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 National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [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]

On the day the Kansas City Royals welcomed back Mike Moustakas, they found out Jorge Bonifacio will miss half the season.Bonifacio was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.The outfielder was banned after a positive test for Boldenone. The ban will begin on opening day."It really kind of made me sick to my stomach," Royals manager Ned Yost said.The 24-year-old Bonifacio made his major league debut last season, hitting .255 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs in 113 games.Bonifacio's suspension cleared a roster spot for Moustakas, who re-signed with the Royals this week after becoming a free agent last fall.Moustakas set a Royals record with 38 home runs last season, then rejected a $17.4 million offer from the team. But the third baseman never received the multiyear, mega-million dollar contract he and his agent Scott Boras anticipated.The Royals signed Moustakas to a one-year $6.5 million contract with a mutual option... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Gift Ngoepe had quite the busy offseason.After becoming the first African-born player to reach the major leagues last season, Ngoepe was traded from Pittsburgh to Toronto and spent almost three months back home in South Africa promoting the sport."Just trying to make the sport a little bigger, make more people interested and playing so we have a bigger population for baseball," Ngoepe told The Associated Press on Friday. "Hopefully me making it to the big leagues and everybody knowing that there is baseball in South Africa, there will be more interest and more younger children coming to play baseball."Ngoepe had many media requests so he did plenty of talking about baseball in interviews. He also was involved in youth programs."I enjoyed my time and I enjoyed playing with kids, especially down in the development areas where gangster life is the life over there," Ngoepe said. "So we tried to change their mindset and be like you know what, this is not the right way and... [More]

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will have to wait even longer before playing this season.Gurriel had surgery on his left hand Wednesday and the normal recovery time is six weeks.Opening day for the World Series champions is March 29, when the Astros visit Texas. When Gurriel returns, he will serve a five-game suspension imposed by Major League Baseball for making an inappropriate gesture toward Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish during the World Series.Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Gurriel's hand was broken before he came to camp. Luhnow said he did not know the original cause of the fracture."It was non-symptomatic until recently and he started to feel something," Luhnow said. "Once you start feeling something, the right course of action is to just remove it because it's a pretty reliable surgery, and we know what the outcome is going to be."The 33-year-old Gurriel hit .299 with 18 homers and 75 RBIs last year in his first full season in the majors. He played in one exhibition... [More]

Spring training got off to a solemn start as MLB teams wore hats to honor Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were fatally shot nine days ago.Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald and his two sons were guests of the Houston Astros for their spring opener against the Washington Nationals. Members of the school's baseball and softball teams were guests of the Marlins and mingled on the field with players, coaches and CEO Derek Jeter.Teams had the option of wearing he caps, which are black with "SD" in block letters, during the games or only during warmups. Both the Astros and Nationals wore them during Friday's games.MLB ordered more than 2,500 of the caps from New Era, league spokesman Steven Arrocho said. Many teams will have players sign them, and they will be auctioned to benefit the victims and families affected by the shooting.Fitz-Gerald said it was a "relief" to get back to the sport he loves and to stop thinking, at least for a moment,... [More]

Spring training got off to a solemn start as MLB teams wore hats to honor Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were fatally shot nine days ago.Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald and his two sons were guests of the Houston Astros for their spring opener against the Washington Nationals. Members of the school's baseball and softball teams were guests of the Marlins and mingled on the field with players, coaches and CEO Derek Jeter.Teams had the option of wearing he caps, which are black with "SD" in block letters, during the games or only during warmups. Both the Astros and Nationals wore them during Friday's games.MLB ordered more than 2,500 of the caps from New Era, league spokesman Steven Arrocho said. Many teams will have players sign them, and they will be auctioned to benefit the victims and families affected by the shooting.Fitz-Gerald said it was a "relief" to get back to the sport he loves and to stop thinking, at least for a moment,... [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]

