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]

BALTIMORE (AP) — There is a sense of urgency surrounding the Baltimore Orioles as they enter the 2018 season.For several years now, the Orioles have operated under manager Buck Showalter with a core group of players led by Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Zach Britton.All three of those stars, in addition to Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette, are in the final year of their contract.Knowing that significant change is coming for a team with three playoff appearances in the last six seasons, the Orioles are preparing to make one final thrust at greatness."We all understand that you're not going to play with the same group of guys forever," first baseman Chris Davis said. "We've done a lot of great things with this team, but we haven't reached the top yet. That's still the goal for each and every guy in here."Davis signed a 7-year, $161 million contract in 2016. The deal, designed to keep a playoff-quality club intact, could make it difficult for the cash-conscious Orioles to... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The swagger is back.The New York Yankees reached Game 7 of last year's AL Championship Series behind Baby Bombers Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and young ace Luis Severino. Then they added the mightiest slugger in the major leagues, Giancarlo Stanton, and brought in a new manager they think will lead them to World Series title No. 28."We already had a great team," Judge said, "but adding Stanton and a couple other pieces, we're going to be great. It's going to be a fun thing we have here."New York was second in the AL East to Boston last year at 91-71, up seven wins from 2016 and the Yankees' best record since 2012. They scored 858 runs, an increase of 178, and led the major leagues with 241 homers — including a rookie-record 52 by Judge.The major changes were signing Neil Walker to replace Starlin Castro at second and acquiring Brandon Drury from Arizona to take over from Todd Frazier at third."It's just a question of it being a long season and can everybody stay... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rebuilding time is over for the Philadelphia Phillies.When free-agent ace Jake Arrieta arrived at spring training on co-owner John Middleton's private plane, it signaled the start of a new era for this franchise.Stocked with young talent on the major-league roster and prospects in the minors, management sent a clear message that it will do whatever it takes to start winning after five straight losing seasons and 96 losses last year."I intend to come in here and win right away," Arrieta said.Even before the 2015 NL Cy Young award winner joined the Phillies, players were confident this team could contend this season."We're ready to win right now," third baseman Maikel Franco said. "We have a lot of talent here. We're on the same page."The Phillies signed veteran slugger Carlos Santana away from Cleveland in December and bolstered the bullpen by adding right-handers Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter. They waited on Arrieta and got him at their price — $75 million over three years... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — There is a sense of urgency surrounding the Baltimore Orioles as they enter the 2018 season.For several years now, the Orioles have operated under manager Buck Showalter with a core group of players led by Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Zach Britton.All three of those stars, in addition to Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette, are in the final year of their contract.Knowing that significant change is coming for a team with three playoff appearances in the last six seasons, the Orioles are preparing to make one final thrust at greatness."We all understand that you're not going to play with the same group of guys forever," first baseman Chris Davis said. "We've done a lot of great things with this team, but we haven't reached the top yet. That's still the goal for each and every guy in here."Davis signed a 7-year, $161 million contract in 2016. The deal, designed to keep a playoff-quality club intact, could make it difficult for the cash-conscious Orioles to... [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]

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]