PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets cut five players from major league camp Saturday and informed catcher Devin Mesoraco that he won't be on the opening day roster.The Mets re-assigned outfielders Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and pitchers Ryan O'Rourke and Hector Santiago to minor league camp. All six players were offered $100,000 retention bonuses.The moves trimmed New York's spring roster to 30, with five days to get that number to 25. The toughest calls appear to be at the catching and pitching positions.Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielders Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie could be placed on the injured list prior to the Mets' season opener at Washington.D'Arnaud is working back from Tommy John surgery last April, and it's uncertain if he or Tomas Nido will break camp as the backup to Wilson Ramos. New York has been careful with the 30-year-old d'Arnaud, who caught eight innings over two games Thursday and Friday and has played eight spring games."We... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets cut five players from major league camp Saturday and informed catcher Devin Mesoraco that he won't be on the opening day roster.The Mets re-assigned outfielders Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and pitchers Ryan O'Rourke and Hector Santiago to minor league camp. All six players were offered $100,000 retention bonuses.The moves trimmed New York's spring roster to 30, with five days to get that number to 25. The toughest calls appear to be at the catching and pitching positions.Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielders Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie could be placed on the injured list prior to the Mets' season opener at Washington.D'Arnaud is working back from Tommy John surgery last April, and it's uncertain if he or Tomas Nido will break camp as the backup to Wilson Ramos. New York has been careful with the 3-year-old d'Arnaud, who caught eight innings over two games Thursday and Friday and has played eight spring games."We... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Catcher Devin Mesoraco is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a minor league contract.If added to the 40-man roster, the 30-year-old would get a one-year contract paying at a rate of $1.75 million while in the major leagues. He would have a chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses based on games.New York said Thursday that Mesoraco will report to major league spring training.He gives New York another catching option behind starter Wilson Ramos. Mesoraco figures to compete for a backup job with Travis d'Arnaud and Tomas Nido, who are on the 40-man roster.Mesoraco was acquired by New York from Cincinnati on May 8 in the deal that sent former ace Matt Harvey to the Reds. Mesoraco hit .221 last season with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in 229 plate appearances.He was selected the by Reds with the 15th overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft. Mesoraco's best season was 2014, when he set career bests with 25 homers and 80 RBIs, earning his only All-Star selection. He had a $13 million salary in 2018, the final season on a $28 million, four-year deal.Mesoraco attended Punxsutawney High School in Pennsylvania, in the city of the famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Catcher Devin Mesoraco is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a minor league contract.If added to the 40-man roster, the 30-year-old would get a one-year contract paying at a rate of $1.75 million while in the major leagues. He would have a chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses based on games.New York said Thursday that Mesoraco will report to major league spring training.He gives New York another catching option behind starter Wilson Ramos. Mesoraco figures to compete for a backup job withTravis d'Arnaud and Tomas Nido, who are on the 40-man roster.Mesoraco was acquired by New York from Cincinnati on May 8 in the deal that sent former ace Matt Harvey to the Reds Mesoraco hit .221 last season with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in 229 plate appearances.He was selected the by Reds with the 15th overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft. Mesoraco's best season was 2014, when he set career bests with 25 homers and 80 RBIs, earning his only All-Star selection. He had a $13 million salary in 2018, the final season on a four-year, $28 million deal.Mesoraco attended Punxsutawney High School in Pennsylvania, in the city of the famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit his 41st home run and the Boston Red Sox moved closer to winning the AL East title, completing a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-3 victory Thursday night.Xander Bogaerts scored the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning error after the Blue Jays rallied in the top half with two runs to tie it 3-all.Rafael Devers also homered for the major league-leading Red Sox (101-46). They pulled 10 1/2 games ahead of the idle New York Yankees and decreased their magic number to six for clinching a third straight division crown. Boston is the only team in the majors that's already locked up a playoff berth.Brandon Workman (5-0) faced one batter, ending Toronto's eighth-inning rally, and got the win. Craig Kimbrel earned his 40th save. Danny Barnes (3-3) took the loss.