A team-by-team look at the National League West 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:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (third season).2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Brandon McCarthy, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, 2B Chase Utley, OF Andre Ethier.Going campin': The Dodgers returned to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1988, only to lose to Houston in seven games. They topped 100 wins while earning a fifth straight NL West title. Clayton Kershaw is one of the elite pitchers in the game, a seven-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He begins the season with 144 career victories, 21 shy of Sandy... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Outfielder Curtis Granderson and the Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a $5 million, one-year contract.The three-time All-Star wore a Blue Jays T-shirt in a video posted to his Twitter timeline Tuesday and wrote he was "thrilled" to announce he'll be playing north of the border this season.He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $125,000 for 450, $250,000 apiece for 500 and 550, $375,000 for 600 and $500,000 for 650.Granderson agreed to the deal about a week ago, subject to a successful physical.The 36-year-old is Toronto's second outfield acquisition in five days. Randal Grichuk was acquired in a trade from St. Louis on Friday.Toronto also has outfielders Ezequiel Carrera, Steve Pearce and Kevin Pillar.Grandson split last season between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .212 with 26 home runs in 527 plate appearances.A 14-year veteran who has also played for Detroit and the New York Yankees, Granderson is a career .252 hitter with 319 home runs and 865 RBIs.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TORONTO (AP) — Outfielder Curtis Granderson and the Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a $5 million, one-year contract.The three-time All-Star wore a Blue Jays T-shirt in a video posted to his Twitter timeline Tuesday and wrote he was "thrilled" to announce he'll be playing north of the border this season.He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $125,000 for 450, $250,000 apiece for 500 and 550, $375,000 for 600 and $500,000 for 650.Granderson agreed to the deal about a week ago, subject to a successful physical.The 36-year-old is Toronto's second outfield acquisition in five days. Randal Grichuk was acquired in a trade from St. Louis on Friday.Toronto also has outfielders Ezequiel Carrera, Steve Pearce and Kevin Pillar.Grandson split last season between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .212 with 26 home runs in 527 plate appearances.A 14-year veteran who has also played for Detroit and the New York Yankees, Granderson is a career .252 hitter with 319 home runs and 865 RBIs.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TORONTO (AP) — Outfielder Curtis Granderson has signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.The three-time All-Star wore a Blue Jays T-shirt in a video posted to his Twitter timeline and wrote he was "thrilled" to announce he'll be playing north of the border this season.Grandson's arrival was reported a week ago but did not become official until the team announced the move Tuesday.The 36-year-old Granderson is Toronto's second outfield acquisition in the past few days. The Blue Jays got Randal Grichuk in a trade with St. Louis on Friday.Toronto also has outfielders Ezequiel Carrera, Steve Pearce and Kevin Pillar.Grandson split last season between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .212 with 26 home runs.A 14-year veteran who has also played for Detroit and the New York Yankees, Granderson is a career .252 hitter with 319 home runs and 865 RBIs.

OF Curtis Granderson was dropped from the World Series roster. Granderson was 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts in the first two rounds. He batted .161 (18-for-112) with seven homers and 12 RBIs during the regular season after being acquired from the New York Mets in August.

OF Curtis Granderson had a pinch-hit double Tuesday. Since being acquired from the Mets, Grandson has hit six home runs but is hitting just .145.

OF Curtis Granderson, no stranger to the Nationals, made his first start in Washington with the Dodgers on Saturday. The former Mets outfielder was 1-for-3 with a walk and made a diving catch in foul territory down the left field line to end the game.

LF Curtis Granderson was 1-for-3 with a walk. In the fourth, he hit a towering homer down the right-field line that cleared the stands and bounced into the Allegheny River. That gave Granderson nine homers in August and three in six games since joining the Dodgers.

OF Curtis Granderson, in his second game with the Dodgers since his trade from the Mets, hit a seventh inning grand slam that gave his new club a 5-3 lead. "Grandy, that's what he does," Roberts said. "He puts together good at-bats, gets big hits. We've seen that from the other side from him."

LF Curtis Granderson is paying immediate dividends for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Granderson hit a home run in the sixth inning Sunday, the first hit of the game by either team. It was a good pitch, RHP Justin Verlander said, a down-and-in slider his ex-teammate hit off the foul pole in right. "I yelled at him," Verlander said. "He knows it was all in jest."