WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper is focusing on his immediate future. But don't bother asking him about plans beyond this year."If you guys do talk anything about that, I'll be walking right out the door," he said Monday.Everyone around baseball knows the Washington Nationals slugger could be part of a huge free agent class after the coming season. But if teams are saving money by passing on currently available players in hopes of signing a big star next year, that doesn't sound like the best way to impress Harper."I think if I'm an organization or a team I want the best players on my team," Harper said. "My fans deserve that, the players deserve that."Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Blackmon and potentially Clayton Kershaw could be free agents next offseason.Some within the industry suggest this market is slow because teams have their eyes on 2019 — pitchers Jake Arrieta and Alex Cobb and third baseman Mike Moustakas are among the players looking for work with spring... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — At 6-foot-3, Miami Marlins outfield prospect Monte Harrison was surprised he stood eye to eye with new CEO Derek Jeter the first time they met last week."I was expecting him to be a little shorter. I can see why he played 20 years," Harrison said. "I never get star-struck, but when I saw him I was like, 'Wow, this is the real deal.'"The impact of Jeter's formidable presence was on full display Monday when the Marlins took the field for their first full-squad spring training workout. Of the 68 players in camp, 29 are new to the organization following a flurry of offseason trades Jeter swung to reduce payroll and rebuild a weak farm system.The heavy roster turnover transformed the start of camp into a meet and greet. Holdover shortstop Miguel Rojas said he arrived a week early to get a jump on introductory handshakes.Absent was half of last year's everyday lineup, including National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton. While Jeter and his players are anxious to turn the page,... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper is focusing on his immediate future. But don't bother asking him about plans beyond this year."If you guys do talk anything about that, I'll be walking right out the door," he said Monday.Everyone around baseball knows the Washington Nationals slugger could be part of a huge free agent class after the coming season. But if teams are saving money by passing on currently available players in hopes of signing a big star next year, that doesn't sound like the best way to impress Harper."I think if I'm an organization or a team I want the best players on my team," Harper said. "My fans deserve that, the players deserve that."Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Blackmon and potentially Clayton Kershaw could be free agents next offseason. Some within the industry suggest this market is slow because teams have their eyes on 2019 — pitchers Jake Arrieta and Alex Cobb and position players J.D. Martinez and Mike Moustakas are among the players looking... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — At 6-foot-3, Miami Marlins outfield prospect Monte Harrison was surprised he stood eye to eye with new CEO Derek Jeter the first time they met last week."I was expecting him to be a little shorter. I can see why he played 20 years," Harrison said. "I never get star-struck, but when I saw him I was like, 'Wow, this is the real deal.'"The impact of Jeter's formidable presence was on full display Monday when the Marlins took the field for their first full-squad spring training workout. Of the 68 players in camp, 29 are new to the organization following a flurry of offseason trades Jeter swung to reduce payroll and rebuild a weak farm system.The heavy roster turnover transformed the start of camp into a meet and greet. Holdover shortstop Miguel Rojas said he arrived a week early to get a jump on introductory handshakes.Absent was half of last year's everyday lineup, including National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton. While Jeter and his players are anxious to turn the page,... [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:___Washington NationalsManager: Dave Martinez (first season).2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Chicago Cubs in NLDS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 16/21.He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, C Jose Lobaton, 1B-LF Adam Lind, RHP Matt Albers.Going campin': It's become an all-too-familiar story for the Nationals and their fans: terrific regular season, followed by quick playoff exit, followed by a managerial change. Martinez will be the latest skipper to try to lead the club to postseason success — and GM Mike Rizzo has made it clear that ownership expects nothing less than a World Series championship. Martinez has been Joe Maddon's right-hand man with the Chicago... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — There will be one very important question hovering over Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals throughout spring training and the entire 2018 season: Will this be his last year with the club?Sure, there are plenty of other story lines to keep an eye on, from Dave Martinez's debut as a manager in the majors, to the pursuit of a third consecutive NL East title, to Max Scherzer's bid for a fourth Cy Young Award.Nothing will generate as much interest, or will have as profound an effect on the team, as what happens with Harper, who can become a free agent after the coming season.The 25-year-old Harper's representative, Scott Boras, already has been talking about his guy as an iconic player with iconic value , and it's hard to argue. Which is why, after making a little more than $13.5 million last year and a little more than $21.5 million this year, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, 2015 NL MVP and five-time All-Star is sparking conversation about deals worth a half-billion... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Howie Kendrick and the Washington Nationals have finalized their $7 million, two-year contract.The 34-year old will make $3 million this year and $4 million in 2019, and he can earn up to $1.1 million each season in in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.With Bryce Harper, Adam Eaton and Michael A. Taylor the favorites to earn the starting spots in the outfield and Victor Robles another possibility, Kendrick likely will be a bench option for first-year manager Dave Martinez.Kendrick hit .293 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 52 games with Washington after he was acquired from Philadelphia. In 12 major league seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Dodgers, Phillies and Nationals, the versatile right-handed hitter has batted .291 with a .755 OPS.Washington agreed to the deal earlier this week, pending a successful physical.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TORONTO (AP) — Third baseman Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $23 million contract Friday, the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player.The 32-year-old, a three-time All-Star, topped the $21,625,000, one-year deal covering 2018 agreed to last May by outfielder Bryce Harper and Washington.Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP, got a $6 million raise after rebounding from an injury-slowed 2016 to hit .270 last season with 33 homers and 78 RBIs in 113 games. The sure-handed infielder missed time from April 14 through May 25 with a calf injury, which also hampered him during spring training.Donaldson was coming off a $28.65 million, two-year deal. He is eligible for free agency after this season.Toronto also agreed to one-year deals with outfielder Ezequiel Carrera for $1.9 million, left-hander Aaron Loup for $1,812,500, outfielder Kevin Pillar for $3.25 million, right-hander Aaron Sanchez for $2.7 million, second baseman Devon Travis for $1.45 million and right-hander... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Second baseman Joe Panik reached agreement on a $3.45 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Friday to avoid salary arbitration.The deal came Friday for the 27-year-old Panik, who has been limited by injuries the past three seasons and spent a stint on the concussion list in 2017. San Francisco also announced four others to reach one-year contracts Friday: right-handers Hunter Strickland, Sam Dyson and Cory Gearrin and left-hander Will Smith.Panik, a 2016 Gold Glover who earned $600,000 last season, batted .288 with 10 homers, 28 doubles and 53 RBIs over 138 games in 2017 as the Giants finished last in the NL West.He was limited to 127 games in 2016 and dealt with a concussion after a back injury derailed his 2015 season.Strickland's biggest moment of 2017 came in a punches-throwing brawl with Nationals star Bryce Harper in late May. He went 4-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 68 appearances and will earn $1,550,000 up from $555,000.Dyson earned a raise to $4,425,000... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees reached one-year contracts with their remaining six players eligible for arbitration, leaving their projected luxury tax payroll at $177 million — $20 million below the threshold.Shortstop Didi Gregorius agreed at $8.25 million Friday, pitcher Sonny Gray at $6.5 million and setup man Dellin Betances at $5.1 million. Also reaching deals were relievers Adam Warren ($3,315,000) and Chasen Shreve ($825,000), and backup catcher Austin Romine ($1.1 million).New York's luxury tax payroll rose to $149,927,500 for 15 players with agreements, and the projected total is well under the $197 million tax threshold. The projection includes $10 million for the rest of the 40-man roster, $14,044,600 for benefits and a $3 million charge for cash transactions: a $5.5 million payment to Houston as part of the Brian McCann trade, a $500,000 payment to San Diego as part of the Chase Headley deal and a $3 million credit from Miami as part of the Giancarlo Stanton acquisition.Yankees... [More]

