of what to expect from this meeting.
As they sat down with the social worker, they were met with a mix of compassion and understanding. The social worker listened attentively as T.K. and Carlos shared their struggles and fears, offering them guidance and support every step of the way.
Through tears and laughter, the trio worked together to come up with a plan to help T.K. and Carlos navigate their difficult circumstances. With the social worker’s help, they were able to access resources and support services that they never knew existed.
As they left the meeting, T.K. and Carlos felt a renewed sense of hope and determination. They knew that they still had a long road ahead of them, but with the support of the social worker and each other, they were ready to face whatever challenges came their way.
This meeting with the social worker marked a turning point in T.K. and Carlos’ journey, a moment of clarity and empowerment that would shape their future in ways they never could have imagined. It was a reminder that, no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always hope and help available for those who are willing to ask for it.
MINNEAPOLIS – If the Twins are going to reach their goals in 2025, few things are more important than Carlos Correa‘s health. The three-time All-Star put together one of his best seasons in 2024 on a per-at-bat basis, but he missed the majority of the second half of the year as he dealt with plantar fasciitis in his right heel.
With three weeks remaining before Spring Training, Correa likes what he’s feeling.
“I feel great,” Correa said Saturday at Twinsfest. “I’m ready to go, full go for Spring Training. I’ve been sprinting. I’ve been running around. I’ve been doing about everything. I’ve been focused on not only just treatment but also strengthening, a lot of walking barefoot around the house now. So all that’s helping work on my toes and all that. So I’m in a really good spot.”
Correa was selected as an All-Star in ’24 thanks to an outstanding first half, but skipped the game due to the injury. He didn’t play again until Sept. 14, by which time the team’s late-season funk was already well under way. He was as effective at the plate after his return as he had been before, but it wasn’t enough to arrest the slide.
However, he and the club have expressed significant optimism regarding his 2025 prognosis.
“Carlos is in a great spot right now,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Friday. “Our hitting coach [Matt Borgschulte] just went down and saw him, said he’s in midseason form right now physically.”
It was the second year in a row that Correa dealt with the painful condition. In 2023 he battled plantar fasciitis in his left heel. However, as 2025 approaches, he’s not feeling any discomfort in either foot. And he’s taking extensive measures to help prevent any additional recurrence.
That includes things like making sure his footwear is sufficiently supportive and being choosy about the surfaces he runs on, as well as working on strength and flexibility.
“It’s more like maintenance now,” he said. “Like I did when I hurt my back, back in 2018. You hurt an area of your body and then you focus on strengthening that area, and then you stay on it every single day. So now the foot has become part of my routine.”
That means the focus can be on baseball. Correa has been working at his home in the Houston area and getting ready to head to Fort Myers, Fla., for camp. The hope is that it all adds up to a Correa who is as effective as he was in 2024, and as durable as he’s been in years.
“I’m full go,” he said. “I’m hitting. I’m taking ground balls. I’m running and sprinting, change of directions. I can do everything that I usually do in the offseason to get ready for a full season.”
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is feeling healthy and optimistic as he enters the 2025 MLB season. After battling various injuries in recent years, Correa is finally back to full strength and ready to showcase his talent on the field.
Correa, a former number one overall draft pick, has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but has struggled to stay on the field consistently due to injuries. However, after a rigorous offseason training program and a focus on his health and conditioning, Correa is confident that he is primed for a breakout season.
“I feel great physically and mentally heading into this season,” Correa said. “I’ve put in the work to make sure my body is in the best shape possible, and I’m ready to show what I can do on the field.”
With his combination of power, speed, and defensive prowess, Correa has the potential to be a game-changer for the Astros in 2025. Fans are excited to see what he can accomplish when he is playing at full strength.
“I’m excited to see what this season holds for me and for the team,” Correa added. “I believe we have a great chance to compete for a championship, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to help us get there.”
Astros fans are hopeful that Correa’s health and optimism will translate into success on the field, and that he will finally fulfill his potential as one of the top shortstops in the league.
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League game against West Ham at Villa Park (kick-off 16:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Emery was asked if he expects any more incomings or outgoings before the January transfer window closes: “We are open to try to improve the squad until the last moment and we are open as well in case someone is leaving. Of course, Diego Carlos left last week and we have to replace him. We are focusing with the sporting director and the club on which players could potentially replace Diego Carlos.”
On new signing Andres Garcia: “He is a right full-back, potential, young player. He was progressing so quickly, and I knew him before. I know how he was doing, as a person as well. We decided to sign him because we were thinking it was a good opportunity, just in this moment – a really good opportunity. He is progressing so quick in his career.”
Emery gave his thoughts on Villa’s ambitions: “Of course, for the history of Aston Villa, to try to be a contender, building the team, getting the structure stronger, trying to be contenders in the future for trophies as well, is another objective we have to add. To play in Europe was another objective.”
He continued: “We started two years ago, and we are in this process we planned, but the process is through the players, through the mentality as a team. We can be demanding, setting very ambitious objectives. We have a lot of players with a very good mentality – and a lot of players, they have improved a lot in having the right mentality we want, but there’s still work to do.”
On facing West Ham: “Very important, those three points on Sunday against West Ham. Very difficult, because all matches in the Premier League are very difficult. Of course, West Ham, they are not being consistent, but they have a new coach now. Tactically, they are going to improve, playing matches, and they have very good players as well. Maybe they have some important players injured but, for us, Sunday is very important.”
Emery on replacing Carlos, new signing Garcia and West Ham
In a recent press conference, Arsenal manager Unai Emery discussed the departure of defender Carlos and the signing of new defender Garcia, as well as the upcoming match against West Ham.
Emery expressed his gratitude for Carlos’ contributions to the team and wished him the best in his future endeavors. He also spoke highly of the team’s newest signing, Garcia, praising his defensive abilities and versatility. Emery emphasized the importance of having depth in the squad and believes that Garcia will be a valuable addition to the team.
Looking ahead to the match against West Ham, Emery acknowledged the challenges that the opposing team poses. He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and discipline throughout the game in order to secure a positive result.
Overall, Emery is confident in his team’s abilities and is determined to continue their winning streak. Fans can expect an exciting match as Arsenal takes on West Ham in their next fixture.
Suzuki is the first Japanese player in the Hall of Fame.
The five newcomers will be inducted July 27, 2025, in Cooperstown, New York.
Former Detroit Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillén, who played 14 MLB seasons from 1998-2011, has a relationship with Suzuki and Sabathia, but he knows Suzuki personally from their three seasons as teammates with the Mariners, from 2001-03.
Guillén, now 49, spent the final eight years of his MLB career with the Tigers, from 2004-2011. He represented the Tigers in all three of his All-Star Games, in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
But Guillén and Suzuki met for the first time in February 1999, when Suzuki visited the Mariners’ spring training complex in Peoria, Arizona. He spent two weeks with the Mariners in spring training, thanks to a working agreement between the Mariners and Suzuki’s team in Japan, the Orix BlueWave.
Suzuki didn’t official sign with the Mariners until January 2001.
That’s when Guillén, then age 25, and Suzuki, then age 27, became teammates for Suzuki’s first MLB season after coming to the United States from Japan.
Guillén talked to the Free Press, joining this week’s episode of the “Days of Roar” podcast, about Suzuki, Sabathia, former Tigers manager Jim Leyland and other Hall of Fame topics. (On the podcast, Guillén also discussed his career with the Tigers, his 3:30 a.m. home run and his legendary home run off Jered Weaver.)
When did you first hear the name Ichiro Suzuki, what did you think about him signing with the Mariners, and what was it like meeting him in spring training in 2001?
“I met Ichiro two years before because he was invited to the camp for spring training with the Seattle Mariners (in 1999). But two years later, he came to play with the Seattle Mariners (in 2001). He was unbelievable. To me, he has to be the next player unanimous in the Hall of Fame. He’s very special. The numbers he has, the discipline, the respect he has for the game. I never saw any player like that. He respected his teammates. He respected the fans. To me, that’s very important for a baseball player getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. He’s one of those guys. When he met a Spanish player, he’d try to speak Spanish. When he met an American player, he’d speak English. He’s a very respectful guy. To me, he’s one of the best players to ever play. He can catch the ball. He can hit the ball. He can run. He put a lot of pressure on the defense. He’s a clutch hitter, too. He’s a winner. He prepares himself before the game, for the game and for the season. He prepares himself for everything. That’s why I say he’s a very disciplined player. To me, the discipline is one of the most important things in a baseball career, in your life. He is one of those guys. You want to keep him on your team. You want to keep him as a friend. You want to keep him right next to you.”
In 2001, Ichiro hit an American League-best .350 with an MLB-best 242 hits and an MLB-best 56 stolen bases, winning AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP. Did you expect that from Ichiro in Year 1?
“I saw him in spring training. We were hitting in the same group in batting practice. He can hit the ball far, too, for home runs. The first time I saw him in spring training, I said he was going to be a very, very special player. He’s disciplined, and he is very smart, too. When you have the discipline, you can do whatever you want to do.”
Ichiro had more than 200 hits in 10 seasons in a row, from 2001-2010. For context, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera only had more than 200 hits one time in his 21-year MLB career, with 205 in 2012. How was Ichiro able to get so many hits?
“It’s very, very difficult for a player to play every day. It’s very, very difficult for a player to play more than 10 years in the big leagues. He’s one of those guys. It’s the discipline. He had his routine before the game. That makes a lot of difference when you can be consistent every day, doing what you need to do. That made the difference. He was one of those guys. He prepared himself every day. He prepared himself for the long season. And he never struck out. He put the ball in play. He hit a lot of infield hits. He prepared his body to be fast all the time, to put pressure on the defense. He was a very special player because he got the talent, he got the mentality, he got the discipline. He had everything. That’s why he hit 200 hits for 10 years.”
Do you know your numbers against CC Sabathia?
“I don’t know the numbers. The only thing I know is he was very, very aggressive.”
You hit .295 with one home run, three walks, seven strikeouts and a .727 OPS across 48 plate appearances against CC Sabathia throughout your MLB career. You faced him the most in 2006-07, hitting .318 across 22 plate appearances.
“Well, I remember CC. He was a fastball pitcher. He was a big guy. We were in the same (AL Central) division when he played back then for the Cleveland Indians. I had to be aggressive early in the count. When you got to two strikes, you got in trouble. He threw hard. He was 6-feet-6, a big guy, lefty, throwing 96, 97, 98 miles per hour with a big backdoor slider, so you had to be early in the count aggressive. That was the biggest difference for me in those years. He’s a good teammate, a good guy in the clubhouse. But he was one of the best pitchers I faced.”
Sabathia is one of just 15 pitchers in MLB history to reach 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. We know Ichiro is a lock, but why should Sabathia join Ichiro as a Hall of Famer on his first ballot?
“Numbers talk. When you got the numbers, you can tell. When you don’t have numbers, you’re going nowhere. That’s CC. He threw a lot of innings. To me, that was the key. If you throw a lot of innings, you’re going to have good numbers.”
Former Tigers manager Jim Leyland was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. What was it like playing for Jim Leyland in the final six of eight years during your career with the Tigers, from 2006-11?
“I would like to say thank God for putting me in those hands. To me, Jim Leyland was one of the most special manager I played for. I learned a lot from Jim. He talked a lot with the players. He gave you the confidence. He knows the game. He’s very aggressive. The most important thing, to me, was keeping the chemistry in the clubhouse. He talked to us before batting practice and played cards. He was funny, too. He was so funny. He gave you a lot of confidence. That’s good for young guys. I think that’s why he was so successful in his career. That’s why he’s in (the Hall of Fame) right now. He deserves it. He brought to TigerTown a lot of good things. He loved Detroit, and he loved baseball. He won the World Series with the Marlins (in 1997). He managed a players like Barry Bonds. To me, the best thing that happened to me was playing with Jim.”
Carlos Beltran is expected to join the Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. (He received 70.3% of the vote on his third of 10 ballots in 2025, falling just shy of the 75% needed for induction.) You and Beltran made your MLB debuts in 1998: You were with the Mariners; Beltran was with the Kansas City Royals. Back then, how much did you know about him?
“I knew about him because he was on Baseball America — that he was going to be a special player. I started following him. He was a very, very special player. He can play. He’s a very, very nice person, too. We didn’t play together, but when we played against Carlos, you have to be careful when he comes up to hit. He was a clutch hitter, too. To me, that’s very important for a player trying to go to the Hall of Fame. When you are a clutch hitter and clutch player, you want players like that on your team. It makes your team different. That’s why he was so successful in the playoffs and during the season. I think he should be a Hall of Famer.”
Ichiro wasn’t your only famous teammate with the Mariners. You were teammates with Alex Rodriguez in 1998, 1999 and 2000, but your first full season in the big leagues was 2000. That year, Rodriguez hit .316 with 41 home runs while playing shortstop for the Mariners. What was it like watching him do that?
“All of those (elite) players, they’re very, very similar on the field and in the clubhouse and in the offseason. Alex is a guy who worked hard every day to be in this position, where he is right now. He was very smart. He was always talking about hitting every day — on the bus, on the plane, in the clubhouse, at breakfast. He was always talking about hitting and about baseball, every day and all the time. If you went with A-Rod to lunch, he would talk to you about baseball and what pitchers we were going to face that day. When you’re on the plane, he had all of the videos for the next series of the pitchers. That’s what made him a very, very special player. He was a very, very disciplined player. He was young. He got the talent. He knew he could do a lot of good things in baseball. He is one of the best players. To me, the best player to ever play.”
Alex Rodriguez is one of the greatest players in MLB history, but he also was suspended by MLB for the use and possession of performance-enhancing drugs. Does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? (He received 37.1% of the vote on his fourth of 10 ballots in 2025, needing 75%.)
“Yes, to me, he should be in the Hall of Fame. Back then, I didn’t know about steroids. I didn’t know about it. But things happen. Everybody makes a mistake. Some players in the Hall of Fame, they made a mistake. We are human. To me, he should be on the list.”
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In a recent interview with MLB Network, former Detroit Tigers player Carlos Guillen shared his thoughts on the potential Hall of Fame induction of two of his former teammates, Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia.
Guillen had nothing but praise for Ichiro, calling him a “once-in-a-generation talent” and stating that he believes the Japanese outfielder deserves to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Ichiro, who retired from MLB in 2019 with over 3,000 hits and a career batting average of .311, is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game.
When it came to Sabathia, Guillen was equally effusive in his praise, describing the left-handed pitcher as a “true workhorse” and a “dominant force on the mound.” Sabathia, who retired in 2019 after 19 seasons in the majors, finished his career with 251 wins and over 3,000 strikeouts, solidifying his case for Hall of Fame induction.
As the baseball world eagerly awaits the 2025 Hall of Fame vote, it seems likely that both Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia will receive the recognition they deserve for their outstanding careers. And if Guillen’s words are any indication, their former teammate will be cheering them on every step of the way.
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