MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rafael Devers homered for the fourth straight game and the streaking Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on a snowy Tuesday in a series opener moved back following the fatal police shooting of a Black man in a nearby suburb. Hunter Renfroe hit a solo homer and Bobby Dalbec added a pair of RBI doubles as Boston won its seventh in a row after losing its first three games of the season. Monday’s game was postponed due to safety and sensitivity concerns in the Twin Cities after the police shooting a day earlier of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. The Twins held a moment of silence for Wright prior to Tuesday’s game. Snow flurries fell for most of the game and it was 33 degrees for the first pitch. That made for the third-coldest start at Target Field, the record being 27 degrees on April 7, 2018. Adam Ottavino (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Matt Barnes pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season. Randy Dobnak (0-2) took the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor was alone in a Washington, D.C., hotel room Wednesday night when he got the call from agent David Meter: the New York Mets had offered $341 million — $1 million more than Fernando Tatis Jr. got in February. The biggest payday ever for a shortstop. “I wanted to yell," Lindor said Thursday. “I wanted to scream as loud as I could.” Lindor kept his cool — mostly — and told Meter to get it done. The sides agreed to a $341 million, 10-year pact on the eve of opening day, terms that could keep the four-time All-Star in Queens for the rest of his career. The deal kicks in for the 2022 season, meaning Lindor will be 38 when the contract expires. “To the fans of New York, here we go baby!" Lindor said. “Here we go. We have 11 years together. I can't wait.” The Mets acquired Lindor this offseason from the Cleveland Indians, who were unable to negotiate a long-term contract with the face of their franchise. New York nabbed him knowing he could walk as a free agent after... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor was alone in a Washington, D.C., hotel room Wednesday night when he got the call from agent David Meter: the New York Mets had offered $341 million — $1 million more than Fernando Tatis Jr. got in February. The biggest payday ever for a shortstop. “I wanted to yell," Lindor said Thursday. “I wanted to scream as loud as I could.” Lindor kept his cool — mostly — and told Meter to get it done. The sides agreed to a $341 million, 10-year pact on the eve of opening day, terms that could keep the four-time All-Star in Queens for the rest of his career. The deal kicks in for the 2022 season, meaning Lindor will be 38 when the contract expires. “To the fans of New York, here we go baby!" Lindor said. “Here we go. We have 11 years together. I can't wait.” The Mets acquired Lindor this offseason from the Cleveland Indians, who were unable to negotiate a long-term contract with the face of their franchise. New York nabbed him knowing he could walk as a free agent after... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets have agreed to a $341 million, 10-year deal, keeping the All-Star shortstop in Queens for the long haul after acquiring him from Cleveland in the offseason, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced. Lindor was eligible for free agency after this season and said this spring he wouldn't negotiate with the Mets on a long-term contract after opening day. Less than 24 hours before New York starts its season Thursday night in Washington, an agreement was reached. The 27-year-old Lindor has two Gold Gloves and made four All-Star teams in six seasons with the Indians, hitting .285 with an average of 29 homers, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases per 162 games. He was the prized pickup in new owner Steve Cohen's first offseason, acquired from Cleveland along with right-hander Carlos Carrasco for infielders Amed Rosario,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets have agreed to a $341 million, 10-year deal, keeping the All-Star shortstop in Queens for the long haul after acquiring him from Cleveland in the offseason, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced. Lindor was eligible for free agency after this season and said this spring he wouldn't negotiate with the Mets on a long-term deal after opening day. Less than 24 hours before New York starts its season Thursday night in Washington, an agreement was reached. The 27-year-old Lindor has two Gold Gloves and made four All-Star teams in six seasons with the Indians, hitting .285 with an average of 29 homers, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases per 162 games. He was the prized pickup in new owner Steve Cohen's first offseason, acquired from Cleveland along with right-hander Carlos Carrasco for infielders Amed Rosario,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Óscar Mercado won't start the season in Cleveland's outfield — or even with the Indians. Struggling in exhibition play, Mercado was optioned to the team's depth camp on Sunday, continuing his slide after a promising rookie season. Mercado entered spring training as the favorite to win the starting job in center field, but the 26-year-old has continued to have problems at the plate and the Indians want him to get some extra work with Triple-A Columbus. “He needs some time and, when I say space I mean not major league games hanging over his head, to get him back to where he can help us,” manager Terry Francona said Sunday on a Zoom call from Goodyear Arizona. "We’ve seen it. He’s seen it. He’s felt it. “Nobody’s giving up on him, and we wanted to make sure he understood that.” Mercado’s batting averaged plummeted to .128 in 36 games last season. He hit .269 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs in 115 games as a rookie in 2019. Mercado was hitting .214 with one RBI in 10 spring games... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Carrasco’s experience being treated for leukemia taught him to put baseball injuries in perspective. That’s why the New York Mets pitcher is taking in stride a hamstring injury that will cause him to start the season on the injured list. “When somebody told you you had cancer, that’s completely different,” Carrasco said Saturday. “With the elbow a couple weeks ago, now this, like I said before, this is nothing for me, I can walk away from this.” He injured his right hamstring during conditioning that followed him throwing batting practice Thursday. There was no indication anything was wrong until he felt a pop. “I didn’t feel tightness, nothing like that,” he said. Carrasco said the injury occurred on his seventh sprint. TheMets newcomer said the team didn’t give him a timetable for a return; injuries like this often take six to eight weeks to recover from. A right-hander who turns 34 on Sunday, Carrasco has has not appeared any any exhibition games this... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Daniel Johnson had a better spring training than any of Cleveland's outfielders, and all it did was get him sent to to the minor leagues. Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Friday as the Indians moved closer to finalizing their opening-day roster with a move that was tough on several fronts. With the Indians looking to fill spots in right and center field, the 25-year-old Johnson performed as well as any of the outfielders competing by batting .368 (7 for 19) with two homers and four RBIs in nine Cactus League games. Unlike some of the other outfielders in camp, however, Johnson still has options and because he didn't have a full minor league season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indians want him to get some extra work at all three outfield spots. “He had a really good camp,” manager Terry Francona said. "And he was very disappointed and we knew that was going to be the case. With the way spring training is right now and has been, and the amount of... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco strained his right hamstring during conditioning after throwing one inning of batting practice Thursday and seems certain to miss the start of the season. New York was waiting for an MRI for an indication on how long Carrasco will be sidelined. “He was running sprints and he felt a pull,” said Mets manager Luis Rojas, who said he spoke with Carrasco while the pitcher was face down on a bed in the trainer's room. A right-hander who turns 34 on Sunday, Carrasco has has not appeared any any exhibition games this year. New York opens April 1 at Washington. Carrasco had been projected to be part of the rotation with two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker and David Peterson. Rojas said left-hander Joey Lucchesi and Jordan Yamamoto are candidates for fifth starter along with a trio of non-roster pitchers: Jerad Eickhoff, Corey Oswalt and left-hander Mike Montgomery. “We have pretty good depth,” Rojas... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco strained his right hamstring during conditioning after throwing batting practice Thursday and seems certain to miss the start of the season. Carrasco, a right-hander, who turns 34 on Sunday, has has not appeared any any exhibition games this year. He is in remission from leukemia and had the coronavirus vaccine, causing him to start spring training workouts behind other players. He then stopped throwing for a stretch because of elbow soreness. Carrasco was traded by Cleveland with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor on Jan. 7 for young infielders Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario, and two minor league prospects: right-hander Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Green. New York opens April 1 at Washington. Carrasco had been projected to be part of rotation with two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker and David Peterson. The Mets also are missing reliever Seth Lugo, who had surgery Feb. 16 to remove... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians traded utility infielder Mike Freeman to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday for cash. Manager Terry Francona announced the deal from the team's year-round training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, shortly after he said reigning Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber will start the opener at Detroit on April 1. "That’s probably not any big secret," Francona said. No, but dealing the 33-year-old Freeman was a little surprising as the Indians valued his versatility and experience. Freeman played 99 games and batted. 270 over the past two seasons with Cleveland, which signed him to a minor-league deal last month with a camp invitation. However, with Freeman behind Amed Rosario, who came over from the New York Mets in the Francisco Lindor deal this winter, and Yu Chang, he was probably not going to make Cleveland's roster and the club found him a fresh start. “They seem to have what they think is a better opportunity for him to maybe not only make their club, but actually play... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Outfielder Billy Hamilton won't make Cleveland's roster, and the Indians are trying to find him another team this spring. Manager Terry Francona said the club told Hamilton on Thursday that he wasn't part of their plans. The Indians will try to trade the 30-year-old, who signed a minor league contract last month and has been at big league training camp. “We just felt, out of respect to Billy, because of being the veteran he is and being the really good veteran that he is, we didn’t think it was right to ask him to get on a bus and back up guys if we knew he wasn’t gonna be on the team.” Francona said during a Zoom call from Arizona. “He was a pro’s pro. He’s such a good kid and we’ll certainly attempt to help him land somewhere. That’s why we did it this quickly.” Hamilton had his best seasons with Cincinnati from 2013-18. He stole at least 56 bases four straight seasons. He spent last season with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. Hamilton had been competing for one of... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco is uncertain to be ready for the start of the season after elbow soreness forced him to stop throwing. New York manager Luis Rojas said the right-hander, who turns 34 on March 21, started spring training workouts behind other players after receiving additional medical evaluation. Carrasco is in remission from leukemia and had the novel coronavirus vaccine. “He’s been experiencing some body aches because of the second vaccine that he got yesterday, so we’ve been paying close attention to that with him. But also he’s experienced some soreness in his elbow right now, apparently coming from the live BP that he threw the other day,” Rojas said Wednesday. “Right now, this is nothing too concerning from a medical standpoint. So he’s just going to take a few days off without throwing and we expect him to be back maybe by the end of next week facing live batters.” Carrasco was traded by Cleveland with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor... [More]

George Springer, Trevor Bauer and Francisco Lindor are wearing blue now. Springer received the biggest contract in the offseason from the Toronto Blue Jays. Bauer got the most money per season from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lindor was traded to the New York Mets in a six-player deal. The three star players headline the list of big names on new teams. Springer, a three-time All-Star outfielder and 2017 World Series MVP with Houston, signed a team-record $150 million, six-year contract with the Blue Jays in January. He joined a roster that includes young sluggers Vladimir Guerrero and Bo Bichette, plus Cavan Biggio, Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. “I really like the blue. It’s a good color,” Springer said after his first spring training game with Toronto. “It was a little weird but I’m over it. It’s fun and I enjoy it.” Bauer, who won the NL Cy Young Award last season with Cincinnati, signed a $102 million, three-year deal with the Dodgers last month. The reigning World Series champions... [More]

Mets president Sandy Alderson says the team may have been naive to think it could manage Trevor Bauer’s habit of inflammatory social media posts but says he’s happy with New York's offseason changes despite failing to sign the NL Cy Young Award winner. Bauer agreed Feb. 5 to a $102 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a deal that was finalized a week later. He has been involved in multiple controversies on social media, where he has a huge following and is actively involved in creating and writing content for his channels. Two higher-profile incidents both involved women, including a college student who accused the 30-year-old Bauer of harassing her online. Bauer tweeted the student “was obsessed with me.” “I think that he would have added a dimension to our team, maybe a third or fourth dimension,” Alderson said with a laugh during a news conference Monday in Port St. Lucie, Florida, ahead of the Mets' spring training opener. “And hard to know how that would have... [More]

Mets president Sandy Alderson says the team may have been naive to think it could manage Trevor Bauer’s habit of inflammatory social media posts but says he’s happy with New York's offseason changes despite failing to sign the NL Cy Young Award winner. Bauer agreed Feb. 5 to a $102 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a deal that was finalized a week later. He has been involved in multiple controversies on social media, where he has a huge following and is actively involved in creating and writing content for his channels. Two higher-profile incidents both involved women, including a college student who accused the 30-year-old Bauer of harassing her online. Bauer tweeted the student “was obsessed with me.” “I think that he would have added a dimension to our team, maybe a third or fourth dimension,” Alderson said with a laugh during a news conference Monday in Port St. Lucie, Florida, ahead of the Mets' spring training opener. “And hard to know how that would have... [More]

For the Indians, the changes go beyond just dropping their debated name. As a new season dawns, the four-time All-Star shortstop and face of the franchise is long gone, traded to the New York Mets this winter along with one of Cleveland's most popular players and established pitchers. There are holes to fill at short, first and in the outfield. Manager Terry Francona, who zips around Cleveland on a scooter, is driving a golf cart after surgery. Fans can't escape the Midwest cold and watch the Indians field grounders or take batting practice in the warm Arizona sunshine. Things look a lot different. But despite their altered state, and gloomy projections about their win total 2021, the Indians are confident they can contend. Maybe even do more than that. “I know we’re going to make a lot of noise,” warned slugger Franmil Reyes. "Watch out!” Bounced by the New York Yankees in the wild-card round to end the shortened 2020 season, the Indians held their first full-squad workout in Goodyear,... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American 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: ___ Minnesota Twins Manager: Rocco Baldelli (third season). 2020: 36-24, first place, lost to Houston in first round of playoffs. Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida. Park: Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex. First Workout: Feb. 19/23. He’s Here: SS Andrelton Simmons, RHP Alex Colomé, LHP J.A. Happ, RHP Hansel Robles, RHP Shaun Anderson, RHP Ian Hamilton, OF Keon Broxton, LHP Andrew Albers. He’s Outta Here: LF Eddie Rosario, RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Trevor May, RHP Jake Odorizzi, INF/OF Marwin Gonzalez, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Tyler Clippard, RHP Matt Wisler, INF Ehire Adrianza, C Alex Avila. Going campin’: The Twins return largely the same team that won the last two AL Central titles, aiming to end their major league-record 18-game postseason losing streak. The pitching staff was superb... [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 (sixth season). 2020: 35-25, first place, lost to Dodgers in NL Championship Series. Training Town: North Port, Florida. Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Carl Edwards, SS Ehire Adrianza, RHP Victor Arano. He’s Outta Here: OF Nick Markakis, OF Adam Duvall, INF Charlie Culberson, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Mark Melancon, C Tyler Flowers, RHP Shane Greene, RHP Darren O’Day, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Adeiny Hechavarria, LHP Cole Hamels. Going campin’: The key offseason move was re-signing left fielder Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal. Morton and Smyly add experience to the rotation. The team can take a cautious approach with 2020 opening day starter Mike Soroka’s return from... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Eddie Rosario has gone from hammering to helping the Indians. The free agent outfielder, who spent the past six seasons with Minnesota, agreed Friday to a one-year contract with Cleveland, which is making good on a promise to re-invest some of the money it saved by trading All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor. Rosario’s contract is pending the completion of a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the medical tests aren’t finished. The Indians know the 29-year-old Rosario well as he's been a nemesis with the AL Central rival Twins. Rosario has more career homers (22 in 93 games) against Cleveland than any other team. He hit 11 of those homers at Progressive Field — his most at any road ballpark. Rosario's deal came together a few hours after the Indians finalized a one-year, $5 million contract with free agent second baseman César Hernández, who was a solid free agent pickup in 2020... [More]