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:___Washington NationalsManager: Dave Martinez (first season).2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Chicago Cubs in NLDS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 16/21.He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, C Jose Lobaton, 1B-LF Adam Lind, RHP Matt Albers.Going campin': It's become an all-too-familiar story for the Nationals and their fans: terrific regular season, followed by quick playoff exit, followed by a managerial change. Martinez will be the latest skipper to try to lead the club to postseason success — and GM Mike Rizzo has made it clear that ownership expects nothing less than a World Series championship. Martinez has been Joe Maddon's right-hand man with the Chicago... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___Chicago CubsManager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Mesa, Arizona.Park: Sloan Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Going campin': Chicago is coming off three consecutive NLCS appearances, and it looked a little tired when its title defense came to an end with a lopsided playoff loss to Los Angeles last year. The bullpen was hit hard by the Dodgers in the NLCS, and the Cubs batted just .168 in 10 postseason games. The roster returns mostly intact, but the bullpen and coaching staff each has a new look. Morrow replaces Davis at closer after agreeing to a $21 million, two-year contract. Jim... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier stood a few feet away, wearing the No. 21 Mets jersey of Cleon Jones, Carlos Delgado and Lucas Duda. New York general manager Sandy Alderson smiled.In a depressed free-agent market, Alderson added the third baseman to New York's offseason haul with a $17 million, two-year contract. For a commitment of just $72 million, the Mets brought in Frazier, outfielder Jay Bruce and reliever Anthony Swarzak while retaining shortstop Jose Reyes."Profligate," Alderson said wryly."I think we've tried to be opportunistic," he went on during a news conference at Citi Field. "Some opportunities arose for us that probably would not have been expected right after the end of the World Series."New York hunted the free-agent market for bargains like savvy shoppers at a season closeout. The ever-chatty Frazier, from Toms River, New Jersey, preferred to stay in the area after an enjoyable stay with the New York Yankees last summer.Peripatetic at calm times, Frazier's was even more... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier and the New York Mets have finalized a $17 million, two-year contract after the third baseman passed his physical.Frazier, who turns 32 next week, gets $8 million this year and $9 million in 2019, and the agreement includes a $500,000 assignment bonus if traded."This is my home. I belong here. I belong in New York," Frazier said during a Citi Field news conference Wednesday.He was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in Toms River, New Jersey, and starred at Rutgers. He hit .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage last year for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, who acquired him on July 19.Frazier hit 35 homers for Cincinnati in 2015 and set career highs with 40 homers and 98 RBIs for the White Sox in 2016."A big personality," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said.Asdrubal Cabrera becomes New York's projected starter at second base.Third baseman David Wright has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past three... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier and the New York Mets have finalized a $17 million, two-year contract after the third baseman passed his physical.Frazier, who turns 32 next week, gets $8 million this year and $9 million in 2019, and the agreement includes a $500,000 assignment bonus if traded. He was to be introduced Wednesday at Citi Field.He was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in Toms River, New Jersey, and starred at Rutgers. He hit .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage last year for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, who acquired him on July 19.Frazier hit 35 homers for Cincinnati in 2015 and set career highs with 40 homers and 98 RBIs for the White Sox in 2016.Asdrubal Cabrera becomes New York's projected starter at second base.Third baseman David Wright, the Mets' captain, has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past three years and none since May 2016 because of injuries and a chronic back condition.Among the most active teams this offseason, the Mets brought back right fielder Jay Bruce with a $39 million, three-year contract, gave free agent reliever Anthony Swarzak a $14 million, two-year deal and retained infielder Jose Reyes with a $2 million agreement.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent third baseman Todd Frazier is switching sides close to home, set to join the New York Mets and take over a spot that's been in flux since David Wright got injured.A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday night that Frazier and the Mets had agreed on a two-year contract for $17 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending a successful physical.Frazier, who was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in nearby Toms River, New Jersey, and later starred at Rutgers, finished up last season with the New York Yankees.The Yankees got him last July in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and Frazier hit a combined .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage. Popular wherever he's been, the spirited Frazier has always drawn cheers from local fans when playing in the New York area."I love playing at home," Frazier said last year after he was traded to the Yankees, his favorite team as... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent third baseman Todd Frazier is switching sides close to home, set to join the New York Mets and take over a spot that's been in flux since David Wright got injured.A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday night that Frazier and the Mets had agreed on a two-year contract for $17 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending a physical.Frazier, who was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in nearby Toms River, New Jersey, and later starred at Rutgers, finished up last season with the New York Yankees.The Yankees got him last July in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and Frazier hit a combined .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage. Popular wherever he's been, the spirited Frazier has always drawn cheers from local fans when playing in the New York area."I love playing at home," Frazier said last year after he was traded to the Yankees, his favorite team as a kid.Frazier... [More]

RHP Anthony Swarzak agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract, multiple outlets reported. Swarzak bolstered Milwaukee's bullpen down the stretch last season and finished with a 6-4 mark with two saves, a 2.33 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 70 relief appearances with the Chicago White Sox and Brewers. Swarzak spent the first five seasons of his major league career with the Minnesota Twins before pitching with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. He owns a 23-30 career mark with a 4.22 ERA in 287 appearances.

RHP Anthony Swarzak walked three batters in two scoreless innings Thursday after walking only four in 26 1/3 frames since joining the Brewers on Aug. 1. Swarzak has stabilized Milwaukee's bullpen since his arrival, going 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in 28 appearances.

RHP Anthony Swarzak pitched two perfect innings of relief. He's now pitched 7 1/3 innings in September without giving up a run and has allowed just two hits and no walks.

RHP Anthony Swarzak returned to the mound Wednesday and earned his first victory as a Brewer despite allowing a run on two hits in an inning of work. Swarzak had missed Milwaukee's last four games because of stiffness in his neck. He was acquired from the White Sox just ahead of the trade deadline and has made eight appearances for Milwaukee, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings of work with 11 strikeouts.

RHP Anthony Swarzak sat out a fourth consecutive game Tuesday as he recovers from a bout of neck stiffness but is feeling better and available if needed, manager Craig Counsell said. Swarzak has a 1.42 ERA in seven appearances since he was acquired at the deadline from the Chicago White Sox.

RHP Anthony Swarzak has been battling a stiff neck all weekend and was unavailable Sunday afternoon against Cincinnati, manager Craig Counsell said. With an off-day scheduled for Monday, Counsell said he was optimistic that Swarzak would be back and at full strength when the Brewers open a two-game set with the Pirates on Tuesday night. Acquired ahead of the deadline from the Chicago White Sox, Swarzak has made seven appearances for Milwaukee, allowing just one run in 6 1/3 innings.

RHP Anthony Swarzek made his second appearance in as many nights and pitched a scoreless eighth inning on Saturday. He was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. He made his Brewers debut Friday night, allowing a home run to the Cubs' Javier Baez in Milwaukee's 2-1 victory. It has become clear that Swarzek will be the Brewers' eighth-inning man, with Jacob Barnes moving to seventh-inning duty.

RHP Anthony Swarzak allowed a solo home run to Javier Baez in his Brewers debut Friday night. Milwaukee acquired the veteran reliever earlier in the week from the Chicago White Sox. Swarzak was 4-3 with a 2.23 ERA in 41 appearances for the Sox this season.

RHP Anthony Swarzak was activated Thursday. Swarzak (4-3, 2.23 ERA in 41 relief appearances) was acquired from the Chicao White Sox on Wednesday.

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league outfielder Ryan Cordell, the teams announced Wednesday.Swarzak, 31, was 4-3 with a 2.23 ERA, one save and 10 holds over 48 1/3 innings in 41 appearances for the White Sox this season. He held opponents to a .216 batting average and posted a 0.56 ERA over his last 14 outings.Swarzak owns a career record of 21-29 with a 4.31 ERA and one save in 258 appearances, including 32 starts, for Minnesota (2009, 2011-14), Cleveland (2015), the New York Yankees (2016) and White Sox. (2017). He was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round of the 2004 draft.Cordell, 25, batted .284 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 68 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs this season. He has been on the seven-day disabled list since June 30 (retroactive to June 27) with a strained back.Cordell has a career .276 average with 65 homers and 272 RBIs in 452 games over five minor league seasons between the Texas and Milwaukee systems. He was acquired by the Brewers on last Sept. 5 to complete a five-player trade.

The Milwaukee Brewers made a trade to bolster their bullpen on Tuesday, acquiring right-hander Anthony Swarzak from the Chicago White Sox for outfielder/third baseman Ryan Cordell, multiple media outlets reported. The Brewers lead a tight National League Central race and were looking for relief during the final two months of the season.Swarzak, 31, has a 4-3 record with a 2.23 ERA, 13 walks and 52 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings spanning 41 games this season for Chicago. The veteran is scheduled to become a free agent in November.The White Sox envision using Swarzak in a setup role to get to closer Corey Knebel. Two of their current setup options, Carlos Torres and Oliver Drake, have ERAs of 4.65 and 5.31, respectively.Cordell, 25, is hitting .284 with a .349 on-base percentage, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs for Triple-A Colorado Springs this year. He has been on the disabled list since late June due to a back injury.

RHP Anthony Swarzak was acquired by the Brewers from the White Sox on Tuesday for OF/3B Ryan Cordell, multiple media outlets reported.Swarzak, 31, has a 4-3 record with a 2.23 ERA, 13 walks and 52 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings spanning 41 games this season for Chicago. The veteran is scheduled to become a free agent in November.The White Sox envision using Swarzak in a setup role to get to closer Corey Knebel. Two of their current setup options, Carlos Torres and Oliver Drake, have ERAs of 4.65 and 5.31, respectively.

RHP Anthony Swarzak struck out three in 1 2/3 innings of one-hit ball. He has held opponents scoreless over his past six appearances covering 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine.