The Philadelphia Phillies are banking on young Scott Kingery.A prized prospect who has never played in the majors, Kingery reached a six-year deal with the Phillies on Sunday that takes him through the 2023 season.The contract includes three team options running through 2026. Multiple media reports said Kingery was guaranteed more than $23 million.The 23-year-old Kingery is batting .392 in 20 spring training games and is tied for the Grapefruit League lead with 20 hits.Kingery hit a combined .304 with 26 home runs and 29 steals as a second baseman for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading last year. He was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft from the University of Arizona.Kingery is regarded as the best second-base prospect in baseball. The Phillies currently have Cesar Hernandez as their starting second baseman, so Kingery has also seen time at third base this spring and worked in the outfield.Coming off a 66-96 record and last-place finish in the NL East, the Phillies have been... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Josh Donaldson expects to join a free agent class that could also include fellow sluggers Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.First, the third baseman hopes to lead Toronto to the playoffs for the third time in four years.Donaldson won the AL MVP award in 2015 as the hard-hitting Blue Jays made the first of consecutive appearances in the AL Championship Series. He was limited to 113 games because of injuries last year, and Toronto scored an AL-low 693 runs as it slipped to 76-86 and finished behind Boston, New York and Tampa Bay in the AL East."I wouldn't say we're on anybody's radar at this point, which is fine," Donaldson said. "We believe we're very capable of doing damage. I believe we can still be a potent offense."Donaldson has hit .285 with 111 home runs and 300 RBIs over three seasons in Toronto."You look back at the last couple of years, he really has been the centerpiece," manager John Gibbons said.Donaldson set a record for a one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible... [More]

Capsules of American League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Boston Red Sox2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Manager: Alex Cora (first season).He's Here: DH J.D. Martinez.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad.Projected Lineup: RF Mookie Betts (.264, 24 HRs, 102 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.271, 20, 90), 1B Hanley Ramirez (.242, 23, 62) or Mitch Moreland (.246, 22, 79), DH J.D. Martinez (.303, 45, 104 with Tigers and Diamondbacks), 3B Rafael Devers (.284, 10, 30 in 58 games), SS Xander Bogaerts (.273, 10, 62), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.245, 17, 63), C Christian Vazquez (.290, 5, 32) or Sandy Leon (.225, 7, 39), 2B Eduardo Nunez (.313, 12, 58, 24 SBs with Giants and Red Sox) or Dustin Pedroia (.293, 7, 62, .369 OBP in 105 games, expected to be out until late May following knee surgery).Rotation: LH Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA, MLB-best 308 Ks, MLB-high 214... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — J.A. Happ has been picked to start opening day for the Toronto Blue Jays.Manager John Gibbons said Tuesday that the 35-year-old left-hander will face the New York Yankees and right-hander Luis Severino on March 29. Happ went 10-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 25 starts last season.He will face a Yankees lineup that could see Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez hit 2-3-4.Entering spring training, Marcus Stroman was expected to get the opening day assignment, but he was slowed by right shoulder inflammation. Stroman will start the finale of the four-game series against the Yankees.Aaron Sanchez will start the second game, followed by Marco Estrada. Jaime Garcia will be the Blue Jays' fifth starter.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros on Friday.The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESDODGERS 6, ROYALS (SS) 4Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was supposed to be his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring."When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there."Roberts said he expects... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros on Friday.The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESDODGERS 6, ROYALS (SS) 4Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was supposed to be his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring."When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there."Roberts said he expects... [More]

Giancarlo Stanton got off to a sunny start at a new position for the New York Yankees.Making his first start in left field for his new team, the NL MVP lost two flyballs in the sun and both fell for hits Sunday in a 9-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.Stanton never played left field in his eight seasons with the Marlins, instead spending his time in right.Asked how someone should work on catching balls in the glare, the smiling slugger said: "Get sun vision gloves, see right through the sun."AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES:ORIOLES 10, RED SOX 8Adam Jones hit a pair of RBI doubles and a single and Manny Machado added a two-run double for Baltimore. Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers hit back-to-back homers for Boston off Gabriel Ynoa, who allowed six runs in two innings.The Orioles announced first baseman Chris Davis had an MRI on his sore right elbow and no structural damage was found. Manager Buck Showalter estimated Davis would be out another three to five days. Showalter also noted... [More]

The Cleveland Indians gave Mike Napoli a much more familiar uniform.The Indians reunited with Napoli on Tuesday, agreeing on a minor league contract with the popular slugger whose powerful swing and clubhouse leadership were key to Cleveland reaching the 2016 World Series.Napoli had been on the roster to play in Bradenton, Florida, with a group of free agents still looking for jobs. Tyler Clippard, wearing a black jersey with a white players' union logo, pitched two hitless innings in a 2-0 win over amateurs from the East Japan Railway Company."It's a situation where a player that is universally respected in our organization, he shouldn't be in that camp," Indians manager Terry Francona said.Napoli's deal is contingent upon him passing a physical at the Indians' complex in Goodyear, Arizona. He hit .193 with 29 home runs and 66 RBIs for Texas last season.The Indians don't have a roster spot for the 36-year-old Napoli, but Francona wanted to give him an opportunity to showcase himself.Francona... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Blue Jays figure a healthy Aaron Sanchez can lead them back into the playoffs.Sanchez was an All-Star in 2016, when the right-hander went 15-2 with an American League-leading 3.00 ERA. But blisters on the middle finger of his pitching hand caused four stints on the disabled list. He went 1-3 with a 4.25 ERA and didn't pitch after July 19.Sanchez resumed throwing in early December and is confident his finger has healed"I'll have to maintain it like I have in years past, but no more of the disaster that it had last year," he said.Toronto used a club-record 14 starters last season en route to a 76-86 record and fourth-place finish in the AL East. Only Marcus Stroman and Marco Estrada made 30 starts, and the fill-ins weren't enough to make a playoff run.Some things to watch ahead of Blue Jays spring training in Florida:NEW LOOK: Outfielders Randal Grichuk and Curtis Granderson and infielders Aledmys Diaz and Yangervis Solarte are Toronto's primary offseason additions. Grichuk... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East 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:___Boston Red SoxManager: Alex Cora (first season).2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: Manager Alex Cora.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, INF Eduardo Nunez, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Blaine Boyer.Going campin': The Red Sox won 93 games for the second straight season and claimed the franchise's first back-to-back AL East titles. But Farrell was fired after they failed to advance in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. They are virtually the same team as last year; boss Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for a bat with power and still might add one of the free agents remaining on the market, including... [More]

RHP Marco Estrada's string of solid starts against the Red Sox ended Wednesday when he gave up eight runs (seven earned) in 2 1/3 innings en route to a loss. Estrada (10-9, 4.98 ERA) allowed nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts in his brief outing. He had held the Red Sox to two earned runs over 17 1/3 innings in three prior starts against them this season.

RHP Marco Estrada goes for his fourth straight win when he faces the Red Sox in the finale of a three-game series at Fenway Park on Wednesday. Estrada, 10-8 with a 4.70 ERA on the season, has allowed five runs in 17 innings over the three starts. He has pitched three times against the Red Sox this season, yielding only two runs in 17 1/3 innings without a decision. He is 4-4 with a 3.15 ERA lifetime against Boston, 3-2, 3.30 at Fenway.

RHP Marco Estrada earned his career-best fifth straight winning decision Friday in the 8-1 victory over the New York Yankee ?on Friday. He allowed three hits, three walks and one run in seven innings. He has pitched a career-best 183 2/3 innings this season.

RHP Marco Estrada will make his first start since signing a one-year contract extension for $13-million when he faces the Yankees on Friday. He has not lost since Aug. 15 and in his six starts since then, starting Aug. 20, he is 4-0 with a 3.89 ERA. Estrada will be making his fifth start of the season versus the Yankees, going 2-1 with a 5.64 ERA in the first four. He is 5-3 with a 4.28 ERA in 14 career games (13 starts) against the Yankees.

RHP Marco Estrada has been signed to a one-year, $13-million contract extension. The 34-year-old could have become a free agent at the end of the season but had stated his desire to remain in Toronto. "I'm extremely optimistic about our chances next year," Estrada said. "That was the main reason why I wanted to come back. I feel like things are about to happen for this team." He is 9-8 with a 4.84 ERA this season in 31 starts and has a career-best 170 strikeouts. He is 31-25 with a 3.81 ERA over three seasons with the Blue Jays. "I knew in my heart I wanted to come back," he said. "It's the right move for me." Estrada made three playoff starts in each of the last two years, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.33 ERA in 2015 and 1-2, 2.01 last year. Said general manager Ross Atkins: "One of the things that's most exciting about Marco to probably all potential 30 teams that would look to acquire someone like himself, is his ability to be the exact same or better in playoff scenarios, which he's done for us."

RHP Marco Estrada signed a one-year, $13 million contract extension, the Blue Jays announced Wednesday. Estrada, who is signed through 2018, would have been eligible for free agency after this season. The 34-year-old owns a 9-8 mark with a 4.84 ERA and career-best 170 strikeouts in 31 starts this season. He is 31-25 with a 3.81 ERA in three combined years with the Blue Jays.

RHP Marco Estrada went eight innings and allowed just two runs to earn his ninth win of the season. It was the longest start of the year for Estrada, who threw 101 pitches in his eight innings of work. It also marked the first time Estrada pitched eight or more innings since his start against Boston on June 5, 2016.

RHP Marco Estrada has turned his season around after some struggles and is 3-1 with a 3.98 ERA in his past nine starts beginning July 26. He did not factor in the decision Tuesday at Boston when he allowed three hits, three walks and no runs in seven innings. The Blue Jays lost the game 3-2 in 19 innings. Estrada will face the Baltimore Orioles Monday in the opener of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre. He is 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA in four starts against the Orioles this season and 6-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 14 career outings (12 starts) against them.

RHP Marco Estrada tossed seven scoreless innings Tuesday against the Red Sox, but did not factor in the decision. Estrada (7-8, 5.00 ERA) gave up three hits and three walks while striking out three in the outing. "I felt really good out there," Estrada said. "I liked the way I was throwing fastballs, kind of located most of them, elevated when I needed to."

RHP Marco Estrada is slated to start Tuesday's game. Estrada is 7-8 this year with a 5.23 ERA. Estrada has appeared twice against the Red Sox this year. On April 20, he allowed three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in six scoreless innings of what turned into a 4-1 Blue Jay loss. On June 30, he allowed two runs on two hits with seven walks and three strikeouts over 4 ? innings as the Blue Jays fell 7-4.