NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — As Marcell Ozuna spoke with a reporter, Felix Hernandez passed by.The two gave each other a greeting using their pinkies. Before that, the Atlanta Braves new left-fielder had a conversation with a minor leaguer. Even though he delivered some huge blows to Atlanta in the 2019 NL Division Series and made it clear he wanted to stay in St. Louis, Ozuna seems like he’s fitting in well with the Braves.And he was quick to say how much he was enjoying camp before Major League Baseball suspended the rest of its spring training game schedule Thursday because of the coronavirus. MLB also pushed back the start of the season by at least two weeks.Before that news broke, Ozuna had declared how much he is enjoying being with the Braves.“The front office and everyone here. I love them," he said. “I think it’ll be a good year for me. Making the playoffs and winning the World Series is a goal. I don’t worry about anything else.”Ozuna is expected to anchor a corner off the outfield... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball delayed the start of its season by at least two weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak and suspended the rest of its spring training game schedule.Opening day had been scheduled for March 26. The decision announced by Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday left open whether each team would still play a 162-game schedule.“It’s unfortunate but I think it’s the proper measure we need to take now given the situation the country’s in and the world’s in," New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton said. "It’s important to know that some things are bigger than baseball, bigger than sports at the moment. Once we’re able to hopefully get a hold on some things and get some questions answered we can figure out when things can continue.”The announcement came while some spring training games in Florida were still in progress. MLB followed the NBA, NHL, MLS and college basketball tournaments in altering its schedule because of the pandemic. The minor league baseball... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A year after moving on from Bryce Harper, the Washington Nationals must move on from Anthony Rendon. No one accumulated more homers or RBIs for the Nationals in 2019 than Rendon. Just like no one accumulated more homers or RBIs for the Nationals in 2018 than Harper.Might not seem simple to overcome the departure of a middle-of-the-order All-Star who hit 34 homers and drove in a majors-best 126 runs while playing well at third base. That is what Rendon did last season along the way to winning a World Series title, before signing for $245 million over seven years with the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent. "It's big. Time will tell, I think, because he did a lot of things for our team, for our lineup, that maybe you can't quantify," Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle said. "Just kind of the player that he was, the teammate that he was, what his presence did. .. We're going to need new guys to step up."Still, the end result of a championship in the immediate aftermath... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — It's clear when Joe Girardi walks into a room that he's the man in charge.There's a different vibe surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies in spring training thanks to their new manager with the impressive resume. Girardi commands respect without having to demand it. He has a confident swagger that resonates with players because he's won four World Series as a player and manager. "He has a really calm, confident demeanor," All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto said. "When he speaks, everybody listens because he's so intelligent and what he says makes sense all the time."Girardi managed the New York Yankees for 10 years, succeeding Joe Torre after the 2007 season. He led New York to three AL East titles, six postseason appearances and its 27th World Series title, beating the Phillies in six games in 2009.He also managed the Marlins for one season and was NL Manager of the Year after going 78-84 in 2006, the only manager to win the award with a losing record. Girardi's record... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will be out for several more games because of a sore right elbow.Goldschmidt's throwing was limited by the Cardinals during the start of spring training, and he made his first two exhibition starts as a designated hitter. He has not played since Sunday.Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Wednesday he expected the 32-year-old Goldschmidt to miss a couple more games.“He's had off and on discomfort,” Shildt said.The six-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner is hitting .300 with two homers in 20 spring training at-bats.Goldschmidt hit .260 with 34 homers and 97 RBIs last year for the NL Central champions after the Cardinals acquired him in an offseason trade with Arizona. His batting average was more than 30 points below his career average.Right-hander Miles Mikolas was scheduled to play catch on Wednesday as part of his rehabilitation from a flexor tendon injury in his throwing arm. The 2018 All-Star received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Feb. 18 and is expected to miss the first month of the season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez missed batting practice Tuesday because he has the flu and will be re-evaluated later this week.Manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez, sidelined since the weekend by a sore back, was examined by team doctors.“He had the fever last night, “ Boone said. ”They tested him and it was positive for the flu, He'll be away from us for the next couple days, at least. We'll see where he's at that point.”Sánchez is to be evaluated again Friday.He played consecutive games for the first time this year on Thursday and Friday, then felt back soreness on Saturday and hasn't played since. He took part in catching drills Monday and was scheduled to resume batting practice on Tuesday.Yankees ace Gerrit Cole missed a couple days last week because of a fever.Outfielder-designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who strained his right calf during defensive drills on Feb, 26, will start running outdoors Wednesday or Thursday. Stanton, expected to be out until sometime in April, has been playing catch and hitting in an indoor cage.Left-hander James Paxton is scheduled to start a throwing program Wednesday as part of his rehabilitation from back surgery on Feb. 5 for a herniated disk and the removal of a cyst. He likely will be sidelined until May or June.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - (AP) — Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer was scratched from Tuesday's scheduled start against Miami because of fatigue on his right side.“There's not even a strain. There's no MRIs. There's nothing like that,” Scherzer said. “This is purely just a fatigue and endurance thing.”The 35-year-old right-hander said his right side has lagged behind the rest of his body as he attempts to build strength in preparation for the season.The fatigue is in the area of the latissimus dorsi, serratus and oblique muscles.“It's the one spot that's a little bit behind,” Scherzer said.He currently isn't feeling pain when he throws.“In the grand scheme of things, knock on wood, arm, shoulder, elbow, that all feels great,” Scherzer said.Scherzer had made three spring training starts. He expects to pitch Sunday against the Mets and remain on track to start the World Series champions' opener on March 26 at New York. Nationals manager Dave Martinez has not announced his opening day... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - (AP) — Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer was scratched from Tuesday's scheduled start against Miami because of fatigue on his right side.“There's not even a strain. There's no MRIs. There's nothing like that,” Scherzer said. “This is purely just a fatigue and endurance thing.”The 35-year-old right-hander said his right side has lagged behind the rest of his body as he attempts to build strength in preparation for the season.“In the grand scheme of things, knock on wood, arm, shoulder, elbow, that all feels great,” Scherzer said.Scherzer had made three spring training starts. He expects to pitch Sunday against the Mets and remain on track to start the World Series champions' opener on March 26 at New York. Nationals manager Dave Martinez has not announced his opening day starter.Scherzer is followed in the rotation by World Series MVP, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and Aníbal Sánchez. There is a competition for the fifth slot.A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer was 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA last year, when he pitched 172 1/3 innings during the regular season and 30 in the postseason.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston ace Justin Verlander has a mild strain of a back muscle and said it would “probably take a miracle” for him to pitch on opening day at home against the Los Angeles Angels on March 26.In an effort to remain positive, Verlander quickly added, “but I don't want to leave miracles off the table.”The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was hurt on his second-to-last pitch in Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Mets. He had an MRI on Monday and was diagnosed with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle. There is not a timetable for his return.“Talking with doctors and looking at the scans, it's definitely not worst-case scenario,” the Astros right-hander said. “Best-case scenario would be nothing. It's just probably somewhere in the middle of that.”The 37-year-old's velocity was down from his previous start, and he was removed after two scoreless innings of what had been scheduled as a four-inning outing. “Hardly noticed it to be honest,” Verlander said... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Erick Fedde and Austin Voth take their pets to the dog beach together. They check out new restaurants together, too. Fedde and Joe Ross play each other in video games. When Fedde was called up to the majors for the first time, he crashed on Ross' couch in the Navy Yard neighborhood not far from Nationals Park.The trio of right-handers has known each other for years by now. They're pals. Their lockers are all in a row at spring training -- Ross, then Voth, then Fedde. And their futures in Washington are connected, too. In all likelihood, one member of the group will earn a spot in the rotation as the No. 5 starter, one will land a bullpen job as a long reliever and one will not make the opening day roster at all. It's one of the few areas of competition for last year's champions as the start of the regular season approaches in less than three weeks.Could make for some uncomfortable moments in the close quarters of a clubhouse."I really don't think it's awkward,... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola was scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the New York Yankees due to the flu.Phillies manager Joe Girardi said with an off day Wednesday, Nola may rejoin the team on Thursday. The date for Nola's next appearance is not clear."We've got to figure it out," Girardi said. "So much of it depends on how he feels."The right-hander had been on track to start the Phillies' opener at Miami on March 26."It's something we're going to have to look at," Girardi said. "Does it get him off his day that he was suppose to pitch to start the season? Possibility. I don't know."Girardi didn't rule out Nola making one fewer spring training start than originally planned.Nola went 12-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 34 starts last season. He has a 53-35 mark over five big league seasons.HOTBryce Harper had three hits in three at-bats, including a double, in the Phillies' 3-1 win over the Yankees. He is 8 for 16 with six extra-base hits.COLDDidi Gregorius hit the ball hard twice but went 0 for 3 in his first game against his former team and is hitless in 22 at-bats during spring training. TRAINER'S ROOMJay Bruce (left elbow), limited defensively so far to first base, has played long toss and thrown to the bases. He could get a start in the outfield this week.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston ace Justin Verlander has a mild strain of a back muscle and said it would “probably take a miracle” for him to pitch in the Astros' opener at Oakland on March 26.In an effort to remain positive, Verlander quickly added, “but I don't want to leave miracles off the table.”The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was hurt on his second-to-last pitch in Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Mets. He had an MRI on Monday and was diagnosed with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle. There is not a timetable for his return.“Talking with doctors and looking at the scans, it's definitely not worst-case scenario,” Verlander said, “Best-case scenario would be nothing. It's just probably somewhere in the middle of that.”The 37-year-old right-hander's velocity was down from his previous start, and he was removed after two scoreless innings of what had been scheduled as a four-inning outing. “Hardly noticed it to be honest,” Verlander said of the injury-inducing... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado's Sam Hilliard homered on the day of his promotion to the major leagues in late August. By the end of the season he had seven homers, including one apiece off NL All-Stars Hyun-Jin Ryu and Josh Hader and two off Noah Syndergaard.“I like what Sam did in September against some good names.," Colorado manager Bud Black said.The 26-year-old Hilliard hit .273 with a .649 OPS in 27 games last season with 13 extra-base hits, 13 RBIs and two stolen bases in 87 plate appearances. He played almost every day after his Aug. 27 promotion, seeing time at all three outfield spots.He had batted ..262 with 29 doubles, 35 homers and 101 RBIs at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he made the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.“It was a dream come true to make the big leagues,” Hilliard said. “To be able to get a good amount of playing time and be able to contribute and have a little bit success was a tremendous confidence boost. That made me feel like I belong up here.”Hilliard said... [More]

Milwaukee will be paying Christian Yelich until 2042, when the All-Star outfielder is 50 years old.Yelich's $215 million, nine-year contract with the team calls for Brewers to defer $4 million each year from his $26 million annual salary from 2022-28. The deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2029 with a $6.5 million buyout, and $2 million of the buyout would be deferred.If the buyout is owed, the $30 million in deferred money would be paid in 12 installments of $2.5 million each July 1 from 2031-42. If the buyout is not owed, Yelich would receive the $28 million in 11 installments of $2,333,333 each July 1 from 2031-41 and a final payment of $2,333,337 on July 1, 2042.Yelich's new deal includes salaries of $12.5 million for this year and $14 million in 2021, the same as in the last two guaranteed seasons of the nearly $49.6 million, seven-year contract he signed in March 2015 with Miami. None of that money will be deferred.Yelich would get $100,000 for winning the MVP award, $75,000... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — For the Philadelphia Phillies to compete in a tough division, they need better starting pitching. There's hope because none of their returning starters performed up to expectations last year, the team strengthened the top of the rotation by signing Zack Wheeler and new pitching coach Bryan Price has a track record of success working with pitchers."I like what our rotation brings because there's different looks, there's power, there's very good breaking balls, there's sinkers, there's different stuff," manager Joe Girardi said after a 10-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. "It's going to be a different look every day which I think is important." Wheeler joins ace Aaron Nola to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Veteran Jake Arrieta, coming off an injury-shortened season, is the No. 3 starter. Zach Eflin appears to have the fourth spot locked up. Ranger Suarez has turned the competition for the fifth spot in into a three-man race with Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta.... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Paul DeJong is proving he can be the answer to one of the most pressing spring training questions for the Cardinals.At the spring's midpoint, DeJong's bat is easing concerns about the lineup void created by the loss of Marcel Ozuna to free agency.“I know we lost Ozuna and there's going to be some opportunities there in the middle of the order,” DeJong said. “Me growing into who I believe I can be as a hitter, my potential, that fits right in with my opportunity this year.” DeJong's four homers entering Saturday's game against Houston was tied for the Grapefruit League lead. His 1-for-3 performance against the Astros actually hurt DeJong's spring average, dropping it below .500.It's not that the 26-year-old DeJong hasn't flashed power in the past. Last year he became the first Cardinals shortstop to hit 30 homers in a season. Home runs, however, aren't his focus — either now or during the season.Both he and the Cardinals realize they will need more than the career-high... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Yelich took to Milwaukee so much he staked his long-term future to the Brewers.“I've said many times that I've only been here for two years, but it feels like it's been a lot longer," the two-time NL batting champion said Wednesday after finalizing a $215 million, nine-year contract. “Ever since I came, it's felt like just a natural fit, a place that is great for myself and my family, and formed a connection with the community, my teammates, everyone from ownership and front office on down.”His new deal added $187.25 million over seven seasons to the remaining $27.75 million Yelich was guaranteed as part of the $49.57 million, seven-year contract he signed in March 2015 with Miami. Yelich was dealt to the Brewers in January 2018, and he won the NL batting title and MVP award as the Brewers reached Game 7 of the NL Championship Series. He added another batting championship and finished second in the MVP vote last year, when his season was cut short by a broken kneecap... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Domingo Leyba was suspended for 80 games on Friday following a positive test under Major League Baseball's drug program.Leyba tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone, an anabolic steroid."We were disappointed to learn of this news and hope that Domingo will take the time away from the game to reflect on his actions and learn from his mistakes,” the Diamondbacks said in a statement. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic hit .280 with five RBIs in 21 games with the Diamondbacks last year and batted .300 with 19 homers and 77 RBIs in 112 games at Reno of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He is considered one of Arizona's top prospects and was 4 for 16 with a home run during spring training this year.Leyba signed with Detroit in 2012 and was traded to Arizona with left-hander Robbie Ray in December 2014 as part of the three-team trade that sent shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Diamondbacks to the New York Yankees.He became the fifth player suspended this year under the major league program, three shy of last year's total. Houston pitcher Francis Martes, Pittsburgh outfielder/infielder Pablo Reyes, Colorado pitcher Justin Lawrence and free agent pitcher Victor Alcántara previously were banned for 80 games each.Three players also have been suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP soccer https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Yelich took to Milwaukee so much he staked his long-term future to the Brewers.“I've said many times that I've only been here for two years, but it feels like it's been a lot longer," the two-time NL batting champion said Wednesday after finalizing a $215 million, nine-year contract. “Ever since I came, it's felt like just a natural fit, a place that is great for myself and my family, and formed a connection with the community, my teammates, everyone from ownership and front office on down.”His new deal added $187.25 million over seven seasons to the remaining $27.75 million Yelich was guaranteed as part of the $49.57 million, seven-year contract he signed in March 2015 with Miami. Yelich was dealt to the Brewers in January 2018, and he won the NL batting title and MVP award as the Brewers reached Game 7 of the NL Championship Series. He added another batting championship and finished second in the MVP vote last year, when his season was cut short by a broken kneecap... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Domingo Leyba has been suspended 80 games for a violation of baseball's performance-enhancing drug program.Major League Baseball said Friday that Leyba had tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.“We support MLB’s Joint Drug Agreement and the penalties for violating that policy," the Diamondbacks said in a statement. "We were disappointed to learn of this news and hope that Domingo will take the time away from the game to reflect on his actions and learn from his mistakes.” The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic played 21 games with the Diamondbacks last season, hitting .280 with five RBIs. He's considered one of Arizona's top prospects and went into spring training trying to secure a big-league roster spot.Leyba signed as an international free agent with the Detroit Tigers in 2012 and was traded to Arizona with left-hander Robbie Ray for shortstop Didi Gregorius in 2014.