Baseball

A 19-22 record was not the start fans envisioned after splashy offseason signings and front-office proclamations that the Boston Red Sox would return to contention in 2015. Yet here we are. It proves once again that a record-setting payroll (in this case one that exceeds $170 million) doesn't guarantee success. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a little friendly with their Instagram followers on Friday, promoting a fan giveaway of free tickets and, err, sexual donuts.

Yep, sexual donuts.

Colorado Rockies star Corey Dickerson will be placed on the disabled list while dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. 

Continue for updates.     

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with inflammation in his left knee.  

Continue for updates.

Martinez Heads to DL with Knee Inflammation

Tuesday, May 19

The Tigers' official PR Twitter feed reported that Martinez was placed on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his left knee.

With Miguel Montero and David Ross both available at catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Welington Castillo became surplus to requirements, and the team traded him to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports first had the report:

The Atlanta Braves (18-19) will see more youth on the field as the season progresses.

Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz has graduated off this list and made three starts for the Braves (2-0, 4.24 ERA). Meanwhile, fellow righty Williams Perez will make his first start for the Braves on Wednesday after a brief stint in the bullpen, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.

It's your first major league start. Your entire family is watching. All eyes are on you. Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers knew this would be a moment to remember for the rest of his life.

So, he came prepared.

Officially, the New York Yankees will be in the capital over the next two days for a two-game series against the Washington Nationals.

For the first time in several years, the Seattle Mariners are in win-now mode at the major league level rather than looking more toward the future.

The graduation of many top prospects, particularly on the pitching side, has left Seattle's farm system a little thinner than it has been previously. While the Mariners in no way have a bad farm system and haven't been trading away too many prospects, most of the exciting young players are in the majors.

Baseball offseasons are made for hope and optimism.

Those five months between the end of the World Series and Opening Day help dissolve any ugly memories and bad tastes that exist from the previous season. And when that fall and winter are filled with a team making blockbuster moves to improve for the following season, the hype and expectations soar.