FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — David Price made his delayed spring-training debut for Boston, allowing one hit over four scoreless innings in a 7-5 win over Toronto on Thursday.Price struck out five and walked one. An elbow injury limited to a career-low 11 starts last season."Felt good," Price said. "I had really good fastball command early. I made good pitches when I needed to. I stayed away from the big part of the plate with the exception of a couple of fastballs. I thought it was a good day.Price was 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA last year. The 32-year-old left-hander is entering the third season of a $217 million, seven-year contract."This is March 15 and I've never had a four-pitch mix this early in spring training," he said. "I've never been this far along even though I've only thrown in one game. I'm excited about it."Andrew Benintendi drove in two runs with a pair of doubles for the Red Sox, while Christian Vazquez hit his first home run — a two-run drive. Teoscar Hernandez had two hits and two... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Hernan Perez is going to play somewhere at some point.With Milwaukee adding outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich over the winter, It looks as if Perez might see a drop-off in playing time. But manager Craig Counsell isn't worried."Every year he's on the team, you say 'I don't really know how this will work,'" Counsell said. "But when you play seven positions, it works. It works because he can play seven positions. You don't have to have it figured out with him."The 26-year-old Perez started at seven different positions while appearing in a career-best 136 games last season. He even pitched an inning. He also hit .259 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs.Perez came up through Detroit's minor league system as an infielder and had never made an appearance in the outfield until 2016, when the Brewers began transitioning him into a utility role.He played 88 games in the outfield last year, including 34 starts in left primarily while Ryan Braun was injured.While the 14 homers were... [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:___Chicago CubsManager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Mesa, Arizona.Park: Sloan Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Going campin': Chicago is coming off three consecutive NLCS appearances, and it looked a little tired when its title defense came to an end with a lopsided playoff loss to Los Angeles last year. The bullpen was hit hard by the Dodgers in the NLCS, and the Cubs batted just .168 in 10 postseason games. The roster returns mostly intact, but the bullpen and coaching staff each has a new look. Morrow replaces Davis at closer after agreeing to a $21 million, two-year contract. Jim... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The rebuilding plan for the Milwaukee Brewers is a smashing success, so much so that they're not really rebuilding anymore.Bold moves to trade for Christian Yelich and sign free agent Lorenzo Cain sent a message."We decided winning in 2018 was as important as to win in 2020," owner Mark Attanasio said.A surprising 2017 season that left Milwaukee a win short of the playoffs raised hopes in what was supposed to be just the second full season of a rebuild. Rising expectations accompanied the acquisitions of Yelich and Cain.Those NL Central meetings with the two-time division champion Chicago Cubs should be fun this year."Last year, I got asked where we were and if we were ahead of schedule," Attanasio said at the team's winter fan event in downtown Milwaukee. "I think we can say now we're ahead of schedule."Some things to watch ahead of the start of spring training:NEW LOOK: The slick-fielding Cain and Yelich improve the outfield defense, which should help the pitching staff... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The rebuilding plan for the Milwaukee Brewers is a smashing success, so much so that they're not really rebuilding anymore.Bold moves to trade for Christian Yelich and sign free agent Lorenzo Cain sent a message."We decided winning in 2018 was as important as to win in 2020," owner Mark Attanasio said.A surprising 2017 season that left Milwaukee a win short of the playoffs raised hopes in what was supposed to be just the second full season of a rebuild. Rising expectations accompanied the acquisitions of Yelich and Cain.Those NL Central meetings with the two-time division champion Chicago Cubs should be fun this year."Last year, I got asked where we were and if we were ahead of schedule," Attanasio said at the team's winter fan event in downtown Milwaukee. "I think we can say now we're ahead of schedule."Some things to watch ahead of the start of spring training:NEW LOOK: The slick-fielding Cain and Yelich improve the outfield defense, which should help the pitching staff... [More]

2B Eric Sogard extended his hitting streak to four games Saturday. Sogard has hits in five of his last six games overall and is batting .305 during that stretch with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs.

2B Eric Sogard showed signs of snapping out of a lengthy slump Wednesday, going 1-for-1 with a walk in three plate appearances against the Twins. Sogard, who got off to a torrid start after being called up in May, is 3-for-34 since coming off the disabled list July 22. "He had two nice at-bats to start and then a good bunt," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "Hopefully it's a good first step."

2B Eric Sogard remained in Milwaukee's starting lineup Wednesday as he tries to work his way out of his first extended slump of the season. Sogard was hitless in three trips against the Cardinals and had only two hits in his last 27 at-bats since coming off the disabled list July 22.

INF Eric Sogard returned from the disabled list and went 0-for-5 in the leadoff position, dropping his average to .391.

INF Eric Sogard was activated from the 10-day disabled list by the Brewers on Saturday. Sogard, 31, sustained a left ankle strain late in June and has not played since July 4. He is batting .331 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 43 games this season.

The San Francisco Giants made their reunion with third baseman Pablo Sandoval official on Saturday when he signed a minor league contract.The 30-year-old Sandoval spent his first seven major league seasons with San Francisco (2008-14), winning World Series titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Sandoval will report to Class A San Jose.Sandoval was the 2012 World Series MVP with the Giants but struggled since leaving San Francisco for Boston as a free agent. He signed a five-year, $95 million contract after the 2014 season and was released by the Red Sox on Wednesday when he did not report after being designated for assignment.Injuries and poor performance plagued Sandoval in Boston. He hit .245 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 2015, played in only three games in 2016, and batted only .212 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 32 games with the Red Sox this season. Sandoval left San Francisco on bad terms after the 2014 season, claiming the team disrespected him during contract negotiations... [More]

The Milwaukee Brewers activated infielder Eric Sogard from the 10-day disabled list and optioned slumping center fielder Keon Broxton to Triple-A Colorado Springs, the team announced on Saturday.Sogard, 31, sustained a left ankle strain late in June and has not played since July 4. He is batting .331 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 43 games this season.Broxton, 27, has gone hitless in his last five games while striking out seven times in 12 at-bats. He was forced out of the starting lineup because of his slump for Friday night's 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. He struck out on three pitches as a pinch hitter.Broxton is batting .218 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, plus 124 strikeouts in 293 at-bats this season.

2B Eric Sogard, on the disabled list since July 5 with an ankle injury, began a two-day rehab assignment Wednesday with Class A Wisconsin. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Sogard is expected to rejoin the Brewers for their weekend series in Philadelphia.

2B Eric Sogard is expected to begin a two-day rehab assignment Wednesday with Class A Wisconsin before rejoining the Brewers for their weekend series in Philadelphia. Sogard has been on the disabled list since July 5 with an ankle injury.

2B Eric Sogard was eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday but received a cortisone injection into his left ankle and will need at least two more days before he can resume a full workload. Called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs May 12, Sogard was batting .331 with a .438 on-base percentage but sprained his left ankle during a series earlier this month at Cincinnati and finished out the first half on the 10-day disabled list.

2B Eric Sogard was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a strained left ankle. Sogard suffered the injury last week while running the bases in Cincinnati and has sat out three of Milwaukee's last six games, going 2-for-9 in those contests.

INF Eric Sogard is still dealing with soreness in his ankles and will get at least another day to rest before the team considers a possible stint on the disabled list. Manager Craig Counsell said Sogard tweaked one of his ankles while running the bases last week at Cincinnati.

2B Eric Sogard snapped a 3-for-14 slump with a pinch-hit single in the seven inning Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell said Sogard has been battling sore ankles and was held out of the starting lineup against Baltimore. Since being called up May 12, Sogard is batting .331 with three home runs and 14 RBI.

2B Eric Sogard was 0-for-2 on Friday and saw his 10-game hitting streak snapped. He was 17-for-42 (.405) during that stretch. Sogard was hit by a pitch and had trouble swinging the bat, which led to his removal from the game in the eighth inning.

2B Eric Sogard had three hits Thursday, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Since being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 12, Sogard is batting .366 with a .466 on-base percentage, reaching base in 28 of his 35 games. "He just keeps doing it," Brewers manager Craig COunsell said of Sogard, who missed all of 2016 recovering from knee surgery.