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered for the Blue Jays.ROCKIES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 3DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story homered, Kyle Freeland pitched effectively into the seventh, and Colorado beat... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit his 41st home run and the Boston Red Sox moved closer to winning the AL East title, completing a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-3 victory Thursday night.Xander Bogaerts scored the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning error after the Blue Jays rallied in the top half with two runs to tie it 3-all.Rafael Devers also homered for the major league-leading Red Sox (101-46). They pulled 10 1/2 games ahead of the idle New York Yankees and decreased their magic number to six for clinching a third straight division crown. Boston is the only team in the majors that's already locked up a playoff berth.Brandon Workman (5-0) faced one batter, ending Toronto's eighth-inning rally, and got the win. Craig Kimbrel earned his 40th save. Danny Barnes (3-3) took the loss.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered for the Blue Jays.ROCKIES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 3DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story homered, Kyle Freeland pitched effectively into the seventh, and Colorado beat... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit his 41st home run and the Boston Red Sox moved closer to winning the AL East title, completing a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-3 victory Thursday night.Xander Bogaerts scored the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning error after the Blue Jays rallied in the top half with two runs to tie it 3-all.Rafael Devers also homered for the major league-leading Red Sox (101-46). They pulled 10 1/2 games ahead of the idle New York Yankees and decreased their magic number to six for clinching a third straight division crown. Boston is the only team in the majors that's already locked up a playoff berth.Brandon Workman (5-0) faced one batter, ending Toronto's eighth-inning rally, and got the win. Craig Kimbrel earned his 40th save. Danny Barnes (3-3) took the loss.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered for the Blue Jays.ROCKIES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 3DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story homered, Kyle Freeland pitched effectively into the seventh, and Colorado beat... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit his 41st home run and the Boston Red Sox moved closer to winning the AL East title, completing a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-3 victory Thursday night.Xander Bogaerts scored the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning error after the Blue Jays rallied in the top half with two runs to tie it 3-all.Rafael Devers also homered for the major league-leading Red Sox (101-46). They pulled 10 1/2 games ahead of the idle New York Yankees and decreased their magic number to six for clinching a third straight division crown. Boston is the only team in the majors that's already locked up a playoff berth.Brandon Workman (5-0) faced one batter, ending Toronto's eighth-inning rally, and got the win. Craig Kimbrel earned his 40th save. Danny Barnes (3-3) took the loss.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered for the Blue Jays.ROCKIES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 3DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story homered, Kyle Freeland pitched effectively into the seventh, and Colorado beat... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Conforto and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back homers with two outs in the ninth inning, and the New York Mets stunned the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader.Conforto drove in three more runs in the second game, and Jason Vargas pitched six effective innings to help the Mets win 5-2.In the opener, Kyle Barraclough entered with one out in the ninth and retired pinch-hitter Dominic Smith before Conforto lined a 1-0 changeup into the second deck in right to tie it. Frazier then hit a 1-1 pitch to left center field for his first walk-off homer since June 2015 for Cincinnati.Barraclough (0-6) blew a save for the seventh time in 17 opportunities. Jerry Blevins (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.Rookie starter Sandy Alcantara befuddled the Mets, permitting just two hits, with his only real blemish coming off the bat of the opposing pitcher. Steven Matz hit his first career homer, a two-run shot in the second inning to tie it at 2. Peter... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kansas City rookie Jorge Lopez came within three outs of a perfect game before Max Kepler walked leading off the ninth inning and Robbie Grossman followed with a single in the Royals' 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.The 25-year-old right-hander made just his seventh big league start, his fifth for Kansas City since he was acquired from Milwaukee in the late-July trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers.Lopez (2-4) retired his first 24 batters before walking Kepler on a 3-1 fastball. Grossman followed with a clean single to center field on a changeup with a 1-2 count.Lopez was removed from the game after 110 pitches, 11 more than his previous high.Ehire Adrianza hit a sacrifice fly off Wily Peralta, who retired Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco on flyouts for his ninth save, completing the one-hitter.Jose Berrios (11-11) gave up one run and three hits in six innings.ASTROS 5, RED SOX 3BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 30th home run, Charlie Morton returned... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kansas City rookie Jorge Lopez came within three outs of a perfect game before Max Kepler walked leading off the ninth inning and Robbie Grossman followed with a single in the Royals' 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.The 25-year-old right-hander made just his seventh big league start, his fifth for Kansas City since he was acquired from Milwaukee in the late-July trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers.Lopez (2-4) retired his first 24 batters before walking Kepler on a 3-1 fastball. Grossman followed with a clean single to center field on a changeup with a 1-2 count.Lopez was removed from the game after 110 pitches, 11 more than his previous high.Ehire Adrianza hit a sacrifice fly off Wily Peralta, who retired Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco on flyouts for his ninth save, completing the one-hitter.Jose Berrios (11-11) gave up one run and three hits in six innings.ASTROS 5, RED SOX 3BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 30th home run, Charlie Morton returned... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The New York Mets have placed right-hander A.J. Ramos and infielder Wilmer Flores on the 10-day disabled list and activated right-hander Hansel Robles and catcher Kevin Plawecki from rehab assignments.Heading into a doubleheader with the Atlanta Braves, the Mets added infielder Phillips Evans from Triple-A Las Vegas and brought in right-hander Gerson Bautista as Monday's 26th man.Ramos, sidelined with a right shoulder strain, and Flores, out with lower back soreness, have returned to New York for further evaluation.Ramos has allowed eight runs in his last 4 2/3 innings. Flores is hitting .248 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 46 games.Robles has been on the DL with a right knee sprain since May 9. Plawecki returned from a left hand fracture and has been out since April 12.Manager Mickey Callaway said starter Jason Vargas has volunteered to pitch in relief if needed in the doubleheader. Vargas, 1-3 with a 10.62 ERA in five starts, would use an outing as his side session and make his next scheduled start."It'd probably be more like an emergency only if we go extra innings or something, or if we run out of pitching for whatever reason," Callaway said.The Mets cleared room for Bautista by optioning catcher Tomas Nido to Double-A Binghamton.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his major league-leading 16th homer, Chris Sale struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Tuesday night.Sale (5-1) gave up four hits and walked two. He has allowed three runs or fewer in his first 11 starts, the longest stretch by a Boston pitcher to open a season since Pedro Martinez's 12 in 2001.Joe Kelly finished the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel got into a bases-loaded jam before finishing his 14th save in 16 chances when Mallex Smith grounded into a game-ending forceout.Willy Adames made his big league debut and hit a solo home run off Sale in his second at-bat. The 22-year-old shortstop prospect went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.Betts hit a three-run drive in the third off Jake Faria (3-3), who left two batters later because of a strained left oblique.Two hitters following Faria's departure, Wilson Ramos was taken out due to a bruised left hand after Austin Pruitt's 0-2 pitch to Xander Bogaerts... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his major league-leading 16th homer, Chris Sale struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Tuesday night.Sale (5-1) gave up four hits and walked two. He has allowed three runs or fewer in his first 11 starts, the longest stretch by a Boston pitcher to open a season since Pedro Martinez's 12 in 2001.Joe Kelly finished the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel got into a bases-loaded jam before finishing his 14th save in 16 chances when Mallex Smith grounded into a game-ending forceout.Willy Adames made his big league debut and hit a solo home run off Sale in his second at-bat. The 22-year-old shortstop prospect went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.Betts hit a three-run drive in the third off Jake Faria (3-3), who left two batters later because of a strained left oblique.Two hitters following Faria's departure, Wilson Ramos was taken out due to a bruised left hand after Austin Pruitt's 0-2 pitch to Xander Bogaerts... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his major league-leading 16th homer, Chris Sale struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Tuesday night.Sale (5-1) gave up four hits and walked two. He has allowed three runs or fewer in his first 11 starts, the longest stretch by a Boston pitcher to open a season since Pedro Martinez's 12 in 2001.Joe Kelly finished the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel got into a bases-loaded jam before finishing his 14th save in 16 chances when Mallex Smith grounded into a game-ending forceout.Willy Adames made his big league debut and hit a solo home run off Sale in his second at-bat. The 22-year-old shortstop prospect went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.Betts hit a three-run drive in the third off Jake Faria (3-3), who left two batters later because of a strained left oblique.Two hitters following Faria's departure, Wilson Ramos was taken out due to a bruised left hand after Austin Pruitt's 0-2 pitch to Xander Bogaerts... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jose Bautista was sitting on his couch at home in Florida when the call came Tuesday afternoon. He had a new job, with the New York Mets.So the former home run champ hustled to the airport in Tampa, hurried to Citi Field and was in such a rush, he didn't meet his manager until he came off the grass from stretching."I said, 'You're in left field,' and he said, 'I got it,'" skipper Mickey Callaway said.And an hour after joining the Mets, he swung into action.The six-time All-Star hit a double in his first at-bat in a 5-1 loss to Miami on Tuesday night. Bautista drew a nice cheer from the sparse crowd on a rainy evening and plenty of high-fives from his new teammates in the dugout after scoring their only run.The 37-year-old Bautista finished 1 for 3 and called it "one of the wildest days" in his career.Needing an extra outfielder, and preferably one who can tag left-handed pitchers, the Mets signed Bautista two days after he was cut by Atlanta."When I'm ready to call it quits,... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his major league-leading 16th homer, Chris Sale struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Tuesday night.Sale (5-1) gave up four hits and walked two. He has allowed three runs or fewer in his first 11 starts, the longest stretch by a Boston pitcher to open a season since Pedro Martinez's 12 in 2001.Joe Kelly finished the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel got into a bases-loaded jam before finishing his 14th save in 16 chances when Mallex Smith grounded into a game-ending forceout.Willy Adames made his big league debut and hit a solo home run off Sale in his second at-bat. The 22-year-old shortstop prospect went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.Betts hit a three-run drive in the third off Jake Faria (3-3), who left two batters later because of a strained left oblique.Two hitters following Faria's departure, Wilson Ramos was taken out due to a bruised left hand after Austin Pruitt's 0-2 pitch to Xander Bogaerts... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — An hour after joining the New York Mets, Jose Bautista swung into action.The former home run champ hit a double in his first at-bat for the Mets and scored a run Tuesday night against Miami. He drew a nice cheer from the sparse crowd on a rainy evening and plenty of high-fives from his new teammates in the dugout.Needing an extra outfielder, and preferably one who can tag left-handed pitchers, the Mets signed Bautista two days after he was cut by Atlanta. He caught a late afternoon flight from Tampa, Florida, shortly after completing the deal and arrived at Citi Field about a half-hour before gametime.The Mets reworked their starting lineup and had the 37-year-old Bautista batting fifth and playing left field. Bautista quickly lived up to his nickname of Joey Bats by doubling down the left-field line in the second inning off lefty Caleb Smith, and he scored on Tomas Nido's sacrifice fly.Bautista's hit came against a familiar opponent. Of the 12 games he played this month... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Tomas Nido has replaced Jose Lobaton as the New York Mets' backup to newly acquired catcher Devin Mesoraco, primarily so he can observe the eight-year veteran.Starter Travis d'Arnaud's season ended after four games because of a torn elbow ligament and backup Kevin Plawecki isn't expected back for at least another week after breaking his left hand on April 11.Nido was brought up when Plawecki got hurt and hit .135 with one RBI in 17 games and 37 at-bats. He was sent back to the minors after the Mets obtained Mesoraco from Cincinnati on April 8 for former ace Matt Harvey."This is a good opportunity for the next week-to-10 days before Plawecki comes back for him to learn a substantial amount that he's not going to learn in the next eight-to-10 days in Triple-A," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Saturday.Nido, 24, hit .257 with six RBIs in six games at Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League and five at Double-A Binghamton of the Eastern League. Callaway said... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mets have recalled right-hander Chris Flexen and catcher Tomas Nido from Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League, optioned left-hander Buddy Baumann to the Triple-A farm team and designated catcher Jose Lobaton for assignment.The 23-year-old Flexen was 3-3 with a 3.40 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearances this year. The 24-year-old Nido batted .135 with one RBI in 17 games and 37 at-bats for the Mets this season and hit .257 with six RBIs in six games at Las Vegas and five at Double-A Binghamton of the Eastern League.Baumann, 30, is 0-1 with a 19.29 ERA in one game with San Diego and one with the Mets, who claimed him off waivers on April 27.The 33-year-old Lobaton hit .152 with three RBIs in 18 games and 46 at-bats with the Mets this season.New York announced the moves Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball