NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees plan to plan to exercise two option years on reliever Zack Britton worth $27 million and to decline options on outfielder Brett Gardner and pitcher J.A. Happ. The decisions were disclosed by a person familiar with the team’s decisions who spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday because they had not been announced. Gardner and Happ would become eligible for free agency. Gardner would get a $2.5 million buyout rather than a $10 million salary. Happ’s deal did not have a buyout. Britton, a 32-year-old left-hander, was 1-2 with a 1.89 ERA in 20 appearances, getting eight saves and filling the closer role when Aroldis Chapman was sidelined by COVID-19 from the start of the shortened season until Aug. 17. His deal calls for salaries of $13 million next year and $14 million in 2022. In addition to the team’s two-year option, Britton’s contract included a $13 million player option for 2021. Gardner, 37, has been with the Yankees since 2008 and is their last player... [More]

American LeagueP Kenta Maeda Minnesota Twins; Griffin Canning Los Angeles Angels; Zach Plesac Cleveland Indians. C Yasmani Grandal Chicago White Sox; James McCann Chicago White Sox; Roberto Perez Cleveland Indians. 1B Matt Olson Oakland Athletics; Evan White Seattle Mariners; Yuli Gurriel Houston Astros. 2B Cesar Hernandez Cleveland Indians; Danny Mendick Chicago White Sox; Jonathan Schoop Detroit Tigers; Nicky Lopez Kansas City Royals. 3B Yoan Moncada Chicago White Sox; Gio Urshela New York Yankees; Isiah Kiner-Falefa Texas Rangers. SS Niko Goodrum Detroit Tigers; J.P. Crawford Seattle Mariners; Carlos Correa Houston Astros. LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Toronto Blue Jays; Alex Gordon Kansas City Royals; Kyle Tucker Houston Astros. CF Ramon Laureano Oakland Athletics; Byron Buxton Minnesota Twins; Luis Robert Chicago White Sox. RF Clint Frazier New York Yankees; Joey Gallo Texas Rangers; Anthony Santander Baltimore Orioles. National LeagueP Max Fried Atlanta Braves; Alec Mills Chicago Cubs; Kyle... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Blake Snell couldn't get the Yankees to swing at his breaking balls, and the Tampa Bay Rays missed a chance to take an early advantage in the AL Division Series. Tampa Bay's ace was tagged for three homers during five inconsistent innings in a 9-3 loss to New York on Monday night in the series opener at Petco Park. The Rays weren't blown out until New York's five-run ninth, but the AL's best regular season team was unable to capitalize on its ace's first start — often a bad omen in any short series. Game 2 in the best-of-five set is Tuesday night. Although Snell had much of his usual dip and movement, he managed to generate only five swing-and-misses — just four on his vaunted breaking pitches — on 84 pitches to the Yankees. New York made contact on 31 of its 36 swings (86.11%), the third highest rate by a team facing Snell during his career, according to MLB.com. “He didn’t get away with any mistakes tonight,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “Pitching against that lineup,... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for New York’s fourth home run of the game, and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3 Monday night in the opener of their AL Division Series at Petco Park. Stanton homered to straightaway center field on a 2-2 pitch from John Curtiss with one out. The slugger took several steps with his bat still in his hands as he watched the ball sail through the warm San Diego night before beginning his trot. Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge hit the tying and go-ahead home runs off Blake Snell in the fifth inning. Clint Frazier hit an impressive shot into the second deck in left in the third. The Bronx Bombers became the first team in American League history to hit a grand slam in back-to-back playoff games. Gio Urshela did it in Game 2 of the first-round sweep of Cleveland. Two NL teams have done it, the 1977 Dodgers and 2011 Diamondbacks. The Yankees set a franchise record by hitting at least three home runs in three straight... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor. Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams. Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run. At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988. San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August. Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season. Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.Starter Brusdar Gasterol allowed a hit and a run in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Kolarek (3-0) allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Pedro Baez got the final two... [More]

