JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — All-Star right-hander Miles Mikolas and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a contract adding $68 million in guaranteed money from 2020-23, raising his pay to $75.5 million over the next five seasons.The 30-year-old is getting $7.5 million this year as part of a contract he signed before the 2018 season. He would have been eligible for free agency after this year's World Series. St. Louis announced the new deal Tuesday.If Mikolas' 2019 performance is similar to what he did last year, he likely would have received far more as a free agent next offseason. Free agent pitcher Patrick Corbin received a $140 million, six-year contract from Washington as a free agent this offseason.Corbin returned from three seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League and tied for the NL lead in wins, going 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA. He is a resident of Jupiter, Florida, near the Cardinals' spring training camp.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — At 37, Adam Wainwright remains confident in his ability to still be effective on the mound for the Cardinals.Wainwright made just eight starts in an injury-plagued 2018 season, giving up 12 earned runs on 22 hits in 22 1-3 innings. He still struck out 25 and walked just four, but it was a frustrating season: He had a hamstring injury and started the season on the disabled list. He came back and made three starts. Then he returned to the 60-day DL with a sore right elbow.In his rehab outing before returning in September, Wainwright pitched 17 scoreless innings. His best outing was a two-hit, six-inning scoreless outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his next-to-last start.Wainwright showed himself and the Cardinals he could still pitch."I want to win. There's still a big part of me that thinks that I'm going to win a Cy Young," Wainwright said. "So, I mean, even if that's pitching in middle relief, I'd be the first one to ever do that."Last October, Wainwright inked... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___Milwaukee BrewersManager: Craig Counsell (fifth season).2018: 96-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Phoenix.Park: Maryvale Baseball Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: C Yasmani Grandal, OF Ben Gamel, 2B-3B Cory Spangenberg, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Bobby Wahl, RHP Josh Tomlin.He's Outta Here: 3B Mike Moustakas, LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Wade Miley, OF Keon Broxton, OF Domingo Santana, 2B Jonathan Schoop, RHP Joakim Soria, LHP Dan Jennings, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Xavier Cedeno.Going campin': The Brewers return mostly intact after making it to the NL Championship Series last year in the franchise's first playoff appearance since they also lost the NLCS in 2011. Grandal is a major upgrade behind the plate after he hit 24 homers last year with... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___Milwaukee BrewersManager: Craig Counsell (fifth season).2018: 96-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Phoenix.Park: Maryvale Baseball Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: C Yasmani Grandal, OF Ben Gamel, 2B-3B Cory Spangenberg, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Bobby Wahl.He's Outta Here: 3B Mike Moustakas, LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Wade Miley, OF Keon Broxton, OF Domingo Santana, 2B Jonathan Schoop, RHP Joakim Soria, LHP Dan Jennings, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Xavier Cedeno.Going campin': The Brewers return mostly intact after making it to the NL Championship Series last year in the franchise's first playoff appearance since they also lost the NLCS in 2011. Grandal is a major upgrade behind the plate after he hit 24 homers last year with the Dodgers. There... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Miles Mikolas is open to discussing a long-term deal with the St. Louis Cardinals rather than wait to go on the open market after the season.The 30-year-old right-hander returned to the major leagues last year after three seasons in Japan, agreeing to a $15.5 million, two-year contract with the Cardinals. He became a first-time All-Star, going 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 32 starts.His deal allows him to become a free agent after the 2019 World Series, even though he will have only three years of major league service."It's something that the Cardinals and my agent have to work out," Mikolas said. "If the numbers work out and everything turns out to be good, it's absolutely something that could happen."He lives in Jupiter, Florida, near the Cardinals' spring training base."It's an ideal situation. You can't hide that fact," Mikolas said. "If the numbers work out and it turns out to be good, that's absolutely something that could happen. I'm not going to be a guy who says don't... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Last year's World Series between the Astros and Dodgers was a thriller, ending in Houston's Game 7 victory for its first championship.Might they have an encore in store? Perhaps one with a Hollywood ending this time?Time to find out. After two tight NL division races stretched the regular season to a pair of Game 163s, the Rockies and Cubs are set to begin the playoffs Tuesday night with the NL wild-card game at Wrigley Field.Before they do, a look at the 2018 postseason, from A to Z:A: ACES OUT — Good news for NL hitters: Many of the league's top starting pitchers have already begun their offseasons. Cy Young Award favorites Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola won't throw a postseason pitch. Same for Patrick Corbin and 18-game winner Miles Mikolas. Of course, longtime rotation leaders like Clayton Kershaw and Jon Lester are still in play.B: BETTS IN SHOW — Mookie Betts enters his third postseason as the AL MVP favorite, though Boston's dynamic leadoff hitter has a... [More]

The St. Louis Cardinals were barreling toward their third consecutive missed postseason when they made the decision to part ways with manager Mike Matheny and turn the reins over to Mike Shildt.They still wound up missing the playoffs.But oh, what a run they made.A club that was hovering around .500 when Matheny was dumped in July set a record for consecutive series wins, and climbed into the playoff race well into September. St. Louis was finally eliminated on the season's penultimate day, but the organization was left feeling much better about the future."We've been in postseason mode since virtually the All-Star break," Shildt said, "so you appreciate what went well, and you appreciate and grow through experiences and you grow together. There's a lot of takeaways, and the good news is we'll take advantage of it. I can promise you that."Shildt, who never played the game beyond college, was so impressive in righting the course as a first-time manager that the Cardinals stripped him of... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — In a season of haves and have nots, Christian Yelich's quest to become the National League's first Triple Crown winner since 1937 will extend to a 163rd game Monday.Yelich is assured the Brewers' first batting title with a .323 average. He has 36 homers going into Monday's NL Central tiebreaker game at the Chicago Cubs, one behind Nolan Arenado's league-leading total for Colorado, and Yelich's 109 RBIs are second to the Cubs' Javier Baez, who leads with 111.Arenado and the Rockies also have one more game, a Monday NL West tiebreaker at the Los Angeles Dodgers.Yelich was acquired from payroll-slashing Miami in January. Yelich was 0 for 2 with a pair of walks when he was removed by manager Craig Counsell with two outs in the top of the eighth, even though he was due to lead off the bottom half. Yelich jogged from center field to the dugout to a standing ovation from Brewers fans, tipping his cap."I don't know what I was supposed to do there, so I hope that was good enough,"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — In a season of haves and have nots, Christian Yelich's quest to become the National League's first Triple Crown winner since 1937 will extend to a 163rd game Monday.Yelich is assured the Brewers' first batting title with a .323 average. He has 36 homers going into Monday's NL Central tiebreaker game at the Chicago Cubs, one behind Nolan Arenado's league-leading total for Colorado, and Yelich's 109 RBIs are second to the Cubs' Javier Baez, who leads with 111.Arenado and the Rockies also have one more game, a Monday NL West tiebreaker at the Los Angeles Dodgers.There has not been a Triple Crown winner in the NL since Joe Medwick for the St. Louis Cardinals. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in 2012 won the AL's first Triple Crown since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.Boston's Mookie Betts won this year's AL batting title at .346, and with 32 homers and 30 stolen bases became the first player to lead either league in batting as part of a 30-30 season.Highlighting how teams decided... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched baseball's final playoff berth and gave themselves a chance to still win the NL West, getting a go-ahead triple from Manny Machado in the eighth inning Saturday and beating the San Francisco Giants 10-6.The defending NL champions locked up their sixth straight trip to the postseason, assuring at least a spot in the wild-card game. The Dodgers joined Colorado, Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee in the NL playoff field.Los Angeles began the day one game behind Colorado for the division lead, and the Rockies hosted Washington later in the day. The regular season is scheduled to end Sunday — if Los Angeles and Colorado finish even, there will be a one-game tiebreaker for the West title Monday at Dodger Stadium.Machado, the star infielder acquired from Baltimore during the All-Star break, hit a two-out triple off Mark Melancon (1-4) for a 6-5 lead. Max Muncy added a two-run double during a four-run ninth.Alex Wood (9-7) pitched the seventh... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched baseball's final playoff berth and gave themselves a chance to still win the NL West, getting a go-ahead triple from Manny Machado in the eighth inning Saturday and beating the San Francisco Giants 10-6.The defending NL champions locked up their sixth straight trip to the postseason, assuring at least a spot in the wild-card game. The Dodgers joined Colorado, Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee in the NL playoff field.Los Angeles began the day one game behind Colorado for the division lead, and the Rockies hosted Washington later in the day. The regular season is scheduled to end Sunday — if Los Angeles and Colorado finish even, there will be a one-game tiebreaker for the West title Monday at Dodger Stadium.Machado, the star infielder acquired from Baltimore during the All-Star break, hit a two-out triple off Mark Melancon (1-4) for a 6-5 lead. Max Muncy added a two-run double during a four-run ninth.Alex Wood (9-7) pitched the seventh... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched baseball's final playoff berth and gave themselves a chance to still win the NL West, getting a go-ahead triple from Manny Machado in the eighth inning Saturday and beating the San Francisco Giants 10-6.The defending NL champions locked up their sixth straight trip to the postseason, assuring at least a spot in the wild-card game. The Dodgers joined Colorado, Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee in the NL playoff field.Los Angeles began the day one game behind Colorado for the division lead, and the Rockies hosted Washington later in the day. The regular season is scheduled to end Sunday — if Los Angeles and Colorado finish even, there will be a one-game tiebreaker for the West title Monday at Dodger Stadium.Machado, the star infielder acquired from Baltimore during the All-Star break, hit a two-out triple off Mark Melancon (1-4) for a 6-5 lead. Max Muncy added a two-run double during a four-run ninth.Alex Wood (9-7) pitched the seventh... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched baseball's final playoff berth and gave themselves a chance to still win the NL West, getting a go-ahead triple from Manny Machado in the eighth inning Saturday and beating the San Francisco Giants 10-6.The defending NL champions locked up their sixth straight trip to the postseason, assuring at least a spot in the wild-card game. The Dodgers joined Colorado, Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee in the NL playoff field.Los Angeles began the day one game behind Colorado for the division lead, and the Rockies hosted Washington later in the day. The regular season is scheduled to end Sunday — if Los Angeles and Colorado finish even, there will be a one-game tiebreaker for the West title Monday at Dodger Stadium.Machado, the star infielder acquired from Baltimore during the All-Star break, hit a two-out triple off Mark Melancon (1-4) for a 6-5 lead. Max Muncy added a two-run double during a four-run ninth.Alex Wood (9-7) pitched the seventh... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BRONX BOMBERSThe New York Yankees take aim at baseball's single-season home run record, a day after tying the mark of 264 set by the 1997 Seattle Mariners. The Yankees connected four times Friday night in Boston, with Aaron Judge hitting the homer that matched a Mariners club that included Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez.The Yankees are the only franchise with more than 15,000 home runs, nearly 1,400 more than the second-place Giants, according to baseball-reference.com. They can add to their total and set the record at Fenway Park when they face ex-Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi.OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAINDavid Wright will start at third base for the New York Mets against Miami in his farewell game before a sellout crowd at Citi Field. "It's going to be a sleepless night, I know that," Wright said Friday. "I'm just trying to enjoy it, but tomorrow is going to be surreal for me." Longtime teammate and friend Jose... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Saturday:BRONX BOMBERSThe New York Yankees take aim at baseball's single-season home run record, a day after tying the mark of 264 set by the 1997 Seattle Mariners. The Yankees connected four times Friday night in Boston, with Aaron Judge hitting the homer that matched a Mariners club that included Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez.The Yankees are the only franchise with more than 15,000 home runs, nearly 1,400 more than the second-place Giants, according to baseball-reference.com. They can add to their total and set the record at Fenway Park when they face ex-Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi.OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAINDavid Wright will start at third base for the New York Mets against Miami in his farewell game before a sellout crowd at Citi Field. "It's going to be a sleepless night, I know that," Wright said Friday. "I'm just trying to enjoy it, but tomorrow is going to be surreal for me." Longtime teammate and friend... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on today:BRONX BOMBERSThe New York Yankees take aim at baseball's single-season home run record, a day after tying the mark of 264 set by the 1997 Seattle Mariners. The Yankees connected four times Friday night in Boston, with Aaron Judge hitting the homer that matched a Mariners club that included Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez.The Yankees are the only franchise with more than 15,000 home runs, nearly 1,400 more than the second-place Giants, according to baseball-reference.com. They can add to their total and set the record at Fenway Park when they face ex-Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi.OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAINDavid Wright will start at third base for the New York Mets against Miami in his farewell game before a sellout crowd at Citi Field. "It's going to be a sleepless night, I know that," Wright said Friday. "I'm just trying to enjoy it, but tomorrow is going to be surreal for me." Longtime teammate and friend... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Saturday:BRONX BOMBERSThe New York Yankees take aim at baseball's single-season home run record, a day after tying the mark of 264 set by the 1997 Seattle Mariners. The Yankees connected four times Friday night in Boston, with Aaron Judge hitting the homer that matched a Mariners club that included Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez.The Yankees are the only franchise with more than 15,000 home runs, nearly 1,400 more than the second-place Giants, according to baseball-reference.com. They can add to their total and set the record at Fenway Park when they face ex-Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi.OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAINDavid Wright will start at third base for the New York Mets against Miami in his farewell game before a sellout crowd at Citi Field. "It's going to be a sleepless night, I know that," Wright said Friday. "I'm just trying to enjoy it, but tomorrow is going to be surreal for me." Longtime teammate and friend... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has torn cartilage in his right wrist and is unsure whether he will be able to play in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3.Gregorius, who has 27 homers and 86 RBIs, got injured Saturday when he slid headfirst on Aaron Hicks' 11th-inning double to score the run that clinched a postseason berth for New York, which disclosed the injury after a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.New York remained 1½ games ahead of Oakland for the top AL wild card. Baltimore (45-110) is one loss shy of matching the franchise record for defeats set by the 1939 St. Louis Browns, who went 43-111.Tim Beckham homered twice for the lowly Orioles, who trailed 3-0 early. Ryan Meisinger (2-0) pitched two perfect innings and Mychal Givens worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save. A.J. Cole (3-1) was the loser.INDIANS 4, RED SOX 3, 11 INNINGSCLEVELAND (AP) — Greg Allen singled with one out and the bases loaded in the 11th inning and Cleveland denied Boston's bid for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has torn cartilage in his right wrist and is unsure whether he will be able to play in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3.Gregorius, who has 27 homers and 86 RBIs, got injured Saturday when he slid headfirst on Aaron Hicks' 11th-inning double to score the run that clinched a postseason berth for New York, which disclosed the injury after a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.New York remained 1½ games ahead of Oakland for the top AL wild card. Baltimore (45-110) is one loss shy of matching the franchise record for defeats set by the 1939 St. Louis Browns, who went 43-111.Tim Beckham homered twice for the lowly Orioles, who trailed 3-0 early. Ryan Meisinger (2-0) pitched two perfect innings and Mychal Givens worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save. A.J. Cole (3-1) was the loser.TWINS 5, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland will have to take its bubbly on the road. Kyle Gibson (9-13) allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings and Jake Cave... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on today:THE HAPPENINGThe Yankees know they'll be playing in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3, and J.A. Happ on track to be their starter. New York clinched a wild-card berth with a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in 11 innings on Saturday. Happ, 6-0 with a 2.39 ERA for New York after he was acquired from Toronto, is scheduled to start Sunday against Boston and would be on normal rest next Friday at Boston and for the wild-card game. The left-hander allowed one run and two hits over six innings to win on Sept. 4 at Oakland, New York's probable wild-card opponent.ON A ROLLThe Tampa Bay Rays will look to keep their faint postseason hopes alive behind streaking left-hander Blake Snell in their series finale against Toronto. Snell (20-5, 1.97 ERA) is 8-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his past eight starts, striking out 63 over 46 innings in that stretch. The Blue Jays will counter with lefty Ryan Borucki, who pitched eight shutout innings to beat Baltimore... [More]