SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles claimed infielder Andrew Velazquez on waivers from the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. Velazquez, a 25-year-old from the Bronx, has hit .152 in 28 games with Tampa Bay and Cleveland and joins a crowded competion for an infield spot with Baltimore. Last season, he hit .087 (2 for 23) in 15 games with the Rays and Indians. He's played six positions in the major leagues. To make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated infielder Richard Urena, who had been claimed on waivers from Toronto on January 10, for assignment. Baltimore has 68 players on its spring training roster. NOTE: 1B Chris Davis was sent home on Wednesday due to illness. __More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton imagined having the advantage the Houston Astros gained in their scam."If knew what was coming in '17, I probably would have hit 80-plus home runs," he said Wednesday.Stanton agreed with teammate Aaron Judge that the Astros should be stripped of their 2017 World Series title and that they kept on cheating during the 2019 season.Major League Baseball concluded the Astros used a video camera to steal catcher’s signs in 2017, including during the postseason, and in 2018. "They did their investigation and it was clear-cut that they cheated that year, which means it should be taken away," Stanton said. "If you cheat in another way during the season, you can't even be in the playoffs. It's pretty much the same difference."Houston owner Jim Crane said at a news conference last week he wasn't sure how much of an advantage the sign stealing was for his team.Houston beat the Yankees in a seven-game AL Championship Series in 2017, winning... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Commissioner Rob Manfred’s stern warning covering the intentional beaning of Houston players in the wake of the Astros' sign-stealing scandal hasn’t stopped an offshore sports book from publishing odds on a variety of bets related to possible plunkings.The player who’s the favorite to get hit the most according to these odds? Third baseman Alex Bregman, whose news conference apology last week was not well received.The possibility of Houston’s hitters being intentionally hit this season has become a topic of discussion after pitchers around the league have either said or implied they would throw at them. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling, who was on the team that lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series, said he would “lean toward yes” when asked if he would consider throwing at Houston batters this season. Cleveland right-hander Mike Clevinger, who has been outspoken against the Astros since the cheating scandal emerged, said he doesn’t think “it’s... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred apologized Tuesday for what he called a disrespectful reference to the World Series trophy as a “piece of metal.”Even before being asked about it, Manfred said he made a mistake with those comments when trying to deliver a rhetorical point in an interview two days earlier.“I referred to the World Series trophy in a disrespectful way, and I want to apologize for it,” Manfred said. "There's no excuse for it. ... It was a mistake to say what I said."MLB players, already upset with Manfred's handling of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal and some of his comments in trying to explain it, became further infuriated by his “piece of metal” comment during a lengthy interview with ESPN on Sunday, the same day he spoke in Florida.Even NBA superstar LeBron James joined the anti-Astros chorus, voicing his anger on social media Tuesday.While speaking at the Cactus League media day in the Arizona desert, Manfred also pledged Tuesday to protect... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Commissioner Rob Manfred’s stern warning that the intentional beaning of the Houston Astros in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal hasn’t stopped an offshore sports book from publishing odds on a variety bets related to their possible plunking.The player who’s the favorite to get hit the most according to these odds? Third baseman Alex Bregman, whose news conference apology last week was not well received.The possibility of Houston’s hitters being intentionally hit this season has become a topic of discussion after pitchers around the league have either said or implied that they’d throw at them this season. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling, whose was on the team that lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series, said he would “lean toward yes” when asked if he would consider throwing at Houston batters this season. Cleveland right-hander Mike Clevinger, who has been outspoken against the Astros since the cheating scandal emerged, said he doesn’t... [More]

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Christin Stewart homered in the top of the 10th inning to lift Detroit to a win in its season opener last year. A few days later, Spencer Turnbull took the mound for the Tigers as the starting pitcher for their first home game.Those are moments each player can look back on with pride, but both enter 2020 with a lot still to prove.The Tigers are still rebuilding after losing 114 games last season, and it remains to be seen how players like Stewart and Turnbull fit into their future. Both are a little old to be considered prospects, but they're still fairly inexperienced. This year is a chance to show they can be consistent contributors at the big league level.Stewart hit at least 25 home runs for three straight years in the minors. Then last season, he played 104 games for the Tigers, batting .233 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs.“That's going to help a lot. Having that year under my belt, it's another year facing those big league pitchers and being on the big league field... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — As far as Tim Anderson is concerned, winning a batting title doesn't change his status. Anderson led the major leagues with a .335 average last season for the Chicago White Sox. Despite a sprained ankle that limited him to 123 games, he hit 18 homers and stole 17 bases.The 26-year-old shortstop has emerged as a leader on a White Sox team seeking the franchise's first postseason berth since 2008. When Chicago failed to sign Manny Machado ahead of the 2019 season, Anderson told teammates not to get down and said: "Ride with us or get run over."“I just felt like everybody was depending on somebody that really wasn't here,” Anderson said this week. “So when everybody saw that it's was like we took a blow — no, we didn't! I'll fill that in for you guys.”"No hate against Machado, I wish him the best, rooting for him, but we had to do what we had to do here on the South Side to get to where we're trying to go," Anderson said. "He didn't want to be a part of it, and that's... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Chris Davis was so despondent last September about his prolonged woes, the slumping slugger considered drastic action. He thought about walking away from the Baltimore Orioles, the game of baseball and a rich contract.A two-time major league home run champion with a $161 million, seven-year deal, Davis has struggled mightily the last two seasons.In 2018, he hit just .168 — the lowest among all qualified major league batters — with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs, along with 192 strikeouts in 128 games. Last year wasn't much better. Davis hit only .179 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 105 games. He also began the season hitless in his first 33 at-bats, extended an overall that reached 0 for 54.Those sad stats were a long way from the 53 home runs he hit in 2013 and the 47 more he launched in 2015. That last bunch of longballs convinced the Orioles to hand him the biggest contract in team history, a seven-year pact at $23 million per season.His overall totals in the first four... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — The future of the Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation is now, with left-hander Justus Sheffield virtually assured of a spot and fellow rising prospect Justin Dunn a top contender to join the group.Both got a taste of the big leagues last season when they made their Mariners debuts. This season they figure to be a major part of Seattle’s rebuilding process as it enters its second year following a 68-94 season.“Every year’s a step forward, but mainly this year I’m looking forward to going out there and competing and changing this thing around,” said Sheffield, who was 0-1 in eight games, including seven starts, and posted a 5.50 ERA over 36 innings. The club appears to have set expectations for Sheffield, which he appreciates. “As they should,” he said. “As anyone should. Everyone has a sense of responsibility of going out there and proving what they can do.”Sheffield, 23, is in his second spring training with the Mariners. He’s learned from last season that baseball... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Twins right fielder Max Kepler didn’t get to watch a lot of major league baseball growing up in Germany. The games he did did see included many Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees matchups, which caused him to become a big fan of Derek Jeter.“I loved watching Jeter, even though I’m a lefty and the complete opposite of what he was,” Kepler said Tuesday before Minnesota’s second full-squad workout. “He was the guy I really looked up to.”The 27-year-old Kepler never played against the Yankees shortstop but learned from afar by watching how Jeter handled himself on the field.“He was in the league for plenty of seasons and had countless awards and recognitions,” Kepler said. “He would go out there every year and play as if he was a rookie fighting for his job, which impressed me.”Kepler hopes that he’ll learn what it takes to establish a lengthy career.“To keep that type of consistency is tough because you can get full of your success, any success,” Kepler said. “I’ve been... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge did not hit or throw during the team's first full squad workout on Tuesday because of what the team said was a minor right shoulder issue.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the problem is not considered serious and Judge could start to ramp up activities in a couple days. Judge is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season."Just dealing with some crankiness, a little soreness in his shoulder," Boone said. “I feel like it's a pretty minor thing. Just something we wanted to try and get ahead of while we're at this point at this point in the calendar.” Judge had a number of tests, including an MRI, and did conditioning.The outfielder hit .272 with 27 homers with 55 RBIs in 102 games last season. He was on the injured list from April 21 to June 21 with a left oblique strain.Judge was scheduled to talk with reporters later Tuesday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/ML B and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was not in any batting practice group for the team's first full squad workout on Tuesday because of a minor right shoulder issue.The problem is not considered serious and Judge is expected to take part in other drills.The outfielder hit .272 with 27 homers with 55 RBIs in 102 games last season. He was on the injured list from April 21-June 21 with a left oblique strain.Judge is scheduled to talk with reporters following the workout.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Elvis Andrus has a few aging distinctions going into his 12th major league season. The only player left in the Texas Rangers clubhouse to wear that uniform in a World Series, the 31-year-old shortstop is the club's longest-tenured player by five years and expected to be the oldest regular starting shortstop in the majors.“I still believe I'm a rookie," Andrus said Monday, when the Rangers had their first full-squad workout. “I never want to feel comfortable. I always want to feel that somebody is going to take my job, and that's the mentality and that's the reality of the game." Andrus hit .275 last season — matching his career average through 1,623 regular-season games. He was hitting .361 through the season's first month and was at .309 by the end of June, then batted .240 over the final 74 games of the season while Texas skidded to its third straight losing season since AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Second-year manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers “were pretty... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Elvis Andrus has a few aging distinctions going into his 12th major league season. The only player left in the Texas Rangers clubhouse to wear that uniform in a World Series, the 31-year-old shortstop is the club's longest-tenured player by five years and expected to be the oldest regular starting shortstop in the majors.