NEW YORK (AP) — Players agreed to a deal with Major League Baseball that would preserve service time in the event this season is canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but left open details of what a configured schedule would look like.As part of the agreement approved by the union Thursday night, players will not challenge the loss of their salaries if no games are played. Management will advance $170 million in salary payments over two stages, and that money does not have to be returned if the season is canceled. Player salaries this year are expected to total roughly $4 billion.Management was given the right to cut the amateur draft in both 2020 and 2021, and to freeze the values of signing bonus money at 2019 levels.Details were divulged to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the agreement who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.Teams are set to approve the roughly 17-page agreement Friday, the person said.Opening day was to have been Thursday,... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rangers left fielder Willie Calhoun says he has been cleared to resume workouts in his recovery from a broken jaw. Calhoun tweeted Thursday that he was ready to start his daily workouts and baseball activities again. The Texas outfielder had surgery March 9, a day after he was hit in the face by a fastball during a spring training game and suffered a broken jaw. A plate was inserted to stabilize the jaw. His tweet came on the same day that was scheduled to be opening day before the coronavirus pandemic indefinitely pushed back the start the MLB season. “Willie being healthy is going to help us a lot,” manager Chris Woodward said earlier this week. “That was going to be a big black eye for us to start the season, and now it won't be because he will be healthy. He can't wait to get started."Calhoun hit .269 with 21 homers in 83 games last season. He became the starting left fielder after the Rangers traded outfielders Delino DeShields and Nomar Mazara over the winter. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mike Trout hit two home runs off Zack Greinke and scored four times to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 9-6 on opening day. Alas, the game was played on a computer, not on the field. But as fans of the popular sports game Strat-O-Matic can attest, make-believe boxscores can be fun too.Fifteen of them were generated Thursday by Strat-O-Matic — one for every real game postponed on opening day because of the coronavirus. The results came via computer simulations, which the New York-based company will continue to run daily while the real thing is on hiatus.“People miss baseball, us included,” said Adam Richman, whose father created Strat-O-Matic as an 11-year-old in 1948. “This is a way to bring a little bit of baseball to everyone in their homes. We know baseball will be back, but until then there’s Strat-O-Matic.”Howie Kendrick hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the ninth inning to help the World Series champion Nationals beat the Mets 4-3. Pinch hitter Brock Holt's three-run... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Right-hander Michael Kopech was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte by the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.The 23-year-old is among the top pitching prospects. He missed last season after he had Tommy John surgery in September 2018, but he hit triple-digits on the radar gun during his first spring training appearance on March 10.Kopech was acquired by Chicago in the December 2016 trade that sent Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox. Kopech made his big league debut in 2018, going 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA in four starts.His salary in the minors is $277,500, down from the minimum $563,500 in the majors.Chicago was scheduled to host the Kansas City Royals on Thursday on opening day, but the start of the season has been pushed back until mid-May at the earliest because of the new coronavirus pandemic.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — It's been another ideal week of March weather in central Arizona, with highs in the 70s and plenty of sunshine.Perfect for an opening day baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves that isn't happening as planned because of the coronavirus pandemic. That reality was starkly apparent on Thursday, as a nearly deserted Chase Field sat in strange silence.But the pleasant weather was also a reminder of what could happen when and if the games resume. After all, it's a lot like what November or even December baseball would feel like in this part of the world. In the upside-down universe of Major League Baseball — which is on hold until at least mid-May and quite possibly longer as the world fights the coronavirus spread — just about anything is possible if the 2020 season ever begins.“Every year, you hope to host the World Series,” Arizona owner Ken Kendrick said earlier this month when discussing options for a pushed back season, including neutral sites in... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The morning dawned bright and sunny over Kauffman Stadium, just to the east of downtown Kansas City. The outfield grass was a perfectly manicured ocean of green, the infield dirt brushed as if by a fine-toothed comb. In the air was a pervasive feeling of spring, of hope and opportunity and new beginnings.All that was missing was the crack of a bat and the sound of leather hitting a mitt.This was supposed to be the first opening day for the Kansas City Royals under new owner John Sherman, the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition for the local businessman. He had purchased the club late last year from longtime owner David Glass, and the former season ticket-holder was looking forward to seeing his rebuilding franchise on the field.Instead, the stadium sat empty as the outbreak of the new coronavirus brings sports to a standstill, and amid the continuing uncertainty whether baseball will be played at all this season.“We wish that we were playing baseball today,” Sherman... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There will be no hot dogs on the grill, no beer on tap, no vendors in the stands selling peanuts and Cracker Jack. The shiny new stadium deep in the heart of Texas will still be waiting for its first Rangers game. Instead of warming up for his debut with the New York Yankees after a record $324 million, nine-year contract, Gerrit Cole is playing catch with his wife at home. With the start of the Major League Baseball season indefinitely on hold because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, ballparks will be empty Thursday on what was supposed to be opening day. “You’re used to seeing people run all over the place. We have over 200 people (who work) at the park,” said Roger Bossard, the groundskeeper in his 54th year with the Chicago White Sox. “Certainly, it’s eerie when no one’s around. You walk around the hallways or underneath the stands there, and there’s nobody there — but understandably.”From Baltimore to Miami in the east, San Diego to Seattle in the west — and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Injured New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge still has not resumed baseball activities.Judge did not play in any spring training games because of discomfort in his right pectoral muscle and shoulder that he felt when swinging. The Yankees said March 6 that the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year had a stress fracture to his first right rib, an injury likely dating from a diving catch late last season.“Aaron is still in the healing phase of that that rib bone, and I think he'll be reevaluated again in a few weeks as far as re-imaging that to see if there's the continued healing with that rib,” manager Aaron Boone said during a conference call Wednesday. “He's been able to work out doing a lot of lower body stuff, is able to do some some upper body stuff, some overhead things.”Judge revealed last week he also had a collapsed lung and said he has recovered from that. Boone said that injury likely occurred during the diving catch but “it's probably something that it's impossible to... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Injured New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge still has not resumed baseball activities.Judge did not play in any spring training games because of discomfort in his right pectoral muscle and shoulder that he felt when swinging. The Yankees said March 6 that the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year had a stress fracture to his first right rib, an injury likely dating from a diving catch late last season.“Aaron is still in the healing phase of that that rib bone, and I think he'll be reevaluated again in a few weeks as far as re-imaging that to see if there's the continued healing with that rib,” manager Aaron Boone said during a conference call Wednesday. “He's been able to work out doing a lot of lower body stuff, is able to do some some upper body stuff, some overhead things.”Judge revealed last week he also had a collapsed lung and said he has recovered from that. Boone said that injury likely occurred during the diving catch but “it's probably something that it's impossible to... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There will be no hot dogs on the grill, no beer on tap, no vendors in the stands selling peanuts and Cracker Jack. The shiny new stadium deep in the heart of Texas will still be waiting for its first Rangers game. Instead of warming up for his debut with the New York Yankees after a record $324 million, nine-year contract, Gerrit Cole is playing catch with his wife at home. With the start of the Major League Baseball season indefinitely on hold because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, ballparks will be empty Thursday on what was supposed to be opening day. “You’re used to seeing people run all over the place. We have over 200 people (who work) at the park,” said Roger Bossard, the groundskeeper in his 54th year with the Chicago White Sox. “Certainly, it’s eerie when no one’s around. You walk around the hallways or underneath the stands there, and there’s nobody there — but understandably.”From Baltimore to Miami in the east, San Diego to Seattle in the west — and... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — With no sign of when training camps can resume, Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro says he thinks Major League Baseball would need at least a month of workouts and exhibition games before regular season play can begin.Opening day has been postponed until at least mid-May because of the coronavirus pandemic.“Knowing that so many players are not even having any access to throwing at all or hitting at all, but most importantly just throwing, and probably limited access to just training and exercise, it’s hard to imagine we could get ready in less than four weeks,” Shapiro said in a teleconference with Toronto reporters.Shapiro cautioned that training camps aren’t likely to reopen for some time yet.“I do think that we’re, by and large, waiting for some sort of flattening of the curve and recognition that we have done our best to limit the strain on the healthcare system and the economic system,” he said. “Until that time, the exact outcome and impact on our schedule, and... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge revealed he had a collapsed lung that has healed and said his broken rib is improving.Judge had a CT scan on Friday. The Yankees announced two weeks ago that Judge had a stress fracture to his first right rib. “The bone is still about the same, slight improvement,” Judge said as he left Steinbrenner Field. "The bone is healing the way it should be, so probably another test here in a couple more weeks and go from there."Judge added the scan showed a "pneumothorax came back completely gone.""A little thing on the lung that we were having a little issue with, but that was all healed up." Judge said. “Good to go. Which means I can fly if I needed to go home.”The 27-year-old didn't played in any spring training games because of soreness in his right pectoral muscle and shoulder.With opening day pushed back into mid-May at the earliest due to the new coronovirus, Judge has more time to recover without missing games."That's the silver lining... