SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Speedy outfielder Jarrod Dyson and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a $7.5 million, two-year contract Monday.Arizona announced the move shortly after the Boston Red Sox reached agreement on a $110 million, five-year deal with former Diamondbacks slugger J.D. Martinez. The right-handed-hitting outfielder had a big half-season with Arizona last year after being acquired from Detroit in a trade, and the Diamondbacks were hopeful they could work out some sort of agreement to bring him back. But in the end, he was out of Arizona's price range.Unlike Martinez, Dyson is no slugger. The left-handed hitter batted .251 and stole 28 bases for the Seattle Mariners last season. He had five home runs and 30 RBIs in 111 games.Dyson played all seven of his previous major league seasons with the Kansas City Royals.Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen has said all spring that the team's top priority was to add outfield depth, so Dyson might have been signed regardless of what... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — As general manager Jerry Dipoto accurately explained, the Seattle Mariners are a team stuck in the middle.They're not in the position of rebuilding. They have enough talent and enough veterans — with big contracts — to be competitive. But they're not among the elite of the American League, including the Houston Astros in their own division.So as the Mariners head to spring training next week, they'll do so in a very awkward position. Their everyday lineup is already established. Their pitching — led by lefty James Paxton — could be strong if key players perform up to expectations. Seattle very well could be in contention for a playoff spot in the American League and possibly end the longest playoff drought in baseball.But no one believes Seattle is in position to compete with the superpowers of the league."What gets me in an urgent position every day is understanding where our roster is, how to build this group into a playoff scenario, and let them do what they do," Dipoto... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American 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:___Houston AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [More]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Carrying their bats and gloves, they leave the weight room and walk the palm tree-lined path past the baseball diamonds to the track.Weight sleds and tires await the boys of summer for the kind of workouts typically reserved for men who make their living on the gridiron in the fall. At the Coach Tom Shaw Performance camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, it's common to see Carlos Gonzalez, Martin Prado, Ender Inciarte and several other major leaguers working out alongside football players preparing for the NFL combine and doing the same kind of drills.Players believe these nontraditional winter workouts, a mix of strength- and endurance-training, football cutting drills and some more common baseball moves, make them quicker, more prepared for spring training and better equipped to stay healthy for the 162-game season."Quickness, footwork, all the stuff you use in baseball he perfectly adapted to our workouts," said Prado, an infielder for the Miami... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Former Marlins pitcher Charlie Hough understands the frustration of Marlins fans, who have watched the team jettison Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich soon after Derek Jeter took over as chief executive."I know they've made some moves that may be the fans are not really comfortable with," Hough said Tuesday as the team unveiled a 25th anniversary logo at Marlins Park.Season ticket holders since the inaugural 1993 season were invited to the event. Jeter left after the second question from reporters."I think if they have the right plan, it's to build and to get this organization building with some depth inside of it instead of just a handful of players," Hough said. "Meeting Derek today — it was the first time I ever met him — I think they have a good idea."Miami announced it will wear a throwback pinstripe uniform during a series against San Diego from June 8-10. The Marlins won World Series titles in 1997 and 2003 but also have had three roster purges. They average 20,395 fans for home games last year, worst in the National League and 28th among 30 big league teams.Jeter briefly addressed about 50 fans and posed for photos."I'm very proud to have a relationship with these fans for many, many years," he said.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

MIAMI (AP) — The latest person to be engulfed in the sweeping personnel changes with the Miami Marlins is the man who plays the team's mascot.News outlets report that John DeCicco, who has appeared as Billy the Marlin at home games for more than a decade, was fired this week. The team confirmed the termination Tuesday, saying Billy the Marlin will remain the team's mascot but with a different person in the costume. Team officials didn't give a reason for the firing.The Marlins have fired a number of executives and traded some of the team's best players — including Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich — since a new ownership group led by CEO Derek Jeter took over last fall.The Associated Press couldn't find a telephone listing for DeCicco in a public records search.__More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his salary arbitration case against Miami and first baseman Justin Bour beat the Marlins to leave players with a 3-1 record this year.Realmuto was given a $2.9 million salary Friday instead of his request for $3.5 million. The decision was made by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier and Allen Ponak, who heard arguments Wednesday.Bour was awarded $3.4 million instead of Miami's $3 million offer by James Oldham, Steven Wolf and Mark Burstein, who presided over Thursday's hearing.Realmuto may be traded as part of the Marlins' payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter. Miami already has dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich. Realmuto made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs.Bour hit .289 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs last year, when he had a $552,500 salary.Boston All-Star outfielder Mookie... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his salary arbitration case against Miami and first baseman Justin Bour beat the Marlins to leave players with a 3-1 record this year.Realmuto was given a $2.9 million salary Friday instead of his request for $3.5 million. The decision was made by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier and Allen Ponak, who heard arguments Wednesday.Bour was awarded $3.4 million instead of Miami's $3 million offer by James Oldham, Steven Wolf and Mark Burstein, who listened to arguments Thursday.Realmuto may be traded as part of the team's payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter. The Marlins already have dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich. Realmuto made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs.Bour hit .289 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs last year, when he had a $552,500 salary.Boston All-Star outfielder... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his salary arbitration case against Miami and first baseman Justin Bour beat the Marlins to leave players with a 3-1 record this year.Realmuto was given a $2.9 million salary Friday instead of his request for $3.5 million. The decision was made by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier and Allen Ponak, who heard arguments Wednesday.Bour was awarded $3.4 million instead of Miami's $3 million offer by James Oldham, Steven Wolf and Mark Burstein, who listened to arguments Thursday.Realmuto may be traded as part of the team's payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter. The Marlins already have dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich. Realmuto made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs.Bour hit .289 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs last year, when he had a $552,500 salary.Boston All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts and Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller won the first two cases of the year.Houston closer Ken Giles had a hearing Thursday, and his decision is not expected until Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts beat the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in the first salary arbitration decision of the year and will get a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million instead of the team's $7.5 million offer.Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto and Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller went to hearings on the second day of offseason cases that could see as many as 25 decisions, which would be the most since 1987.Arbitrators Daniel Brent, Mark Burstein and Phillip LaPorte ruled for Betts one day after hearing arguments. The 25-year-old hit .264 with 24 homers and 102 RBIs last year, when he made his second straight AL All-Star team. He batted .318 with 31 homers and 113 RBIs in 2016.The gap between Betts and the Red Sox was the largest among the 27 players who swapped figures with their teams on Jan. 12.Realmuto, 26, asked for a raise to $3.5 million instead of $2.9 million. He made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto, among the Marlins who could be traded as part of the team's payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter, went to salary arbitration with Miami on Thursday and asked that he be given a raise to $3.5 million instead of $2.9 million.Arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier, Allen Ponak are expected to decide Friday.Realmuto, 26, made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in his third full season.Miami has traded major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October.First baseman Justin Bour and reliever Dan Straily, who are likely to remain with the Marlins, also are scheduled for hearings this month. Bour has asked for a raise from $552,500 to $3.4 million and has been offered $3 million. Straily has requested a raise from $552,100 to $3.55 million... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Concerned after the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates cut major league payroll, the baseball players' association has taken the first step toward trying to force changes in the clubs' behavior.The union said it expressed concern to Major League Baseball that the teams are not spending revenue-sharing proceeds to improve play. The commissioner's office responded by saying it is not worried about any violations.Both teams are in the midst of rebuilds. The Marlins dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since new chief executive Derek Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October, and the Pirates traded longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.Baseball's collective bargaining agreement states "each club shall use its revenue sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field" and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Concerned after the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates cut major league payroll, the baseball players' association has taken the first step toward trying to force changes in the clubs' behavior.The union said it expressed concern to Major League Baseball that the teams are not spending revenue-sharing proceeds to improve play. The commissioner's office responded by saying it is not worried about any violations.Both teams are in the midst of rebuilds. The Marlins dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since new chief executive Derek Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October, and the Pirates traded longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.Baseball's collective bargaining agreement states "each club shall use its revenue sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field" and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Concerned after the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates cut major league payroll, the baseball players' association has taken the first step toward trying to force changes in the clubs' behavior.The union said it expressed concern to Major League Baseball that the teams are not spending