BALTIMORE (AP) — J.D. Martinez came off the COVID-19 list and hit three home runs, powering the Boston Red Sox past the Baltimore Orioles 14-9 Sunday for their sixth straight win. Martinez got a chance at a record-tying fourth homer in the ninth inning and struck out swinging. He is the last of 18 major leaguers to homer four times in a game, doing it in September 2017 for Arizona. The 33-year-old Martinez went 4 for 6 with four RBIs and four runs, one day after being placed on the COVID-19 injured list because of cold symptoms. Rafael Devers homered twice and Alex Verdugo added a three-run shot to finish the three-game sweep. Nick Pivetta (2-0) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. Jorge López (0-2) allowed eight runs and seven hits over four innings. DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 0 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched six innings of five-hit ball to win an outstanding duel with Max Scherzer as the Dodgers finished a three-game sweep over Washington. Rookie Zach McKinstry homered... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — J.D. Martinez came off the COVID-19 list and hit three home runs, powering the Boston Red Sox past the Baltimore Orioles 14-9 Sunday for their sixth straight win. Martinez got a chance at a record-tying fourth homer in the ninth inning and struck out swinging. He is the last of 18 major leaguers to homer four times in a game, doing it in September 2017 for Arizona. The 33-year-old Martinez went 4 for 6 with four RBIs and four runs, one day after being placed on the COVID-19 injured list because of cold symptoms. Rafael Devers homered twice and Alex Verdugo added a three-run shot to finish the three-game sweep. Nick Pivetta (2-0) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. Jorge López (0-2) allowed eight runs and seven hits over four innings. DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 0 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched six innings of five-hit ball to win an outstanding duel with Max Scherzer as the Dodgers finished a three-game sweep over Washington. Rookie Zach McKinstry homered... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rougned Odor was in the lineup for the New York Yankees for the first time Sunday, sporting a new look that includes more than a uniform change. The clean-shaven infielder complied with his new team’s longstanding facial hair policy by getting rid of the long beard he rocked with the Texas Rangers, who traded him to the Yankees last week for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers. “It was weird. I feel weird,” Odor said of being beardless. “Even my daughter, she didn’t even want to look at me. It is what it is. I’m happy to be here.” The 27-year-old cleared in-take protocol and was added to the roster Saturday. He started at second base and batted sixth in Sunday’s finale of a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Odor, who did not make the Rangers’ opening day roster and was designated for assignment on April 1, was excited to be joining a team he said “every kid wants to grow up and play” for. “When I found out I got traded to this team... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rougned Odor was in the lineup for the New York Yankees for the first time Sunday, sporting a new look that includes more than a uniform change. The clean-shaven infielder complied with his new team’s longstanding facial hair policy by getting rid of the long beard he rocked with the Texas Rangers, who traded him to the Yankees last week for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers. “It was weird. I feel weird,” Odor said of being beardless. “Even my daughter, she didn’t even want to look at me. It is what it is. I’m happy to be here.” The 27-year-old cleared in-take protocol and was added to the roster Saturday. He started at second base and batted sixth in Sunday’s finale of a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Odor, who did not make the Rangers’ opening day roster and was designated for assignment on April 1, was excited to be joining a team he said “every kid wants to grow up and play” for. “When I found out I got traded to this team... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is back in New York’s lineup after missing two games with soreness in his left side. Judge started in right field and batted second Saturday against AL champion Tampa Bay. He didn’t play in the Yankees’ 4-3, 11-inning loss to Baltimore on Wednesday and also sat out Friday's 10-5 loss to the Rays. New York had Thursday off. “I just wanted to hold him out coming off the off day another day,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Speaking to him this morning, he felt ready to go. So excited to write his name back in the lineup.” Third baseman Gio Urshela was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and was in the lineup after sitting out Friday’s series opener due to side effects from a vaccination. Infielder Rougned Odor completed intake testing and was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list. Acquired in a trade with Texas, he will fill in when starting infielders are rested. “I expect him to probably be in the lineup potentially a... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of New York's lineup for the second straight game Friday with soreness in his left side. The Yankees were also without third baseman Gio Urshela for the series opener after he was placed on the COVID-19 injured list due to side effects from a coronavirus vaccination. Judge had a homer, three hits and four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night but didn’t play in the Yankees’ 4-3, 11-inning loss on Wednesday. New York had Thursday off, but the right fielder still wasn't ready to return Friday. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Judge hit in the cage before Friday’s game against AL champion Tampa Bay and might be ready to return Saturday. Judge has not undergone any tests for what Boone calls general soreness. “I just felt like it was something I wanted to do, at least give another day, and we’ll see where we’re at in 24 hours,” Boone said. “It’s simply wanting to play the long game. These are things that you want... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of New York's lineup for the second straight game Friday with soreness in his left side. Judge had a homer, three hits and four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night but didn’t play in the Yankees’ 4-3, 11-inning loss on Wednesday. New York had Thursday off, giving the right fielder a chance to rest on consecutive days. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Judge hit in the cage before Friday’s game against AL champion Tampa Bay and might be ready to return on Saturday. Judge has not undergone any tests for what Boone calls general soreness. “I just felt like it was something I wanted to do, at least give another day and we’ll see where we’re at in 24 hours,” Boone said. “It’s simply wanting to play the long game. These are things that you want to feel good about when you let it rip.” When asked if the Yankees consider this an injury, Boone said he didn't know how to answer that. “If I answer yes or no it's going... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of New York's lineup Wednesday night with soreness in his left side. Judge had a homer, three hits and four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night but didn't play in the Yankees' 4-3, 11-inning loss a day later. New York has a day off Thursday, giving the right fielder a chance to rest on consecutive days. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he thought the soreness was from “general wear and tear” over the first few days of the season. He believes the discomfort might stem from when Judge took more swings than normal while serving as designated hitter on Sunday. “Just don't want to push anything right now,” Boone said. Boone said after Wednesday's game that Judge wasn't available and he wasn't certain Judge would be good to go by Friday's series opener at Tampa Bay. Judge, the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, missed 142 games spanning 2018-20, going on the injured list at different points for a right wrist fracture, a left oblique... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of New York's lineup Wednesday night with soreness in his left side. Judge had a homer, three hits and four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night but wasn't back in the lineup against the O's a day later. New York has a day off Thursday, giving the right fielder a chance to rest on consecutive days. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he thought the soreness was from “general wear and tear” over the first few days of the season. He believes the discomfort might stem from when Judge took more swings than normal while serving as designated hitter on Sunday. “Just don't want to push anything right now,” Boone said. Judge, the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, missed 142 games spanning 2018-20, going on the injured list at different points for a right wrist fracture, a left oblique strain and twice for right calf strains. He also broke a rib last March but was ready for opening day after the pandemic delayed the start of the season.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was held out of New York's lineup Wednesday night with soreness in his left side. Judge had a homer, three hits and four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Baltimore on Tuesday night but wasn't back in the lineup against the O's a day later. New York has a day off Thursday, giving the right fielder a chance to rest on consecutive days. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he thought the soreness was from “general wear and tear” over the first few days of the season. He believes the discomfort might stem from when Judge took more swings than normal while serving as designated hitter on Sunday. “Just don't want to push anything right now,” Boone said. Judge, the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, missed 142 games spanning 2018-20, going on the injured list at different points for a right wrist fracture, a left oblique strain and twice for right calf strains. Boone said Judge's current soreness didn't seem specific to the left oblique, instead calling it “general soreness"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Infielder Rougned Odor was traded Tuesday from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers. The 27-year-old Odor did not make the Rangers’ opening day roster and was designated for assignment on April 1. He is a left-handed hitter, and the Yankees have a mostly right-handed lineup. “Hopefully we can help him get that talent out that we've seen flash over the years,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Odor is a second baseman but also played third at spring training. He has two guaranteed seasons at $12 million each remaining as part of a $49.5 million, six-year contract. The deal includes a $13.5 million team option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout. Texas will pay the Yankees $11,060,806 to cover all but a prorated share of the $570,500 minimum this year and all but the 2022 minimum, which is still to be negotiated, a cash amount that currently projects to $11,429,500. Texas would pay New York an additional $3 million... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Wednesday: ___ WAITING GAME Now that Fernando Tatis Jr. has been placed on the injured list, the San Diego Padres hope their electrifying shortstop won't be sidelined too long. Tatis should be able to avoid surgery on his left shoulder, the team said a day after he slightly dislocated it taking a hard swing. An MRI on Tuesday showed a slight labral tear and the Padres put the 22-year-old Tatis on the 10-day IL. General manager A.J. Preller said the club wasn’t ruling out anything, including Tatis’ possible return when he’s eligible. According to Preller, doctors said another partially dislocated shoulder could occur again but playing this season wouldn’t put him at long-term risk. “Everybody was very confident that surgery wasn’t the answer at this point in time,” Preller said. “We can keep him on the field here this year and be able to put him in a spot where he can be successful and not be in pain and we’re not doing any kind of long-term damage.”... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Infielder Rougned Odor was traded Tuesday from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers. The 27-year-old Odor did not make the Rangers’ opening day roster and was designated for assignment on April 1. He is a left-handed hitter, and the Yankees have a mostly right-handed lineup. “Hopefully we can help him get that talent out that we've seen flash over the years,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Odor is a second baseman but also played third at spring training. He has two guaranteed seasons at $12 million each remaining as part of a $49.5 million, six-year contract. The deal includes a $13.5 million team option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout. Texas will pay the Yankees cash to cover most of what Odor is owed. Odor has a .237 career average with 146 homers and 458 RBIs in seven major league seasons. He hit .167 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and batted .200 with two homers... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Infielder Rougned Odor was traded Tuesday from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers. The 27-year-old Odor did not make the Rangers’ opening day roster and was designated for assignment on April 1. He is a left-handed hitter, and the Yankees have a mostly right-handed lineup. “Hopefully we can help him get that talent out that we've seen flash over the years,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Odor is a second baseman but also played third at spring training. He has two guaranteed seasons at $12 million each remaining as part of a $49.5 million, six-year contract. The deal includes a $13.5 million team option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout. Texas will pay the Yankees cash to cover most of what Odor is owed. Odor has a .237 career average with 146 homers and 458 RBIs in seven major league seasons. He hit .167 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and batted .200 with two homers... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers are moving on from another piece of their past after informing Rouged Odor that he would no longer be part of the team. Odor, the starting second baseman for seven seasons before being switched to third base this spring, was told Monday that there was no longer a spot for him to play every day and that he wouldn't be on the opening-day roster. He will be designated for assignment unless the Rangers are able to work out a trade with another team, which is unlikely. “It’s strictly a baseball move, and it’s more of an organizational move kind of forward,” manager Chris Woodward said. “Rougie’s a guy who always looked at himself as an everyday player, a potential superstar in his mind. And he’s had moments of that, especially early in his career. I don’t think it would be fair to him to put him a non-everyday role.” The 27-year-old infielder has two more seasons and $24.6 million left on his six-year contract, and a $3 million buyout for a $13.5 million... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rougned Odor, the Texas Rangers' starting second baseman the past seven seasons, has been told he won't be on the opening day roster after switching to third base this spring, the team said Monday. President of baseball operations Jon Daniels said the Rangers don't have an everyday role for Odor. The 27-year-old infielder has two more seasons and $24.6 million left on his six-year contract, and a $3 million buyout for a $13.5 million team option in 2023. "I think really what it came down to was we’ve made a decision, obviously a pretty clear direction looking towards the future. And playing him every day was not in our plans this year,” Daniels said. “As we look forward, we think we’re going to have some younger players coming up. And we didn’t think it was in his best interest or our best interest to kind of force the issue into a bench role.” The Rangers didn’t immediately designate Odor for assignment, with the team exploring a possible trade before having to... [More]

The Cleveland Indians have broken COVID-19 protocols for the third time in less than a year, this time costing them third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday the two players were sent to their Arizona homes while the Indians wait to hear from Major League Baseball when they can rejoin the team. Francona said Reyes, who had a virus-related misstep last season, and Ramirez went out to dinner on Friday following an exhibition game in Mesa against the Chicago Cubs. They reported to the team’s complex on Saturday and were immediately sent away. They did not have contact with any other players or team personnel. “The players themselves actually self-reported that they had made a mistake," Francona said on a Zoom call. When spring training resumed last year after being stopped due to the pandemic, Reyes was forced to quarantine after the team learned via a social media posting that he attended a July 4 party while wearing a mask. A month later, the... [More]

Isiah Kiner-Falefa has always been a shortstop, but first had to fake his confidence as a catcher and a third baseman for the Texas Rangers. After winning a Gold Glove as a third baseman last season, Kiner-Falefa feels like he can finally be himself, and the leader for a rebuilding team, as their starting shortstop. “Third base isn’t who I am. It’s what I did,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I'm shortstop. I’m an elite shortstop, and I’m ready to prove it. But I understood that for me to get this opportunity, I had to be a really good third baseman. And that’s just one of the things I did. I had to be a catcher. ... And now I can be myself and do what I want to do, not what everybody else wants me to do.” The Rangers had enough confidence in the Hawaiian, who turns 26 on March 23, that they declared him their top shortstop this offseason before trading Elvis Andrus — their opening day shortstop each of the past 12 seasons, and the only player remaining from their two World Series appearances a decade... [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]

The Texas Rangers will give Gold Glove-winning third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa the opportunity to be their starting shortstop next season and have told Elvis Andrus to prepare to play all infield positions. Andrus, at 32 the longest-tenured Ranger after 12 seasons, is the only player remaining from their back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. Manager Chris Woodward said Tuesday that the Rangers wanted to give both Kiner-Falefa and Andrus clarity on the plans so they would know how to approach their offseason workouts. “This wasn’t an easy decision based on what Elvis has done for the organization. We’ve had many discussions about this. But I think it comes down to, do we believe in Kiner as a shortstop? I want to see it. I want to answer that question,” Woodward said. “Can he handle the position? I believe he can.” Woodward said Kiner-Falefa still had to earn the starting spot at shortstop, and has told Andrus he would have the opportunity to “prove us wrong." Andrus played... [More]