MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Amid widespread concern about the coronavirus, Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish decided to be extra careful after he developed a cough this week.The Japanese right-hander visited with at least two doctors and stayed away from the team for a day before throwing three innings in a simulated game Friday.Darvish said he started to cough after practice Wednesday. He was still coughing and sneezing a little bit on Thursday, so he called Nao Masamoto in the Cubs' player development and amateur scouting department before going to the team's spring training facility.Darvish was met by team physician Dr. Stephen Adams in the parking lot, and Adams sent Darvish to a doctor's office to get checked. Darvish was scratched from his scheduled start against Texas.“I'm just coughing from two days ago and I feel different than usual, but I just make sure I'm good or not,” Darvish said Friday. “I don't want to be in the clubhouse, if I have the coronavirus or something like that, coming into... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Amid widespread concern about the coronavirus, Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish decided to be extra careful after he developed a cough this week.The Japanese right-hander visited with at least two doctors and stayed away from the team for a day before throwing three innings in a simulated game Friday.Darvish said he started to cough after practice Wednesday. He was still coughing and sneezing a little bit on Thursday, so he called Nao Masamoto in the Cubs' player development and amateur scouting department before going to the team's spring training facility.Darvish was met by team physician Dr. Stephen Adams in the parking lot, and Adams sent Darvish to a doctor's office to get checked. Darvish was scratched from his scheduled start against Texas.“I'm just coughing from two days ago and I feel different than usual, but I just make sure I'm good or not,” Darvish said Friday through a translator. “I don't want to be in the clubhouse, if I have the coronavirus or something... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Amid widespread concern about the coronavirus, Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish decided to be extra careful after he developed a cough this week.The Japanese right-hander visited with at least two doctors and stayed away from the team for a day before throwing three innings in a simulated game Friday.Darvish said he started to cough after practice Wednesday. He was still coughing and sneezing a little bit on Thursday, so he called Nao Masamoto in the Cubs' player development and amateur scouting department before coming over to the team's spring training facility.Darvish was met by team physician Stephen Adams in the parking lot, and Adams sent Darvish to a doctor's office to get checked out.“I'm just coughing from two days ago and I feel different than usual, but I just make sure I'm good or not,” Darvish said Friday through a translator. “I don't want to be in the clubhouse, if I have the coronavirus or something like that, coming into the clubhouse and spread to everybody,... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Steven Souza Jr. played in his third spring training game Wednesday, trying to make the most of an opportunity for quality playing time in the outfield for the Chicago Cubs this season.To make it to opening day healthy — a given for most players — would be a bigger deal for Souza, given that he hasn’t been able to do so in each of the past two years.Souza has overcome major knee surgery that cost him the entire 2019 season to be in Cubs camp and in position to earn a roster spot with the club.“What a blessing, I feel fantastic,” Souza said. “I’ve almost been waiting to not feel good. That probably sounds bad but I just think with how dramatic the surgery was, you just kind of are like waiting for something to be sore or even stiff.”But there is no discomfort for the moment, and Souza is running, swinging the bat and working out with nothing physical prohibiting him from doing what he enjoys the most. He’s got a bounce in his step, seen in the finger-snapping dance move... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton's intimidating presence was missing from the middle of the Yankees' lineup for a big chunk of 2019 because of an injury-filled season.As he tries to bounce back, the New York slugger will have his spring at-bats analyzed more than most.Spring training game action begins in Arizona on Friday with a meeting between the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals while the other 28 teams play their first exhibition games in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues on Saturday. The games — especially early in the spring — are often filled with young prospects and others who are longshots to make opening day rosters. Most veterans will be eased into games and their stats won't be particularly important as they tinker with batting stances, pitch repertoires and gradually build toward the first regular-season games on March 26.For others, the exhibition games are a little more important. Stanton is one of those exceptions.The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder played in just 18... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League West 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:___Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Dave Roberts (fifth season). 2019: 106-56, first place, lost to Nationals in Division Series. Training Town: Glendale, Arizona. Park: Camelback Ranch. First Workout: Feb. 14/18. He's Here: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Jimmy Nelson, 2B Clayton Daniel.He's Outta Here: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, RHP Kenta Maeda, LHP Rich Hill, OF Joc Pederson, OF Alex Verdugo, 1B David Freese, RHP Yimi Garcia, 3B Jedd Gyorko, C Russell Martin, RHP JT Chargois, 2B Kristopher Negron.Going campin': In what's become a familiar refrain, the Dodgers arrive at camp still looking for their first World Series championship since 1988. After losing in two straight World Series, they were ousted by Washington in five games in the NL Division Series last fall.... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National 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:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Cubs are taking two more low-risk fliers on a pair of players hoping to rebound from injuries, reaching one-year deals with reliever Jeremy Jeffress and outfielder Steven Souza Jr.Jeffress' contract is worth $850,000, and the 32-year-old right-hander can earn an additional $200,000 in incentives. A person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed the deal Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced.Souza finalized a $1 million deal that includes the possibility of $2 million in bonuses based on plate appearances and days on the active roster.Chicago has been unusually quiet this winter after missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2014. But the Cubs agreed to a minor league deal with Brandon Morrow in December, bringing back the closer after he missed last season while he struggled to return from right elbow surgery.Jeffress was one of baseball's most dominant relievers in 2018, making the All-Star team for the first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former All-Stars Blake Treinen, Aaron Sanchez and Addison Russell were among 56 players who became free agents along with current Gold Glove second baseman Yolmer Sánchez when their teams declined to offer 2020 contracts Monday rather than make them eligible for salary arbitration.Baltimore, faced with a similar decision, traded second baseman Jonathan Villar to Miami, which claimed first baseman Jesús Aguilar off waivers from Tampa Bay.One big-name free agent found a home: All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $64 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.For the second straight offseason, the Reds are making a splash as they try to shake themselves out of a rut of six straight losing seasons. Their first move involves getting a player from NL Central rival Milwaukee. The 31-year-old Moustakas could... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former All-Stars Blake Treinen, Aaron Sanchez and Addison Russell were among 56 players who became free agents along with current Gold Glove second baseman Yolmer Sánchez when their teams declined to offer 2020 contracts Monday rather than make them eligible for salary arbitration.Baltimore, faced with a similar decision, traded second baseman Jonathan Villar to Miami, which claimed first baseman Jesús Aguilar off waivers from Tampa Bay.One big-name free agent found a home: All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $64 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.For the second straight offseason, the Reds are making a splurge as they try to shake themselves out of a rut of six straight losing seasons. Their first move involves getting a player from the NL Central-rival Milwaukee Brewers. The 31-year-old could... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former All-Stars Blake Treinen, Aaron Sanchez and Addison Russell were among 56 players who became free agents along with current Gold Glove second baseman Yolmer Sánchez when their teams declined to offer 2020 contracts Monday rather than make them eligible for salary arbitration.Baltimore, faced with a similar decision, traded second baseman Jonathan Villar to Miami, which claimed first baseman Jesús Aguilar off waivers from Tampa Bay.One big-name free agent found a home: All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $64 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.For the second straight offseason, the Reds are making a splurge as they try to shake themselves out of a rut of six straight losing seasons. Their first move involves getting a player from the NL Central-rival Milwaukee Brewers. The 31-year-old could... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Diamondbacks did not offer 2020 contracts to outfielder Steven Souza Jr., pitcher Taijuan Walker and catcher Caleb Joseph, making them free agents.Souza, 30, missed last season because of a left knee injury after he slipped on home plate and tore multiple ligaments near the end of spring training. Souza’s best year was in 2017, when he hit 30 homers for the Tampa Bay Rays. He made $4,125,000.The 27-year-old Walker missed most of the last two years after Tommy John surgery. The right-hander pitched one inning during the last week of the 2019 season and made $5,025,000.Joseph, 33, spent a big chunk of the year in Triple-A and played in 20 games for Arizona, hitting .211 in 38 at-bats. He had a split contract calling for $1.1 million while in the majors and $250,000 in the minors.All three would have been eligible for arbitration had they been offered contracts.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jake Lamb is expected to be sidelined for about six weeks after straining his left quadriceps while running out a double this week.Lamb pulled up short at second base in the ninth inning of a 4-1 loss at San Diego on Wednesday. An MRI the next day revealed the extent of the injury."I'll start at six weeks and go from there," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Friday. "It could be more. It could be less. Obviously a big blow. Another big blow for us."Starting right fielder Steven Souza Jr. suffered a season-ending left knee injury near the end of spring training on March 25. Lamb and Souza were expected to hit in the middle of the order for a team that traded Paul Goldschmidt and lost A.J. Pollock to free agency in the offseason.Lamb played only 56 games last season after an injured left shoulder required season-ending surgery in August."Obviously, I'm bummed," Lamb said. "It's really frustrating. I was just getting my feet wet and getting back to feeling like a part of the team."Lamb was 4 for 15 with two RBIs while starting three games at third base and one at first base. He'd moved across the diamond this year with Eduardo Escobar at third.Christian Walker, who has three homers and six RBIs, is expected to receive the bulk of the time at first this season with Wilmer Flores also an option, Lovullo said.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:FOR OPENERSBryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout and everyone else is set to play, at last. All 30 teams are in action, with opening day on deck at Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium and ballparks in between. The forecast is pretty good in most places, with no snow or frosty temps expected, although rain is a possibility in Kansas City and Oakland.Chris Sale starts for the World Series champion Red Sox when they visit red-hot Seattle — well, the Mariners have started out 2-0 after sweeping the A's last week at the Tokyo Dome.CY AND SIGHJacob deGrom and Blake Snell get an early chance to defend their Cy Young Awards — first-time winners last year, they're pitching against the guys who were the runner-ups.DeGrom (10-9, MLB-leading 1.70 ERA) starts for the Mets when they face three-time Cy winner Max Scherzer (18-7, MLB-high 300 strikeouts) at Nationals Park. Snell (21-5, 1.89 ERA) starts for the Rays vs. Justin Verlander (16-9, AL-best 290 Ks)... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:FOR OPENERSBryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout and everyone else is set to play, at last. All 30 teams are in action, with opening day on deck at Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium and ballparks in between. The forecast is pretty good in most places, with no snow or frosty temps expected, although rain is a possibility in Kansas City and Oakland.Chris Sale starts for the World Series champion Red Sox when they visit red-hot Seattle — well, the Mariners have started out 2-0 after sweeping the A's last week at the Tokyo Dome.CY AND SIGHJacob deGrom and Blake Snell get an early chance to defend their Cy Young Awards — first-time winners last year, they're pitching against the guys who were the runner-ups.DeGrom (10-9, MLB-leading 1.70 ERA) starts for the Mets when they face three-time Cy winner Max Scherzer (18-7, MLB-high 300 strikeouts) at Nationals Park. Snell (21-5, 1.89 ERA) starts for the Rays vs. Justin Verlander (16-9, AL-best 290... [More]

Four-man outfields. High-tech anti-spying rules. A starting pitcher facing just one batter in a playoff game.But beyond all the shifts, analytics and social media outreach, here's the best way to tell Major League Baseball has zoomed into a new era: There's not a single active player left from the 20th century.Not one.Adrian Beltre and Bartolo Colon were the last, the Elias Sports Bureau said. And with all 30 teams set to play Thursday — from Bryce Harper's home debut at Citizens Bank Park to Mookie Betts and the champion Boston Red Sox visiting Seattle — this year MLB becomes the first of the four major sports without someone still around who played in the 1900s.The last time that was true in the big leagues? Back before even the World Series existed.Already this season, the great Ichiro Suzuki has retired, done at 45 after two hitless games last week as the Seattle Mariners swept Oakland at the Toyko Dome."I really wanted to play until I was 50, but I couldn't do it," he said.Yankees... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodger Stadium mound just won't look right on opening day without Clayton Kershaw standing on it.First base will also look pretty weird for the Arizona Diamondbacks without Paul Goldschmidt on the bag.For the first time since 2010, Kershaw won't be the Dodgers' opening day starter when they face the Diamondbacks on Thursday.And for the first time since 2011, Goldschmidt won't be Arizona's first baseman when a new season begins.Shoulder inflammation is sidelining Kershaw for at least a couple of weeks, sending the two-time defending NL champions into their quest for a third straight World Series trip without the superstar lefty who has been the cornerstone of their rotation for this entire decade.Kershaw's streak of eight straight opening day starts was the longest in the history of a franchise established in 1883. He has won five of those starts, also a Dodgers record, and has posted a sparkling 1.05 ERA on opening days.For a little perspective, the Dodgers' last... [More]

Jose Ramirez is expected to be in the Cleveland Indians' opening day lineup Thursday, four days after fouling a pitch off the area below his left knee.Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Ramirez should be ready to go for the opener at Minnesota. The All-Star third baseman worked out Monday and Tuesday in Arizona, testing his bruised left knee while Cleveland finished its exhibition schedule with games against the Rangers in Texas. Ramirez will join the team for a workout Wednesday in Minnesota.Ramirez left the field on a cart Sunday in an alarming scene for the Indians, who will already be without star shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Both players are working back from right calf strains.Ramirez had 39 home runs and 105 RBIs last season, finishing third in AL MVP voting for the second straight year.Cleveland lost to Texas 5-4 on Tuesday in its final spring training game. Mike Clevinger allowed four runs (two earned) in three innings. He walked two, struck... [More]

Jose Ramirez is expected to be in the Cleveland Indians' opening day lineup Thursday, four days after fouling a pitch off the area below his left knee.Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Ramirez should be ready to go for the opener at Minnesota. The All-Star third baseman worked out Monday and Tuesday in Arizona, testing his bruised left knee while Cleveland finished its exhibition schedule with games against the Rangers in Texas. Ramirez will join the team for a workout Wednesday in Minnesota.Ramirez left the field on a cart Sunday in an alarming scene for the Indians, who will already be without star shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Both players are working back from right calf strains.Ramirez had 39 home runs and 105 RBIs last season, finishing third in AL MVP voting for the second straight year.Cleveland lost to Texas 5-4 on Tuesday in its final spring training game. Mike Clevinger allowed four runs (two earned) in three innings. He walked two, struck... [More]

With opening day just around the corner, the list of notable players who are going to be absent keeps growing.World Series MVP Steve Pearce will start the season on the injured list for the Boston Red Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. went down with a knee injury Monday night when he slipped on home plate.Earlier in the day, Baltimore put scheduled opening-day starter Alex Cobb on the 10-day injured list with a strained right groin.Pearce exited an exhibition game last weekend due to discomfort in his left calf. The right-handed batter normally platoons with lefty-hitting Mitch Moreland at first base, but the Red Sox will begin defense of their championship Thursday in Seattle without Pearce."We have to do it that way," manager Alex Cora said. "It makes sense for us, it makes sense for him. He should be back sooner rather than later but he won't be ready for Seattle, so why take a chance?"Sam Travis will likely make the team and take Pearce's spot on the opening-day... [More]