SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles are looking for stronger pitching this year after last season's rocky performance.The starters last season combined for an ERA of 5.70.Three starting pitchers from last year's staff are gone: right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Ubaldo Jimenez and left-hander Wade Miley. Remaining are right-handers Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and Chris Tillman, who re-signed with the team Wednesday.Joining Bundy, Gausman and Tillman in the rotation is another right-hander, Andrew Cashner, who signed Feb. 15. Who gets the fifth spot will be the most pressing question in spring training."We were looking for a couple of veteran starting pitchers, and with the signing of Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman, there's a couple of proven starters in the American League," said Dan Duquette, the Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations.The Orioles would like a left-hander to join the group, but they missed out on several free agents who have signed in the days... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jameson Taillon never allowed himself much time to think about his bout with testicular cancer last season.The Pittsburgh pitcher's focus from nearly the moment he received the diagnosis in early May was to return to the mound as quickly as possible. Just five weeks later, he was activated from the disabled list and pitched five scoreless innings to beat the visiting Colorado Rockies."The best-case scenario is that it happened during the season," Taillon said. "I had my teammates for support, and I had a goal of returning to help the team to serve as a distraction."Taillon stayed busy in the offseason. He played golf with teammates Daniel Hudson and A.J. Schugel in Arizona, attended the Florida-Florida State and Central Florida-South Florida college football games with his brother and went Christmas shopping in New York.However, the winter months also gave Taillon time to stop and ponder the good fortune of recovering so quickly after surgery."I'm a different person,... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees have traded outfielder Jabari Blash to the Los Angeles Angels for either a player to be named or cash.The deal was announced Wednesday.Blash hit .213 with five home runs and 16 RBIs last season for San Diego. He batted .285 with 20 homers and 62 RBIs at Triple-A El Paso.The Yankees got the 28-year-old Blash from the Padres in December for third baseman Chase Headley, pitcher Bryan Mitchell and cash.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent reliever Carlos Torres, who could fill a bullpen opening.Torres pitched in 67 games last season for the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-hander will join the Indians in training camp once he passes a physical. The 35-year-old went 4-1 with a 4.21 ERA last season, his second with Milwaukee following three with the New York Mets.Torres has a 4.00 ERA in 348 career major league games with the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Mets and Brewers. He has pitched in at least 59 games in each of the past four seasons.The Indians have at least one spot to fill in their bullpen after right-handers Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith left this winter as free agents. Cleveland has other roster decisions to make this spring that could affect its relief corps.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Big league pitchers often talk about a "dead arm" period, when the ball does not seem to feel right or act properly.San Francisco closer Mark Melancon pitched last year with the real thing — dead tissue in a forearm muscle, discovered only during a season-ending surgical procedure Sept. 12.When doctors began a procedure designed to allow the muscle to "breathe," they found something they did not expect."It was actually dying off," Melancon said."It had turned gray. When they went in, they literally saw it. The muscle was dying from being restricted. The doctor said he hadn't seen that too much. He said he had seen it, but not there, and not often. Very rare. It was definitely a surprise. I know he was shocked," he said.Melancon, who said he had been felt similar restriction off and on at various points of the season since 2012, also was taken aback.While the surgery was considered a success, Melancon and the Giants can only hope the surgery will be enough to help... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Surprised to be traded, Steven Souza Jr. heads to Arizona for what promises to be a key role on a Diamondbacks team that expects to be good.The 28-year-old outfielder knew the Tampa Bay Rays were making some big changes but felt assured by management that he still figured in their plans."As much as people were flying off the shelf, it seemed like I was not going to be one of those people," Souza said Wednesday in a conference call from the airport before boarding a plane to Arizona. "It definitely caught me off-guard a little bit. I was definitely preparing for the role that I had there."Souza came to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in a three-team trade that sent infielder Brandon Drury from Arizona to the New York Yankees and left-hander Anthony Banda, a top Arizona pitching prospect, to Tampa Bay.Souza batted just .239, but hit 30 homers, drove in 78 runs and walked 84 times, all three career highs.He will wear the same No. 28 that J.D. Martinez wore in his torrid... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Williams has set his sights on gaining a full-time role coming out of spring.He's already made quite an impression on Gabe Kapler — and on the new manager's ride, too.Williams dented Kapler's rental SUV with a home run during batting practice Tuesday and tried to ding his favorite target again Wednesday."The breeze coming in from right field did not stop Nick Williams from destroying the baseball and almost hitting my car for the second straight day," Kapler said.Insurance will surely cover the light damage and Kapler is more than happy to see the 24-year-old hitting with power."If he is destroying cars and it happens to be mine, no problem," Kapler added. "We're going to make it a bull's-eye for him."Williams, a former second-round pick for the Texas Rangers in 2012, showed some signs of what the future holds when he hit .288 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs in 313 at-bats as a rookie last season.Williams spent the offseason working... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Nobody saw this coming, not even the Kansas City Royals.Whit Merrifield has gone from an afterthought to the American League stolen base champion. He has gone from more than 2,500 at-bats in the minors to the Kansas City starting second baseman.He began last year with Triple-A Omaha, his eighth straight season to open in the minors. He finished it hitting .288 with 19 home runs, 32 doubles, 78 RBIs and a league-leading 34 stolen bases."The most impressive thing to me about Whit Merrifield is his work ethic and how he has gone from just being an organizational player to a very, very solid major league player," Royals manager Ned Yost said Wednesday. "I don't think anybody three years ago would have projected Whit to be the player he is today."Everybody thought he'd be a nice utility player in Double-A, a nice utility player in Triple-A. I'm not sure anybody could project him to be anything more just maybe a utility player at the big league level. Maybe. And he's worked... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Newly acquired Brandon Drury is the now the favorite to be the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees.The Yankees acquired Drury from Arizona on Tuesday night in a three-team deal that also involved Tampa Bay. Drury played mostly second base for Arizona, but came up through the minors at third."Nothing is going to be given to anybody, but going into the process he's going to have a leg up given the fact that he's had two years of major league experience that he can fall back on plus postseason experience," Yankees general manager Cashman said Wednesday. "I think all those things will serve him well."Prospect Miguel Andujar was a leading candidate at third before the trade for Drury was completed."Andujar is a high-end skilled player that we think is going to have a very long and successful career in the big leagues, and we believe it's going to be here with us," Cashman said. "His hitting abilities are ahead currently of his defensive abilities because he moved... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even though the Chicago White Sox are relatively early in their rebuilding project, the enthusiasm is very high — even by spring training standards of optimism.Much of that has to do with their man in the dugout.Second-year manager Rick Renteria's attributes — his energy, work ethic and ability to communicate — appear to be a perfect fit for the personalities and talent in the White Sox system."He asks a level of commitment out of them that's similar to what he's providing," general manager Rick Hahn says.At 55, Renteria has built a reputation around baseball as an encouraging, positive coach and manager. He played five seasons in the big leagues, but was a regular in only one — with the expansion 1993 Florida Marlins, batting .255 with two home runs.The White Sox have assembled an impressive group of young players. Some, such as infielder Yoan Moncada and pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, have major league experience and are being counted on full-time this... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Sixty times last season as Washington's pitching coach, Mike Maddux enjoyed a front-row seat for two of the best pitchers in baseball, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.Now, in his first spring as the Cardinals pitching coach, Maddux sees a young pitcher ready to join upper echelon on starters.It's his job to get Carlos Martinez there."Stuff-wise, he's right on that level," Maddux said. "His ball moves more than I thought. A lot of movement. A ton of movement. And it comes out easy. Good short stroke. I didn't even really realize that."Martinez expected ascension to ace level stumbled amid mixed results last season. His 12 wins tied Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright for the Cardinals' team high. Among St. Louis starters, only the now departed Lance Lynn held an ERA lower than Martinez's 3.64 mark.Those 12 wins were his lowest in three years — four fewer than the year prior — and the 11 losses were the most in his career.The 26-year-old Martinez eclipsed the 200-inning... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — With virtually every position already a lock for the Houston Astros at the beginning of spring training, the toughest decision manager A.J. Hinch might have to make this spring is which of his talented pitchers won't make the rotation.On a championship team with Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel, newcomer Gerrit Cole and Lance McCullers, Hinch will likely have to send one or more of his other starters into the bullpen to open the season."Poor me to have too many starters that need to be in the rotation," Hinch joked.Hinch's "problem" is one that many managers would love to have. The addition of Verlander late last season combined with the offseason trade for Cole, made Houston's already solid rotation arguably one of baseball's best.Keuchel, who won the Cy Young in 2015, bounced back from a tough 2016 by going 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA last season. The 30-year-old lefty started five games and collected two wins in the playoffs to help Houston to... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The final season of the franchise-record contract the Minnesota Twins gave Joe Mauer has begun, bringing with it the inevitable questions about his future.For now, before any such decisions must be made by the front office or the soon-to-be-35-year-old first baseman, Mauer has found himself in a reflective mood. He has started his 17th major league spring training, appreciative of how far he's come and in awe of how much has happened since the Twins used the first overall pick in 2001 on a smooth-swinging kid from a high school just a few miles away from their home stadium.The setbacks are well-known, but the good times are given priority space in his mind."I was lucky enough to be drafted by the team I grew up rooting for and cheering on," Mauer said. "To be able to play here and win here, that's what I have always wanted to do."Without an extension in place there's no guarantee he'll still be with the Twins beyond 2018, as jarring as the sight of Mauer in another... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Outfielder Colby Rasmus has decided to return to baseball after walking away last summer, and has signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.Rasmus was in camp Wednesday to finish up his physical. He got an invitation to big league spring training.The 31-year-old Rasmus was with Tampa Bay in mid-July when the Rays said he was going to "step away from baseball." Neither the team nor Rasmus offered an explanation, though he had been slowed by hip trouble.Rasmus was hitting .281 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 37 games for the Rays when he left. He has hit 165 home runs and batted .242 in nine seasons with St. Louis, Toronto, Houston and Tampa Bay. He has hit more than 20 home runs in a season four times in his career.The left-handed hitting Rasmus is expected to compete with Alex Presley, another left-handed hitting outfielder, for a spot on the Orioles.Orioles general manager Dan Duquette said in a text that "Rasmus is a proven veteran player in the AL East, who is a versatile outfielder with good power and speed to make a meaningful contribution."

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Denard Span concedes he's hesitant to get comfortable with the idea of playing for his hometown team.The Tampa Bay Rays acquired the veteran outfielder this winter, but are trimming payroll and building for the future.That leaves the 33-year-old Span, who's due to make $11 million this summer, uncertain what uniform he'll be wearing on opening day."I'm excited for the opportunity. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I can't control that," said Span, acquired along with infielder Christian Arroyo and two minor leaguers in a trade that sent Evan Longoria to the San Francisco Giants.A native of Washington, D.C., Span moved to Tampa when he was 3 years old. He's maintained his offseason home in Florida throughout a 10-year major league career that includes stints with the Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals."It's really surreal to be able to put this uniform on and live in my own house and stay in my own bed. I drive familiar streets that I've driven on... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Veteran outfielder Cameron Maybin had to correct himself Wednesday as he talked about rejoining the team that first made him an everyday player.He said he was happy to be back with the Florida Marlins before noting a name change since he left."It has been a while — what, about 10 years, I think," Maybin said.He actually departed after the 2010 season. The franchise became the Miami Marlins two years later, and now Maybin's back. The well-traveled 11-year veteran signed a $3.25 million, one-year contract and gives the young, rebuilding Marlins much-needed experience."I'm excited about what I can bring back as a little older player," Maybin said. "I'm here to help lead in the right direction and create a culture of togetherness."For Maybin, the deal carries the risk of taking him from first to worst. He helped the Houston Astros win the 2017 World Series as a reserve outfielder, and now he joins a team rebooting after a payroll purge by new CEO Derek Jeter.But Maybin,... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free agent outfielder Michael Saunders to a minor league contract and invited him to major league spring training.The Pirates announced the move Wednesday.The 31-year-old Saunders hit a combined .202 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 73 games for Philadelphia and Toronto last season.Saunders was an AL All-Star in 2016 with the Blue Jays, hitting 24 homers with 57 RBIs while batting .253.Saunders is a career .232 hitter with 81 home runs and 263 RBIs in 775 games with Seattle, the Phillies and Blue Jays.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals say they have agreed to a one-year deal with 40-year-old reliever Joaquin Benoit.The team announced the move Wednesday, along with placing pitcher Joe Ross on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in July.The Nationals didn't release terms of the agreement, though a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Monday that it was for $1 million. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn't official at the time.Benoit is a right-hander who first reached the big leagues in 2001. He has played for eight teams, finishing last year with Pittsburgh.He has 764 career appearances, going 58-49 with a 3.83 ERA and 53 saves.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Veteran outfielder Cameron Maybin had to correct himself Wednesday as he talked about rejoining the team that first made him an everyday player.He said he was happy to be back with the Florida Marlins before noting a name change since he left."It has been a while — what, about 10 years, I think," Maybin said.He actually departed after the 2010 season. The franchise became the Miami Marlins two years later, and now Maybin's back. The well-traveled 11-year veteran signed a one-year contract and gives the young, rebuilding Marlins much-needed experience."I'm excited about what I can bring back as a little older player," Maybin said. "I'm here to help lead in the right direction and create a culture of togetherness."For Maybin, the deal carries the risk of taking him from first to worst. He helped the Houston Astros win the 2017 World Series as a reserve outfielder, and now he joins a team rebooting after a payroll purge by new CEO Derek Jeter.But Maybin, 30, said the opportunity... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles signed pitcher Chris Tillman to a $3 million, one-year contract that includes performance bonuses.Tillman was 1-7 with a 7.84 ERA in 19 starts and five relief appearances last year. He is the second starter added by the Orioles in the past week after right-hander Andrew Cashner.Tillman likely will join right-handers Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and Cashner in the rotation.The 29-year-old right-hander lives in Sarasota and had been working out at the Orioles' facility before spring training. Manager Buck Showalter watched Tillman throw and was impressed.Tillman began last season on the disabled list with right shoulder stiffness.To make room for Tillman on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated outfielder Jaycob Brugman for assignment.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball