ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols woke up from a nap last Monday in Arizona to find several hundred messages and missed calls on his phone. While he was sleeping, the Los Angeles Angels slugger's wife, Deidre, had put up a complimentary Instagram post about her husband that was widely interpreted to mean Pujols had decided to retire after this season, his 21st in the majors. “Hey, that's the life we're living on social media,” Pujols said Saturday with a chuckle. “It's sad that everybody just had to run with it.” The 41-year-old slugger quickly reiterated what he has been saying for months: He hasn't decided whether he will continue playing after the conclusion of his 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels this fall, and he won't make or announce a decision until after the season. “I think our organization, my friends, people that follow my career for 21 years deserve better than just me or her posting something on Instagram,” Pujols said in his first interviews of spring training.... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols’ wife apparently disclosed that the Los Angeles Angels slugger intends to retire after the upcoming season, although she later amended her social media post to be less definitive. The 41-year-old Pujols, a three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, reported to spring training with the Angels on Monday. In a post on her Instagram account later in the day, Deidre Pujols wrote: “Today is the first day of the last season of one of the most remarkable careers in sports!” Shortly afterward, she amended the statement with a parenthetical “based on his contract.” Pujols' 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels ends after this season, his 21st in the majors. But the fifth-leading home run hitter in major league history has repeatedly declined to say whether this season will be his last, and he repeated his uncertainty earlier this month in an interview with ESPN Deportes. Pujols is the oldest player in the majors, and he is a decade removed from his heyday in... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols’ wife apparently disclosed that the Los Angeles Angels slugger intends to retire after the upcoming season, although she later amended her social media post to be less definitive. The 41-year-old Pujols, a three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, reported to spring training with the Angels on Monday. In a post on her Instagram account later in the day, Deidre Pujols wrote: “Today is the first day of the last season of one of the most remarkable careers in sports!” Shortly afterward, she amended the statement with a parenthetical “based on his contract.” Pujols' 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels ends after this season, his 21st in the majors. But the fifth-leading home run hitter in major league history has repeatedly declined to say whether this season will be his last, and he repeated his uncertainty earlier this month in an interview with ESPN Deportes. Pujols is the oldest player in the majors, and he is a decade removed from his heyday in... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols’ wife apparently disclosed that the Los Angeles Angels slugger will retire after the upcoming season, although she later amended her social media post to be less definitive. The 41-year-old Pujols, a three-time MVP and ten-time All-Star, reported to spring training with the Angels on Monday. In a post on her Instagram account later in the day, Deidre Pujols wrote: “Today is the first day of the last season of one of the most remarkable careers in sports!” Shortly afterward, she amended the statement with a parenthetical “based on his contract.” Pujols' 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels ends after this season, his 21st in the majors. But the fifth-leading home run hitter in major league history has repeatedly declined to say whether this season will be his last, and he repeated his uncertainty earlier this month in an interview with ESPN Deportes. Pujols is the oldest player in the majors, and he is a decade removed from his heyday in St.... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: ___ Oakland Athletics Manager: Bob Melvin (11th season). 2020: 36-24, first place, lost to Houston in Division Series. Training Town: Mesa, Arizona. Park: Hohokam Stadium. First Workout: Feb. 17/22. He’s Here: SS Elvis Andrus, C Aramis Garcia, LHP Cole Irvin, LHP Nik Turley, INF Jed Lowrie. He’s Outta Here: SS Marcus Semien, RHP Liam Hendriks, OF Khris Davis, 2B Tommy La Stella, OF Robbie Grossman, RHP Yusmeiro Petit, RHP Joakim Soria, LHP T.J. McFarland, 3B Jake Lamb, LHP Mike Minor. Going campin’: After winning their first division title in seven years, the A’s took some serious hits this offseason with Semien leaving to sign a one-year deal in Toronto after not getting a qualifying offer from Oakland and star closer Hendriks signing with the White Sox. The A’s acquired Andrus to replace... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The American League champion Tampa Bay Rays signed right-hander Michael Wacha to a $3 million, one-year contract on Friday to fill a void in the rotation with the departure of Charlie Morton. The 29-year old Wacha has a 60-43 record with a 4.01 ERA over eight seasons. After seven years with the St. Louis Cardinals, he went went 1-4 with a 6.62 ERA with the New York Mets in 2020. Wacha is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA in six career postseason starts, five coming as a rookie in 2013 when the Cardinals won the National League pennant. He was a National League All-Star in 2015. Morton signed a a $15 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves last month after Tampa Bay declined his $15 million option. The 37-year-old joined the Rays in 2019 and helped Tampa Bay reach the playoffs the past two seasons. The right-hander was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA during this year’s postseason. The signing also comes one day after the Rays announced that right-hander Brent Honeywell had arthroscopic elbow surgery that is not expected to affect his 2021 season. Wacha was drafted 19th overall by St. Louis out of Texas A&M with one of two compensatory picks the Cardinals received from losing Albert Pujols as a free agent to the Los Angeles Angels. NOTES: The Rays have agreed to terms with RHP Chris Ellis on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The American League champion Tampa Bay Rays signed right-hander