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]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Royals signed right-handed reliever Justin Grimm to a $1.25 million, one-year deal Sunday that includes up to $300,000 incentives after he was released by the Chicago Cubs last week.The 29-year-old Grimm was 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 50 appearances last season.The club also announced that pitchers Miguel Almonte, Sam Gaviglio and Trevor Oaks, catcher Cam Gallagher and infielder Ramon Torres have been optioned to Triple-A Omaha.The roster moves leave the Royals with 46 players in major league camp.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have released veteran reliever Justin Grimm.The 29-year-old right-hander was a part of teams that made three straight NL Championship Series appearances and won the World Series in 2016. But he struggled last season with a 1-2 record and 5.53 ERA in 50 appearances.Grimm had a 3.82 ERA in 4 1/2 years with the Cubs. Chicago acquired him and Carl Edwards Jr. from Texas in a deal that sent Matt Garza to the Rangers in July 2013. Grimm's best season was in 2015, when he had a 1.99 ERA in 62 appearances.The Cubs announced the move on Thursday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — Right-hander Zack Wheeler beat the New York Mets in salary arbitration on Thursday and reliever Justin Grimm lost to the Chicago Cubs, leaving players with a 7-4 record about halfway through this year's hearings.Wheeler gets a raise from $800,000 to $1.9 million instead of New York's $1.5 million offer. Arbitrators John Skonier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte made the decision, one day after hearing arguments.Grimm was given a hike from $1,825,000 to $2.2 million by Mark Burstein, Gary Kendellen and James Darby. He had asked for $2,475,000.A 27-year-old right-hander, Wheeler had Tommy John surgery on March 25, 2016, made one minor league appearance that August and returned to the Mets last spring. He went 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts.Wheeler was sidelined by biceps tendinitis in June, went 0-2 in four starts when he returned while allowing 24 hits and 11 walks in 20 innings, then went on the DL for the rest of the season with what the team said was a stress reaction... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Right-hander Zack Wheeler beat the New York Mets in salary arbitration and reliever Justin Grimm lost to the Chicago Cubs, leaving players with a 7-4 record about halfway through this year's hearings.Wheeler gets a raise from $800,000 to $1.9 million instead of New York's $1.5 million offer. Arbitrators John Skonier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte made the decision Thursday, a day after hearing arguments.Grimm was given a hike from $1,825,000 to $2.2 million by Mark Burstein, Gary Kendellen and James Darby. He had asked for $2,475,000.A 27-year-old right-hander, Wheeler had Tommy John surgery on March 25, 2016, made one minor league appearance that August and returned to the Mets last spring. He went 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts.Wheeler was sidelined by biceps tendinitis in June, went 0-2 in four starts when he returned while allowing 24 hits and 11 walks in 20 innings, then went on the DL for the rest of the season with what the team said was a stress reaction in his right arm.Grimm, a 29-year-old right-hander, was 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 50 relief appearances, striking out 59 and walking 27 in 55 1/3 innings.Twelve players remain scheduled for hearings through Feb. 16.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — Infielder Yolmer Sanchez beat the Chicago White Sox in salary arbitration and will get a raise from $546,000 to $2.35 million rather than the team's $2.1 million offer.New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler and Chicago Cubs reliever Justin Grimm argued their cases Wednesday.Players have a 6-3 advantage over teams this offseason and 12 remain scheduled for hearings through Feb. 16 in what could be the busiest year in arbitration since 1990.Sanchez set career bests last year with a .267 average, 12 homers and 59 RBIs and .319 on-base percentage. He appeared in 78 games at second, 52 at third, four and shortstop and one in right field.Arbitrators Robert Herzog, Sylvia Skratek and Walt De Treux made the decision, a day after hearing arguments.Wheeler asked John Skonier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte for a raise from $800,000 to $1.9 million, and the Mets argued he should be paid $1.5 million.A 27-year-old right-hander, Wheeler had elbow ligament-replacement surgery on March... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant put up another big number on Friday.Bryant agreed to a $10.85 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, a record for a player eligible for arbitration for the first time."I guess for some players it might be stressful, but I really enjoyed the whole process of it," Bryant said before the start of the team's annual fan convention. "You play to get to this point in your career, and I've put in so much hard work behind the scenes to get to this point. It just feels so rewarding."The previous mark was held by former Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard, who was awarded $10 million by a three-person panel in 2008. The Cubs and Bryant avoided arbitration, and the 26-year-old third baseman receives a hefty raise after making $1.05 million last year."I don't look at money records," Bryant said. "I guess the records on the field are way more important, because when you're doing that, you know, you're helping the team. But it really is a cherry on top when you get paid... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — There was no surprise return for Jake Arrieta. No dramatic entrance for Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb or Greg Holland, either.Not even close.The Chicago Cubs settled five of their six potential arbitration cases before the start of their annual fan convention on Friday, including a record $10.85 million, one-year deal for third baseman Kris Bryant. But they remain at an impasse when it comes to another free-agent addition or a big acquisition via trade — a common refrain during one of the slowest winters for baseball in a long time."We're not done. We have confidence in this group if this is the 25 we end up taking to spring training," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "But realistically, we'd certainly like to add another pitcher. I like the talent that we have right now, but I think we could certainly add to the depth, and you can do that through depth moves or you can do it through adding another real quality pitcher and bolster the depth even more that way."I... [More]

RHP Justin Grimm was activated off the 10-day disabled list after being sidelined since Aug. 18 with an infection in his right index finger. Grimm, who is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 39 appearances this season, had made two rehab appearances at Triple-A Iowa, when he allowed one run and struck out four in two innings.

RHP Justin Grimm (finger infection) made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa on Monday. He allowed a run while pitching one inning.

RHP Justin Grimm was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with an infection in his right index finger. Grimm, 29, is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 39 appearances with the Cubs this season.

RHP Justin Grimm was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a finger infection. Grimm was credited with the loss in Thursday's game against the Reds. In an inning of work, he allowed two runs on a hit and two walks, while striking out two. Grimm is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA over 43 1/3 innings in 39 relief appearances this season.

RHP Justin Grimm, called up to take Koji Uehara's spot in the bullpen, wasn't with the club pregame but left Triple-A Iowa in time to get to AT&T Park to be available if needed Wednesday. He wasn't.

RHP Justin Grimm was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday for his fourth stint this season with the Cubs. Grimm has posted a 1-1 record with a 5.18 ERA in 36 appearances this season with the Cubs.

RHP Justin Grimm was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. Grimm was 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA in 36 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. With Iowa, he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in six relief outings.

RHP Justin Grimm was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday. In 36 relief appearances for the Cubs this year, Grimm was 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA.

RHP Justin Grimm was recalled from Triple-A Iowa Monday. Grimm, 28, started his third stint with the Cubs Monday by allowing one hit with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings to lower his earned run average to 6.61.

RHP Justin Grimm was optioned to Iowa to make room for RHP Eddie Butler on the roster. Grimm is 1-0 with a 7.53 ERA in 14 1/3 innings and 13 games this year. This will be his second trip to Iowa in less than a week, as he was optioned Saturday to enable the Cubs to put fresh arms in a bullpen that had been taxed by rain delays, extra-inning games and short starts. Grimm figures to be back sooner rather than later.

RHP Justin Grimm was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. In 13 appearances for Chicago this season, he was 1-0 with a 7.53 ERA.

RHP Justin Grimm was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, and he allowed a two-run home run to Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury in a two-inning stint Sunday night. His ERA is 7.53. He was optioned to Triple-A on Friday but did not pitch in the minors before getting called up again.