CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — For the Philadelphia Phillies to compete in a tough division, they need better starting pitching. There's hope because none of their returning starters performed up to expectations last year, the team strengthened the top of the rotation by signing Zack Wheeler and new pitching coach Bryan Price has a track record of success working with pitchers."I like what our rotation brings because there's different looks, there's power, there's very good breaking balls, there's sinkers, there's different stuff," manager Joe Girardi said after a 10-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. "It's going to be a different look every day which I think is important." Wheeler joins ace Aaron Nola to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Veteran Jake Arrieta, coming off an injury-shortened season, is the No. 3 starter. Zach Eflin appears to have the fourth spot locked up. Ranger Suarez has turned the competition for the fifth spot in into a three-man race with Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta.... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston's Alex Bregman was hit on the back by a breaking ball from St. Louis reliever Ramon Santos on Wednesday, the seventh Astros player plunked in five spring training games.“It was a splitter,” Bregman said. “It just got away from him.”Some opposing players have called for retaliation against the Astros following Major League Baseball's finding that Houston broke rules against electronic sign-stealing en route to its 2017 World Series title and again in 2018.Dustin Garneau was hit Sunday against Washington, and José Altuve was grazed Monday against Detroit, when Osvaldo Duarte and Alex De Goti also were hit. Aledmys Díaz and Jake Meyers were hit Tuesday by Miami.Santos' 1-0 pitch in the fifth inning struck Bregman on the left shoulder blade. The two-time All-Star trotted to first, then was replaced by a pinch runner.“I think I got hit like 10 times last year, or something like that,” Bregman said. “One of them got me good last year, but that one was just... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — George Springer could only stand there all alone and listen.The Houston Astros leadoff man had no choice when he stepped into the batter's box a bit too early and was showered with loud boos Wednesday at an exhibition game against the New York Mets.Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard turned and looked at the scoreboard clock that showed 1:09 p.m. — he waited for the minute to change so the game would officially reach the 1:10 start time, leaving Springer nowhere to go as the crowd heckled him.“Cheater! Cheater! Cheater!” one Mets fan along the first-base side chanted at Springer.The normal tranquility of a February game again was broken as a split squad of Astros continued the team's latest stop on their spring training tour of derisive boos and catcalls, the result of their exposed sign-steal scheme.Two days after José Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel got jeered for a game at Detroit's park in Lakeland, it was the Mets' turn to host at newly renovated... [More]

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Casey Mize was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 amateur draft, and Matt Manning was a first-round selection two years earlier. Those two pitchers are the headliners of Detroit's rebuilding process — and they aren't the only Tigers prospects worth paying attention to this year.“I think there's some other names that probably should be involved in that as well," Mize said. "We have a really good group, honestly. The more people we can attach to that headline, is probably for the better. That's good news for Tigers fans, good news for the organization.”The Tigers held their first workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday, and while only the most optimistic Detroit fan would predict a great season, there are finally some signs of promise. Mize, Manning and Tarik Skubal are all in camp as non-roster invitees. Although none of them are expected to be in the big leagues on opening day, they could form the core of the Tigers' rotation of the future.“I think that's something this... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New Mets manager Luis Rojas set his standards right away."We expect to be a contender," he said Tuesday during his first spring training news conference. "We know how all the teams are. We're going to be in a tough division and play some tough teams on our schedule. We have a great roster, great position players with versatility, great starting rotation or pitchers that have a history of Cy Youngs and World Series winners. And our bullpen has a history of saving games and being closers."New York went 46-26 in the latter part of the 2019 season, finishing three games back of Milwaukee for the second wild card.Jacob deGrom won his second straight NL Cy Young Award, Pete Alonso claimed the NL Rookie of the Year after hitting a major league-leading 53 home runs and Jeff McNeil was fourth in the NL batting race with a .318 average.Manager Mickey Callaway was fired after an 86-76 finish in his second season and replaced by Carlos Beltrán, who was let go for his role... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National 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:___Atlanta Braves Manager: Brian Snitker (fifth season). 2019: 97-65, first place, lost to Cardinals in Division Series.Training Town: North Port, Florida.Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 13/18. He's Here: LF Marcell Ozuna, C Travis d'Arnaud, LHP Cole Hamels, LHP Will Smith, RHP F�lix Hern�ndez.He's Outta Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Julio Teheran, C Brian McCann, OF Matt Joyce, RHP Anthony Swarzak, RHP Josh Tomlin, LHP Jerry Blevins, OF Billy Hamilton, C Francisco Cervelli. Going campin': The Braves are coming off their second straight NL East title, led by one of baseball's brightest young stars. In his first full season in the big leagues, 22-year-old OF Ronald Acu�a Jr. hit 41 homers, led the league with 127 runs and tallied 37 stolen bases to become the second-youngest... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Cressey thinks some injuries can be prevented. After a season in which medical updates overshadowed scouting reports, the New York Yankees hope so.Cressey was hired by the Yankees in the new role of director of player health and performance, a move made after New York had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list last year. New York set a big league record for sidelined players, topping the 28 on the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers."You always want to separate bad processes from bad outcomes," Cressey said during a conference call Tuesday. "Players are going to be hit by pitches, but there are definitely things that we can do on the processes side of things to provide a level of individualization in the way that we assess players, in the way that we listen to players and solicit their feedback on what's worked for them."The 38-year-old founded Cressey Sports Performance in 2007 and will continue as president of the company, which specializes in kinesiology and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Cressey thinks some injuries can be prevented. After a season in which medical updates overshadowed scouting reports, the New York Yankees hope so.Cressey was hired by the Yankees in the new role of director of player health and performance, a move made after New York had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list last year. New York set a big league record for sidelined players, topping the 28 on the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers."You always want to separate bad processes from bad outcomes," Cressey said during a conference call Tuesday. "Players are going to be hit by pitches, but there are definitely things that we can do on the processes side of things to provide a level of individualization in the way that we assess players, in the way that we listen to players and solicit their feedback on what's worked for them."The 38-year-old founded Cressey Sports Performance in 2007 and will continue as president of the company, which specializes in kinesiology and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Cressey thinks some injuries can be prevented. After a season in which medical updates overshadowed scouting reports, the New York Yankees hope so.Cressey was hired by the Yankees in the new role of director of player health and performance, a move made after New York had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list last year. New York set a big league record for sidelined players, topping the 28 on the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers."You always want to separate bad processes from bad outcomes," Cressey said during a conference call Tuesday. "Players are going to be hit by pitches, but there are definitely things that we can do on the processes side of things to provide a level of individualization in the way that we assess players, in the way that we listen to players and solicit their feedback on what's worked for them."The 38-year-old founded Cressey Sports Performance in 2007 and will continue as president of the company, which specializes in kinesiology and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Noah Syndergaard agreed to a $9.7 million, one-year contract Friday as the New York Mets reached deals with all nine of their players who were eligible for arbitration.Syndergaard is coming off a fairly disappointing 2019 season. He went 10-8 with a 4.28 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 197 2/3 innings while earning $6 million.He is projected to slot in again behind Mets ace Jacob deGrom, winner of the past two NL Cy Young Awards, in a rotation that also includes righty Marcus Stroman and lefty Steven Matz, both of whom agreed to terms Friday as well. Stroman received a $4.6 million raise to $12 million, and Matz got a bump from $2,625,000 to $5 million.Outfielders Michael Conforto ($8 million), Brandon Nimmo ($2,175,000) and Jake Marisnick ($3,312,500) also settled, as did relievers Edwin Díaz ($5.1 million), Seth Lugo ($2 million) and Robert Gsellman ($1,225,000).Syndergaard bristled at pitching to No. 1 catcher Wilson Ramos last season and has had a rocky relationship with the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Noah Syndergaard has agreed to a $9.7 million, one-year deal with the New York Mets to avoid salary arbitration.Syndergaard is coming off a fairly disappointing season in which he made $6 million. He went 10-8 with a 4.28 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 197 2/3 innings.Syndergaard bristled at pitching to No. 1 catcher Wilson Ramos and has had a rocky relationship with the Mets' front office at times. Syndergaard’s name has been mentioned in trade talk on several occasions — including last summer.The 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander nicknamed Thor has power stuff, good control, an impressive array of pitches and all sorts of upside. He’s 27 years old and under club control for two more seasons. At the beginning of the offseason, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Syndergaard would return in 2020 to slot right back into the rotation behind two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.Syndergaard, an All-Star in 2016, is 47-30 with a 3.31 ERA in five major league seasons. He can become a free agent after the 2021 season. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Rick Porcello's $10 million deal with the New York Mets shows the fruits of free agency as much as Gerrit Cole's $324 million contract across town with the Yankees.While Cole set a record, location was among Porcello's primary concerns."I live about an hour away from Citi Field," he said Monday after the Mets announced his contract. "That opportunity of having the hometown comfort, the ability for my father and family and friends to be able to come and see these games in person and be get to experience it a little bit more live, were pretty deciding factors for me." Porcello lives in Morristown, New Jersey, and was at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange when Detroit selected him with the 27th overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft. He was traded to Boston after the 2014 season and was guaranteed $95 million by the Red Sox over the next five seasons. He won the AL Cy Young Award with a 22-4 record in 2016 and was 17-7 in 2018, when he earned a World Series ring.He grew up a Mets... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the New York Mets finalized a $10 million, one-year contract on Monday.A right-hander who turns 31 on Dec. 27, Porcello joins a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. Michael Wacha, who agreed to a $3 million deal last week, also hopes to earn a rotation spot. With Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman preparing to come to spring training as starters, the Mets have eight potential starters vying for five spots in spring training. “I think we're probably the deepest starting pitching rotation in baseball,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said last week.Porcello grew up in New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep in West Orange. He was 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA in 32 starts last year, his fifth and final season with Boston. His best year for the Red Sox was 2016, when he went 22-4 and won the AL Cy Young. He went 17-7 in 2018 and helped the Red Sox win the World Series.“He's done it," Van Wagenen said. "He's been battle tested. He's performed in the playoffs. He's got rings on his fingers.” Porcello has a 149-118 record and 4.36 ERA in 11 big league seasons, the first six with Detroit. Right-hander Stephen Nogosek was designated for assignment.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Yoenis Céspedes' salary for 2019 was cut in half and his pay for 2020 reduced as part of a settlement of a grievance between the injured outfielder and the New York Mets.Céspedes agreed to a $110 million, four-year contract in December 2016 but hasn't played since July 20, 2018. The outfielder had surgery to remove bone calcification from his right heel on Aug. 2, 2018, and his left that Oct. 26.Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, Céspedes' former agent, said in late May the outfielder sustained multiple right ankle fractures in an accident at Céspedes' ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club's spring training complex is located.New York withheld part of Céspedes' salary, alleging he was hurt during an activity prohibited by his contract's guarantee language. The players' association filed a grievance, and the sides settled on an amended contract before the case was argued."The club has reached an agreement with Yoenis Céspedes to amend and restructure his... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yoenis Céspedes' salary for 2019 was cut in half and his pay for 2020 reduced as part of a settlement of a grievance between the injured outfielder and the New York Mets.Céspedes agreed to a $110 million, four-year contract in December 2016 but hasn't played since July 20, 2018. The outfielder had surgery to remove bone calcification from his right heel on Aug. 2, 2018, and his left that Oct. 26.Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, Céspedes' former agent, said in late May the outfielder sustained multiple right ankle fractures in an accident at Céspedes' ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club's spring training complex is located.New York withheld part of Céspedes' salary, alleging he was hurt during an activity prohibited by his contract's guarantee language. The players' association filed a grievance, and the sides settled on an amended contract before the case was argued."The club has reached an agreement with Yoenis Céspedes to amend and restructure his... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former All-Star right-hander Michael Wacha and the New York Mets completed a $3 million, one-year contract Friday that includes $8 million in performance bonuses.Wacha can earn $7 million under a points system and $1 million for relief appearances.New York's starting rotation includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz, and the Mets have a pending $10 million, one-year deal with Rick Porcello.The 28-year-old Wacha starred as a rookie for the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals in 2013, winning NL Championship Series MVP, but he's been hampered by injuries since. He had a 4.76 ERA over 126 2/3 innings last season in 24 starts and five relief appearances. He was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain in September and did not pitch in the postseason.Wacha was an All-Star in 2015, when he went 17-7.He is represented by CAA, where Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen was an agent before the Mets hired him in late 2018.Wacha would earn a point toward... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the New York Mets have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement had not been announced.A right-hander who turns 31 on Dec. 27, Porcello joins a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.Porcello grew up in New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.He was 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA in 32 starts last year, his fifth and final season with Boston. His best year for the Red Sox was 2016, when he went 22-4 and won the AL Cy Young.“He's done it," general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. "He's been battle tested. He's performed in the playoffs. He's got rings on his fingers.”Porcello has a 149-118 record and 4.36 ERA in 11 big league seasons, the first six with Detroit.New York also has a pending one-year contract with right-hander Michael Wacha. With Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman also preparing to come to spring training as starters, the Mets have eight potential starters vying for five spots in spring training.“I think we're probably the deepest starting pitching rotation in baseball,” Van Wagenen said. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the New York Mets have a agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement had not been announced.A right-hander who turns 31 on Dec. 27, Porcello joins a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.Porcello grew up in New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.He was 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA in 32 starts last year, his fifth and final season with Boston. His best year for the Red Sox was 2016, when he went 22-4 and won the AL Cy Young.“He's done it," general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. "He's been battle tested. He's performed in the playoffs. He's got rings on his fingers.”Porcello has a 149-118 record and 4.36 ERA in 11 big league seasons, the first six with Detroit.New York also has a pending one-year contract with right-hander Michael Wacha. With Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman also preparing to come to spring training as starters, the Mets have eight potential starters vying for five spots in spring training.“I think we're probably the deepest starting pitching rotation in baseball,” Van Wagenen said. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the New York Mets have a agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement had not been announced.A right-hander who turns 31 on Dec. 27, Porcello joins a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.Porcello grew up in New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.He was 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA in 32 starts last year, his fifth and final season with Boston. His best year for the Red Sox was 2016, when he went 22-4 and won the AL Cy Young.Porcello has a 149-118 record and 4.36 ERA in 11 big league seasons, the first six with Detroit.New York also has a pending one-year contract with right-hander Michael Wacha.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the New York Mets have a agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement had not been announced.A right-hander who turns 31 on Dec. 27, Porcello joins a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.Porcello grew up in New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.He was 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA in 32 starts last year, his fifth and final season with Boston. His best year for the Red Sox was 2016, when he went 22-4 and won the AL Cy Young.Porcello has a 149-118 record and 4.36 ERA in 11 big league seasons, the first six with Detroit.New York also has a pending one-year contract with right-hander Michael Wacha.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports