Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve bruised his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over Kansas City... [More]

Yoenis Céspedes expects to be the designated hitter for the New York Mets on Friday when they open the season against the Atlanta Braves.It will be his first major league game in more than two years. Injuries to his feet and legs have sidelined him since July 20, 2018.Céspedes said he’s feeling good and is confident that he’ll also play left field at some point this season. But he told reporters through a translator Tuesday that “at least for the first game, for opening day, I’ll be the DH.”The 34-year-old slugger, an All-Star in 2014 and 2016, had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch. Now he's healthy and eager to help the Mets.“I think the strongest part of me is my mind, is my mentality,” Céspedes said. “I think whether it’s a good day or a bad day, my mentality has always been strong. I’ll be ready to play once the time comes.”BRUISEDAstros second baseman Jose Altuve bruised his left leg in Houston's exhibition win over Kansas City... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Robbie Ray already knew 2020 would be a big season for his financial future because it's his last one before becoming a free agent.Now the Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander has less time to make a strong impression.Major League Baseball's coronavirus-delayed 60-game season is much shorter than the usual 162-game grind. That means pitchers like Ray will probably make about 11 or 12 starts instead of the typical 30-plus.Because of the compressed calendar, the 28-year-old Ray made sure he kept in shape during the spring hiatus from baseball. In his first live work off the mound Sunday, he threw nearly 80 pitches and said he's very close to being ready for the regular season, which begins July 24 against the Padres.The motivation is obvious: A bad start to the season could cost him millions of dollars in what's expected to be a tight free-agent market during the offseason. Conversely, two good months might lead to a big payoff this winter.“I had the assumption that once everything... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado's Sam Hilliard homered on the day of his promotion to the major leagues in late August. By the end of the season he had seven homers, including one apiece off NL All-Stars Hyun-Jin Ryu and Josh Hader and two off Noah Syndergaard.“I like what Sam did in September against some good names.," Colorado manager Bud Black said.The 26-year-old Hilliard hit .273 with a .649 OPS in 27 games last season with 13 extra-base hits, 13 RBIs and two stolen bases in 87 plate appearances. He played almost every day after his Aug. 27 promotion, seeing time at all three outfield spots.He had batted ..262 with 29 doubles, 35 homers and 101 RBIs at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he made the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.“It was a dream come true to make the big leagues,” Hilliard said. “To be able to get a good amount of playing time and be able to contribute and have a little bit success was a tremendous confidence boost. That made me feel like I belong up here.”Hilliard said... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado outfielder David Dahl likes to keep his numerical goals private, but there is one he is willing to share — 150. As in games.A series of injuries have limited Dahl to 100 games or fewer in a three-year career with the Rockies that has featured extended periods of high-level production interspersed with rehab and recovery.Dahl hit .302 with 15 homers and 61 RBIs in a career-high 100 games last season before suffering a season-ending high right ankle sprain in early August, his fourth debilitating setback. “If you look at my career numbers and stuff, they've been broken up a lot by those injuries,” said Dahl, an All-Star last season, “and I haven't been able to really get in a rhythm for a whole season.“You start getting into a rhythm and then something freaky would happen, and I'd have to wait a couple months and then try to go play again. It's hard when it is broken up and you're not getting consistent (time). So I'm doing everything I can to go out there... [More]

DENVER (AP) — There was left-hander Kyle Freeland discussing his new, pause-free delivery. And there was shortstop Trevor Story hinting at agreeing to a $27.5 million, two-year deal that he really wasn't at liberty to discuss since it's not official yet. But there was no Nolan Arenado. And there was no media availability with general manager Jeff Bridich, either, during the Colorado Rockies fan fest Saturday at Coors Field.Manager Bud Black recently reached out to Arenado, who said this week he felt a level of "disrespect" from the front office in the wake of trade rumors and the team not being active in player acquisition this winter.Black left a message.Still, he fully believes that once the Rockies get to spring training, the situation will work itself out."Things are going to be fine," Black said. “Players, they stay united. ... It's a group of players that is pretty bonded, pretty united.”The notion that Arenado could be dealt began to bubble last month at the winter meetings in San... [More]

DENVER (AP) — All-Star shortstop Trevor Story and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $27.5 million, two-year contract that avoids an arbitration hearing, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday night because the agreement was pending a physical and had not been announced. Story can become a free agent following the 2021 World Series. When players and teams exchanged proposed 2020 salaries in salary arbitration two weeks ago, he asked for $11.5 million and Colorado offered him $10.75 million.A slick fielder and power hitter, the 27-year-old Story had 35 home runs and 23 stolen bases last season — making him the second shortstop in major league history with multiple 30-20 seasons. Alex Rodriguez is the other.Story also set career highs in runs (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363) in 2019.A first-round draft pick in 2011, Story is a career .276 hitter since making his debut in April 2016.... [More]

DENVER (AP) — All-Star shortstop Trevor Story and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $27.5 million, two-year contract that avoids an arbitration hearing, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday night because the agreement was pending a physical and had not been announced. Story can become a free agent following the 2021 World Series. When players and teams exchanged proposed 2020 salaries in salary arbitration two weeks ago, he asked for $11.5 million and Colorado offered him $10.75 million.A slick fielder and power hitter, the 27-year-old Story had 35 home runs and 23 stolen bases last season — making him the second shortstop in major league history with multiple 30-20 seasons. Alex Rodriguez is the other one.Story also set career highs in runs (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363) in 2019.A first-round draft pick in 2011, Story is a career .276 hitter since making his debut in April... [More]

DENVER (AP) — All-Star shortstop Trevor Story asked for $11.5 million and the Colorado Rockies offered him $10.75 million when players and teams exchanged proposed salaries in salary arbitration Friday.Colorado catcher Tony Wolters also could be headed toward a hearing next month after requesting a raise from $960,000 to $2,475,000. The Rockies offered $1.9 million.The club agreed to one-year deals with its four other players who were eligible for arbitration. Right-hander Jon Gray received a raise from $2,925,000 to $5.6 million, left-hander Kyle Freeland from $565,000 to $2,875,000, outfielder David Dahl from $584,288 to $2,425,000, and reliever Carlos Estévez from $565,000 to $1.08 million.Right-handed reliever Scott Oberg also was eligible for arbitration before reaching a $13 million, three-year contract with the Rockies last month. The 27-year-old Story is coming off a season in which he set career highs in runs (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363) while earning... [More]

DENVER (AP) — All-Star shortstop Trevor Story asked for $11.5 million and the Colorado Rockies offered him $10.75 million when players and teams exchanged proposed salaries in salary arbitration Friday.Colorado catcher Tony Wolters also could be headed toward a hearing next month after requesting a raise from $960,000 to $2,475,000. The Rockies offered $1.9 million.The club agreed to one-year deals with its four other players who were eligible for arbitration. Right-hander Jon Gray received a raise from $2,925,000 to $5.6 million, left-hander Kyle Freeland from $565,000 to $2,875,000, outfielder David Dahl from $584,288 to $2,425,000, and reliever Carlos Estévez from $565,000 to $1.08 million.Right-handed reliever Scott Oberg also was eligible for arbitration before reaching a $13 million, three-year contract with the Rockies last month. The 27-year-old Story is coming off a season in which he set career highs in runs (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363) while earning... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Milwaukee closer Josh Hader just made the cutoff for salary arbitration eligibility with 2 years, 115 days of major league service.Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías also is on the list of 23 so-called Super 2s with 2 years, 117 days. The cutoff was down significantly from 2 years, 134 days last offseason.Miami left-hander Jarlin García just missed with 2 years, 114 days, and Arizona right-hander Luke Weaver had 2 years, 112 days.The top 22% of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration as long as they had at least 86 days of service this year. They join the older group of 3- to 6-year players.Players and teams are scheduled to exchange proposed salaries on Jan. 10, and hearings for those lacking agreements will be scheduled for Feb. 3 to 21 in Phoenix.The New York Yankees have four Super 2s: right-handers Luis Cessa and Jonathan Holder, left-hander Jordan Montgomery and third baseman Gio Urshela.Urías is joined... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort says nobody in the front office is worried that star Nolan Arenado will opt out of his $260 million contract in two years."If there's a list of issues that we need to deal with, that is like No. 775 on the page," Monfort said Tuesday. "So I don't think any of us are really worried about it at this time."The 28-year-old third baseman had another productive season, hitting a career-high .315 with 41 homers and 118 RBIs and is likely to win his seventh consecutive Gold Glove Award.The Rockies' win total, however, plummeted from 91 to 71, the largest regression in franchise history.Arenado, who signed the eight-year, $260 million contract in spring training, has said he does not want to be like former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, who played his entire 17-year career with the team and went to the postseason just twice.Monfort called the disappointing season "without a doubt the hardest year I've been through," and vowed to "put all our... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Tough times and bad timing defined the Colorado Rockies' hugely disappointing season that began with high hopes of ending the Dodgers' dominance out West but unraveled under the dual demons of frustration and failure.The pitching was horrendous, from the starters to the closers. Ace Kyle Freeland's mystifying plunge produced a cascading effect on the pitching staff and led to a bullpen implosion.The bats couldn't bail out the Blake Street Blunders once superstar Nolan Arenado endured a mid-summer slump."This is obviously not the season that we wanted to have," shortstop Trevor Story said as the Rockies wrapped up a 71-91 campaign that ended their two-year playoff run and sent them into an offseason of uncertainty. "We had some high expectations that we really didn't come close to meeting.""I thought we were going to be good," Arenado agreed.Although, he acknowledges that the Rockies sort of saw this coming when the front office let DJ LeMahieu and Adam Ottavino leave last... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl was upset about his latest injury, but also grateful it wasn't more severe."Glad it's just a high ankle sprain," the All-Star said Saturday. "They can take a while if you don't let it heal. I'll do whatever I can to let it heal and get back."An MRI confirmed the right ankle injury, which occurred during the sixth inning of Friday night's win over the San Francisco Giants. Manager Bud Black did not have a timeline for Dahl's return but said he could be out several weeks.Colorado placed Dahl on the 10-day injured list and recalled outfielder Yonathan Daza from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.Dahl was hurt when he slightly overran a knuckling flyball from Scooter Gennett. He planted his feet to stop and reached back to catch the ball and his right leg buckled under him."I ran after the ball and it kind of, like, cut on me so I had to stop," Dahl said. "My cleat got caught and I heard a pop. I didn't know if it was my knee, my ankle or my... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies placed outfielder David Dahl on the 10-day injured list with a high right ankle sprain, the team announced Saturday.An MRI performed Saturday morning confirmed the injury, which occurred during the sixth inning of Friday night's win over the San Francisco Giants. Manager Bud Black did not have a timeline for Dahl's returns but said it could be "several weeks."Dahl was hurt when he slightly overran a knuckling flyball from Scooter Gennett. He planted his feet to stop and reached back to catch the ball and his right leg buckled under him. He was taken off the field on a cart after being attended to by the training staff.This is the third straight season Dahl has dealt with a significant injury. He missed all of 2017 with a stress reaction in his rib cage and was out two months last season with a broken right foot suffered when he fouled a ball off of it.Dahl, who is batting .302 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs, was a first-time All-Star this season.The Rockies recalled outfielder Yonathan Daza from Triple-A Albuquerque.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:NOW PITCHINGTrevor Bauer (9-8, 3.79 ERA) makes his Cincinnati debut four days after arriving in a trade with Cleveland. Bauer went 3-2 with a 4.54 ERA in six starts last month. In his last outing, he threw the ball from just past the mound over the center field fence in Kansas City after getting pulled. Bauer starts for the Reds at Atlanta. ... Marcus Stroman makes his first start for the Mets after being acquired in a trade with Toronto. Stroman is 10-5 with a 2.93 ERA against National League teams in his career. He pitches at Pittsburgh.CHECK HIMThe Rockies will see how outfielder David Dahl is feeling, a day after he sprained his right ankle was carted off the field in obvious pain. A first-time All-Star, Dahl was injured making an awkward catch in center at Coors Field.The team said X-rays were negative and the severity of the injury was being assessed.STARTING OVERAaron Sanchez (3-14, 6.07 ERA) makes his debut for the Astros, three... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies center fielder David Dahl was carted off the field clearly in pain after injuring his right leg making a diving catch Friday night.There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury.Dahl, a first-time All-Star this season, slightly overran a sinking flyball from San Francisco's Scooter Gennett, planting his feet to make a sudden stop and leaning back to make the catch.But Dahl's right foot apparently caught in the grass and he crumpled to ground, grimacing and grabbing his right ankle.Right fielder Charlie Blackmon ran over to try to help as team trainers came out to tend to Dahl. The game was stopped for several minutes while medical personnel assessed the injury and brought the cart out to carry him off the field.The 25-year-old Dahl began the day batting .302 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs against James Paxton during the first four innings Friday night in the Boston Red Sox's 10-5 victory over the New York Yankees, whose starting pitchers have stumbled this week in historic fashion.Betts homered on Paxton's eighth pitch in a three-run first that included J.D. Martinez's two-run homer, went deep again leading off the third for a 4-0 lead and hit a two-run drive in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.Betts added an RBI double in the sixth off David Hale to give him five RBIs and grounded out in the eighth. With his fifth career three-homer game, Betts raised his season total to 18 homers.Batters have had three-homer games on four straight days for the first time in big league history. Betts followed the New York Mets' Robinson Canó, St. Louis' Paul DeJong and Minnesota's Nelson Cruz.Andrew Cashner (10-5), coming off losses in his first two starts after Boston acquired him from Baltimore, allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.Martinez... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs against James Paxton during the first four innings Friday night in the Boston Red Sox's 10-5 victory over the New York Yankees, whose starting pitchers have stumbled this week in historic fashion.Betts homered on Paxton's eighth pitch in a three-run first that included J.D. Martinez's two-run homer, went deep again leading off the third for a 4-0 lead and hit a two-run drive in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.Betts added an RBI double in the sixth off David Hale to give him five RBIs and grounded out in the eighth. With his fifth career three-homer game, Betts raised his season total to 18 homers.Batters have had three-homer games on four straight days for the first time in big league history. Betts followed the New York Mets' Robinson Canó, St. Louis' Paul DeJong and Minnesota's Nelson Cruz.Andrew Cashner (10-5), coming off losses in his first two starts after Boston acquired him from Baltimore, allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.Martinez... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs against James Paxton during the first four innings Friday night in the Boston Red Sox's 10-5 victory over the New York Yankees, whose starting pitchers have stumbled this week in historic fashion.Betts homered on Paxton's eighth pitch in a three-run first that included J.D. Martinez's two-run homer, went deep again leading off the third for a 4-0 lead and hit a two-run drive in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.Betts added an RBI double in the sixth off David Hale to give him five RBIs and grounded out in the eighth. With his fifth career three-homer game, Betts raised his season total to 18 homers.Batters have had three-homer games on four straight days for the first time in big league history. Betts followed the New York Mets' Robinson Canó, St. Louis' Paul DeJong and Minnesota's Nelson Cruz.Andrew Cashner (10-5), coming off losses in his first two starts after Boston acquired him from Baltimore, allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.Martinez... [More]