Michael Wacha to a $3 million, one-year contract on Friday to fill a void in the rotation with the departure of Charlie Morton. The 29-year old Wacha has a 60-43 record with a 4.01 ERA over eight seasons. After seven years with the St. Louis Cardinals, he went went 1-4 with a 6.62 ERA with the New York Mets in 2020. Wacha is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA in six career postseason starts, five coming as a rookie in 2013 when the Cardinals won the National League pennant. He was a National League All-Star in 2015. Morton signed a a $15 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves last month after Tampa Bay declined his $15 million option. The 37-year-old joined the Rays in 2019 and helped Tampa Bay reach the playoffs the past two seasons. The right-hander was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA during this year’s postseason. The signing also comes one day after the Rays announced that right-hander Brent Honeywell had arthroscopic elbow surgery that is not expected to affect his 2021 season. Wacha was drafted 19th overall by St. Louis out of Texas A&M with one of two compensatory picks the Cardinals received from losing Albert Pujols as a free agent to the Los Angeles Angels. NOTES: The Rays have agreed to terms with RHP Chris Ellis on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian once served as a batboy for the Texas Rangers when they made road trips to Angel Stadium. He's headed back to Anaheim three decades later as the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract to take charge of a big-budget franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since 2009 and didn't appear to be much closer to a breakthrough in the just-completed season. “I think this is going to be a great situation,” Minasian said in an interview with KLAA-AM, the team-owned flagship radio station. “It’s a good group of guys, and I’m looking forward to winning a lot of games.” Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as Atlanta's vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian has been named the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract. “His background in scouting and player development along with his unique understanding of roster construction were the leading factors in our decision," Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as Atlanta's vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, where Minasian became the club's director of pro scouting. Minasian has been a part of ample success over the past six years. Toronto and Atlanta reaching the playoffs five times in that stretch, appearing in three league championship series and winning three division titles. His new team... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Perry Minasian has been named the Los Angeles Angels' general manager. The Angels announced the hiring of the Atlanta Braves' assistant general manager Thursday to replace Billy Eppler. Minasian got a four-year contract. “His background in scouting and player development along with his unique understanding of roster construction were the leading factors in our decision," Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. Minasian spent the past three years in the Braves' front office with GM Alex Anthopoulos, including the past two seasons as their vice president of baseball operations. Minasian also worked for Anthopoulos during his previous nine seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, where Minasian became the club's director of pro scouting. The 40-year-old Minasian has been in baseball since he was an 8-year-old batboy for the Texas Rangers, where his father, Zack, was the team's clubhouse manager. He became a clubhouse attendant and eventually an advance scout for the... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the decision says the Los Angeles Angels are expected to choose their new general manager Thursday, and Atlanta Braves assistant GM Perry Minasian is the frontrunner. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the Angels aren't making details of the search public. The 40-year-old Minasian has been a high-ranking official in the Braves' front office since late 2017, including the past two years with the additional title of vice president of baseball operations. He previously had a nine-year stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, including six years as their director of professional scouting. Minasian began his baseball career with the Texas Rangers, where his father worked as the team's equipment director. Minasian worked his way up from jobs as a batboy and clubhouse attendant into a scouting role for the Rangers, followed by stints as an assistant to manager Buck Showalter. The Angels are rebuilding... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the decision says the Los Angeles Angels have narrowed down a field of five candidates to be their next general manager. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the Angels aren't publicly disclosing details of their search. The finalists to replace Billy Eppler include Seattle Mariners assistant general manager Justin Hollander, Chicago Cubs senior vice president of player personnel Jason McLeod, and Arizona Diamondbacks assistant general managers Amiel Sawdaye and Jared Porter. The fifth candidate wasn't disclosed by the source. The Angels have been without a general manager since Sept. 27, when owner Arte Moreno fired Eppler immediately after the conclusion of Los Angeles' fifth consecutive losing season during his tenure. Hollander spent nine seasons in the Angels' front office before rejoining ex-Halos GM Jerry Dipoto with the Mariners in 2016. McLeod was in charge of amateur scouting and player development for... [More]

Players who have hit two or more home runs in a single World Series game (r-rookie): Three Home RunsPablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, Oct. 24, 2012, consecutive Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, Oct. 22, 2011, consecutive Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees, Oct. 18, 1977, consecutive Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, Oct. 9, 1928, 2 consecutive Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, Oct. 6, 1926, 2 consecutive Two Home RunsBrandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays, Oct. 21, 2020 Steve Pearce, Boston Red Sox, Oct. 28, 2018 Roberto Perez, Cleveland Indians, Oct. 25, 2016 r-Michael Conforto, New York Mets, Oct. 31, 2015, consecutive Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies, Nov. 2, 2009 Jayson Werth, Philadelphia Phillies, Oct. 31, 2009 Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies, Oct. 28, 2009, consecutive Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies, Oct. 26, 2008 Jeff Kent, San Francisco Giants, Oct. 24, 2002, consecutive Tim Salmon, Anaheim Angels, Oct. 20, 2002 Troy Glaus, Anaheim Angels, Oct. 19, 2002 Chad Curtis, New York Yankees,... [More]