RF Bryce Harper struggled in three at-bats against LHP Jon Lester on Saturday. He struck out in the first and then grounded out in the fourth. Harper fouled off a few pitches before grounding out again in the sixth. But he came up in the eighth against reliever Carl Edwards, Jr. and smashed a mammoth two-run shot to tie the game at 3. The Nationals went on to win 6-3 and even the series. Harper returned from the disabled list in late September after he was hurt on August 12 at home when he slipped on a wet first base bag. "I think it could get better; it always can," Harper saidSaturday of coming back from the disabled list. "But I think it can definitely get better the farther we go."

RF Bryce Harper hit the ball hard Friday but was just 1-for-4 against the Cubs in a 3-0 loss. He hit No. 2 in the order for the Nationals. Harper has developed as player under the veteran leadership of LF Jayson Werth, who is in the last year of his contract. "He is closer in age to my kids than he is to me," Werth said of Harper. "He is quite the player." Harper was injured at home August 12 while running out a grounder. He returned from the disabled list on September 26 at Philadelphia. "We were concerned he could be lost for the season. He is moving well," said Mike Rizzo, the Washington general manager. Harper hit .319 in 111 games this year with 29 homers. Washington manager Dusty Baker was also glad to see Harper move well in the field on Friday night. "The longer we play, the closer Bryce is going to get (to 100 percent). But you've got to put him out there, and you hope that, you know, surrounding cast of guys, you know, come through."

RF Bryce Harper started again Sunday after he came off the disabled list Tuesday. He had two hits in four trips and is 3-for-18 since coming off the DL on Tuesday. "He is laying off bad pitches," manager Dusty Baker said.

RF Bryce Harper returned from the disabled list on Tuesday and played in his fourth of fifth game Saturday. Harper has 29 homers and 87 RBIs this year but was 0-for-4 on Saturday and is 1-for-14 since coming off the DL.

RF Bryce Harper was back in the starting lineup Friday. He was off Thursday and has now started three of the last four games after coming off the disabled list Tuesday. He was 0-for-4 and fanned twice Friday.

RF Bryce Harper was not in the starting lineup Thursday in front of the home fans as Washington opened a four-game series at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It would have been Harper's first home appearance since injuring his knee on Aug. 12.

OF Bryce Harper was activated off the 10-day disabled list Tuesday and rejoined the Washington lineup for the first time since August 12 (left leg injuries). Harper started in right field and batted second. In three trips to the plate, Harper finished 0-for-2 with a walk before being removed in the fifth inning. Harper will see how he feels overnight before the club decides how to handle his status Wednesday.

The Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Bryce Harper from the 10-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.Harper returns to the roster after missing 41 games with a hyperextended left knee. The 2015 National League Most Valuable Player sustained the injury after his spike slipped on a wet first base bag while trying to beat out a ground ball in a contest against the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 12.Harper ranked second in the NL in both OPS (1.034) and runs (92) and fourth in on-base percentage (.419), batting average (.326) and homers (29) at the time of his injury. The five-time All-Star has 87 RBIs and 92 runs scored in 106 games this season.Flu-like symptoms delayed the 24-year-old's expected return in the opener of the series on Monday. NL East champion Washington posted a 3-1 win in that contest to improve to 95-61 on the season while cellar-dwelling Philadelphia dropped to 62-95.

OF Bryce Harper was supposed to be activated Monday, but flu symptoms kept him sidelined at least another day. Harper, once an MVP candidate who owns a .326 batting average with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs, may return Tuesday. Harper (left leg injuries) hasn't played since August 12.

RF Bryce Harper (left knee bone bruise) could return to the Nationals as early as Monday night, when the team begins a three-game series against the Phillies. The Washington Post reported during the Nationals' 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday that Harper would be activated Monday. Following the game, manager Dusty Baker said no decision had be reached. Harper, who was injured trying to beat out an infield hit on Aug. 12, played in two simulated games last week. Both Harper and Baker said following a simulated game Saturday that they believed Harper was close to returning. Harper is batting .326 with 29 homers and 87 RBIs in 106 games this season.