Yankees first. DJ LeMahieu homers to right field. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging. Aaron Hicks grounds out to second base, Jonathan Villar to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. Luke Voit flies out to deep center field to Randal Grichuk.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 1, Blue jays 0.Yankees third. Tyler Wade singles to shallow right field. Kyle Higashioka homers to center field. Tyler Wade scores. DJ LeMahieu walks. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging. Aaron Hicks walks. DJ LeMahieu to second. Luke Voit strikes out swinging. Gio Urshela grounds out to shallow center field, Jonathan Villar to Vladimir Guerrero Jr..2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 3, Blue jays 0.Yankees fourth. Clint Frazier homers to left field. Gary Sanchez singles to right field. Tyler Wade flies out to left center field to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. Kyle Higashioka lines out to deep left field to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. DJ LeMahieu homers to right field. Gary Sanchez scores. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging.3 runs, 3 hits,... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched effectively into the sixth inning before leaving with an injury, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 4-1 Tuesday night.The scuffling Mets played their first game since billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen agreed to buy the team from the Wilpon and Katz families. The agreement was announced Monday and the deal is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball owners. Arrieta (4-4) allowed one run on Brandon Nimmo’s homer and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. But he walked off the mound, grabbing the back of his right leg, after hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch to load the bases. JoJo Romero entered and retired Wilson Ramos on a double-play grounder.Romero tossed two innings, Tommy Hunter got two outs and Hector Neris finished for his fourth save in seven chances.Mets starter Rick Porcello (1-5) yielded four runs and six hits in six innings as New York (21-27) lost its third straight and fell... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched effectively into the sixth inning before leaving with an injury, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 4-1 Tuesday night.The scuffling Mets played their first game since billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen agreed to buy the team from the Wilpon and Katz families. The agreement was announced Monday and the deal is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball owners. Arrieta (4-4) allowed one run on Brandon Nimmo’s homer and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. But he walked off the mound, grabbing the back of his right leg, after hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch to load the bases. JoJo Romero entered and retired Wilson Ramos on a double-play grounder.Romero tossed two innings, Tommy Hunter got two outs and Hector Neris finished for his fourth save in seven chances.Mets starter Rick Porcello (1-5) yielded four runs and six hits in six innings as New York (21-27) lost its third straight and fell... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched effectively into the sixth inning before leaving with an injury, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 4-1 Tuesday night.The scuffling Mets played their first game since billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen agreed to buy the team from the Wilpon and Katz families. The agreement was announced Monday and the deal is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball owners. Arrieta (4-4) allowed one run on Brandon Nimmo’s homer and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. But he walked off the mound, grabbing the back of his right leg, after hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch to load the bases. JoJo Romero entered and retired Wilson Ramos on a double-play grounder.Romero tossed two innings, Tommy Hunter got two outs and Hector Neris finished for his fourth save in seven chances.Mets starter Rick Porcello (1-5) yielded four runs and six hits in six innings as New York (21-27) lost its third straight and fell... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched effectively into the sixth inning before leaving with an injury, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 4-1 Tuesday night.The scuffling Mets played their first game since billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen agreed to buy the team from the Wilpon and Katz families. The agreement was announced Monday and the deal is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball owners. Arrieta (4-4) allowed one run on Brandon Nimmo’s homer and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. But he walked off the mound, grabbing the back of his right leg, after hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch to load the bases. JoJo Romero entered and retired Wilson Ramos on a double-play grounder.Romero tossed two innings, Tommy Hunter got two outs and Hector Neris finished for his fourth save in seven chances.Mets starter Rick Porcello (1-5) yielded four runs and six hits in six innings as New York (21-27) lost its third straight and fell... [More]

Blue jays second. Randal Grichuk flies out to right field to Clint Frazier. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homers to center field. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singles to left field. Joe Panik pops out to shallow infield to Gio Urshela. Alejandro Kirk grounds out to third base, Gio Urshela to Luke Voit.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Blue jays 1, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Giancarlo Stanton grounds out to third base, Cavan Biggio to Travis Shaw. Gio Urshela doubles to left field. Clint Frazier reaches on error. Gio Urshela to third. Fielding error by Derek Fisher. Brett Gardner singles to deep right center field. Clint Frazier to second. Gio Urshela scores. Gary Sanchez called out on strikes. Tyler Wade singles to deep right field. Brett Gardner to second. Clint Frazier scores. DJ LeMahieu singles to shallow right field. Tyler Wade to third. Brett Gardner scores. Luke Voit homers to left field. DJ LeMahieu scores. Tyler Wade scores. Aaron Hicks homers to right field. Giancarlo Stanton strikes out swinging.7... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton was activated by the New York Yankees on Tuesday and was set to start at designated hitter after missing 32 games because of a strained left hamstring.New York made the move before a series opener against Toronto. The Yankees also activated third baseman Gio Urshela, who has recovered from a bone spur in his right elbow, and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, who was sidelined with a medical condition the team did not specify. Stanton hit cleanup against Toronto, ending Clint Frazier's 16 straight games as New York's No. 4 hitter, and Urshela hit fifth.Right fielder Aaron Judge, limited to one game since Aug. 11 because of a strained right calf, is likely to be activated Wednesday or Thursday.Stanton hit .293 with three homers and seven RBIs in 14 games before he got hurt.Shortstop Gleyber Torres was out of the starting lineup because of a left quadriceps issue but was available off the bench, according to manager Aaron Boone.New York optioned infielder Mike Ford and infielder/outfielder Miguel Andújar to its alternate training site.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton was activated by the New York Yankees on Tuesday and was set to start at designated hitter after missing 32 games because of a strained left hamstring.New York made the move before a series opener against Toronto. The Yankees also activated third baseman Gio Urshela, who has recovered from a bone spur in his right elbow, and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, who was sidelined with a medical condition the team did not specify. Stanton hit cleanup against Toronto, ending Clint Frazier's 16 straight games as New York's No. 4 hitter, and Urshela hit fifth.Right fielder Aaron Judge, limited to one game since Aug. 11 because of a strained right calf, is expected to be activated later this week.Stanton hit .293 with three homers and seven RBIs in 14 games before he got hurt.New York optioned infielder Mike Ford and infielder/outfielder Miguel Andújar to its alternate training site.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports