CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper has been playing catch-up since his free agency carried over into spring training.With a week left until opening day, the Philadelphia Phillies' big-money addition looks ready to pay off.Harper hit his first two Grapefruit League homers, combining with fellow new additions Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto to help Philadelphia pound the Toronto Blue Jays 13-6 Thursday.Harper smashed a two-run homer to right off Sam Gaviglio in the fourth inning and had a solo shot against lefty Thomas Pannone in the sixth. McCutchen also took Gaviglio deep in the second, and Realmuto had a three-run shot in the fourth. That trio has been sharp this spring, with Harper posting a 1.192 OPS, Realmuto at 1.285 and McCutchen .830.Gift Ngoepe and Andrew Knapp also went deep, and Vince Velasquez struck out nine but allowed three runs and two homers in 3 1/3 innings. Velasquez has a 12.79 ERA this spring.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered to continue a hot spring with Toronto, and... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — With a hop off his feet turning a double play and by driving a ball nearly over the fence, Indians three-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor moved closer to returning from a right calf strain.Yet his status for opening day on March 28 at Minnesota remains uncertain.Batting every inning in a modified intrasquad minor league game, Lindor made eight plate appearances, going 0-for-6 with two walks.Eager to hit, Lindor swung on a 3-0 count during his sixth plate appearance, extending it to nine pitches and drawing a walk. Out of caution and because of his morning base running, he was replaced by a pinch runner.On a 3-0 count on his next plate appearance, he ripped a ball to the right field fence where prospect Oscar Gonzalez made a leaping catch, preventing a home run.Lindor was asked if he needs to appear in a Cactus League game to be ready for the season opener."I don't think so. I can play in the minor leagues or B games to be ready," he said."Baseball's such a... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Veteran outfielder Hunter Pence is set to start the season with his hometown Texas Rangers after going to spring training on a minor league contract.Manager Chris Woodward told Pence on Thursday that he will be on the 25-man roster as the team's fourth outfielder when the Rangers open the regular season at home next Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.That means slimmed-down 24-year-old outfielder Willie Calhoun will start the season at Triple-A Nashville.Pence, a three-time All-Star who turns 36 on April 13, is a .280 career hitter in 12 big league seasons with Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. He was part of two World Series championships with the Giants.Pence was hitting .333 with three homers and seven RBIs in 40 spring training at-bats through Thursday. The right-hander was a better fit for the Rangers roster at this point. He will make $2 million while in the majors."This is a really big deal, and it impacted me in a big way," Pence said. "To be honest,... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper showed off his mighty power a week before opening day.The slugger hit his first two Grapefruit League homers for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, driving one completely out of the ballpark."I feel good right now," Harper said. "The swing feels good. The timing is coming along. I'll take the next couple days and really try to solidify my timing, have good at-bats, keep seeing pitches, walking. When I'm walking, that's when I'm at my best. See as many pitches as I can, jump on some early and have good at-bats."Harper is hitting .231 (3 for 13) with two homers, three RBIs, six walks and seven strikeouts this spring. He got a late start after signing a $330 million, 13-year contract on March 2. The six-time All-Star with the Washington Nationals had the richest contract in baseball history for less than three weeks. The Los Angeles Angels gave Mike Trout a 12-year, $426.5 million contract Wednesday.Harper ripped a two-run shot off right-hander Sam... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have acquired Rule 5 draft selection Connor Joe from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a minor league pitcher and cash.The teams announced the trade Thursday night.Joe is a 26-year-old right-handed hitter who has played first base, second base, third base and both outfield corners in the minor leagues. He could fill San Francisco's need for a righty bat to balance its lefty-heavy lineup. As a Rule 5 pick, he must remain on the active roster all season or else be placed on waivers and offered back to his original team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.Joe was 11 for 40 (.275) this spring with a home run and three RBIs.San Francisco is sending back righty Jordan Johnson. The 25-year-old was 7-13 with a 4.06 ERA last season in 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A.San Francisco designated Drew Ferguson for assignment to make space on the 40-man roster for Joe.