OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Slick-fielding third baseman Matt Chapman reached agreement Friday on a $6.49 million, one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics to avoid arbitration, and the club also secured deals with its five other arbitration-eligible players. Chapman earned a hefty raise after making $230,926 in prorated pay of his $623,500 salary in the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season. The two-time Gold Glove winner's year was cut short by a season-ending hip injury in September — a big blow for Oakland. He was limited to 37 games before undergoing surgery on his right hip. The 27-year-old Chapman had 10 homers and 25 RBIs batting .232 before the injury. Right-hander Chris Bassitt reached agreement on a $4.9 million contract, left-hander Sean Manaea will earn $5.95 million, outfielder Mark Canha $6,925,000, right-hander Frankie Montas $1.8 million and Lou Trivino $912,500. Bassitt emerged as Oakland’s ace as the Athletics won the AL West and their wild-card playoff round before losing... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Slugging first baseman Matt Olson reached agreement Wednesday on a $5 million guaranteed contract for the 2021 season, avoiding salary arbitration. The deal includes award bonuses. Olson, 26, batted .195 with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs playing all 60 games for the AL West champion A's in 2020. Olson was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He earned $223,519 in prorated pay last season from a $603,500 salary. Second baseman Tony Kemp to a $1.05 million, one-year deal after being acquired by the A's from the Cubs before last season and committing only one error in 43 games at second. He walked 15 times to notch a career-best .363 on-base percentage, batting .247 with five doubles and four RBIs in 49 total games. Oakland won the wild-card round against the Chicago White Sox before losing to the rival Astros in the AL Division Series. The A's tendered contracts to the remaining unsigned players on the 40-man roster. They have six remaining arbitration-eligible players: right-handed starters Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas, outfielder Mark Canha, third baseman Matt Chapman, left-hander Sean Manaea and righty reliever Lou Trivino. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Slugging first baseman Matt Olson reached agreement Wednesday on a $5 million guaranteed contract for the 2021 season, avoiding salary arbitration. The deal includes award bonuses. Olson, 26, batted .195 with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs playing all 60 games for the AL West champion A's in 2020. Olson was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He earned $223,519 in prorated pay last season from a $603,500 salary. Second baseman Tony Kemp also agreed to terms for next season after being acquired by the A's from the Cubs before last season and committing only one error in 43 games at second. He walked 15 times to notch a career-best .363 on-base percentage, batting .247 with five doubles and four RBIs in 49 total games. Oakland won the wild-card round against the Chicago White Sox before losing to the rival Astros in the AL Division Series. The A's tendered contracts to the remaining unsigned players on the 40-man roster. They have six remaining arbitration-eligible players: right-handed starters Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas, outfielder Mark Canha, third baseman Matt Chapman, left-hander Sean Manaea and righty reliever Lou Trivino. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

American LeagueP — Griffin Canning, Los Angeles C — Roberto Perez, Cleveland 1B — Evan White, Seattle 2B — Cesar Hernandez, Cleveland 3B — Matt Chapman, Oakland SS — J.P. Crawford, Seattle LF — Alex Gordon, Kansas City CF — Luis Robert, Chicago RF — Joey Gallo, Texas National LeagueP — Max Freid, Atlanta C — Tucker Barnhart, Cincinnati 1B — Anthony Rizzo, Chicago 2B — Kolten Wong, St. Louis 3B — Nolan Arenado, Colorado SS — Javier Baez, Chicago LF — Tyler O'Neill, St. Louis CF — Trent Grisham, San Diego RF — Mookie Betts, Los Angeles

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics took the next step in the playoffs at last but still fell short of their ultimate goal. They won the AL West to reach a postseason series following two straight years of losing in the one-game wild card round. Oakland lost the opener of its best-of-three wild-card round this year to the White Sox before rallying to win the next two against Chicago. The A’s season then ended Thursday with a four-game Division Series loss to the rival Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. “Our goal was to win the World Series. You lose in the ALDS, it’s not exactly where you want to be,” shortstop Marcus Semien said. “We knew that we had the pieces to go further and our goal was always the World Series.” Oakland got outslugged. Outpitched, too. In 11 postseason trips since 2000, Oakland has advanced to the AL Championship Series just once — in 2006 before being swept by the Tigers. “Our reflection is our goals were lofty and we felt short of them," manager Bob Melvin... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-five playoff series between the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics in Los Angeles beginning Monday: ___ Season Series: Athletics won 7-3. ___ HOUSTON ASTROS Record: 29-31. Playoff Entry: second place, AL West. Playoff Seed: No. 6. Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). Projected Rotation: RHP Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA, 67 Ks), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (3-3, 3.93, 56 Ks), RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73, 17 Ks), LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.57, 76 Ks), RHP Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48, 54 Ks.). Top Hitters: DH Michael Brantley (.300, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs, 15 doubles), CF George Springer (.265, 14, 32), LF Kyle Tucker (.268, 9, 42). Top Relievers: RHP Ryan Pressly (1-3, 3.43 ERA, 12 saves), LHP Brooks Raley (0-1, 3.94, 1 save). Series Summary: Last year’s American League champions limped into the playoffs as the only AL team to make it with a losing record after dropping three straight and four of their last five. But then they swept two games at AL Central champion Minnesota... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Marcus Semien and the Oakland Athletics are finally getting a full playoff series. After consecutive losses in the wild-card game, the AL West champions hope a longer series boosts their chances for a deep postseason run. "It’s a little different than last year for us and also in ’18 where it’s just one game and you want to be so perfect and win that game,” Semien said. “It’s a three-game series, we’re at home and play good baseball.” Oakland gets its shot against the Chicago White Sox in the best-of-three wild-card round having advanced just once during 11 previous playoff trips since 2000, when they reached the 2006 AL Championship Series before being swept by Detroit. Both clubs navigated a challenging 60-game regular season, bolstered often by their top sluggers. The A's finished 36-24, Chicago at 35-25. Oakland will send 22-year-old lefty Jesús Luzardo out to start Game 1 on Tuesday. “To be able to do it at a young age is a blessing,” said Luzardo, whose season... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:___PLAYOFF PURSUITSecond place in the AL East is up for grabs when Toronto opens a critical three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Cavan Biggio and the Blue Jays are a half-game ahead of New York — the top two teams in each division qualify for the postseason this year without needing a wild card. Prized rookie Deivi García (1-1, 3.06 ERA) pitches for the Yankees, who have won five straight following a 5-16 slide. Taijuan Walker (3-2, 2.95) goes for Toronto. Both clubs are chasing Tampa Bay. New York expects to get third baseman Gio Urshela and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga back from the injured list. Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman also could hear back on his appeal of a three-game suspension.WILD WESTThe surging San Diego Padres go for their ninth straight victory and try to close within a half-game of the West-leading Dodgers when the NL's top two teams square off again at Petco Park. Trent Grisham added some spice to the rivalry when... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Tuesday:___PLAYOFF PURSUITSecond place in the AL East is up for grabs when Toronto opens a critical three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Cavan Biggio and the Blue Jays are a half-game ahead of New York — the top two teams in each division qualify for the postseason this year without needing a wild card. Prized rookie Deivi García (1-1, 3.06 ERA) pitches for the Yankees, who have won five straight following a 5-16 slide. Taijuan Walker (3-2, 2.95) goes for Toronto. Both clubs are chasing Tampa Bay. New York expects to get third baseman Gio Urshela and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga back from the injured list. Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman also could hear back on his appeal of a three-game suspension.WILD WESTThe surging San Diego Padres go for their ninth straight victory and try to close within a half-game of the West-leading Dodgers when the NL's top two teams square off again at Petco Park. Trent Grisham added some spice to the rivalry when... [More]

A look at what’s happening around the majors Tuesday:___PLAYOFF PURSUITSecond place in the AL East is up for grabs when Toronto opens a critical three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Cavan Biggio and the Blue Jays are a half-game ahead of New York — the top two teams in each division qualify for the postseason this year without needing a wild card. Prized rookie Deivi García (1-1, 3.06 ERA) pitches for the Yankees, who have won five straight following a 5-16 slide. Taijuan Walker (3-2, 2.95) goes for Toronto. Both clubs are chasing Tampa Bay. New York expects to get third baseman Gio Urshela and right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga back from the injured list. Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman also could hear back on his appeal of a three-game suspension.TOUGH ASSIGNMENTClinging to an American League wild-card spot, the Cleveland Indians attempt to stop a six-game losing streak when they face Yu Darvish (7-2, 1.77 ERA) and the first-place Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. On the mound for the Indians... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics signed former All-Star infielder Jake Lamb on Monday after he was designated for assignment last week by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The move with Lamb made sense after Oakland lost Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman last week. Chapman suffered a strained right hip and is expected to undergo surgery. The 29-year-old Lamb looked like a future star at third base just a few years ago. He hit 29 homers in 2016 and then made the NL All-Star team in 2017 while setting career-highs with 30 homers and 105 RBIs. Since then, he’s battled injuries and inconsistency and hit just 12 homers over the past three seasons.He didn’t get much playing time for the Diamondbacks this season and had just five hits in 43 at-bats for a .116 average. He had a prorated salary of $2,042,593. After Lamb was released last week, Arizona GM Mike Hazen said he still believes in Lamb as a player but he needed at-bats that the Diamondbacks couldn’t provide.The A’s cleared a spot on the 40-man roster by moving left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk to the 45-day injured list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:___STILL ONThe Giants and Padres are scheduled to play the finale of a three-game series even after the first two games were postponed when a member of San Francisco's organization tested positive for the coronavirus. Games set for Friday and Saturday night were called off to allow time for more testing and contact tracing. Major League Baseball has made no announcement about Sunday's game, although so far this season, no team has resumed its season so swiftly following a positive test.BYE BYE BIRDIES?The Yankees can stretch their lead over the Orioles to 5 1/2 games for the AL's eighth and final postseason spot by completing a four-game sweep of Baltimore in the Bronx. New York swept a doubleheader Friday and beat the Orioles in extra innings Saturday, ending a slump when the Yankees lost 15 of 21 games to fall behind Tampa Bay and Toronto in the AL East. Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ (1-2, 4.31) faces 2019 All-Star John Means (1-3, 6.58).NOT... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:___STILL ONThe Giants and Padres are scheduled to play the finale of a three-game series even after the first two games were postponed when a member of San Francisco's organization tested positive for the coronavirus. Games set for Friday and Saturday night were called off to allow time for more testing and contact tracing. Major League Baseball has made no announcement about Sunday's game, although so far this season, no team has resumed its season so swiftly following a positive test.BYE BYE BIRDIES?The Yankees can stretch their lead over the Orioles to 5 1/2 games for the AL's eighth and final postseason spot by completing a four-game sweep of Baltimore in the Bronx. New York swept a doubleheader Friday and beat the Orioles in extra innings Saturday, ending a slump when the Yankees lost 15 of 21 games to fall behind Tampa Bay and Toronto in the AL East. Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ (1-2, 4.31) faces 2019 All-Star John Means (1-3, 6.58).NOT... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oakland All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a strained right hip. Chapman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, two days before he is scheduled to undergo surgery in Vail, Colorado. The A's made the announcement before their doubleheader at Texas. Oakland went into the day at 28-15, its .651 winning percentage the best in the American League. Chapman hasn't played since leaving hurt in the fifth inning of Oakland's game last Sunday against San Diego. He was a first-time All-Star last season, when he won a Gold Glove for the second year in a row. “Plays about as hard as anybody in the game. Unfortunately, he won’t be with us,” manager Bob Melvin said. “This one stings some, but we have to rally around it, and play with his spirit. We know he’s pulling hard for us. You just have to get through it.”In 37 games overall this season, Chapman hit .232 with 10 home runs with 25 RBIs. He hit only .120 (3 for 25) with 17 strikeouts and one walk his last eight games.Oakland recalled outfielder Seth Brown from its alternate site to take Chapman's spot on the roster. Brown joined the A's for the third time this season, and was 0 for 4 over four games in his first two stints. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oakland All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a strained right hip. Chapman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, two days before he scheduled to undergo surgery in Vail, Colorado. The A's made the announcement before their doubleheader at Texas. Oakland went into the day at 28-15, its .651 winning percentage the best in the American League. Chapman hasn't played since leaving hurt in the fifth inning of Oakland's game last Sunday against San Diego. He was a first-time All-Star last season, when he a Gold Glove for the second year in a row. In 37 games overall this season, Chapman hit .232 with 10 home runs with 25 RBIs. He hit only .120 (3 for 25) with 17 strikeouts and one walk his last eight games.Oakland recalled outfielder Seth Brown from its alternate site to take Chapman's spot on the roster. Brown joined the A's for the third time this season, and was 0 for 4 over four games in his first two stints. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Athletics first. Tommy La Stella doubles to left field. Ramon Laureano grounds out to shortstop, Manny Machado to Mitch Moreland. Mark Canha lines out to right field to Wil Myers. Matt Olson singles to deep right field. Tommy La Stella scores. Matt Chapman strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 1, Padres 0.Padres third. Jurickson Profar lines out to deep left center field to Robbie Grossman. Trent Grisham singles to shallow infield. Fernando Tatis Jr. singles to left center field. Trent Grisham to third. Eric Hosmer singles to right field. Fernando Tatis Jr. to third. Trent Grisham scores. Manny Machado out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Robbie Grossman. Fernando Tatis Jr. scores. Mitch Moreland strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 2, Athletics 1.Athletics third. Tommy La Stella singles to center field. Ramon Laureano lines out to deep right field to Wil Myers. Mark Canha hit by pitch. Tommy La Stella to second. Matt Olson... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:HOT HARPERBryce Harper could be cooled off, a day after he was ejected during Philadelphia’s game against the Mets at Citi Field. The slumping slugger went wild, arguing with first base umpire Roberto Ortiz over a fair-foul call.Phillies second baseman Neil Walker tried to restrain Harper, who then got in Ortiz’s face and began yelling at the 35-year-old ump -- an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s safety protocols during this pandemic-shortened season. Walker and first base coach Paco Figueroa tried to hold Harper back, and manager Joe Girardi also came out to help usher the star off the field.Harper might have been frustrated by a miscue an inning earlier. He didn’t call for a popup that became a sacrifice fly when Walker caught the ball in shallow right.Harper is just 7 for 47 (.149) in his last 15 games, dropping his batting average from .367 down to .271.TROUT’S TREYAngels star Mike Trout became the team’s career home run... [More]

Athletics first. Ramon Laureano called out on strikes. Tommy La Stella singles to left center field. Matt Chapman strikes out swinging. Mark Canha walks. Tommy La Stella to second. Matt Olson triples to deep right field. Mark Canha scores. Tommy La Stella scores. Robbie Grossman grounds out to shallow infield, Fernando Tatis Jr. to Eric Hosmer.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Athletics 2, Padres 0.Athletics second. Stephen Piscotty singles to center field. Vimael Machin lines out to deep center field to Trent Grisham. Jonah Heim singles to shallow right field, advances to 2nd. Stephen Piscotty scores. Fielding error by Wil Myers. Ramon Laureano grounds out to shallow right field, Eric Hosmer to Chris Paddack. Jonah Heim to third. Tommy La Stella doubles to deep right field. Jonah Heim scores. Matt Chapman strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Athletics 4, Padres 0.Padres third. Jurickson Profar singles to center field. Trent Grisham singles to shallow infield. Jurickson... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Muncy drove in four runs close to home for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who can still avoid their first series loss of the season after a 7-4 win Saturday night over the Texas Rangers and potential trade target Lance Lynn.Cody Bellinger’s long two-run homer in the third put Los Angeles up 3-0. Muncy, who played high school baseball about 25 miles from the new Rangers ballpark, made it 4-2 with a deep sacrifice fly in the fifth off Lynn (4-1). The slugger then belted a three-run homer in the seventh.Blake Treinen (3-1) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Kenley Jansen got three outs for his ninth save. The trade deadline in MLB’s shortened season is Monday, and Lynn could be a target for contending teams — though it could take a hefty offer to acquire the workhorse veteran who is signed through next season.Lynn is still second in the American League with a 1.97 ERA after giving up three earned runs in six innings.YANKEES 2, METS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Clint Frazier... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Muncy drove in four runs close to home for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who can still avoid their first series loss of the season after a 7-4 win Saturday night over the Texas Rangers and potential trade target Lance Lynn.Cody Bellinger’s long two-run homer in the third put Los Angeles up 3-0. Muncy, who played high school baseball about 25 miles from the new Rangers ballpark, made it 4-2 with a deep sacrifice fly in the fifth off Lynn (4-1). The slugger then belted a three-run homer in the seventh.Blake Treinen (3-1) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Kenley Jansen got three outs for his ninth save. The trade deadline in MLB’s shortened season is Monday, and Lynn could be a target for contending teams — though it could take a hefty offer to acquire the workhorse veteran who is signed through next season.Lynn is still second in the American League with a 1.97 ERA after giving up three earned runs in six innings.YANKEES 2, METS 1NEW YORK (AP) — Clint Frazier... [More]