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Richard Justice, who joined MLB.com as an executive correspondent in 2011, has covered Major League Baseball for more than three decades and offers his insight on MLB.com.
 | The San Diego Padres have won the offseason. Even with James Shields still on the market, it's going to be difficult to overtake what new general manager A.J. Preller has done.
More»A.J. Preller discusses the Padres' offseason moves |
 | Rob Manfred's first day in the office as baseball's 10th Commissioner was, well, normal. Perhaps that's because this first day was four months in the making. In that time, Manfred came up with an agenda for his first 100 days.
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 | Commissioner Rob Manfred is eager to get to work on his plan for Major League Baseball, which includes incorporating an umbrella approach to participation in order to better engage today's youth.
More»Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred chats on MLB Tonight |
 | Bud Selig might just remember it as one of the best evenings of his life. His emotions bubbled to the surface a time or two, but there were also waves of laughter and joy in his final hours as Commissioner on Saturday night, as he was honored at the New York Baseball Writers' Association of America Dinner.
More»Bud Selig accepts Long and Meritorious Service Award |
 | Bud Selig soon will be joining one of the world's most exclusive groups -- the Retired Commissioner's Club. His peers are happy to have him, and they have some thoughts on retirement, too.
More»Commissioner Selig honored at 12th Annual PBSF Event |
 | Ernie Banks never seemed to have a bad day, and isn't that why we loved him? His was a journey filled with laughter and joy, and with a smile that lit up rooms and warmed hearts for 83 years.
More»Bob Costas talks about the legacy of Ernie Banks |
 | Surely, one measure of a man is the number of friends he has. Even better, there are the number of friendships that have stood the test of time. And so it is with Bud Selig. His life is dotted with these relationships.
More»MLB owners, friends, legends host dinner for Selig |
 | Max Scherzer is a good example how some of the most important tools to scout are heart and smarts and guts. Since 2006, Scherzer has polished his slider, refined his changeup and developed a curveball that's also a quality pitch, helping him become one of the game's most dominating starting pitchers.
More»Justice discusses Scherzer's impact on Nats' rotation |
 | Turns out, neither the A's nor the Rays ever intended to punt on the 2015 season. From the beginning, both tried to tell us there was a larger plan. It's just that it was hard to see it.
More»Richard Justice on A's moves, adding Clippard |
| When there was no more business to conduct and when the speeches had all been given, Bud Selig's last owners meeting as Commissioner ended with an appropriate final touch. Baseball's 30 team owners -- and the sport's highest-ranking executives -- stood and began to applaud and to cheer the man who has led them with grace, dignity and tenacity for the last 23 years.
More»MLB owners, friends, legends host dinner for Selig |
 | OK, Braves fans, take a deep breath. Yes, you will miss Evan Gattis. His power is impressive, his humility appealing. This is one of those times when the baseball team's bottom line collides with the emotion of losing a popular player. Funny thing is, the Astros feel absolutely the same way. This trade stung from their end, too, although in a different way. Three years ago when Jeff Luhnow became the general manager, his primary goal was to build a great farm system.
More»Justice talks Gattis trade to Astros |
 | Is there one team out there you're absolutely certain will be in the playoffs this season? The Nationals? The Tigers? The Angels? There is no easy answer, and that's the thing about competitive balance. Almost every team has hope on Opening Day. On the other hand, not a single team is a slam dunk for the postseason.
More»Richard Justice on the Nationals' strong roster |
 | One of the best parts of every baseball season is watching players emerge and force us to see them in a different light. Sometimes, it happens because something clicks. Or because someone finally had faith in them. So who do you have for 2015?
More»Mayo breaks down Rays' additions Souza, Smith, Bauers |
 | General manager Billy Beane has the ability to ignore the noise. He's been doing this stuff long enough that he trusts his judgment and that of his assistants. That's the lesson of this offseason in which Beane has taken the A's apart and put them back together again.
More»Justice talks Beane staying busy this offseason |
 | When the 2014 season was finally over, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin took the deepest of breaths and made about the most difficult decision anyone in his position could make. Despite a 9-22 closing lap, Melvin decided that he still liked his team.
More»Justice on Brewers bouncing back in 2015 |
 | No club is looking forward to getting to Spring Training and turning the page more than the Reds. So far there's every reason to think it'll be a new season in both tone and substance.
More»Walt Jocketty joins the Mad Dog on High Heat |
 | How good would the Cardinals look with Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Cole Hamels in their rotation? They certainly appear to have the prospects necessary to bring the lefty to St. Louis if they choose to make a move.
More»Langosch on whether Cards' could add to rotation |
 | After a 95-loss season, GM Jon Daniels could have cleaned house. Instead, he'll be looking for a boost from the return of several injured stars.
More»Daniels, Levine receive contract extensions |
 | When Craig Biggio was a catcher at Seton Hall University, one particular play may have defined him. All these years later, it's the play that probably reflects his drive and passion more than any words ever could.
More»Justice reflects on Biggio's Hall of Fame career |
 | Today, we celebrate greatness in all its forms. Randy Johnson's quiet confidence and overpowering stuff define it. So do Pedro Martinez's pinpoint control and indomitable spirit. Meanwhile, John Smoltz's power and precision were part of the fuel that carried the Braves to 14 consecutive first-place finishes, one of the great rides any team has ever had. There's Craig Biggio, whose relentless drive helped transform an entire franchise, the Houston Astros, the one he spent all 20 of his big league seasons with.
More»Hall of Fame elects Johnson, Pedro, Smoltz and Biggio |
Tim Hudson is a reminder that prices are going up. Baseball teams have money to spend, and with a thin free agent market and at least 20 clubs thinking they’ve got a chance to win the World Series in 2014, it’s a great off-season to be a free agent. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann are […]
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Revisionist history says the Phillies made terrible decisions in giving all these longterm commitments to Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, etc. This is just silly. What were they supposed to do with these guys? Walk away from them? Allow Ryan Howard to leave via free agency? This group of players has transformed the Phillies from a […]
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Until the moment the World Series was won on Wednesday night, the Red Sox were focused only on the job at hand. One pitch at a time. One inning at a time. Et cetera. “Whatever the task is in front of us, that’s the one we address,” manager John Farrell said earlier in the week. […]
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Maybe the Astros came to town at just the right time to save the Rangers. Speaking of the Astros, this is the two-week anniversary of their last victory. During this little 0-12 run, they’ve been outscored 69-19. The Reds, Indians and Rangers all swept ‘em at a time when all three teams needed victories. The […]
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How crazy is this American League Wild Card race? Donât blink or youâll miss something important, and I speak as one who stayed with the Rays and Orioles for their 6-hour, 54-minute marathon that ended at 2:05 a.m. Saturday. In case you missed it, the Rays won it 5-4 in the bottom of the 18th […]
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Dodgers starters are 21-5 with a 1.91 ERA since July 26. In that time, they’ve had 12 games in which the starter didn’t allow an earned run. The Dodgers are 22-6 in August and 32-8 since the All-Star Break and 49-13 since June 22. 22 wins in August is a Los Angeles record for the […]
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Tom Boswell of The Washington Post has an excellent column about baseball’s recent September surprises. He’s reminding his hometown team that it’s important to play the season out because you just never know. Here are some highlights: In just the past two years, six teams have imploded to lose division titles or a playoff spot. […]
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I’m sure Ryan Braun was told that the reaction to whatever apology he issued would be negative. There’s nothing columnists and talk show nitwits like more than climbing on their soapbox and trashing another man’s ethics. As a matter of fact, I enjoy it myself. Some people were going to be satisfied only if Braun […]
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Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig made the following statement today regarding the discipline issued to players in relation to Major League Baseballâs Biogenesis investigation: âMajor League Baseball has worked diligently with the Players Association for more than a decade to make our Joint Drug Program the best in all of professional sports. I am […]
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It was the spring of 1993 in Fort Lauderdale when Orioles manager Johnny Oates introduced Cal Ripken Jr. to a skinny, 17-year-old kid from Miami. Alex Rodriguez would be the overall No. 1 pick in the draft that summer and had asked to meet with his boyhood idol. Ripken redefined the position of shortstop, proving […]
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