revenue-sharing proceeds to improve play. The commissioner's office responded by saying it is not worried about any violations.Both teams are in the midst of rebuilds. The Marlins dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since new chief executive Derek Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October, and the Pirates traded longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.Baseball's collective bargaining agreement states "each club shall use its revenue sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field" and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Longtime Marlins fan Lewis Brinson is excited about the direction of the franchise in the wake of an offseason reboot that now involves him.Brinson, who had been the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospect, was acquired by Miami along with three other minor leaguers for outfielder Christian Yelich. Brinson grew up in South Florida as a Marlins fan and is delighted to join his hometown team."In elementary school or middle school, any time I had to write a paper on what you wanted to be when you grew up, mine was to play major league baseball for the Marlins," Brinson said Friday. "My mom might have proof at home. I would get A's on those papers, because I poured it out."Along with the 23-year-old outfielder, Miami acquired outfielder Monte Harrison, infielder Isan Diaz and right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto on Thursday.Yelich's departure means the Marlins have dismantled their entire outfield, widely regarded as the game's best. They earlier dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins general manager Michael Hill was traveling Thursday to participate in a series of marathons when he swung the team's latest trade, sending center fielder Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects.And so the Marlins' dismantling marathon continues.Yelich became the fourth starter traded by the Marlins as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna.Hill made the trade as he began a trip to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Former Marlins executives David Samson and Jeff Conine also are taking part in the charity event."I'm boarding a plane for South Africa," Hill said. "The job goes with you wherever you are. When the opportunity presents itself to make our organization better, you do what you need to do."Miami acquired highly regarded outfielder... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins general manager Michael Hill was traveling Thursday to participate in a series of marathons when he swung the team's latest trade, sending center fielder Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects.And so the Marlins' dismantling marathon continues.Yelich became the fourth starter traded by the Marlins as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna.Hill made the trade as he began a trip to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Former Marlins executives David Samson and Jeff Conine are also taking part in the charity event."I'm boarding a plane for South Africa," Hill said. "The job goes with you wherever you are. When the opportunity presents itself to make our organization better, you do what you need to do."Miami acquired highly regarded outfielder... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich was traded Thursday to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects, including highly regarded outfielder Lewis Brinson.Yelich became the fourth starter traded by the Marlins as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna.In the wake of the earlier deals, Yelich had said he preferred to play elsewhere this year rather than be part of a Marlins rebuilding effort. He'll make $7 million this season in the third year of a $49.57 million, seven-year contract.Yelich batted .282 with 18 homers and 81 RBIs last year.Miami also acquired infielder Isan Diaz, outfielder Monte Harrison and right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto.The 23-year-old Brinson, who is a native of Fort Lauderdale, batted .106 in 47 at-bats with the Brewers as a rookie last year but is rated... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract with Billy Hamilton, avoiding arbitration with the speedy outfielder.The Reds also avoided arbitration with two other players, reaching an $860,000 deal with right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and a $1,312,500 deal with right-hander Michael Lorenzen. Infielders Scooter Gennett and Eugenio Suarez remain eligible for arbitration.Gennett is asking for $5.7 million and the team is offering $5.1 million. Suarez is asking for $4.2 million and the Reds are offering $3.75 million.Hamilton established career highs last year with 85 runs, 144 hits, 11 triples and 59 steals. He finished one stolen base behind Miami's Dee Gordon for the major league lead.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

J.T. Realmuto reportedly wants to be part of the player exodus from Miami.The Marlins' catcher has requested a trade, according to multiple reports, after the new ownership began dismantling the team to slash payroll.The group, which includes Derek Jeter, has already traded National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees, fellow All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals and two-time All-Star infielder Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners.In fact, outfielder Christian Yelich is also reportedly unhappy with the recent trades, according to ESPN. Yelich expects to have a conversation with Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill in the near future to discuss the situation.Yelich, 26, has four seasons remaining on his seven-year, $49.57 million contract but the club hasn't been shopping him. He is slated to make $7 million in 2018.Yelich batted .282 with 18 homers, 81 RBIs and 16 steals last season. He is a career .290 hitter with 59 homers, 293 RBIs and 72 steals in five big-league seasons.The 26-year-old Realmuto set career highs of 17 homers and 65 RBIs last season while batting .278 in 141 games.Realmuto has a career batting average of .280 with 38 homers and 169 RBIs in three-plus seasons.Realmuto made $562,500 last season. He is eligible for arbitration in 2018.