TAIJUAN WALKER

Cole Kuiper saw a report on Twitter: Aaron Judge was nearing a deal with the San Francisco Giants. Cole called his father, Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, to share the good news. Then the report was scrubbed, and Cole had to get back to his vacationing dad.

The 2022 free-agent class has quite a few top pitchers, including Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander. We rank the top 20 and project some potential teams.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo became a free agent again when he declined his $16 million option with the New York Yankees for 2023.

Jacob deGrom, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Rodón have turned down player options, joining a free agent market that includes Aaron Judge, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson.

Starling Marte got three hits and the New York Mets kept up their season-long dominance of Philadelphia, topping Zack Wheeler and the Phillies 8-2 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Brett Baty homered his first time up in the big leagues, Starling Marte went deep twice and the New York Mets held off the Braves 9-7 to snap Atlanta’s eight-game winning streak.

The playoff-hopeful Seattle Mariners are holding their collective breath that All-Star rookie Julio Rodríguez isn’t seriously injured.

Eduardo Escobar hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer that capped a four-run, first-inning rally, and the New York Mets beat the Yankees 6-3 in a rare Subway Series matchup of first-place teams.

Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso swing away as the Subway Series starts up at Citi Field on Tuesday night with both New York teams in first place.

Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 37th home run, fellow All-Star Nestor Cortes pitched six sharp innings and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-0.

Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run triple in the ninth inning to complete his first cycle, giving him six RBIs in boosting Carlos Carrasco and the New York Mets to an 11-5 win against the San Diego Padres.

Taijuan Walker pitched seven no-fuss innings and the New York Mets remained unbeaten in 10 series this season, cruising past the sloppy Washington Nationals 4-1.

The New York Mets erased a six-run deficit in the ninth inning, capping the rally with Starling Marte’s tiebreaking double to beat the flabbergasted Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 Thursday night.

New York Mets starter Tylor Megill and four relievers combined on the first no-hitter of the Major League Baseball season, teaming up to throw a whopping 159 pitches and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0.

Sergio Alcantara snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, Ketel Marte added an RBI double and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets 3-2.

Tylor Megill delivered his second straight scoreless start for the Mets, Brandon Nimmo homered and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0.

Detroit Tigers lefty Eduardo Rodríguez gets a look at his former teammates when he pitches against Boston at Comerica Park.

Aaron Judge tied it with his second homer of the game in the eighth inning, Mets infielder Javier Báez gave away the lead with an error a few at-bats later and the New York Yankees beat their crosstown rival 8-7 at Citi Field following a stirring ceremony on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Buster Posey and the surprising Giants continue their pivotal four-game series against the rival Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to complete a huge comeback and the New York Mets overcame an embarrassing gaffe by All-Star pitcher Taijuan Walker to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6.

Now this was Bucco Bizarro at its best.

A showcase for Shohei Ohtani became a grand stage for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., too.

Taijuan Walker took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Brandon Nimmo provided a spark in his return from the injured list and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 8-3 to open a three-game Subway Series.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola has struck out 10 straight New York Mets batters, tying a major league record that stood alone for more than five decades.

Two-thirds of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams have been able to relax coronavirus protocols after four additional clubs qualified and raised the total to 20 franchises reaching 85% vaccinations for players and other on-field personnel.

Noah Syndergaard was pulled from his minor league rehabilitation outing because of soreness in his pitching elbow Tuesday night, the latest setback for a New York Mets team ravaged by injuries.

Both baseball teams from New York are away from home this week and each one is having a painful road trip.

Taijuan Walker allowed one hit in seven innings, the Mets scored three runs on bases-loaded walks and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Thursday.

The Red Sox and Twins are scheduled to begin their series in Minnesota a day late.

Harris has a blood clot in his right arm and is leaving spring training camp to be examined by a specialist, manager Dave Martinez said Friday, March 19, 2021. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via AP)Washington Nationals reliever Will Harris has a blood clot in his right arm and the team doesn't expect him to be in the bullpen on opening day. Carlos Martínez struggled in his fourth start for St. Louis. DODGERS 7, RANGERS 2Julio Urías made his fourth start for Los Angeles, allowing two hits in four shutout innings, striking out three. Adrian Houser made his fourth start.

TWINS 1, ORIOLES 0 (7 INNINGS)Minnesota ace Kenta Maeda allowed one hit in three innings, striking out four in his second start. Baltimore's Dean Kremer fared better in his second start, allowing a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings. Deivi García pitched three shutout innings in his second start for the Yankees. Nick Pivetta made his second start for Boston, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings. Alex Wood worked two innings in the start for San Francisco and gave up a home run to Omar Narvaez.

With spring training in full swing, third baseman Travis Shaw returned to the Milwaukee Brewers while former All-Star third baseman Jake Lamb and pitchers Ian Kennedy and Julio Teheran found new teams. Shaw signed a minor league contract with the Brewers on Tuesday, giving them one more option for their unsettled situation at third base. The signing adds another veteran bat to an already deep competition for bench spots in spring training. AdThe 30-year-old Teheran got a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and will report to big league camp. Kennedy will be in major league spring training with a chance to be compete for a spot in the Rangers’ bullpen.

FILE - Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, in this Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, file photo. The Mets made a late addition to their starting rotation, agreeing to a $20 million, two-year contract with right-hander Taijuan Walker, a person familiar with the negotiations said. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Taijuan Walker is taking a back seat on his new team — to Mr. Met. So Walker thought: “What number can wear that not a lot of people in the league have it?" “And I think the only way I don’t wear 99 is if I get traded to the Yankees," he said.

FILE - Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, in this Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, file photo. The Mets made a late addition to their starting rotation, agreeing to a $20 million, two-year contract with right-hander Taijuan Walker, a person familiar with the negotiations said. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)NEW YORK – The Mets made a late addition to their starting rotation, agreeing to a $20 million, two-year contract with right-hander Taijuan Walker. Mets manager Luis Rojas cautioned the deal was not yet final but already was viewing the addition as a boost. The Mets have won just two World Series titles, in 1969 and 1986, and last won a pennant in 2015.

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2014, file photo, Atlanta Braves batting helmets sits on the field under a shining sun during a spring training baseball workout in Kissimmee, Fla. Major League Baseball revamped its spring training exhibition schedule because of the pandemic, cutting travel for Florida-based teams in an effort to avoid the novel coronavirus, the league announced Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)NEW YORK – Completing the 2020 season required MLB to rewrite its rule book. Offers by MLB to delay opening day were rejected by the players' association last month, defaulting the league into an on-time start. The Grapefruit League schedule was reworked to limit travel, and clubs won’t play exhibitions against local colleges — usually a spring staple. MLB has claimed billions in losses after playing the 2020 season almost entirely without fans, and free agents were met by a sluggish market this winter.

Toronto Blue Jays players, coaches and staff celebrate a 4-1 win over the New York Yankees in a baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)BUFFALO, N.Y. – Barred from playing in their own ballpark this year because of COVID-19, the vagabond Toronto Blue Jays have found a home in the playoffs. The Blue Jays extended their lead when Biggio and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back, two-out doubles in the third. SEVEN UPRyu became the first Blue Jays starting pitcher since Aug. 22, 2019, to pitch into the seventh. Blue Jays: RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.86) starts Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Baltimore.

San Diego Padres' Jurickson Profar, right, reacts after scoring on a fielder's choice in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in San Diego. Prized rookie Deivi García (1-1, 3.06 ERA) pitches for the Yankees, who have won five straight following a 5-16 slide. New York expects to get third baseman Gio Urshela and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga back from the injured list. WILD WESTThe surging San Diego Padres go for their ninth straight victory and try to close within a half-game of the West-leading Dodgers when the NL's top two teams square off again at Petco Park. Lamb homered and doubled in his Athletics debut Monday, a 9-0 victory at Seattle that gave his new team a doubleheader split.

Prized rookie Deivi García (1-1, 3.06 ERA) pitches for the Yankees, who have won five straight following a 5-16 slide. New York expects to get third baseman Gio Urshela and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga back from the injured list. Sportico reported Cohen will own 95% of the team, with the rest staying with the Wilpon and Katz families. Former major league star Alex Rodriguez and fiancee Jennifer Lopez also tried to buy the team but dropped out of the bidding last month. Cohen also entered negotiations to buy the Mets last year, but the deal fell apart in February.

New York Yankees pitcher Adam Ottavino walks to the dugout after being pulled during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Buffalo, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. Green, Ottavino and Luis Cessa needed 67 pitches and 43 minutes to get three outs. Green's ERA jumped to 4.26, and Ottavino allowed six runs without getting any outs as his ERA rose to 7.82. Ottavino (2-3) relieved, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run, opposite-field single that bounced past Voit and down the right-field line. Sean Reid-Foley (1-0) won despite a bases-loaded walk to Aaron Hicks in the sixth that extended the Yankees lead to four runs.

Duvall hit a pair of two-run shots over the Green Monster and a solo blast to center for his five RBIs. Duvall and Ozuna were the first teammates with three-homer performances in back-to-back games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who fell a season-high 13 games under .500. Fenway was built in 1912, but the Red Sox are an AL club and interleague play wasnt introduced in MLB until 1997. The Braves tied it at 3 in the second when Duvall hit his first homer, and Ozuna added an RBI single.

FILE - In this March 1968 file photo, New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver poses for a photo, location not known. The Hall of Fame said Wednesday night, Sept. 2, 2020, that Seaver died on Aug. 31 from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19. Nicknamed Tom Terrific and The Franchise, Seaver was a five-time 20-game winner and three-time NL Cy Young Award winner. WELCOME, PADREMike Clevinger (1-1, 3.18 ERA) makes his Padres debut after being traded this week from Cleveland. Walker (3-2, 3.27 ERA) starts at Boston as the Blue Jays try to keep up their push for a playoff spot.

An image of baseball great Jackie Robinson hangs near Petco Park, where a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners had been scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in San Diego. Two Major League Baseball games have been postponed as players across the sports landscape reacted in the wake of the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. A pair of Major League Baseball games were postponed Wednesday as players across the sports landscape reacted in the wake of the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. Jackie Robinson Day is usually held April 15 but was moved this year due to the pandemic. The Yankees are hopeful that infielder DJ LeMahieu could return some time this weekend from a left thumb sprain.

An image of baseball great Jackie Robinson hangs near Petco Park, where a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners had been scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in San Diego. Two Major League Baseball games have been postponed as players across the sports landscape reacted in the wake of the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. A pair of Major League Baseball games were postponed Wednesday as players across the sports landscape reacted in the wake of the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. Jackie Robinson Day is usually held April 15 but was moved this year due to the pandemic. The Yankees are hopeful that infielder DJ LeMahieu could return some time this weekend from a left thumb sprain.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)TRIPLE DOUBLESAaron Judge has rejoined the Yankees just in time for the teams rugged patch -- three doubleheaders in a span of five days. New Yorks game against the Braves was rained out Tuesday, creating a twinbill in Atlanta. That will be followed by doubleheaders Friday and Sunday vs. the Mets at Yankee Stadium. The 28-year-old righty is supposedly attracting interest from the Yankees as the Aug. 31 trade deadline nears. Kershaw, who was scratched from an opening day start at Dodger Stadium against the Giants, lost to them on Aug. 8.

New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. Cole hasnt lost a decision in the regular season since May 22, 2019, against the White Sox while with Houston. FRESH STRIPESThe Tigers will debut another prized pitching prospect when Casey Mize starts against the White Sox. STREAKINGCorey Seager and the Dodgers have won seven in a row and own the best record in the majors at 18-7. ... Alex Bregman and the Astros have won a season-high six straight after beating Colorado 2-1 at Muinute Maid Park.

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani (17) watches his solo home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Joe Hudson, right, looks on during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)SEATTLE Limited to the batter's box for the rest of this season, Shohei Ohtani is still helping the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani homered Thursday against the Seattle Mariners in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher for the rest of the year with a right forearm strain. The Angels shut down Ohtani's arm for the truncated season after he strained the flexor pronator mass near the elbow. Ohtani said Wednesday that he would like to continue being a two-way player for the Angels, but if the club asked him to consider focusing on one or the other hed listen.

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani (17) watches his solo home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Joe Hudson, right, looks on during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)SEATTLE Shohei Ohtani homered in his first plate appearance since being shut down as a pitcher, Dylan Bundy struck out 10 in the third complete game of his career and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Thursday. His only mistake was an elevated changeup that Daniel Vogelbach lined into the right field seats for a solo home run in the fourth inning. ROSTER MOVESBoth the Angels and Mariners trimmed two players from their roster ahead of Thursdays finale. Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.66) gets the start Friday as Seattle begins a three-game interleague series with Colorado.

(AP) Lance McCullers Jr. was solid in his return from Tommy John surgery, Yuli Gurriel and George Springer homered and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners for the 15th straight time, 7-2 on Saturday. The Astros were up 1-0 when Gurriel started a four-run fourth with his solo shot to left field off Seattle starter Taijuan Walker (0-1). I felt good, Walker said. Hes in a really good spot, and the quality of at-bats is really, really good on him right now and a number of our guys.Springers homer off Nestor Cortes made it 7-2 with two outs in the sixth. Remembering Watson and WynnThe Astros played a pregame video tribute on Saturday to Jimmy Wynn and Bob Watson, who both died this offseason.

RHP Lance McCullers will make his first start since 2018 after missing last season following Tommy John surgery when the Houston Astros series against the Seattle Mariners continues Saturday. The game starts at 3:10 p.m. at Minute Maid Park. He’ll be opposed by Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker, who appeared in just one game last season after having Tommy John surgery in 2018. You can watch the game on AT&T SportsNet Southwest. Fans can tune in to follow the game on KTRH 740 AM in English and 850 AM in Spanish.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker (12) kneels for social justice with players before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Friday, July 24, 2020, in Houston. The 71-year-old Baker posted a victory in his 3,500th regular-season game as a manager. Houston tied it at 2 on an RBI single by Altuve that chased starter Marco Gonzales (0-1). Martn Maldonado tied it with an RBI single in the Houston third an added an RBI with a single in the sixth. Hell be opposed by Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker, who appeared in just one game last season after having Tommy John surgery in 2018.