Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

Capsules of American League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Cleveland Indians2017: 102-60, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS.Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, LF Rajai Davis, RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33 HRs, 89 RBIs, 44 2Bs, 15 SBs, 10 errors), 2B Jason Kipnis (.232, 12 HRs, 35 RBIs in 90 games), 3B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, AL-leading 56 2Bs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107), 1B Yonder Alonso (.266, career-high 28 HRs, 67 RBIs with Athletics and Mariners), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.288, 12, 53 in 82 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38, club went 44-22 in his starts) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56), CF Bradley Zimmer (.241, 8, 39, 18 SBs, 0 errors), LF Michael Brantley (.299, 9, 52 in 90 games) or Rajai Davis (.235, 5, 20, 29 SBs with Oakland and Boston).Rotation: RH Corey Kluber... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Austin Jackson got a lesson on the intense the rivalry between his new team, the San Francisco Giants, and the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers.Walking into the Giants' spring training clubhouse for the first time after being reaching a $6 million, two-year contract in January, Jackson was wearing blue clothing."I wouldn't say it was Dodger blue, but it was sort of a blue shirt," Jackson said, smiling. "I got some funny looks right away."With Hunter Pence and Andrew McCutchen set to be the primary corner outfielders, Jackson projects as at least a part-time center fielder for the Giants, though he can play all three spots in the outfield.Jackson has hit leadoff, sixth and seventh in exhibitions and was 6 for 15 going into Tuesday night. The Giants also are giving prospect Steven Duggar plenty of playing time in center, and they have veterans Gregor Blanco and Gorkys Hernandez in camp, too."You can control what you can control. I think that's something over time that... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Early in spring training, many pitchers take the same approach to starts. The basic work-on-stuff, build-innings-and-conditioning, reach-pitch-limit kind of thing.For Matt Moore, it was a little different.After a poor year with the San Francisco Giants last season, the Texas lefty faced them Monday in his second outing. He allowed a run on one hit, a pair of walks and a wild pitch over 2 2/3 innings, striking out two. Moore left after giving up an RBI single to Austin Jackson."I was looking forward to it, absolutely," Moore said. "Not like I have anything out for them, it's just that those are the guys that I sat in the dugout with for the last year and a half, and got to know them pretty well. It was fun to just compete against them."The Giants traded Moore to the Rangers for prospects in the offseason after he spent part of 2016 and all of 2017 in the Bay Area. He's in his seventh season in the majors at only 28 years old, and is coming off a season of career lows.Those... [More]

The Seattle Mariners are running out of healthy outfielders. To the rescue — Ichiro?Ben Gamel will miss opening day, the Mariners said Monday, because of a strained oblique muscle that's expected to sideline him four to six weeks.That could open a spot for Ichiro Suzuki, and a deal with the Mariners might be close.Suzuki was the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year for Seattle in 2001 and remained a fan favorite until he was traded away in 2012. The 44-year-old Suzuki spent the past three seasons in Miami, batting .255 last year and starting 23 times in the outfield.Gamel hit .275 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs in 134 games last year during his first full season in the majors.The Mariners were hopeful Gamel would miss only a few days, but an MRI showed a more extensive problem. He first felt the injury after batting practice late last week.Gamel joined a growing list of banged-up Mariners. Seattle has already seen first baseman Ryon Healy (hand), outfielder Mitch Haniger (hand) and pitcher Felix... [More]

The Seattle Mariners are running out of healthy outfielders. To the rescue — Ichiro?Ben Gamel will miss opening day, the Mariners said Monday, because of a strained oblique muscle that's expected to sideline him four to six weeks.That could open a spot for Ichiro Suzuki, and a deal with the Mariners might be close.Suzuki was the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year for Seattle in 2001 and remained a fan favorite until he was traded away in 2012. The 44-year-old Suzuki spent the past three seasons in Miami, batting .255 last year and starting 23 times in the outfield.Gamel hit .275 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs in 134 games last year during his first full season in the majors.The Mariners were hopeful Gamel would miss only a few days, but an MRI showed a more extensive problem. He first felt the injury after batting practice late last week.Gamel joined a growing list of banged-up Mariners. Seattle has already seen first baseman Ryon Healy (hand), outfielder Mitch Haniger (hand) and pitcher Felix... [More]

The Seattle Mariners are running out of healthy outfielders. To the rescue — Ichiro?Ben Gamel will miss opening day, the Mariners said Monday, because of a strained oblique muscle that's expected to sideline him four to six weeks.That could open a spot for Ichiro Suzuki, and a deal with the Mariners might be close.Suzuki was the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year for Seattle in 2001 and remained a fan favorite until he was traded away in 2012. The 44-year-old Suzuki spent the past four seasons in Miami, batting .255 last year and starting 23 times in the outfield.Gamel hit .275 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs in 134 games last year during his first full season in the majors.The Mariners were hopeful Gamel would miss only a few days, but an MRI showed a more extensive problem. He first felt the injury after batting practice late last week.Gamel joined a growing list of banged-up Mariners. Seattle has already seen first baseman Ryon Healy (hand), outfielder Mitch Haniger (hand) and pitcher Felix... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The bat Rajai Davis used to hit one of the biggest home runs in Cleveland Indians history is nicely displayed in his office. The moment is deeply engraved in his memory.Now the 37-year-old outfielder who hit that game-tying homer late in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series is back in the Indians spring training clubhouse after a season away."I just want to be able to deliver now, and I want to be able to help us win a World Series," Davis said Sunday, a day after signing a minor league deal. "That's my goal, that's my mission, and I'm going to do everything in my ability in preparing to do that."In that Game 7 two seasons ago, Davis hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. But the Indians then lost that season-ending game in 10 innings.Davis led the American League with 43 stolen bases in 134 games in 2016. He had a reunion with Oakland in free agency last year before being traded midseason to Boston, hitting a combined .235... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Madison Bumgarner has been back on a bike, though it's hardly his first choice for fun. He rode a horse a handful of times this offseason.More than anything, Bumgarner is looking for a bounce-back season after the most forgettable one yet for the ace of the San Francisco Giants."I always worked hard but I spent a little bit more time getting myself in shape and getting stronger," he said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of spring training. "I'm trying to be on the safer side, I guess. I definitely toned it down a little bit on my extracurricular activities."The 2014 World Series MVP missed nearly three months after a dirt bike accident April 20 during an off day in Colorado. It was an embarrassment, yet the left-hander took ownership of his mistake from Day 1.Bumgarner is focused on baseball, with Giants pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training Tuesday and set for their first workout Wednesday at Scottsdale Stadium. Riding doesn't interest... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American 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:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [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 DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (third season).2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Brandon McCarthy, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, 2B Chase Utley, OF Andre Ethier.Going campin': The Dodgers returned to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1988, only to lose to Houston in seven games. They topped 100 wins while earning a fifth straight NL West title. Clayton Kershaw is one of the elite pitchers in the game, a seven-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He begins the season with 144 career victories, 21 shy of Sandy... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bruce Bochy's first glimpse at his overhauled roster gives him hope the Giants will feature a lineup much like the ones of several seasons ago — back when his club was capturing World Series championships every other year.He will be managing a new outfield. Well, with Hunter Pence moving from left to right to make room for Andrew McCutchen. And a new third baseman in Evan Longoria. And that's not to mention all the reliable returners such as Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford, aces Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto, and closer Mark Melancon eager to have a bounce-back year.Bochy is confident he has the roster, depth and talent to rebound right away."We feel like we can play with anybody," he said.Longoria isn't sugar-coating anything as the Giants try to rebound from a 64-98 season and overtake the World Series runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the past five NL West crowns."It's tough to win only 64 games, it really is. That's a tough year," Longoria said.... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Austin Jackson is considered a utility outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, who are searching for another player at the position as spring training nears.Jackson joined the Giants on a $6 million, two-year contract Monday but not necessarily to be a starter in center field. General manager Bobby Evans said Tuesday the club would "keep doors open internally and externally as we get closer to spring training."How much Jackson starts in center could depend on Steven Duggar's development and whether he makes the club out of spring training. Duggar batted .261 with two home runs and six RBIs in 13 games with Triple-A Sacramento last season and played at three levels in the minors, hitting .262 with six homers and 26 RBIs in 44 games.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, and has $1 million in escalators in 2019 plus $1.5 million in performance bonuses for the second year.His 2019 salary would increase by $250,000 each for 300, 325, 350 and 375 plate appearances this... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, and has $1 million in escalators in 2019 plus $1.5 million in performance bonuses for the second year. The deal increased the Giants' projected 2018 luxury tax payroll to about $195 million — just $2 million below the threshold — and the bonus structure pushed additional money into the deal's second year.His 2019 salary would increase by $250,000 each for 300, 325, 350 and 375 plate appearances this year, and he could earn $250,000 apiece in 2020 for 300, 325, 350, 375, 450 and 475.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, and has $1 million in escalators in 2019 plus $1.5 million in performance bonuses for the second year. The deal increased the Giants' projected 2018 luxury tax payroll to about $195 million — just $2 million below the threshold — and the bonus structure pushed additional money into the deal's second year.His 2019 salary would increase by $250,000 each for 300, 325, 350 and 375 plate appearances this year, and he could earn $250,000 apiece in 2019 for 300, 325, 350, 375, 450 and 475.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to terms on a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, two people with knowledge of the contract told the Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no terms were announced. Jackson could also earn up to $2.5 million in bonuses.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder who also plays stellar defense. That was on display when Jackson robbed Boston's Hanley Ramirez of a sure home run in August at Fenway Park, where he"He is a talented and versatile player who will strengthen our roster and provide additional depth at all three outfield positions," general... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to terms on a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, just a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, two people with knowledge of the contract told the Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no terms were announced. Jackson could also earn up to $2.5 million in bonuses.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder who also plays stellar defense."He is a talented and versatile player who will strengthen our roster and provide additional depth at all three outfield positions," general manager Bobby Evans said.Jackson, who turns 31 on Feb. 1, batted .318 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 85 games... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the contract say center fielder Austin Jackson has agreed to terms on a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco GiantsThe move fills San Francisco's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Jackson will earn $3 million per season, the two people said Monday, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no deal had been announced.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder who also plays stellar defense.Jackson turns 31 on Feb. 1. He batted .318 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 85 games for Cleveland last season.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

OF Austin Jackson, who scored the winning run Friday, has come a long way from 12 months ago. A year ago at this time he was at home, a free agent, rehabbing from knee surgery, wondering if he'd ever play again. Twelve months later, he's playing in the postseason with the Indians, for whom he hit .318 and has been a valuable contributor to an Indians outfield that has been hit hard by injuries. "Watching the postseason last year (on TV) definitely inspired me a lot to train harder because I wanted to be back in this position," Jackson said.

OF Austin Jackson's contributions to the Indians this year may have gone under the radar to some, but not to manager Terry Francona. "He can play left field, center field or right field, and play it well. He's gotten a lot of big hits, he's very fundamentally sound, and he's really a good pro. He's helped us a lot," Francona said. Jackson is hitting .317, and .355 versus left-handed pitchers.