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale will have Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, an operation that would keep him out the entire 2020 baseball season if and when it resumes after the coronavirus pandemic.The team made the announcement on Thursday, two weeks after saying that the left-hander who turns 31 later this month had a flexor strain near the elbow. At the time, the Red Sox hoped Sale would avoid the operation that usually requires a full year of recovery.Opening day, originally scheduled for next week, has been pushed back until at least mid-May due to the coronavirus outbreak. Sale missed the start of spring training with an illness that the team described as a flu that morphed into pneumonia.A Red Sox spokesman did not immediately respond to an email asking if Sale has been tested for COVID-19.Sale is 109-73 in 10 major league seasons is entering the second season of a six-year, $160 million contract. After helping the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, he went 6-11... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale will have Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, an operation that would keep him out the entire 2020 baseball season if and when it resumes after the coronavirus pandemic.The team made the announcement on Thursday, two weeks after saying that the 30-year-old left-hander had a flexor strain near the elbow. At the time, the Red Sox hoped Sale would avoid the operation that usually requires a full year to recover from.Sale is 109-73 in 10 major league seasons is entering the second season of a six-year, $160 million contract. After helping the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, he went 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts last year, his fewest wins and starts and highest ERA in a full season since 2012. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale to have Tommy John surgery, miss season.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A second New York Yankees minor leaguer has tested positive for the new coronavirus.The player, while in self-quarantine, reported fatigue and an elevated temperature to medical personnel with the Yankees, according to the team. The player was tested Sunday and returned to self-quarantine after the positive result.“We can also report that within the past 48 hours his symptoms have dissipated,” the team said.New York had announced a first positive test on Sunday, and general manager Brian Cashman said the player had been isolated and the Florida Department of Health notified.The two Yankees minor leaguers are the only baseball players known to have tested positive.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus within a few weeks.While... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Catcher Jake Rogers was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday by the The Detroit Tigers.Rogers faced a tough competition for playing time after Detroit acquired catchers Austin Romine and Eric Haase in the offseason. Rogers made his big league debut last season, hitting .125 in 35 games. He was obtained by Detroit in the 2017 deal that sent Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros.Opening day has been delayed to mid-May at the earliest because of the new coronavirus.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander had surgery on his right groin Tuesday and is expected to be out about six weeks. General manager James Click made the announcement. The timing gives Verlander time to heal before opening day, which had been pushed back to mid-May at the earliest because of the new coronavirus.Verlander dealt with the problem early in spring training. His first start was delayed until March 3 because of discomfort in his right groin. He made two starts pitching 4 2/3 innings with a 3.86 ERA. Verlander left his second start on March 8 with a mild strain of a back muscle and said at the time that it would be unlikely that he would be able to start the scheduled March 26 opener against the Los Angeles Angels.Click said the Astros first thought Verlander could recover from the groin injury with physical therapy. “After a recent setback in his rehab, the medical staff recommended that a surgical procedure was necessary," Click said.Verlander, who won the AL Cy Young Award last season, has made each of his scheduled starts for the Astros since he was acquired from Detroit in August 2017. Verlander was 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA last season and led the majors in wins and innings (223). The 37-year-old is entering his 16th season in the major leagues. Verlander, who won his first Cy Young Award in 2011 when he was also was voted AL MVP, is 225-129 with a 3.33 ERA and 3,006 strikeouts. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A second New York Yankees minor leaguer has tested positive for the new coronavirus, a person familiar with the diagnosis told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team had not yet made the announcement.New York had announced a first positive test on Sunday, and general manager Brian Cashman said the player had been isolated and the Florida Department of Health notified.The two Yankees minor leaguers are the only baseball players known to have tested positive.For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus within a few weeks.While Major League Baseball canceled the rest of the spring training schedule last week and has delayed opening day until mid-May at the earliest, Yankees... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Second baseman Joe Panik was added to the 40-man major league roster by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.Toronto selected the contract of the 29-year-old from Triple-A Buffalo and placed right-hander Yennsy Diaz on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain.Panik gets a one-year contract paying a $2.85 million salary while in the major leagues and a $195,000 salary in the minors. He can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 each for 400, 450 and 500 plate appearances.Panik hit .381 with a triple, two home runs and five RBIs in 21 at-bats over 10 spring training games. The left-handed hitter batted .244 with five homers and 39 RBIs in 438 at-bats last year for the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. Panik became a free agent after the season and agreed to a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in January.He has a .271 average with 38 homers and 233 RBIs in six seasons with the Giants and Mets. He was an All-Star in 2015.Diaz, 23, was 11-9 with a 3.74 ERA last year in 24 starts and two relief appearances for Double-A New Hampshire. He pitched two-thirds of an inning for Toronto at Baltimore on Aug. 4 in his big league debut, his only major league appearance.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports