TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Trout is hoping his 2018 season can match a tremendous offseason: He got married, watched his beloved Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl and participated in the Angels' successful recruitment of Japanese pitcher-hitter Shohei Ohtani.Trout, who took part Monday in the team's first full-squad workout, said he tried to persuade Ohtani that the Angels were a good organization to play for "and just told him that we wanted him.""You obviously want to make a good case to get him to come here. Obviously, it worked," he said. "Talking to him and talking to his interpreter, I knew there was a shot. We wanted him. We got him."Trout found out the Angels landed Ohtani at the rehearsal dinner for his wedding in December to Jessica Tara Cox."I called some buddies, called some of my teammates," said Trout, who praised Angels general manager Billy Eppler for putting in years of work to sign Ohtani. "We were all happy."Trout, who grew up in New Jersey as an Eagles fan, said that... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Joey Votto had one of his best seasons — good enough for second in the National League MVP voting — but Cincinnati lost more than 90 games yet again. The first baseman is yearning for the Reds to get back to a level when he's playing for more than acclaim.Votto and the rest of the Reds position players reported ahead of their first full-squad workout Monday. He's got six years left on a $251.5 million, 12-year deal agreed to in 2012, when Cincinnati was in the midst of a resurgence. He envisioned a run of playoff-caliber seasons in Cincinnati when he committed long-term.The Reds made three playoff appearances between 2010-13 and won a pair of NL Central titles. After failing to get past the first round of the playoffs, they fired manager Dusty Baker, traded away the rest of their stars and started a long, painful rebuild that's not close to finished.Votto is the last remaining link, still playing at a high level at age 34. He finished two points behind Giancarlo Stanton... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout, the best player in baseball, won't be the biggest attraction in spring training for the Los Angeles Angels.That distinction will fall to Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, who chose to sign with the Angels in December following league-wide interest and years of intrigue about the 23-year-old with a powerful right arm and productive bat from the left side of the plate.The hope is that the arrival of Ohtani, a rebuilt infield and better health from its starting pitchers can get the two-time American League MVP and the Angels back into the postseason for the first time since 2014, their only appearance in the last eight seasons.And while he won't see as much hype off the field, Trout continues to deliver on it. He hit .306 with 33 home runs, 72 RBIs and 22 stolen bases despite spending time on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a thumb injury.Here's what to watch for when the Angels arrive in Tempe, Arizona, for spring training:NEW... [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:___Houston AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [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]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Can Cincinnati's rotation make it through spring training intact for once?The Reds' starting pitchers haven't done well in Arizona lately. Last year, Homer Bailey needed elbow surgery before camp even opened, and it just got worse as it went along. Anthony DeSclafani developed a sore pitching elbow and never threw an inning.Left-hander Brandon Finnegan actually made it to the season, but wound up limited to four games because of a strained back and a dislocated shoulder. Together, the Reds' top three starters managed a total of 22 starts, the biggest factor in Cincinnati's third straight 90-loss season.All three are back and healthy — for the moment — as the last-place team opens training camp hoping to finally make up some ground in the NL Central."Having a fully healthy Homer Bailey, Brandon Finnegan and Anthony DeSclafani, there's a lot of reason to believe we've finally got there," manager Bryan Price said. "The young guys are going to continue to work hard and get... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Despite pitching in the playoffs last season, reliever David Hernandez worried that he would wind up having to settle for another minor league contract and an invitation to some team's big league training camp next month. The Cincinnati Reds surprised him by offering a $5 million, two-year deal."It all kind of happened quickly, which is weird," Hernandez said Tuesday after the deal was announced.The 32-year-old right-hander will make $2.5 million annually and can earn another $1 million each year in performance bonuses. The Reds expect him to move into a set-up role for closer Raisel Iglesias, upgrading a bullpen that was their main offseason priority.Hernandez had a 3.11 ERA in 64 appearances for the Los Angeles Angels and Arizona last season and made two scoreless relief appearances against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series. He also has pitched for Baltimore and Philadelphia.Cincinnati's bullpen had the most walks and hit batters in the major leagues... [More]

INF Zack Cozart agreed to a three-year contract, the Los Angeles Angels announced Friday. The Angels did not disclose financial terms, but the deal is worth a reported $38 million for Cozart to likely start at third base. Cozart, 32, played seven major league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He set career highs in 2017 with a .297 batting average, 80 runs scored, seven triples, 24 home runs, 55 extra-base hits, 240 total bases and a .933 OPS, while also matching his 2013 career high with 63 RBIs. He earned his first All-Star selection after being chosen as a starter for the National League via fan balloting. Cozart owns a career batting average of .254 with 375 runs, 143 doubles, 22 triples, 82 home runs and 280 RBIs in 743 games.

SS Zack Cozart expects to be back in the lineup Friday when the Reds visit the Chicago Cubs. Cozart sat out Thursday after his quad tightened up running from first to third a night earlier.

SS Zack Cozart left the Wednesday's game in the fourth inning because of tightness in his right quad. He said he doesn't expect to play Thursday in the series finale at Milwaukee but should be available Friday when the Reds travel to Chicago to face the Cubs. Cozart was on the DL July 29-Aug. 6 with a strained right quad.

SS Zack Cozart added to his career-high total in home runs Tuesday night with his 23rd off the Cardinals' John Gant. He is one RBI shy of a career-high. Cozart has homered in four of his past seven games.

CLEVELAND -- Lorenzo Cain had three hits and Alcides Escobar and Brandon Moss homered as the Kansas City Royals halted the Cleveland Indians' American League-record 22-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Friday night.It's Cleveland's first loss since Aug. 23. The Indians' 22-game winning streak is the second longest in major league history. The 1916 New York Giants won 26 in a row.Jason Vargas (16-10) gave up three runs on five hits in five innings to get the win for Kansas City. Mike Minor pitched the ninth to pick up his first major league save.Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (16-9) gave up four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.Red Sox 13, Rays 6 (15 innings)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Deven Marrero had a two-run double as part of a seven-run outburst in the top of the 15th inning as Boston earned the win against Tampa Bay.Boston maintained a three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East Division. The Red Sox magic number to reach the postseason... [More]

SS Zack Cozart homered twice in Friday night's 4-2 win over Pittsburgh. In consecutive at-bats against Chad Kuhl, Cozart belted his 21st home run on an 0-1 pitch in the third, then his 22nd home run leading off the fifth on a 2-1 offering. "He's really found his stride offensively in his 30s," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "His approach has stayed the same and he's shown the power." It was Cozart's fifth career multi-home run game, third this season. He has five homers in his past nine games.

SS Zack Cozart returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing two games when he was hit by a pitch on his left leg on Friday. Cozart already has established a career high with 17 home runs and has homered in four of his past seven starts. He went 1-for-4 with a run and a walk on Tuesday.

SS Zack Cozart was out of the Reds lineup Saturday after suffering a bruised left shin when hit by a pitch Friday against the Braves and is questionable for Sunday's series finale. "His shin didn't respond as well as we'd hoped," manager Bryan Price said. X-rays were not needed, but Cozart was still limping Saturday in the clubhouse as he wore a compression wrap on his leg.

SS Zack Cozart was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list on Sunday and went 1-for-5. Cozart has been on the DL since July 29 with a right quad strain. He'll likely get regular days off at least initially. "He's been feeling really good. Not just good enough to play, but really good," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We want to stay from any recurrence of this injury. He's as vulnerable as anybody when he runs. We'll still be cautious with playing time on the front end".

SS Zack Cozart is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list and back in the lineup Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. "We kind of set our sights on Sunday being the day of activation," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's gone through everything. He's feeling good." Cozart has been on the DL since July 29 with a right quad strain. He's expected to return to the No. 2 spot in the batting order.

SS Zack Cozart (quad) was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Wednesday. He was hurt while running the bases against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, and the injury lingered. Cozart has been battling his quads since May, when the injury first flared up. He is a free agent after the season, and the Reds may want to trade him. But due to his injury, that is less likely at the moment. He is hitting .317 with 12 homers, 39 RBIs and a .971 OPS in 76 games this year.

SS Zack Cozart (right quad) missed his second straight start. He leads all NL shortstops in batting average, on-base and slugging percentage. He is proving that his All-Star berth this year was well-deserved.

SS Zack Cozart was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game Wednesday. Cozart likely would have been in the lineup but he appeared to tweak his right quad running the bases after reaching as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of Tuesday's game. Manager Bryan Price said the training staff was optimistic that the injury was nothing more than soreness but said he would know more Thursday in Miami. Cozart missed his sixth game since returning from a second disabled list stint June 30, but the previous instances were to rest it.