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper has been playing catch-up since his free agency carried over into spring training.With a week left until opening day, the Philadelphia Phillies' big-money addition looks ready to pay off.Harper hit his first two Grapefruit League homers, combining with fellow new additions Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto to help Philadelphia pound the Toronto Blue Jays 13-6 Thursday.Harper smashed a two-run homer to right off Sam Gaviglio in the fourth inning and had a solo shot against lefty Thomas Pannone in the sixth. McCutchen also took Gaviglio deep in the second, and Realmuto had a three-run shot in the fourth. That trio has been sharp this spring, with Harper posting a 1.192 OPS, Realmuto at 1.285 and McCutchen .830.Gift Ngoepe and Andrew Knapp also went deep, and Vince Velasquez struck out nine but allowed three runs and two homers in 3 1/3 innings. Velasquez has a 12.79 ERA this spring.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered to continue a hot spring with Toronto, and... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Veteran outfielder Hunter Pence is set to start the season with his hometown Texas Rangers.Manager Chris Woodward told Pence on Thursday he will be on the 25-man roster as the team's fourth outfielder when the Rangers open the regular season at home next Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.That means slimmed-down young outfielder Willie Calhoun will start the season at Triple-A Nashville.Pence, who turns 36 on April 13, went to spring training on a minor league contract. He is a .280 career hitter in 12 big league seasons with Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, and was part of two World Series championships with the Giants.The three-time All-Star played at Arlington High School and then at the University of Texas-Arlington, only a few miles from the Rangers home stadium.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Reaction from the baseball world to the retirement of Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki, who played his final game Thursday with the Seattle Mariners against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo.___"He was a superstar when I was in elementary school. I never thought I would be playing with him in my wildest dreams. I had the opportunity to be teammates with him in the (World Baseball Classic) in 2009 and obviously I had the chance to play with him (with the Yankees) in 2014. Just taking myself back to those moments, like I said earlier, I never thought that I would be able to be teammates and play on the same field with him in my wildest dreams. ... It's too grand of an impact. I can't even put them into words. He made a huge, huge impact." — Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka___"I'm not going to see him play anymore but I'll still have the memories. ... I was very thankful that he reached out and gave me some advice last year. It's really hard for someone that big and such a superstar to give me advice... [More]

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will go into his first career opening-day start with a lot more financial security than he envisioned just a few days ago.The 26-year-old left-hander said Thursday he was almost certain he wouldn't receive the raise he felt he deserved until he hit arbitration next winter until he and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a $50 million, five-year contract that will keep him with the team through 2023."I'm excited we got it done. Honestly, surprised," Snell said, adding that negotiations intensified in the past three or four days.The deal covers three seasons of arbitration eligibility plus one year after he could have become a free agent.It also comes less than two weeks after the Rays renewed Snell's contract at a salary of $573,700 for the upcoming season. That would have been a raise of just $15,500 from 2018, when he led the major leagues with 21 wins.The new contract includes a $3 million signing bonus payable within 30 days of... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper has been playing catch-up since his free agency carried over into spring training.With a week left until opening day, the Philadelphia Phillies' big-money addition looks ready to pay off.Harper hit his first two Grapefruit League homers, combining with fellow new additions Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto to help Philadelphia pound the Toronto Blue Jays 13-6 Thursday.Harper smashed a two-run homer to right off Sam Gaviglio in the fourth inning and had a solo shot against lefty Thomas Pannone in the sixth. McCutchen also took Gaviglio deep in the second, and Realmuto had a three-run shot in the fourth. That trio has been sharp this spring, with Harper posting a 1.192 OPS, Realmuto at 1.285 and McCutchen .830.Gift Ngoepe and Andrew Knapp also went deep, and Vince Velasquez struck out nine but allowed three runs and two homers in 3 1/3 innings. Velasquez has a 12.79 ERA this spring.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered to continue a hot spring with Toronto, and... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Cardinals manager Mike Shildt says Dakota Hudson will break camp as St. Louis' fifth starter.Hudson earned pitcher of the year honors for the Cardinals farm system and in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League last season. He emerged as the winner Thursday from a six-way battle for the final rotation spot this spring.In the end, Hudson beat out John Gant, who will be sent to the bullpen for opening day.The 24-year-old Hudson was 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA in the majors last season, making all 26 of his appearances in relief. He had a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3 innings in this spring.Pitchers Austin Gomber and Daniel Ponce de Leon were sent to minor league camp. They will start for Class AAA Memphis.Top prospect Alex Reyes is set to begin the season in the bullpen. Carlos Martinez, last year's opening day starter for the Cardinals, will begin the season on the injured list because of shoulder weakness.Hudson joins Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright in the rotation. Mikolas gets the ball opening day. Shildt has yet to announce a schedule after that.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — New York manager Aaron Boone sent Greg Bird back to the Yankees complex in Tampa on Thursday after the first baseman developed stiffness in the elbow hit by a pitch a day earlier."He probably could have played," Boone said. "It was me saying, 'Go home.'"Bird took Wade Miley's offering off his right elbow during the first inning of Wednesday's loss to Houston but remained in the game. In the midst of a two-game spring road trip, the Yankees spent the night in the West Palm Beach area before playing St. Louis in Jupiter on Thursday.Bird hit 11 homers in 46 games during his 2015 debut season. Various injuries and ineffectiveness prevented Bird from playing more than 82 games in any year since then.Throughout the spring he's battled Luke Voit for the starting first baseman job, hitting .333 with three homers in 51 plate appearances. Voit has four homers while hitting .316 in Grapefruit League play."I don't know that anyone's won or lost it," Boone said. "Both guys are good... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Even as Matt Carpenter's return to Grapefruit League play is delayed, both the team and the third baseman insist the lingering back tightness is no big deal."If this was the middle of the season and these games counted I would be just working through some of the soreness and tightness that I'm going through, but I don't feel the need to do that and go back to 70 percent because I'm pushing through a spring training game," Carpenter said.Originally expected to return on Wednesday, Carpenter now may not return until Sunday.Manager Mike Shildt doesn't believe the tightness will lead to Carpenter missing opening day next Thursday at Milwaukee."It's felt good the last three days," Shildt said. "Really positive. We just want to make sure we're progressing, nip it in the bud, being smart. We don't want it to flare up and miss any time in Milwaukee."Carpenter hasn't appeared in a game since Friday. He originally experienced the back tightness on Saturday during fielding drills.He... [More]

A weekly look at some of the standout players during spring training, with statistics through exhibition games played on Wednesday:PETE ALONSO, NEW YORK METS, 1B: The power-hitting prospect has made a strong case to open the season with the Mets after batting .360 with four homers and nine RBIs in spring training games. Alonso is fighting for the first base job with Dominic Smith, who has also played well. Alonso had 36 homers and 119 RBIs last season in the minors while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.DAKOTA HUDSON, ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, RHP: The 6-foot-5 right-hander could be a bigger part of the Cardinals' pitching plans after a strong spring that includes a 1.72 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings. The 2016 first-round pick out of Mississippi State had a 2.63 ERA in 26 relief appearances for the Cardinals in 2018.A.J. POLLOCK, LOS ANGELES DODGERS, CF: The 31-year-old free agent acquisition came to the Dodgers after seven impressive but injury-filled seasons with the... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia has returned to the mound for the first time since undergoing a heart procedure in December.Sabathia allowed one run and two hits over two innings on Thursday in a minor league exhibition game, striking out three for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Toledo, Detroit's Triple-A affiliate.Sabathia, who has announced he's retiring after the season, said he "felt great" after his 26-pitch outing."No problems. I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand pretty good. All positive," Sabathia said.Tigers center field prospect Daz Cameron, the son of former major leaguer Mike Cameron, had a first-inning double and Hector Sanchez hit an opposite-field homer to right during the second. Sabathia will make another minor league appearance on Tuesday against Philadelphia Phillies prospects. He expected to miss his first two or three regular season starts."He's progressed pretty well," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "We... [More]

TOKYO (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki has said "sayonara."The 45-year-old Seattle Mariners star announced his retirement Thursday night, shortly after waving goodbye at the Tokyo Dome during a 5-4 win over Oakland in 12 innings.Ichiro went 0 for 4 and was pulled from right field in the eighth, saluting his adoring fans in the packed crowd. He drew hugs from teammates in a three-minute walk that signaled to all his great career had ended.The outfielder said in a statement after the game that he had "achieved so many of my dreams in baseball, both in my career in Japan and, since 2001, in Major League Baseball."He added that he was "honored to end my big league career where it started, with Seattle, and think it is fitting that my last games as a professional were played in my home country of Japan."Ichiro was a 10-time All-Star in the majors. He got 3,089 hits over a 19-year career in the big leagues after getting 1,278 while starring in Japan. His combined total of 4,367 is a professional record.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports___AP Sports Writer Tim Booth contributed from Seattle.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels announced their $426.5 million, 12-year contract on Wednesday night, a record deal that ties baseball's top player to the Orange County club for what likely will be the rest of his career.Trout gets a $20 million signing bonus payable this May 31 and salaries of $16 million this year, $36 million in 2020 and $35.45 million in each of the final 10 years.He cannot be traded without his consent and gets a hotel suite on road trips. He also receives four Diamond Club tickets plus a luxury suite for 20 games this year, and for the remainder of the contract by each Jan. 2 he can pick either the Diamond Clubs tickets or the suite dates for that season.His deal tops the previous high set when Bryce Harper and Philadelphia struck a $330 million, 13-year agreement earlier in spring training.The Angels will celebrate with a public appearance by Trout outside Angel Stadium on Sunday when the team returns from spring training for the first... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels announced their $426.5 million, 12-year contract on Wednesday night, a record deal that ties baseball's top player to the Orange County club for what likely will be the rest of his career.Trout gets a $20 million signing bonus payable this March 31 and salaries of $16 million this year, $36 million in 2020 and $35.45 million in each of the final 10 years.He cannot be traded without his consent and gets a hotel suite on road trips. He also receives four Diamond Club tickets plus a luxury suite for 20 games this year, and for the remainder of the contract by each Jan. 2 he can pick either the Diamond Clubs tickets or the suite dates for that season.His deal tops the previous high set when Bryce Harper and Philadelphia struck a $330 million, 13-year agreement earlier in spring training.The Angels will celebrate with a public appearance by Trout outside Angel Stadium on Sunday when the team returns from spring training for the first... [More]

TOKYO (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki seems to have said "sayonara."The 45-year-old Seattle Mariner star left the Tokyo Dome field in the eighth inning on Thursday night, waving goodbye to the crowd and being hugged by teammates in a three-minute walk that signaled to all his great career has ended.The Japanese agency Kyodo News reported during the game against Oakland that Ichiro would announce his retirement after it was over.Ichiro went 0 for 4. He took his spot in right field in the eighth, but then was pulled by manager Scott Servais and the walk into history began in front of a sellout of 45,000.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Bryce Harper got his first hit with Philadelphia, and Manny Machado homered for San Diego.Both of baseball's big offseason free agents are finally getting into the swing of things at spring training.Harper lined a 97 mph fastball to center field for a single in the fourth inning Wednesday against Detroit, snapping his 0-for-9 start to Grapefruit League play with the Phillies. The slugger jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball as a souvenir.It was Harper's 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first inning.His final time up, Harper walked against Reed Garrett leading off the seventh. The 2015 NL MVP has struck out six times and drawn five walks."Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after his team's 3-1 loss to the Tigers."And one swing, a foul ball (down the third base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit... [More]