NEW YORK (AP) — Players' union head Tony Clark took the extraordinary step of saying baseball fans should question whether it makes sense to purchase tickets for some teams, responding to Commissioner Rob Manfred's assertion that free-agent players have failed to adjust their economic demands in a market upended by analytics.Top free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel remain unsigned with spring training under way, creating tension during negotiations on management's proposals for a pitch clock and new limitations on relief pitchers. The union responded with a wider list of plans that include economic initiatives such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League and altering the amateur draft to make rebuilding less appealing."Markets change," Manfred said Sunday. "We've had a lot of change in the game. People think about players differently. They analyze players differently. They negotiate differently."Clark led negotiations in 2016 for a... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — After their best player discussed his injury and an uncertain future, the Indians got to work on the present.Cleveland held its first full-squad workout of spring training on Monday, the first step for a talented team that looks very different than the one which captured its third straight AL Central title in 2018.Following an eventful offseason culminated with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor's calf injury, the Indians took the field after manager Terry Francona delivered his annual address. His message this year focused on moving forward."The way we feel about the game doesn't change," Francona said. "I told them that you can break spring training into three groups: You have the young guys trying to create a good first impression. You have the guys competing for a job. You have the veterans trying to get ready for a long season."Earlier, Lindor said now is not the time for him to worry about a long-term contract.The 25-year-old shortstop spoke for the first time... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus prepared for the first full-squad workout at a different locker than in past springs.Now 30 and going into his 11th season, Andrus is in a much different place than just his spot in the clubhouse.With star third baseman Adrian Beltre now retired, Andrus will be assuming a bigger leadership role on a team with a lot of 20-something position players in the lineup with him."It's something as a player, when you get more years and more experience, you're looking forward," Andrus said Monday. "I think this is a natural to happen, be able to lead guys and help them."Like Beltre did in Texas the past eight seasons, while also preparing the shortstop for this expanded role.Andrus has been with the Rangers longer than anyone else on the roster, a distinction he held even when Beltre was on the team. Andrus is the only player remaining from their consecutive World Series teams in 2010 and 2011.Beltre announced his retirement in November,... [More]

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit against a pitcher Monday for the first time since rupturing a tendon in his left biceps on June 12.The 35-year-old hit, fielded, threw and ran the bases Monday during the Detroit Tigers' first full-squad workout of spring training."I feel good about being back on the field and playing," the two-time AL MVP said. I can't be hurt this year. I want to do my job."Cabrera strained a hamstring last year and then had the arm injury that required season-ending surgery. He was limited to 38 games."I missed the game a lot," he said.He also missed 32 games in 2017 due to a strained groin and back issues."One guy in the lineup being hurt changed the whole lineup, changed everything," he said. "The bottom line is I've got to stay healthy."Cabrera has been running and lifting weights, and looks like the same 6-foot-4, 249-pound athlete who has 465 home runs with a .316 batting average."He's bouncing around, doing all kinds of stuff," manager Ron Gardenhire said.... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — In his last season before becoming eligible for free agency, Jose Abreu thinks the Chicago White Sox can transform into a winning team."I'm excited because this year we're in a good position to compete," said the first baseman said through an interpreter Monday on the reporting day for position players. "We have a lot of talent. We're getting ready for the point where we're going to be a pretty good team. I think that this can be that year where we start showing what we can do."Abreu was an All-Star last season, but he got hurt in the second half and finished with 22 homers, 78 RBIs and a .265 average, all career lows since arriving from Cuba before the 2014 season. It was the first time in five seasons he did not have 100 RBIs.Chicago lost 100 games last season and the best record for the White Sox in the last five years was 78-84 in 2016."I am excited also because I know the quality of people we have here," he said. "I just want to get on the field and play and... [More]

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Kiermaier says his body feels as good as ever and he's determined to bounce back from a subpar season marked by injuries and inconsistency to help the Tampa Bay Rays contend for a playoff berth."I'm going to sound like a broken record all spring," the defensive whiz said, adding he has a lot to prove to teammates and fans after struggling offensively last year, when he missed two months with a torn ligament in his right thumb and also hurt a foot in September."I love where I'm at right now," Kiermaier added. "I couldn't ask for anything else, and now it's just my part to go execute and maybe win some hearts back from my performance last year."The Rays surprisingly won 90 games despite losing their centerfielder for 57 games from April 16 to June 18, then finishing the season with Kiermaier sidelined the final four games because of a hairline fracture in his right foot.It was the third straight season the 28-year-old, who batted .217 in a career-low 88 games,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Players' union head Tony Clark took the extraordinary step of saying baseball fans should question whether it makes sense to purchase tickets for some teams, responding to Commissioner Rob Manfred's assertion that free-agent players have failed to adjust their economic demands in a market upended by analytics.Top free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel remain unsigned with spring training underway, creating tension during negotiations on management's proposals for a pitch clock and new limitations on relief pitchers. The union responded with a wider list of plans that include economic initiatives such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League and altering the amateur draft to make rebuilding less appealing."Markets change," Manfred said Sunday. "We've had a lot of change in the game. People think about players differently. They analyze players differently. They negotiate differently."Clark led negotiations in 2016 for a five-year... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis manager Mike Shildt's phone lit up with texts and calls praising the character of Paul Goldschmidt after the Cardinals traded for the slugging first baseman in December."A lot of times the hyperbole doesn't meet what's real," Shildt said. "In this case it's exceeded it. He's come in and been unbelievably engaging, thoughtful, proactive. He's really smart and he's really dedicated to what we're doing and how we're doing it. He's exceeded expectations already, before we even got on the field."Goldschmidt has physically been in Jupiter for about 10 days. Mentally, he's been in a Cardinals uniform for months.Shortly after the trade, he began swapping texts with Cardinals coaches and teammates discussing the finer points of the game, like baserunning and taking leads."They are not short conversations," Shildt said. "And they are not forced. He loves it, is my point. He's a baseball guy."For Goldschmidt, those kinds of offseason chats are the norm."Being new, I'm... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — NL MVP Christian Yelich tweeted a GIF of a leaping Moose .The Milwaukee Brewers were excited to know Mike Moustakas likely is sticking around for 2019.Moustakas and the Brewers are nearing a deal that would keep the third baseman in Milwaukee for a guarantee of $10 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because the agreement will be subject to a successful physical. The sides were negotiating a deal that includes a mutual option for 2020, the person said."I've known Mikey forever, since he was a little kid," said Ryan Braun, who like Moustakas grew up and resides in Southern California. "He came here last year, fit in seamlessly, performed for us really well on the field. Obviously, became a big part of our culture in the locker room as well.Yelich, also a Southern California resident, spent the offseason working out with Braun and Moustakas and also teamed with them to organize... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have many jobs up for grabs, and nowhere is the competition less defined than in the infield.As the team held its first full-squad workout on Monday, only one infield position is secured — first base. Chris Davis is entering the fourth year of a seven-year, $161 million contract.Besides Davis, there are 13 players on the roster competing for the three starting positions, and a utility job or two.Davis, like the Orioles, had a horrid 2018 season. He hit just .168 with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs and 192 strikeouts in 128 games as Baltimore lost a franchise-record 115 games.There aren't any clear favorites early on.The Orioles obtained Jonathan Villar in their July remake from Milwaukee and he played both second and shortstop over the season's last two months. Villar was originally labeled as a shortstop by new general manager Mike Elias, but that was before Richie Martin was taken with the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft.On Saturday, the Orioles... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Carson Kelly and Luke Weaver will always been known as the other players in the Paul Goldschmidt trade. No matter what they do for the rest of their careers, good or bad, they will be linked to the Arizona Diamondbacks' fan-favorite first baseman.But the Diamondbacks do not consider them replacements for Goldschmidt.Goldschmidt was one of the best players in baseball during his eight seasons in Arizona, so matching his production would be difficult. Plus, Kelly is a catcher and Weaver a right-handed starting pitcher.The Diamondbacks just want them to be the best versions of themselves they can be."When they were traded over, those were the first conversations that I began to have with them about just being themselves, embracing the organization the way we're embracing them," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "We chose them for a reason: because they're very special players."Both are looking forward to a fresh start.For Kelly, the trade should mean an opportunity... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not worrying about whether he will start the season with the Toronto Blue Jays.The 19-year-old son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero is considered the top prospect entering 2019. Yet, it would not be surprising if Toronto kept the third baseman in the minor leagues for the first 15 days and delayed his debut until at least April 12. By denying him 15 days of major league service, the Blue Jays would delay his eligibility for free agency by a year, until after the 2025 season."Controlling what I can control and then working hard everyday," Guerrero said through a translator on Monday as the Blue Jays held their first full-squad workout. "Making the best out of it. Trying to get better every day and giving the best of me."Guerrero hit .402 at Double-A and .336 at Triple-A last year, combining for 20 homers and 78 RBIs."Can't relate to being 19-years old and being that even-keeled and cool like that kid is," new Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Michael Pineda thinks he'll be ready to return to the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins after a layoff of 1½ seasons.Pineda needed Tommy John surgery in 2017 while with the New York Yankees. He signed with the Twins in December 2017 and as he neared a return late last season, he tore the meniscus in his right knee.The 30-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the major leagues since July 5, 2017. Nine days later, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed the injury, and Cincinnati Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek operated that July 18."Right now, I feel great," Pineda said. "I came here to spring training early. I came in here ready to emerge."At 6-foot-7, Pineda has long generated great expectations. Yet, he was 40-41 with a 4.05 ERA for the Yankees, including an 8-4 record at the time of the injury.He became a free agent after the season and signed a $10 million, two-year deal with Minnesota that included a $2 million salary in his first season.... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals lost 104 games in 2018 despite finishing the season 20-14. They hope they can begin this season like they ended the last one, and not the way they've started in recent years."These guys made a lot of progress from the middle of August all through September," Royals manager Ned Yost said Monday before the club's first full-squad workout. "They played really, really good and exciting baseball."Does that mean we're automatically going to come in here and pick up where we left off? No. We're going to have to pick up where we left off. We're going to have to work hard to continue that type of improvement. I'm real excited about it."The Royals entered May last year with a 7-21 record. In 2017, they went 7-16 in April. Each year, they endured a nine-game losing streak in the season's first month."We started to put it all together in August," said second baseman Whit Merrifield, who led the AL in hits and stolen bases. "Once we started winning games,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Players' union head Tony Clark took the extraordinary step of saying baseball fans should question whether it makes sense to purchase tickets for some teams, responding to Commissioner Rob Manfred's assertion that free-agent players have failed to adjust their economic demands in a market upended by analytics.Top free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel remain unsigned with spring training underway, creating tension during negotiations on management's proposals for a pitch clock and new limitations on relief pitchers. The union responded with a wider list of plans that include economic initiatives such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League and altering the amateur draft to make rebuilding less appealing."Markets change," Manfred said Sunday. "We've had a lot of change in the game. People think about players differently. They analyze players differently. They negotiate differently."Clark led negotiations in 2016 for a five-year... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Eric Hosmer knows what Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are dealing as spring training hits its stride.Hosmer was a free agent last offseason and signed with the Padres after spring training began. He said players need to be patient while researching a team before making a decision.The rebuilding Padres have made pitches to both Harper and Machado."I didn't hear an offer until about mid-January last year," Hosmer said Monday. "Those guys could be weighing out their options of what's presented to them on the table. You just don't know what's happening. For me, it's one of those things where I've learned to wait back and just wait for it to be official and read all the stuff afterward."The Padres have a glaring hole at third base, where Machado could fit in. But they've also made a push for Harper, who would be an instant upgrade in right field and at the ticket office."San Diego sells itself," Hosmer said. "Either player, they are a generational talent. They are guys who... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — It may not seem right, but Charlie Blackmon will be in right field for Colorado this season.Blackmon, a four-time All-Star who has anchored center field for the Rockies since 2014 and has played more games there than anyone else in franchise history, said Monday he spoke to manager Bud Black about the switch and is fine with it."He assured me this was going to help the Rockies win more games, and I'm all about that," Blackmon said.With Ian Desmond slated to play center field, the issue became which corner spot Blackmon would fill."If I had my choice, I would pick right," Blackmon said.The new alignment puts David Dahl in left.Blackmon has played all three outfield spots while hitting .302 in his eight-year career with the Rockies, but he has been almost strictly a center fielder since 2015, when he made four starts in each of the corner spots. He started 64 games in right field in 2014.He has played 691 games in center."I really enjoy playing center field," Blackmon... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno said the team has had internal discussions regarding a new contract for outfielder Mike Trout, who can become a free agent after the 2020 season.The two-time AL MVP is owed $33.25 million in each of the next two seasons, completing a $144.5 million, six-year contract."One of the last interviews I gave I said it's not in the back of our mind but in the front of our minds," Angels Moreno said Monday.The 27-year-old Trout did not want to discuss his contract situation on the Angels' first day of full squad workouts."I enjoy it here. I'm having fun," he said. "Obviously, losing's not fun but I enjoy playing this game. I leave it out on the field every night, every day and I go from there."Trout has heard from plenty of fans back home in the Philadelphia area about where they'd like him to play."I don't think I went a day this offseason without somebody saying, 'Hey, when are you coming to Philly?'" Trout said. "I can't predict the future.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Players' union head Tony Clark criticized baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred for blaming players' demands for the slow free agent market and said an increasing number of teams are making little effort to "justify the price of a ticket."Top free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel remain unsigned with spring training underway.Manfred said Sunday that "markets change" and "people think about players differently. They analyze players differently."Management has proposed changes to playing rules that include a pitch clock. The union responded with a wider list of proposals that include economic initiatives such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League and altering the amateur draft to make rebuilding less appealing.Clark said in a statement Monday, "We believe these substantive changes are imperative now — not in 2022 or 2025, but in 2019."He accused Manfred of "attempts to shift blame and distract from the main issues" and called the commissioner's comments "unconstructive and misleading at best."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles was not at spring training camp for Monday's voluntary full squad reporting day because of an unspecified personal matter.Manager Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Toles' arrival. The mandatory reporting date is Saturday."We'll get Andrew here when things work out; he works through some personal things," Roberts said Monday. "He has our full support, certainly."Roberts said Toles' absence was surprising."Obviously, things are sometimes unpredictable and family, personal issues obviously have to come before baseball," Roberts said.Toles has a challenge to make the major league roster, even after outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were traded to Cincinnati. Outfielders include A.J. Pollock, Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo are on the roster, and Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez could compete for time,The left-handed hitting Toles spent most of last year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he batted .306 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 71 games. He was the Dodgers' starting left fielder in the second half of 2016 and until May 9 the following year, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.Pederson is aware of speculation he could be traded."I guess it's nice to know that there are some other teams out there that would want you," he said.____More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports