ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole and Alex Wood won their salary arbitration cases Wednesday, giving players a 6-3 advantage over teams to ensure a winning record in consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90.Bauer won his hearing for the second straight year and was awarded $13 million by James Darby, James Oldham and Sylvia Skratek instead of the Cleveland Indians' $11 million offer.Cole was given a $13.5 million salary by Gil Vernon, Steven Wolf and Walt De Treux rather than the Houston Astros' offer of $11,425,000.Wood will get $9.65 million instead of the Cincinnati Reds' $8.7 million offer, Dan Brent, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte decided.Bauer and Cole topped the previous high for a salary awarded in an arbitration hearing, $10.5 million won last year by Boston outfielder Mookie Betts.Bauer, a 28-year-old right-hander, was a first-time All-Star last year and finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting after going 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, second behind... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Pitcher Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $45 million, four-year contract, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for this week.The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.."I think Aaron Nola brings a preparation we can all look up to and our other players can emulate," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Wednesday. "I think his between-the-lines competitiveness is off the charts. He's such a fighter, he's such a grinder, he's such a battler."Under a deal announced Wednesday, Nola gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million this year, $8 million in 2020, $11.75 million in 2021 and $15 million in 2022. Philadelphia has a $16 million team option for 2023 with a $4.25 million buyout."He doesn't want any of the attention, he doesn't want the spotlight on him," Kapler said. "He just wants to compete,... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole and Alex Wood won their salary arbitration cases on Wednesday, giving players a 6-3 advantage over teams to ensure a winning record in consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90.Bauer won his hearing for the second straight year and was awarded $13 million by James Darby, James Oldham and Sylvia Skratek instead of the Cleveland Indians' $11 million offer.Cole was given a $13.5 million salary by Gil Vernon, Steven Wolf and Walt De Treux rather than the Houston Astros' offer of $11,425,000.Wood will get $9.65 million instead of the Cincinnati Reds' $8.7 million offer, Dan Brent, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte decided.Bauer and Cole topped the previous high for a salary awarded in an arbitration hearing, $10.5 million won last year by Boston outfielder Mookie Betts.Bauer, a 28-year-old right-hander, was a first-time All-Star last year and finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting after going 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, second behind... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole and Alex Wood won their salary arbitration cases on Wednesday, giving players a 6-3 advantage over teams to ensure a winning record in consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90.Bauer won his hearing for the second straight year and was awarded $13 million by James Darby, James Oldham and Sylvia Skratek instead of the Cleveland Indians' $11 million offer.Cole was given a $13.5 million salary by Gil Vernon, Steven Wolf and Walt De Treux rather than the Houston Astros' offer of $11,425,000.Wood will get $9.65 million instead of the Cincinnati Reds' $8.7 million offer, Dan Brent, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte decided.Bauer and Cole topped the previous high for a salary awarded in an arbitration hearing, $10.5 million won last year by Boston outfielder Mookie Betts.Bauer, a 28-year-old right-hander, was a first-time All-Star last year and finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting after going 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, second behind... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Pitcher Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $45 million, four-year contract, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for this week.The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.Under a deal announced Wednesday, Nola gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million this year, $8 million in 2020, $11.75 million in 2021 and $15 million in 2022. Philadelphia has a $16 million team option for 2023 with a $4.25 million buyout.Eligible for arbitration for the first time, he had asked for a raise from $573,000 to $6.75 million. The Phillies had offered $4.5 million.Among the more than 175 players who were eligible for arbitration this year, Nola is the first to get a deal of more than one guaranteed season. Arizona left-hander T.J. MacFarland and Milwaukee catcher Manny Pina agreed to contracts that included 2020 club options.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Pitcher Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $45 million, four-year contract, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for this week.The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.Under a deal announced Wednesday, Nola gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million this year, $8 million in 2020, $11.75 million in 2021 and $15 million in 2022. Philadelphia has a $16 million team option for 2023 with a $4.25 million buyout.Eligible for arbitration for the first time, he had asked for a raise from $573,000 to $6.75 million. The Phillies had offered $4.5 million.Among the more than 175 players who were eligible for arbitration this year, Nola is the first to get a deal of more than one guaranteed season. Arizona left-hander T.J. MacFarland and Milwaukee catcher Manny Pina agreed to contracts that included 2020 club options.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Asked why he agreed to a one-year deal with Milwaukee rather than multiyear offers from other teams, catcher Yasmani Grandal gave two simple reasons: the chance to win and family.Grandal lives in Peoria, Arizona, not far from the Brewers' spring training camp."My wife told me: 'You get to have spring training here and be with your kids a little more,'" Grandal said Tuesday, a day after his $18.25 million deal was announced. "I have a 14-month-old right now who's running crazy around the house."Grandal's deal includes a $16 million salary this year and a $16 million mutual option for 2020 with a $2.25 million buyout due Dec. 31. Grandal has until the third day after the World Series to decide on the option, and the Brewers have until the fifth day.He spent the past four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the last two NL pennants but lost in the World Series each time. The Brewers extended the Dodgers to Game 7 of last year's NL Championship Series.Brewers general... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized an $18.25 million, one-year contract.The deal, agreed to last week subject to a successful physical, includes a $16 million salary this year and a $16 million mutual option for 2020 with a $2.25 million buyout due Dec. 31. Grandal has until the third day after the World Series to decide on the option, and the Brewers have until the fifth day."Yasmani has proven that he is one of the most productive catchers in baseball, both offensively and defensively, and he fits our roster very well," Brewers general manager David Stearns said Monday. "Throughout this process, he expressed a consistent and sincere desire to join our organization."Grandal turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers in November. He is eligible for free agency again after this year's World Series and cannot be given a qualifying offer by the Brewers.Milwaukee forfeits its third-highest draft pick this... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized an $18.25 million, one-year contract.The deal, agreed to last week subject to a successful physical, includes a $16 million salary this year and a $16 million option for 2020 with a $2.25 million buyout. Either side may turn down the option."Yasmani has proven that he is one of the most productive catchers in baseball, both offensively and defensively, and he fits our roster very well," Brewers general manager David Stearns said Monday. "Throughout this process, he expressed a consistent and sincere desire to join our organization."Grandal turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers in November. He is eligible for free agency again after this year's World Series and cannot be given a qualifying offer by the Brewers.Milwaukee forfeits its third-highest draft pick this year, which would be about No. 104. Los Angeles gets a compensation pick after competitive balance... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized an $18.25 million, one-year contract.The deal, agreed to last week subject to a successful physical, was announced by the Brewers on Monday."Yasmani has proven that he is one of the most productive catchers in baseball, both offensively and defensively, and he fits our roster very well," Brewers general manager David Stearns said. "Throughout this process, he expressed a consistent and sincere desire to join our organization."Grandal turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers in November. He is eligible for free agency again after this year's World Series and cannot be given a qualifying offer by the Brewers.Milwaukee forfeits its third-highest draft pick this year, which would be about No. 104. Los Angeles gets a compensation pick after competitive balance round B, about No. 79.Now 30, Grandal was an All-Star in his first season with the Dodgers in 2015. He hit .241... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — AL MVP Mookie Betts, NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and major league home run champion Khris Davis reached high-priced one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration, while slugger Nolan Arenado and pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino and Aaron Nola were among 15 players still on track for hearings.Betts and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox agreed to a $20 million, one-year contract on Friday, a $9.5 million raise that topped pitcher Max Scherzer's $8.8 million hike from Detroit in 2014.Betts' standard didn't last the day, broken when deGrom and the New York Mets agreed at $17 million, a $9.6 million increase.Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor, eligible for the first time, got an even bigger raise. His salary went up more than $9.9 million, from $643,200 to $10.55 million.Davis and the Oakland Athletics reached a $16.5 million deal, a $6 million raise after he hit 48 home runs with a career-high 123 RBIs.Arenado asked for a record $30 million in arbitration... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — AL MVP Mookie Betts, NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and major league home run champion Khris Davis reached high-priced one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration, while slugger Nolan Arenado and pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino and Aaron Nola were among 15 players still on track for hearings.Betts and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox agreed to a $20 million, one-year contract on Friday, a record $9.5 million raise for a player in arbitration more than one time that topped pitcher Max Scherzer's $8.8 million hike from Detroit in 2014.Betts' standard didn't last the day, broken when deGrom and the New York Mets agreed at $17 million, a $9.6 million increase.Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor, eligible for the first time, got an even bigger raise. His salary went up more than $9.9 million, from $643,200 to $10.55 million.Davis and the Oakland Athletics reached a $16.5 million deal, a $6 million raise after he hit 48 home runs with a career-high 123 RBIs.Arenado... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a $5,125,000 deal for 2019 with reliever Corey Knebel.The Brewers avoided arbitration with all their remaining players who were eligible, including Knebel, who went 4-3 with a 3.58 ERA and 16 saves last year in an injury-shortened season. He had 39 saves in 2017.Milwaukee also reached one-year deals with third baseman Travis Shaw ($4,675,000) and pitchers Alex Claudio ($1,275,000), Zach Davies ($2.6 million) and Junior Guerra ($2,225,000).The Brewers reached a $1.75 million agreement with catcher Manny Pina — $1.6 million in 2019, plus a $1.85 million club option for 2020 that includes a $150,000 buyout.Shaw hit .241 with 32 home runs and 86 RBIs last year for the NL Central champions.Led by Knebel, Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress, the Brewers led the National League with 42 wins by their relievers and finished second in the league with a 3.47 bullpen ERA. But Knebel dealt with hamstring problems early in the season, and he was sent to the minors in late August for a brief stint to work on his mechanics.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to an $18.25 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the agreement, first reported by The Athletic, was subject to a successful physical.Grandal turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers in November. He would be eligible for free agency again after this year's World SeriesNow 30, Grandal was an All-Star in his first season with the Dodgers in 2015. He hit .241 this year with 24 homers and 68 RBIs as Los Angeles won its second straight NL pennant. He made $7.9 million.Grandal has a .240 big league career average with 113 home runs in seven seasons. He would supplant Manny Pina and Erik Katz, who combined to get the most games behind the plate for Milwaukee last season.He is the second player to reach agreement among the six who turned down qualifying... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that catcher Yasmani Grandal and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to an $18.25 million, one-year contract.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the agreement, first reported by The Athletic, was subject to a successful physical.Grandal turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers in November.Now 30, he was an All-Star in his first season with the Dodgers in 2015. He hit .241 this year with 24 homers and 68 RBIs as Los Angeles won its second straight NL pennant.Grandal would supplant Manny Pina and Erik Katz, who combined to get the most games behind the plate for Milwaukee last season.He is the second player to reach agreement among the six who turned down qualifying offers. Pitcher Patrick Corbin agreed to a $140 million, six-year contract with Washington.Outfielders Bryce Harper and A.J. Pollock remain on the market along with left-hander Dallas Keuchel and closer Craig Kimbrel.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the first time since the Milwaukee Brewers began their incredible late-season surge, their bats went cold enough to lose.The Brewers managed just eight hits over 13 innings in their 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, evening the NL Championship Series at 2 games apiece.With the chance to move to the brink of the World Series, a lineup that was resourceful and powerful throughout the regular season and in the division series couldn't hit a homer or string together any significant rallies.Just two of the Brewers' hits went for extra bases. They went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners.Those struggles made it even more painful when Manny Machado slid home with the winning run on Cody Bellinger's single."There's a bunch of guys we need offense from," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We've got some good contributions from guys at the bottom. But I think a bunch of guys are not really on it right now offensively."The most... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the first time since the Milwaukee Brewers began their incredible late-season surge, their bats went cold enough to lose.The Brewers managed just eight hits over 13 innings in their 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, evening the NL Championship Series at 2 games apiece.With the chance to move to the brink of the World Series, a lineup that was resourceful and powerful throughout the regular season and in the division series couldn't hit a homer or string together any significant rallies.Just two of the Brewers' hits went for extra bases, and the Brewers went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners."There's a bunch of guys we need offense from," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We've got some good contributions from guys at the bottom. But I think a bunch of guys are not really on it right now offensively."Milwaukee hadn't scored fewer than two runs in a game since Pittsburgh blanked the Brewers on Sept. 22. Milwaukee... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Infielder Jonathan Schoop is getting his first start for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is hitting sixth on Tuesday. Schoop replaces Travis Shaw, who started the previous two games.The Brewers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.Brewers catcher Manny Pina is getting his first start since the opener and will hit seventh, replacing veteran Erik Kratz.Catcher Austin Barnes returns to the Dodgers' lineup in place of Yasmani Grandal, who has struggled on offense and defense. Barnes also started Game 2 in Milwaukee.Enrique Hernandez moves to center field and is hitting sixth for Los Angeles after making three consecutive starts at second base. Brian Dozier gets his first start of the series at second base and will hit fifth.Left fielder Chris Taylor is back in the leadoff position for the Dodgers, where he was in Games 1 and 2. Center fielder Joc Pederson hit first in Game 3, his first and so far only start of the series.Gio Gonzalez takes the mound for the Brewers against fellow lefty Rich Hill for the Dodgers.___More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — David Freese is hitting third for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, returning to a city where he enjoyed postseason success in 2011.Freese was the 2011 NLCS MVP after hitting .545 with three homers and nine RBIs for St. Louis in the Cardinals' six-game series victory over the Brewers.The Dodgers acquired Freese this season in August from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .385 in 19 games in the regular season with Los Angeles.The right-handed hitting Freese is in the lineup at first base against Brewers left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez. Lefty slugger Max Muncy, who leads the Dodgers with 35 homers, will come off the bench.Chris Taylor and Justin Turner hit ahead of Freese, who is followed by cleanup hitter Manny Machado, Matt Kemp and Kike Hernandez.Cody Bellinger, the only left-handed hitter in the lineup, is seventh. Switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal hits eight, followed by starter Clayton Kershaw.The Brewers are going... [More]

A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Milwaukee, 8:09 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, at Milwaukee, 4:09 p.m.; Game 3, Monday, Oct. 15, at Los Angeles, 7:39 p.m.; Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Los Angeles, 9:09 p.m.; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Los Angeles, 5:05 p.m.; x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 19, at Milwaukee, 8:39 p.m.; x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 20, at Milwaukee, 9:09 p.m.. (Game 2 Fox, all others FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Dodgers won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Dodgers: LF Joc Pederson (.248, 25 HRs, 56 RBIs) or Matt Kemp (.290, 21, 85, 115 Ks in 146 games), 3B Justin Turner (.312, 14, 52), 1B Max Muncy (.263, 35, 79, .958 OPS), SS Manny Machado (.315, 24, 65, .963 OPS with Orioles; .273, 13, 42, .825 OPS with Dodgers), C Yasmani Grandal (.241, 24, 68), CF-1B Cody Bellinger (.260, 25, 76, 151 Ks in 162 games), RF Yasiel Puig (.267, 23, 63), 2B Enrique Hernandez... [More]