CHICAGO (AP) — For a franchise with five straight losing seasons and one playoff appearance since the 2005 World Series championship, the Chicago White Sox sure are an optimistic bunch.They come into the year with a long line of promising prospects to go with a strong belief that they are setting themselves up to make a big jump in the standings."We're going to shoot high and we'll see where it falls," manager Rick Renteria said.Only three teams had a worse record last season than the White Sox, who went 67-95 and finished fourth in the AL Central. But they believe the breakthrough is coming — maybe sooner than later.Chicago started loading up the pipeline at the 2016 winter meetings by trading former ace Chris Sale to Boston and outfielder Adam Eaton to Washington. Those deals brought in second baseman Yoan Moncada along with hard-throwing pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Michael Kopech and kicked the rebuilding process into high gear.It continued during the season when the White... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Buck Showalter heard that Lance Lynn was pitching against the Orioles and knew he'd be changing his lineup.The Baltimore manager wasn't concerned about the result of last week's Grapefruit League game against Minnesota, played hours after Lynn officially joined the team. But Showalter figured the right-hander might start when the Twins travel to Camden Yards for a three-game season-opening series later this month.With that in mind, Showalter saw an opportunity.Even in spring training, when wins and losses are meaningless, managers are always hunting for significant matchups. That's especially true along the Florida Gulf Coast, where all five AL East rivals train within about three hours of each other.Picking and choosing spots for players has been key for Baltimore this spring because the Orioles play 14 of their first 17 regular season games against either division foes or the Twins, another regular spring opponent. When Minnesota signed Lynn to a free-agent deal... [More]

Third base is a polarizing position for 2018, as some fantasy analysts say it's extremely deep and others say it falls off tremendously after the top 10.It all comes down to roster structure and your league size.Outside of Mike Trout and Jose Altuve, the safest player in fantasy baseball is Nolan Arenado. And quite honestly, safety is what you want from your first-round pick. You want someone who will put up elite numbers, but doesn't have a lot of risk attached. Over the past three years, Arenado has averaged a .297 batting average, 40 home runs, 131 RBIs and 104 runs for the Rockies. If you want Arenado, you'll have to pay an early first-round price for him, but is he the only third baseman that deserves to be a first-round pick in fantasy this year?Kris Bryant, Manny Machado and Jose Ramirez all make the case, but they are a tier below Arenado, typically falling in the middle of the second round.Is it worth grabbing Arenado in the first round or one of the other aforementioned second-tier... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado says that recruiting pitch by Yankees star Aaron Judge was no big deal."I think it was just blown out of proportion," Machado said.Earlier this week, when the Orioles and Yankees played a spring training game, Judge told Machado that he'd look good in pinstripes. The star infielder is eligible for free agency after this season.The comment drew the interest of Major League Baseball, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman later had a conversation with Judge, reminding the AL Rookie of the Year that the sport takes a dim view of anything that sounds like tampering.Machado says he didn't mind. He says he's attempted to get players for the Orioles, too."Everyone always jokes around about a lot of things, and things that we say on the field usually stay on the field," Machado said after Baltimore's game with the New York Mets on Friday."I've told a lot of people they'd look good in black and orange as well, trying to get guys over here," Machado said. "It's just part of the game. You want to put the best team out there on your field and if I'm a part of this team, I want to bring the best guys over here as much as I can. I want to get a ring as well."Orioles manager Buck Showalter made light of the situation."I'm just glad they didn't catch Manny trying to recruit Judge," Showalter said.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball has told New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge his comments attempting to recruit Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado violate the sport's tampering rules, and Judge says he has learned the lesson.When the Yankees played the Orioles in Sarasota on Wednesday, Judge encountered Machado on the field before the game."Adding him to our lineup that we've already got, it'd be something special," Judge told reporters. "I told him, 'You'd look good in pinstripes.' "Judge added: "He just kind of laughed it off. Didn't really say much."Machado is eligible for free agency after this season, part of a class that includes Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson.Major League Baseball says in a statement: "We have been in contact with the Yankees. They communicated to us that Mr. Judge's off the cuff comments were not appropriate and not authorized by the club. They will speak to him to make sure that this does not happen again."Judge and general manager Brian Cashman had a... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball has told New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge his comments attempting to recruit Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado violate the sport's tampering rules, and Judge says he has learned the lesson.When the Yankees played the Orioles in Sarasota on Wednesday, Judge encountered Machado on the field before the game."Adding him to our lineup that we've already got, it'd be something special," Judge told reporters. "I told him, 'You'd look good in pinstripes.' "Judge added: "He just kind of laughed it off. Didn't really say much."Machado is eligible for free agency after this season, part of a class that includes Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson.Major League Baseball says in a statement: "We have been in contact with the Yankees. They communicated to us that Mr. Judge's off the cuff comments were not appropriate and not authorized by the club. They will speak to him to make sure that this does not happen again."Judge and general manager Brian Cashman had a... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Brad Brach will likely have a new role this year with the Baltimore Orioles.In the past, the 31-year-old right-hand reliever was the setup man for Zach Britton. But with Britton starting the season on the 60-day disabled list recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon, Brach is line to become Baltimore's closer.While manager Buck Showalter hasn't designated Brach the closer, it's expected he will do so shortly.In 2017, Brach filled in for Britton when he missed nearly the entire first half of the season on the disabled list with a left forearm strain. Brach wasn't nearly the closer that Britton was. After all, he was filling in for a pitcher who set the American League record with 60 consecutive converted saves.He went 4-5 with a 3.18 ERA. Brach converted 18 of 24 save chances."I gained confidence about that role with him in that he's handled the adversity well and the season didn't get away from him," Showalter said.During spring training Showalter is keeping his... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Maikel Franco no longer has to be the man on the Philadelphia Phillies.Expectations for Franco were high after he hit .280 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs in 80 games as a rookie in 2015. Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said the guy playing his former position had MVP potential and the team hoped the young third baseman would anchor the middle of the order for a decade.But Franco has struggled the past two seasons. He batted only .230 with a .281 on-base percentage in 2017, though he led the team with 24 homers and 76 RBIs.With the emergence of slugger Rhys Hoskins and other young hitters like Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams and the addition of veteran Carlos Santana, Franco won't have to carry the offense."Nobody has to be the guy because we have a lineup that can grind you a bit," new manager Gabe Kapler said. "You're not going to get to the bottom of the lineup without having someone who can do home-run damage."Franco arrived to camp looking leaner and said he added muscle... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball has told New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge his comments attempting to recruit Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado violate the sport's tampering rules, and Judge says he has learned the lesson.When the Yankees played the Orioles in Sarasota on Wednesday, Judge encountered Machado on the field before the game."Adding him to our lineup that we've already got, it'd be something special," Judge told reporters. "I told him, 'You'd look good in pinstripes.' "Judge added: "He just kind of laughed it off. Didn't really say much."Machado is eligible for free agency after this season, part of a class that includes Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson.Major League Baseball says in a statement: "We have been in contact with the Yankees. They communicated to us that Mr. Judge's off the cuff comments were not appropriate and not authorized by the club. They will speak to him to make sure that this does not happen again."Judge and general manager Brian Cashman had a... [More]

Nelson Cruz joined the Seattle Mariners' growing list of injured players.Cruz hit a two-hop RBI single to the right-field wall in the first inning against Colorado, then walked slowly to the Mariners' dugout while rubbing his right thigh and slightly favoring the leg. He was replaced by pinch runner Daniel Vogelbach, and the Mariners said Cruz had soreness in his right quadriceps.Second baseman Robinson Cano left Sunday's game because of tightness in his left hamstring, and a scan Monday revealed a minor strain, the Mariners said.Left-hander Marco Gonzales left his start Monday after 1 2/3 innings when he was hit on his right hand by a comebacker off the bat of Leury Garcia of the Chicago White Sox. Gonzales threw to first for the out, then departed. Seattle said he sustained a bruise.Ace right-hander Felix Hernandez hasn't pitched in a game since he was hit on the right forearm by a line drive off the bat of the Chicago Cubs' Victor Caratini on Feb. 26.Other injured players include outfielders... [More]

Nelson Cruz joined the Seattle Mariners' growing list of injured players.Cruz hit a two-hop RBI single to the right-field wall in the first inning against Colorado, then walked slowly to the Mariners' dugout while rubbing his right thigh and slightly favoring the leg. He was replaced by pinch runner Daniel Vogelbach, and the Mariners said Cruz had soreness in his right quadriceps.Second baseman Robinson Cano left Sunday's game because of tightness in his left hamstring, and a scan Monday revealed a minor strain, the Mariners said.Left-hander Marco Gonzales left his start Monday after 1 2/3 innings when he was hit on his right hand by a comebacker off the bat of Leury Garcia of the Chicago White Sox. Gonzales threw to first for the out, then departed. Seattle said he sustained a bruise.Ace right-hander Felix Hernandez hasn't pitched in a game since he was hit on the right forearm by a line drive off the bat of the Chicago Cubs' Victor Caratini on Feb. 26.Other injured players include outfielders... [More]

Nelson Cruz joined the Seattle Mariners' growing list of injured players.Cruz hit a two-hop RBI single to the right-field wall in the first inning against Colorado, then walked slowly to the Mariners' dugout while rubbing his right thigh and slightly favoring the leg. He was replaced by pinch runner Daniel Vogelbach, and the Mariners said Cruz had soreness in his right quadriceps.Second baseman Robinson Cano left Sunday's game because of tightness in his left hamstring, and a scan Monday revealed a minor strain, the Mariners said.Left-hander Marco Gonzales left his start Monday after 1 2/3 innings when he was hit on his right hand by a comebacker off the bat of Leury Garcia of the Chicago White Sox. Gonzales threw to first for the out, then departed. Seattle said he sustained a bruise.Ace right-hander Felix Hernandez hasn't pitched in a game he was hit on the right forearm by a line drive off the bat of the Chicago Cubs' Victor Caratini on Feb. 26.Other injured players include outfielders... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Jake Arrieta put on a red No. 49 Philadelphia Phillies jersey for the first time and sent a message to his new teammates and fans."We're going to promise a fight," Arrieta said Tuesday, a day after the ace righty finalized a $75 million, three-year contract that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons. "We're going to have conviction and we're going to fight and we're going to win."The Phillies haven't had a winning season since 2011, when they won their fifth straight NL East title. But the addition of Arrieta signals the end of a long, arduous rebuilding process."We're serious about winning and we're going to do what it takes to win," co-owner John Middleton said.Arrieta is confident a team that won only 66 games last year is poised to contend under first-year manager Gabe Kapler. The Phillies spent big in free agency, signing slugger Carlos Santana and relievers Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek. They have a solid core of young hitters and their rotation... [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]

Giancarlo Stanton got off to a sunny start at a new position for the New York Yankees.Making his first start in left field for his new team, the NL MVP lost two flyballs in the sun and both fell for hits Sunday in a 9-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.Stanton never played left field in his eight seasons with the Marlins, instead spending his time in right.Asked how someone should work on catching balls in the glare, the smiling slugger said: "Get sun vision gloves, see right through the sun."AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES:ORIOLES 10, RED SOX 8Adam Jones hit a pair of RBI doubles and a single and Manny Machado added a two-run double for Baltimore. Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers hit back-to-back homers for Boston off Gabriel Ynoa, who allowed six runs in two innings.The Orioles announced first baseman Chris Davis had an MRI on his sore right elbow and no structural damage was found. Manager Buck Showalter estimated Davis would be out another three to five days. Showalter also noted... [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]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles had just one All-Star last season.It wasn't Adam Jones or Manny Machado. It was Machado's close friend, Jonathan Schoop. Besides the All-Star Game appearance, Schoop was voted the team's most valuable player. He hit .293 with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs.The easygoing 26-year-old is a fan favorite in Baltimore, but he annoyed many Orioles fans by canceling his appearance at last month's annual FanFest .Schoop hadn't agreed on a contract for 2018, and looked as if he was headed for arbitration. He and the Orioles ended up settling before the scheduled hearing on a one-year, $8.5 million deal.When Schoop arrived for spring training, he acknowledged that he regretted his decision, which manager Buck Showalter blamed on poor advice from his agent."Every fan, I'm going to sign (autographs) for them and give them something back," Schoop said. "I'm glad it's over and I can focus on baseball now so I can focus on being out there and helping the team win."Showalter... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — For 10 seasons, Adam Jones has been the backbone of the Baltimore Orioles.The 32-year-old center fielder has the fourth-most hits in team history, has made five All-Star teams and won four Gold Gloves.Now in the final season of a six-year, $85.5 million contract, Jones wonders where his future lies."That's up to the front office. Business is business," Jones said.In his decade with the Orioles, Jones has performed brilliantly — on and off the field. He has seven straight seasons with more than 25 home runs and had six seasons of more than 80 RBIs. He's been the most visible and accessible player the team has and been extraordinarily active in community affairs.While Baltimore has been in the postseason three times in Jones' career, he's yet to play in a World Series, and that bothers him.With Jones, star shortstop Manny Machado and relievers Brad Brach and Zach Britton free agents after this season, he could go elsewhere."This is my career. This is not the fans' career,... [More]

Shohei Ohtani went only one way in his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels and got pulled early.The Japanese star pitcher and hitter was scheduled to throw two innings in his start Saturday, but was taken out after giving up two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-5 win over Milwaukee.Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't put Ohtani in the batting order.The 23-year-old righty struck out two and his fastball reached 97 mph. He allowed one run, on a homer by Keon Broxton. Ohtani threw 31 pitches, 17 for strikes."Besides the results, I mean, I had a lot of fun out there, so I think it went all well," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani has been hitting some long home runs in batting practice."I had a lot of fun out there today and obviously I'm excited to hit and pitch again, and I just want to keep on getting better and have good results from here on out," he said.Scioscia said Ohtani will hit early in the week, as the designated hitter."It was great to see him,"... [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]