LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitchers and catchers had their first organized workout Saturday, officially ending a relatively quiet winter for the team that won the NL East.It may have been a little too quiet for some critics, considering the aggressive roster moves made by their division rivals. But All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman begs to differ."Pretty much everyone came back, and we added Josh Donaldson and B-Mac (Brian McCann)," Freeman said. "I feel we have a 90-win team that got better, so I think we're going to be very good this year."Darren O'Day was the other major winter acquisition, adding veteran depth to a bullpen that was tested last season as the Braves won the division by eight games and qualified for the postseason for the first time in five years."We've kind of gotten to the point where there's not a lot of holes, maybe one starter, and we'll take the best eight (relievers) with us north," said Brian Snitker, who won the NL Manager of the Year award.... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Eloy Jimenez says he doesn't feel the pressure of expectations. Not even when fellow Chicago White Sox prospect Michael Kopech said he thinks Jimenez is "the Babe Ruth of our generation.""Yeah, he told me that in Triple-A," Jimenez said Saturday. "I feel proud and blessed and I think he is the (next) Nolan Ryan."Kopech's time will have to wait a year, when the right-hander expects to return from Tommy John surgery. But Jimenez is coming soon to the South Side.Acquired from the Cubs two years ago in a deal for pitcher Jose Quintana, Jimenez has spent his time getting ready, working on his defense and tearing up Double-A and Triple-A pitching. Last year, splitting time between the two levels, the 22-year-old outfielder hit .337 with 22 homers and is ranked by MLB.com as the third-best prospect in baseball.Jimenez said he was "a little bit disappointed" when he was not called up at the end of last season. And he may not start this season with the big league club, as... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — It's early in spring training, time to get the new mitt ready.Or is it?For the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, some like the feel of new leather, some like it old. Some are superstitious and don't like change and others don't worry about that even after a great season."A new glove every year," reigning AL MVP and three-time Gold Glove winner Mookie Betts said Saturday morning at the team's spring training complex.But, is the right fielder a bit superstitious about changing after such a successful year?"No, they all catch the same," he said, breaking into a grin. "It's the operator."Shortstop Xander Bogaerts agreed."New year, new glove," he said.World Series MVP Steve Pearce had a different thought. He'll likely start the season with a new one if he's broken it in on time but gave some thought to not changing anything after winning the title last fall."I have them right here in my locker," the first baseman said. "I'm bringing almost everything back I had last... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jameson Taillon will be the Pittsburgh Pirates' opening-day starter.The right-hander will pitch March 28 against the Reds at Cincinnati, manager Clint Hurdle said Saturday. It will be the first opening-day start of Taillon's four-year career.Taillon was 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts last season."It's a big honor to kick off the season for the boys, try to set the tone," Taillon said at the Pirates' spring training camp. "Obviously, I care about the body of work but it's a big honor. Growing up as a fan of baseball, there was a certain (aura) about being the opening-day starter."Chris Archer will start the home opener April 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals."We put two men in play to represent the club and get us out of the blocks well in the first four games of the season," Hurdle said.Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove will pitch the second and third games at Cincinnati. The Pirates are undecided on a fifth starter.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Last spring, Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson addressed the Oakland Athletics players before the first full-squad workout in spring training. A's manager Bob Melvin admitted to being a little superstitious and asked the pair of Oakland greats to speak again on Saturday.Why not? The Athletics won 97 games last season and secured a wild-card berth. Melvin wanted to remind the players there's still work to do."We talked about expectations a little bit, kind of where we came from, where we are now and where we expect to go," Melvin said of his address to the full squad.The Athletics' spring will be interrupted by a trip to Japan to play two regular-season games against the Mariners on March 20-21. Both teams will have 28-man rosters so there's no need to push anyone now.Khris Davis, the major League home run leader with 48 last season, looked as if he was ready, launching balls over the fence off Melvin in batting practice."I think he took advantage of the wind," Melvin... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — CC Sabathia can envision the perfect ending to his final big league season."Right now I'm just focused on trying to win the championship and have a parade at the end of the year," Sabathia said Saturday. "That would be a great way to top this thing off."The 38-year-old Sabathia agreed in early November to an $8 million one-year contract and said 2019 will be his last season.Sabathia had a stent inserted after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart in December. He has had chronic right knee problem that has required several operations."Why now? It's time," Sabathia said with a laugh. "My knee, just the shape that it's in. My family is getting older. It's time for me to be with them and be around them."When asked about his dad being home more, son Carter replied, "I know it will be two times funnier in the house because you're funny and mom's funny."Pitchers and catchers at Yankees spring training camp, and some position players taking part in early workouts were... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Marcel Ozuna will be on a limited throwing program to start the spring but is expected to be ready for opening day, manager Mike Shildt said Saturday.Ozuna underwent offseason shoulder surgery and is still in the rehabilitation process."Just making sure that he's being stretched out, healthy and moving forward," Shildt said. "But his program has been nothing but positive feedback, has been great, and he's feeling good."St. Louis acquired Ozuna in a trade with Miami before the 2018 season. He had 37 homers and 124 RBIs in 2017. Hampered by a lingering shoulder injury, Ozuna hit .280 with 23 homers and 88 RBIs for St. Louis last season.Ozuna will serve mostly as a designated hitter once Grapefruit League play begins. He'll be eased back into left field as the spring schedule progresses.Shildt isn't at all worried that the slugger won't be ready when the Cardinals open the season at Milwaukee on March 28."Hasn't caused me (to lose) a wink of sleep," Shildt said.St. Louis is showing similar caution with catcher Yadier Molina, who underwent offseason knee surgery. Molina isn't catching bullpens and probably won't appear behind the plate until a couple weeks into Grapefruit League play.Like Ozuna, Molina will likely DH for the first few weeks of spring games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to terms with shortstop Alcides Escobar on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.Baltimore has been looking to increase its infield depth, and Escobar is expected to challenge for the starting shortstop spot.The 32-year-old Escobar has played 11 seasons with Milwaukee and Kansas City and has a .258 lifetime average. In 2018, he hit .231 with four homers and 31 RBIs.Escobar won the Gold Glove and was an All-Star in 2015, the same year Kansas City won the World Series.In 2014, 2016 and 2017, Escobar played all 162 games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Veteran reliever Sergio Romo believes Miami's rebuilt roster can become his fountain of youth."I think the youth here gives me energy, gives me confidence that I can still play because I'm with them every day," Romo said. "Yesterday we were running and, yeah, they beat me, but they didn't beat me by much."Miami bucked the trend of clubs filling bullpens with fireballing relievers by signing the 35-year-old right-hander and his 85-mph fastball to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Friday. Romo employs an array of curves and sliders to set up a fastball that arrives at the plate at the same speed as many major leaguers' change-ups."It's 85, but it's coming hot," said Romo, who will become the second-oldest Marlin should 37-year-old Curtis Granderson make the club out of spring training.Romo saved 84 games for San Francisco from 2008 to 2016, winning three World Series rings. After a year with the Dodgers, he spent the past two seasons with Tampa Bay, recording 25 saves... [More]

DUNDEIN, Fla. (AP) — Reliever John Axford and the Toronto Blue Jays have completed a minor league contract.If added to the 40-man roster, the 35-year-old right-hander would get a one-year contract with a $1.65 million salary while in the major leagues. In the deal, announced Saturday by Toronto, he would have the chance to earn $1.7 million in performance bonuses based on games.Axford was 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA in 45 appearances for Toronto last year, striking out 50 and walking 20 in 51 innings.He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31, gave up six runs against Houston in his Dodgers debut on Aug. 4, then broke his right leg eight days later when hit by a comebacker against Colorado. He returned Sept. 17, made just one more appearance and did not appear in the postseason.A veteran of 10 major league seasons, Axford also has pitched for Milwaukee (2009-13), St. Louis (2013), Cleveland (2014), Pittsburgh (2014), Colorado (2015) and Oakland (2016-17___More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels seem intent on cornering the market on two-way players.Shohei Ohtani won AL Rookie of the Year last season as a pitcher and designated hitter. Now they're taking a look at Jared Walsh, a combination left-handed reliever-first baseman-outfielder."I'm just trying to keep it simple," said Walsh, a non-roster invitee to the Angels' camp. "Just hit, just pitch and have fun, be a baseball player, really."Manager Brad Ausmus saw Walsh's versatility firsthand last season in a minor league game. Ausmus, then a special assistant to Angels general manager Billy Eppler, was watching the Triple-A Salt Lake team. Walsh started at first base, then came in to get the final out to close the game, which was one of the left-hander's four pitching appearances for the minor league team."I got lucky," Walsh said of his outing. "I hung a curveball and the guy popped it up to center and didn't hit it in the trees."He had started as a two-way player in college at Georgia... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — After the Cubs lost two straight games at Wrigley Field to give up the NL Central Division title and fall in the wild card game to end the 2018 season, reasons as to why a 95-win season finished short of equaling expectations began to surface.One that was echoed by the front office and the players was the level of leadership that seemed to walk out of the clubhouse with David Ross' retirement after the 2016 World Series."I think they made it clear to everybody," starting pitcher Jon Lester said Wednesday about the front office's belief there was a lack of leadership. "I think they hit the nail on the head."Clearly it was something that had to be addressed by the players already in the clubhouse but the front office did its part by bringing in a veteran like Daniel Descalso.The 32-year old came up in the Cardinals system and has earned the reputation as hard-nosed, clutch, fundamentally strong player who also plays the game hard while at multiple positions.It's that kind... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Luis Severino avoided an arbitration hearing with the New York Yankees, agreeing Friday to a $40 million, four-year contract.Severino's deal includes a team option for 2023 that could make the agreement worth $52.25 million for five seasons. If the option is not exercised, Severino would be eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.Severino gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020, $10.5 million in 2021 and $11 million in 2022. The team option is for $15 million with a $2.75 million buyout."He's a great pitcher, and I hope he's here for a long time," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the deal was announced.He had been scheduled for the final salary arbitration hearing of the year on Friday morning at St. Petersburg, Florida. Severino had asked for a raise from $604,975 to $5.25 million in his first season of arbitration eligibility and the Yankees had offered $4.4 million.By agreeing to a long-term contract with a $10... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes says he thinks he'll be able to play at some point this season.Recovering from surgery on both heels, the New York Mets slugger told reporters through a translator at spring training Friday he is finally pain-free. He has been working out and plans to begin throwing next week, but there's no timetable for when the 33-year-old left fielder will start running or hitting — and he's not sure when he might return to the lineup.The team has said Cespedes is expected to be sidelined until at least July. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said this week he hopes Cespedes can contribute "late in the season."The oft-injured Cespedes, who said he's been frustrated and bored while recovering, has been limited to 119 games since signing a $110 million, four-year contract after the 2016 season.He had separate operations to remove calcification and bone spurs from both heels, the first last August and the second in late October.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes says he thinks he'll be able to play at some point this season.Recovering from surgery on both heels, the New York Mets slugger told reporters through a translator at spring training Friday he is finally pain-free. He has been working out and plans to begin throwing next week, but there's no timetable for when the 33-year-old left fielder will start running or hitting — and he's not sure when he might return to the lineup.The team has said Cespedes is expected to be sidelined until at least July. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said this week he hopes Cespedes can contribute "late in the season."The oft-injured Cespedes, who said he's been frustrated and bored while recovering, has been limited to 119 games since signing a $110 million, four-year contract after the 2016 season.He had separate operations to remove calcification and bone spurs from both heels, the first last August and the second in late October.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Forget about this bullpen obsession for a moment. Believe it or not, plenty of big league teams are still anchored by well-armed rotations.In this age of openers and closers, with relievers starting games and starters rarely finishing them, it might seem starting pitchers have been devalued by executives all over baseball.Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, is a 31-year-old free agent still looking for a job. Same for fellow lefty Gio Gonzalez, a two-time All-Star one season removed from going 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA in 201 innings.Meanwhile, short relievers like Zack Britton ($39 million), Jeurys Familia ($30 million), Kelvin Herrera ($18 million) and Joakim Soria ($15 million) had no trouble getting multiyear deals this winter.Doesn't anyone remember what Koufax and Drysdale did for the Dodgers?Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz with the Braves?"At the end of the day, your starting staff is the backbone of your team," Washington ace Max Scherzer said.... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Once Carlos Rodon settled back into the Chicago White Sox rotation last season after returning from shoulder surgery, the left-hander had an impressive stretch of starts before fading badly down the stretch.All that really mattered for Rodon and the White Sox was that he made it through the rest of the season healthy, and got to spring training that way."It felt like a normal year, but actually didn't really feel like a normal year because a normal year for me was going through an injury," Rodon said Friday. "I had a good offseason, got to be healthy, and show I'm healthy and have a healthy spring, so I'm excited."Rodon missed the beginning of the last two seasons because of injury. He was coming back from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder when he made his 2018 debut in June. He made five so-so starts that month.Then came those impressive nine starts in July and August, when he was 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA, a huge boost for a rebuilding White Sox team that lost... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The price of Kansas City's 2023 option on Whit Merrifield is conditioned on the second baseman not spending more than 109 days on the injured list in each of the next four seasons.Merrifield and the Royals agreed Jan. 28 to a $16.25 million, four-year contract that covers Merrifield's years of arbitration eligibility; Merrifield gets $1 million this year, $5 million in 2020, $6.75 million in 2021 and $2.75 million in 2022. The Royals have a $6.5 million option for 2023 with a $750,000 buyout, but the option price would increase by $4 million if he does not spend the specified days on the IL.His salaries in 2021, 2022 and 2023 can increase by up to $1 million a year based on a points system for accomplishments from 2019-20. It calls for 0.5 points for 1,200 plate appearances; one point each for 1,400 plate appearances or winning a Gold Glove; two points for becoming an All-Star, winning a Silver Slugger or finishing 11th through 15th in MVP voting; three points for... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar wore a specially designed protective cap Friday during his first spring training bullpen session with the New York Yankees.Farquhar collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout last April 20 after pitching in the sixth inning against Houston. He was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage, had surgery the next day and was hospitalized until May 7. Farquhar was not cleared to pitch again in 2018, became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Yankees."I am extraordinarily just thankful," Farquhar said.He met with doctors and trainers at Steinbrenner Field on Monday to design his hat, which includes Kevlar and foam. After a proper fit was found, it took just two days to create the final product."It looks like a hat, it's just two sizes big and it's got like a skully protector on the inside," Farquhar said. "At first when I put it on, it felt a little shallow on my head, like kind of sitting up a little bit. Today... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Tucker Barnhart read about the Reds' interest in Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto and hoped that they wouldn't be able to swing a deal for the All-Star. Having endured the hardest part of a rebuild, he wanted to be in Cincinnati for a turnaround.Barnhart got his wish. Realmuto was dealt to Philadelphia — another team seemingly on the rise after major changes — and Barnhart got to stay with the Reds and handle a rotation that's been overhauled.After four straight 90-loss seasons, the Reds are trying to become competitive in the NL Central."I want to be a part of the finished product of the rebuild that was started when I came up in '14. It's continued since. I want to be a part of the winning," Barnhart said. "Hopefully, that starts now."Barnhart thought he would be an important part of the rebuild when the Reds gave him a $16 million, four-year contract that runs through 2021 and includes a club option for 2022. He was coming off a 2017 season in which he became only the... [More]