“I still believe I'm a rookie," Andrus said Monday, when the Rangers had their first full-squad workout. “I never want to feel comfortable. I always want to feel that somebody is going to take my job, and that's the mentality and that's the reality of the game." Andrus hit .275 last season — matching his career average through 1,623 regular-season games. He was hitting .361 through the season's first month and was at .309 by the end of June, then batted .240 over the final 74 games of the season while Texas skidded to its third straight losing season since AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Second-year manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers “were pretty... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Elvis Andrus has a few aging distinctions going into his 12th major league season. The only player left in the Texas Rangers clubhouse to wear that uniform in a World Series, the 31-year-old shortstop is the club's longest-tenured player by five years and expected to be the oldest regular starting shortstop in the majors.“I still believe I'm a rookie," Andrus said Monday, when the Rangers had their first full-squad workout. “I never want to feel comfortable. I always want to feel that somebody is going to take my job, and that's the mentality and that's the reality of the game." Andrus hit .275 last season — matching his career average through 1,623 regular-season games. He was hitting .361 through the season's first month and was at .309 by the end of June, then batted .240 over the final 74 games of the season while Texas skidded to its third straight losing season since AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Second-year manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers “were pretty... [More]

GOODYEAR, Arizona (AP) — For now, Francisco Lindor isn't going anywhere. And, if he had his way, he'd never leave Cleveland.“My approach this year is winning here,’’ the four-time All-Star shortstop said Monday following the Indians' first full-squad workout of training camp. “I want to win here. I want to stay here in Cleveland; this is home. I’m not playing to get traded to put myself in a good spot to get traded … I am playing to win. I want to win here.”There's no way of knowing Lindor's future. He's under contract for two more seasons, but the Indians may not be able to afford to keep him and it's possible they'll have to trade him at some point rather than risk him walking away as a free agent in 2021.Lindor can't worry about what might happen, so he's concentrating on the here and now.“I am focusing on what I have in front of my toes,” he said. "We have a great group of guys in the clubhouse, a great coaching staff. I want to spend the whole year with them and win.’’The Indians'... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — These are the new sounds of spring for the Houston Astros: a fan banging on a trash can, another calling José Altuve a cheater.That's what greeted the Astros during their first full-squad workout at camp Monday. And with so many around baseball not ready to forgive or forget their sign stealing, this won’t be the last time they hear it.Meanwhile, the two-time AL champions say they are focused on ignoring the noise, and hope the official start of spring training can signal a step forward for their scandal-ridden team. “I understand the severity of the situation, I truly do,” outfielder George Springer said. “But I think ... the best thing for our game to try to do and especially for us is to try to put this behind us, however that’s possible.”The Astros have been bombarded with questions about the sign-stealing scam since arriving in Florida. A news conference last week with owner Jim Crane, Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman featuring poorly worded apologies... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno acknowledges he scrapped the proposed trade that would have landed Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling from the Dodgers.Moreno also says the Angels can make an even bigger trade for an elite starting pitcher if they get a chance this season.Moreno covered many topics in his annual informal conversation with reporters on the training fields outside Tempe Diablo Stadium. He is excited about the potential impact of $245 million third baseman Anthony Rendon and optimistic about his pitching staff's ability to improve after a poor season.Moreno also is eager to move on from the scuttled trade that would have sent infielder Luis Rengifo and a prospect to the Dodgers for Pederson and Stripling earlier in the month.Both veterans likely would have played immediately for the Angels, but Moreno called off the talks around the deal while the Dodgers' blockbuster deal with Boston was delayed for several days.“It wasn't all impatience,” Moreno said.... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Trout thinks the Houston Astros should pay more dearly for their cheating ways.The Los Angeles Angels' three-time AL MVP ripped the Astros and questioned the discipline handed out by Major League Baseball on Monday after he reported to spring training. Trout joined the chorus of prominent big leaguers angry about Houston's rampant sign stealing on its way to the 2017 World Series title and beyond.“It’s sad for baseball,” he said. "It’s tough. They cheated. I don’t agree with the punishments, the players not getting anything. It was a player-driven thing. It sucks, too, because guys' careers have been affected. A lot of people lost jobs. It was tough.“Me going up to the plate knowing what was coming? It would be fun up there. A lot of guys lost respect for some of the guys.”Trout said a few members of the Astros reached out to him during the offseason to explain their side, but Trout didn't sound impressed.“You don’t know what helped them or what not,” he said. “But... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres feels the Houston Astros cheated "for sure" during the 2019 season.Major League Baseball found that the Astros used electronics to illegally steal catcher's signs in 2017 and part of 2018 but not 2019.Houston players have apologized for rules violations in their 2017 World Series championship run and also in 2018 but deny any misdeeds in 2019, when the Astros beat the Yankees in the AL Championship Series for the second time in three seasons.“No, I don't believe them,” Torres said on Monday. “If you cheat in 2017 and you won, why don't do it the next year and the next year, too?"As an example, Torres talked about playing video games with pitcher Luis Severino in which he took advantage repeatedly after seeing his teammate's control panel.Torres heard from others about possible Astros cheating but didn't believe it.“First of all, it's not respect to baseball when you cheat,” Torres said. “We feel frustration. We play, our team, legal, while... [More]