NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole, Mike Trout and other veteran major leaguers will receive $4,775 per day in advance pay for the first 60 days of the season during the stoppage caused by the new coronavirus, a total of $286,500.That's just 2.5% percent of the $193,548 the New York Yankees pitcher and Los Angeles Angels outfielder were scheduled to earn each day during the 186-day season from their $36 million salaries, tied for the major league high this year. The daily total was obtained by The Associated Press after it was confirmed by Major League Baseball and the players' association following their agreement last week on how to proceed during the stoppage.Less veteran players receive smaller amounts specified in the agreement: $16,500, $30,000 or $60,000, depending on the contract.MLB has delayed opening day until mid-May at the earliest, and it remains unclear when or if the season will start.Under the terms of the deal, teams are combining to give $170 million in advance pay to players... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole, Mike Trout and other veteran major leaguers will receive $4,775 per day in advance pay for the first 60 days of the season during the stoppage caused by the new coronavirus, a total of $286,500.That's just 2.5% percent of the $193,548 the New York Yankees pitcher and Los Angeles Angels outfielder were scheduled to earn each day during the 186-day season from their $36 million salaries, tied for the major league high this year. The daily total was obtained by The Associated Press after it was confirmed by Major League Baseball and the players' association following their agreement last week on how to proceed during the stoppage.Less veteran players receive smaller amounts specified in the agreement: $16,500, $30,000 or $60,000, depending on the contract.MLB has delayed opening day until mid-May at the earliest, and it remains unclear when or if the season will start.Under the terms of the deal, teams are combining to give $170 million in advance pay to players... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will air 30 games across its digital platforms Thursday, giving fans plenty of hardball to choose from on an opening day postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.With its season delayed until at least mid-May, MLB will air one memorable game for each franchise on its YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages. The list includes Dave Roberts’ series-shifting stolen base for the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the 2003 AL Championship Series, the Chicago Cubs ending their championship drought in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, and perfect games by Félix Hernández and Mark Buehrle. MLB Network plans to broadcast classic opening day games throughout the day, including Derek Jeter’s debut in 1996, and SiriusXM also plans to carry memorable season openers. ESPN2 is airing a Home Run Derby marathon starting with Pete Alonso’s impressive show from last summer.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Sidelined by an oblique strain, New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto would not speculate whether he could return for the March 26 opener against Washington.“I feel very good right now. It’s different for everybody — the timeline can be short or long,” Conforto said Wednesday.Conforto was injured Saturday against the Nationals and returned to New York on Monday night and was diagnosed with the strain on Tuesday.“I feel good, definitely feel better than a couple of days ago,” said Conforto. “My symptoms weren’t all that crazy. After a couple of days of treatment, I felt quite a bit better, and so right now I feel pretty good.”The 27-year-old outfielder got hurt when he lost a fly ball to right in the sun and felt a tug in his right side after a late sudden move to catch the ball. His right side tightened up on him later in the game.“I didn’t think anything of it — it felt like a cramp,” Conforto said. Notes: OF Pete Alonso, the NL Rookie of the Year, agreed... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Eugenio Suárez was playing in a swimming pool with his children at home in Pinecrest, Florida, and decided to dive into the shallow half. The Cincinnati Reds third baseman hit the bottom of the pool and wound up with a shoulder injury that has set him back in spring training and left his availability uncertain for opening day.“I tried to dive in headfirst,” Suárez said. “My hands hit first first and then my shoulder felt like a pop.”Suárez tore cartilage in his right shoulder and had surgery Jan. 28. For the start of spring training, Suárez was limited to conditioning work while his throwing shoulder healed.He's progressed to taking infield practice, playing catch and hitting in the batting cage. It's unclear how long it will be until he can play in a game.“I feel better every day,” Suárez said.The Reds are counting upon the 28-year-old to be a top contributor in an offense that was near the bottom of the NL in runs last season.Suárez's 49 homers last year were a... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso was the breakout star in an impressive group of major league rookies last summer. Now another wave of young talent is looking to leave its mark on the sport.Here is a closer look at a handful of rookies who could play a starring role this year: —OF Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox: The 22-year-old Robert joins a formidable White Sox lineup after agreeing to a $50 million, six-year contract in January — ahead of his major league debut. The athletic Cuban slugger batted .328 with 32 homers, 92 RBIs and 36 steals over three minor league stops last season.—INF Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon's departure in free agency created an opening at third base for the Nationals, and the reigning World Series champions are looking to Kieboom to fill the role. Kieboom spent most of last year with Triple-A Fresno, hitting .303 with 16 homers and 79 RBIs in 109 games.—LHP Brendan McKay, Tampa Bay Rays: McKay was hampered by shoulder stiffness... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New Mets manager Luis Rojas set his standards right away."We expect to be a contender," he said Tuesday during his first spring training news conference. "We know how all the teams are. We're going to be in a tough division and play some tough teams on our schedule. We have a great roster, great position players with versatility, great starting rotation or pitchers that have a history of Cy Youngs and World Series winners. And our bullpen has a history of saving games and being closers."New York went 46-26 in the latter part of the 2019 season, finishing three games back of Milwaukee for the second wild card.Jacob deGrom won his second straight NL Cy Young Award, Pete Alonso claimed the NL Rookie of the Year after hitting a major league-leading 53 home runs and Jeff McNeil was fourth in the NL batting race with a .318 average.Manager Mickey Callaway was fired after an 86-76 finish in his second season and replaced by Carlos Beltrán, who was let go for his role... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League East 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:___Atlanta Braves Manager: Brian Snitker (fifth season). 2019: 97-65, first place, lost to Cardinals in Division Series.Training Town: North Port, Florida.Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 13/18. He's Here: LF Marcell Ozuna, C Travis d'Arnaud, LHP Cole Hamels, LHP Will Smith, RHP F�lix Hern�ndez.He's Outta Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Julio Teheran, C Brian McCann, OF Matt Joyce, RHP Anthony Swarzak, RHP Josh Tomlin, LHP Jerry Blevins, OF Billy Hamilton, C Francisco Cervelli. Going campin': The Braves are coming off their second straight NL East title, led by one of baseball's brightest young stars. In his first full season in the big leagues, 22-year-old OF Ronald Acu�a Jr. hit 41 homers, led the league with 127 runs and tallied 37 stolen bases to become the second-youngest... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Adams agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets on Friday, hoping to earn a job as a backup and a bat with pop off the bench.He would get a $1.25 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and would have the chance to earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $250,000 for 250 and each additional 50 through 500.The 31-year-old is primarily a first baseman but also has played the outfield. He batted .226 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 333 plate appearances last year for the World Series champion Washington Nationals, hitting 12 of his homers in June and July.New York has NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso at first.Adams has 11 career homers and 49 RBIs as a pinch hitter, but he was just 3 for 33 in that role last year with two homers and a double.An eight-year big league veteran, Adams also has played for St. Louis (2012-17, 2018) and Atlanta (2017), and had his first stint with the Nationals in 2018.Adams had a $3 million salary last year, and Washington declined his $4 million mutual option, which carried a $1 million buyout.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Adams agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets on Friday, hoping to earn a job as a backup and a bat with pop off the bench.The 31-year-old is primarily a first baseman but also has played the outfield. He batted .226 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 333 plate appearances last year for the World Series champion Washington Nationals, hitting 12 of his homers in June and July.New York has NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso at first.Adams has 11 career homers and 49 RBIs as a pinch hitter, but he was just 3 for 33 as a pinch hitter last year — with two homers and a double.An eight-year big league veteran, he also has played for St. Louis (2012-17, 2018) and Atlanta (2017), and he had his first stint with the Nationals in 2018.Adams had a $3 million salary last year, and Washington declined his $4 million mutual option, which carried a $1 million buyout.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Adams agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets on Friday, hoping to earn a job as a backup and a bat with pop off the bench.The 31-year-old is primarily a first baseman but also has played the outfield. He batted .226 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 333 plate appearances last year for the World Series champion Washington Nationals, hitting 12 of his homers in June and July.New York has NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso at first.Adams has 11 career homers and 49 RBIs as a pinch hitter, but he was just 3 for 33 as a pinch hitter last year — with two homers and a double.An eight-year big league veteran, he also has played for St. Louis (2012-17, 2018) and Atlanta (2017), and he had his first stint with the Nationals in 2018.Adams had a $3 million salary last year, and Washington declined his $4 million mutual option, which carried a $1 million buyout.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Rojas never expected to be the man behind the microphone.Eleven days earlier, he was preparing for his second spring training as the Mets' relatively anonymous quality control coach. Now he was a major league manager, just like his dad, tasked with lifting New York's perennial No. 2 team to its first World Series title since 1986.“I will lead this team into success,” he promised.Carlos Beltrán's news conference at Citi Field on Nov. 4 was a coronation, held in the spacious Foxwoods Club high above the diamond. Beltrán's tenure lasted just 84 days, cut short by his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. Rojas' introduction in the more Spartan news conference room near the clubhouse felt like the hastily arranged handover it was.Rojas' mother, Lucie, sat in the front row.“Thank you for raising us right, for teaching us what was right and wrong since early,” he told her, repeating his words in Spanish.Then he turned his attention to Felipe Alou, his 84-year-old... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Rojas never expected to be the man behind the microphone.Eleven days earlier, he was preparing for his second spring training as the Mets' relatively anonymous quality control coach. Now he was a major league manager, just like his dad, tasked with lifting New York's perennial No. 2 team to its first World Series title since 1986.“I will lead this team into success,” he promised.Carlos Beltrán's news conference at Citi Field on Nov. 4 was a coronation, held in the spacious Foxwoods Club high above the diamond. Beltrán's tenure lasted just 84 days, cut short by his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. Rojas' introduction in the more Spartan news conference room near the clubhouse felt like the hastily arranged handover it was.Rojas' mother, Lucie, sat in the front row.“Thank you for raising us right, for teaching us what was right and wrong since early,” he told her, repeating his words in Spanish.Then he turned his attention to Felipe Alou, his 84-year-old... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mets made it official, hiring Luis Rojas as their manager to replace Carlos Beltrán.New York announced the move Thursday, a week after Beltrán departed without managing a game. Rojas, who had been the Mets' quality control coach, was given a multiyear contract.“I will work tirelessly to help this team win,” Rojas said in a statement. “I believe this team and coaching staff can do special things, and I look forward to working together with everyone to reach our goals.” Rojas became New York's fourth manager in the past 2 1/2 years — and third in four months. He is to be introduced Friday at a Citi Field news conference."He has a good finger on the pulse of this particular team. He was part of it last year,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Wednesday. "He knows these guys, and he knows how to communicate to them. Every returning player on the roster has a relationship with him, and that’s valuable to us at this time.” Beltrán was let go last week as part of the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Caught off guard in a quick split with Carlos Beltrán, the New York Mets want some continuity for a change. So with spring training only three weeks away, they picked his replacement from their very own bench. The club was working Wednesday to complete a multiyear agreement with quality control coach Luis Rojas that would make him New York's fourth manager in the past 2 1/2 years — and third in four months."He has a good finger on the pulse of this particular team. He was part of it last year,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. "He knows these guys, and he knows how to communicate to them. Every returning player on the roster has a relationship with him, and that’s valuable to us at this time.” Rojas would take over for Beltrán, let go by the Mets last week before managing a single game as part of the fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.The 38-year-old Rojas is the son of former Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou and the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Caught off guard in a quick split with Carlos Beltrán, the New York Mets want some continuity for a change. So with spring training only three weeks away, they picked his replacement from their very own bench. The club was working Wednesday to complete a multiyear agreement with quality control coach Luis Rojas that would make him New York's fourth manager in the past 2 1/2 years — and third in four months."He has a good finger on the pulse of this particular team. He was part of it last year,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. "He knows these guys, and he knows how to communicate to them. Every returning player on the roster has a relationship with him, and that’s valuable to us at this time.” Rojas would take over for Beltrán, let go by the Mets last week before managing a single game as part of the fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.The 38-year-old Rojas is the son of former Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou and the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are finalizing a multiyear agreement with quality control coach Luis Rojas to make him the team’s manager, staying in-house to replace the ousted Carlos Beltrán, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Wednesday.“I think it’s the fit. It’s where the team is. I think it’s the culture we’re trying to create,” Van Wagenen said.Rojas would take over for Beltrán, who left the Mets last week before managing a single game as part of the fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.The 38-year-old Rojas is the son of former Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou and the brother of ex-big leaguer Moises Alou. The former minor league manager has been with the organization since 2007 but had never coached in the majors before joining Mickey Callaway's staff last season.“He has a good finger on the pulse of this team," Van Wagenen said.Callaway was fired after the season, and Rojas interviewed for the vacancy in November before New York... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are finalizing a multiyear agreement with quality control coach Luis Rojas to make him the team’s manager, staying in-house to replace the ousted Carlos Beltrán, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Wednesday.“I think it’s the fit. It’s where the team is. I think it’s the culture we’re trying to create,” Van Wagenen said.Rojas would take over for Beltrán, who left the Mets last week before managing a single game as part of the fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.The 38-year-old Rojas is the son of former Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou and the brother of former big leaguer Moises Alou. The former minor league manager has been with the organization since 2007 but had never coached in the majors before joining Mickey Callaway's staff last season.“He has a good finger on the pulse of this team," Van Wagenen said.Callaway was fired after the season, and Rojas interviewed for the vacancy in November before New... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are finalizing a multiyear agreement with quality control coach Luis Rojas to make him the team’s manager, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Wednesday.“I think it’s the fit. It’s where the team is. I think it’s the culture we’re trying to create,” Van Wagenen said.Rojas would replace Carlos Beltrán, who left the team last week before managing a single game as part of the fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.The 38-year-old Rojas is the son of former Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou and the brother of former big leaguer Moises Alou. The former minor league manager has been with the organization since 2007 but had never coached in the majors before joining Mickey Callaway's staff last season.“He has a good finger on the pulse of this team," Van Wagenen said.Callaway was fired after the season, and Rojas interviewed for the vacancy in November before New York hired Beltrán.Beltrán’s tenure lasted 2½ months... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltrán, called out on a curveball again. So for the second time since they last threw a pitch, the New York Mets are in the market for a new manager.Sign of the times. Beltrán's 2 1/2-month tenure as Mets manager ended Thursday before he spent a single game on the bench, the latest fallout from the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball. The Mets announced the decision in a news release, saying Beltrán and the team “agreed to mutually part ways.” The move came two days after Boston cut ties with manager Alex Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach in 2017 when Beltrán played for the Astros. A day before that, manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired by Houston soon after they were suspended for the 2020 season by Commissioner Rob Manfred for their roles in the cheating scheme. Next to fall was Beltrán, the only Astros player mentioned by name Monday when MLB issued its findings from an investigation into the club’s... [More]