Oct. 22 1845 — The first known box score is published in the New York Morning News a month after the first set of rules were written by Alexander Cartwright. 1910 — After three straight defeats and trailing Philadelphia 3-2 in the ninth, the Chicago Cubs tied the score and then won 4-3 in 10 innings for their only victory as the A’s won the World Series in five games. 1972 — The Oakland A’s won their first World Series with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 7. 1975 — A ninth-inning RBI single by Joe Morgan gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox and the World Series title in seven games. It was the first title for the Reds in 35 years. 1986 — Gary Carter’s two home runs at Fenway Park gave New York a 6-2 victory and pulled the Mets even with Boston Red Sox in the World Series after four games. 1987 — The St. Louis Cardinals won their third straight home game to take a 3-2 lead in the World Series with a 4-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins. 2000 —... [More]

Oct. 21 1973 — Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson hit two-run homers in the third inning, powering the Oakland A’s past the New York Mets 5-2 in Game 7 of the World Series. It was the second straight World Championship for the A’s. 1975 — Carlton Fisk broke up one of the best games in World Series history with a homer in the 12th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, forcing a seventh game. 1976 — The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series in four games with a 7-2 victory over the New York Yankees. Johnny Bench had two home runs for five RBIs. It was the Reds’ second straight championship and marked the first time a team had swept the playoffs and World Series. New York’s Thuman Munson tied a World Series record with six straight singles. 1980 — The Philadelphia Phillies became World Series champions for the first time in their 98-year history with a 4-1 triumph over the Kansas City Royals in Game 6. 1981 — New York’s Tommy John and closer Goose Gossage... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels' search for a general manager will be broad and deep, and the process could last past Thanksgiving. Angels President John Carpino said Wednesday that the franchise is committed to a detailed examination of the reasons it hasn't won a playoff game since 2009 despite an array of high-priced talent around Mike Trout. The Halos will listen to the ideas of candidates and smart minds from all around the game while they choose a replacement for Billy Eppler. “Obviously, we're not doing it the right way,” Carpino said of the Angels, who have endured six consecutive non-playoff seasons and five straight losing seasons. “We're not winning games, so something is not right in our organization," Carpino added. "You have to look in the mirror to find out what's happening here that's causing us not to be playing this week, or deep into October. ... There are things in here that aren't working. It's obvious, because we're not getting the end result that each... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Several weeks after stumbling out to another miserable start in another dismal season, the Los Angeles Angels finally clicked. They were among the majors' best teams in September, with a pitching staff that finally backed their star-studded offense. Products of a once-barren farm system supplemented their superstars during an impressive four-week surge that brought the Angels back into the playoff picture. The Halos (26-34) clicked about one week too late to save their fifth consecutive losing season. A team with a stacked lineup and a huge payroll missed the postseason for the sixth straight year, finishing in a tie for 10th in the AL. “You look at this team we have right now, it could have been a different story if we played a full season,” three-time AL MVP Mike Trout said. “We just got hot a little late, and we fell short.” It also seems the Angels got it together just barely too late to save the job of general manager Billy Eppler, who got a contract extension... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels fired general manager Billy Eppler on Sunday after the team finished its fifth consecutive losing season under his watch. Eppler was under contract for one more year with the Angels in an extension he signed in July with no public announcement, but team president John Carpino said the franchise will move forward with new baseball leadership after missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year. The Angels have endured a historically bad half-decade during Eppler's tenure despite many positive moves made by the former New York Yankees executive, all while dealing with the spending whims of owner Arte Moreno. The Angels finished 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened season with a star-studded roster including three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani. Eppler took the fall for a decade of mostly miserable baseball under Moreno, whose penchant for handing out big-money contracts to older veteran players... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols passed Willie Mays for fifth place on the career home run list, hitting No. 661 on Friday night against Texas. The 40-year-old Pujols connected for a solo homer with two outs in the fifth inning. He sent Wes Benjamin's fastball on a 1-2 count over the wall in left field. Pujols has hit five homers this season. He tied Mays last Sunday at Colorado. It is only Pujols' second home run since Aug. 4. He now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696). Pujols has one more season left on his contract with the Angels after this year. Benjamin was the 428th different pitcher Pujols homered against in his career. Only Bonds has homered against more pitchers (449). ___ AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle and Baseball Writer Stephen Hawkins in Texas contributed to this report. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Angels slugger Albert Pujols hits 661st home run, passing Willie Mays for fifth on career list.