Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

Capsules of National League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Washington Nationals2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Cubs in NLDS.Manager: Dave Martinez (first season).He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero, RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Joaquin Benoit, INF Matt Reynolds.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, 1B-LF Adam Lind, C Jose Lobaton, RHP Matt Albers.Projected Lineup: SS Trea Turner (.284, 11 HRs, 45 RBIs, 46 SBs in 98 games), LF Adam Eaton (.297, 2, 13 in 23 games), RF Bryce Harper (.319, 29, 87), 3B Anthony Rendon (.301, 25, 100, 41 2Bs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.322, 23, 93, 43 2Bs; expected to begin season on DL recovering from knee surgery), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.303, 36, 108, 33 2Bs), CF Michael A. Taylor (.271, 19, 53), C Matt Wieters (.225, 10, 52).Rotation: RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA, NL-high 268 Ks, 200 2/3 IP, 3rd Cy Young Award), RH Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52, 204 Ks), LH Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96, 79 walks), RH Tanner Roark (13-11,... [More]

Capsules of National League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Washington Nationals2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Cubs in NLDS.Manager: Dave Martinez (first season).He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero, RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Joaquin Benoit, INF Matt Reynolds.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, 1B-LF Adam Lind, C Jose Lobaton, RHP Matt Albers.Projected Lineup: SS Trea Turner (.284, 11 HRs, 45 RBIs, 46 SBs in 98 games), LF Adam Eaton (.297, 2, 13 in 23 games), RF Bryce Harper (.319, 29, 87), 3B Anthony Rendon (.301, 25, 100, 41 2Bs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.322, 23, 93, 43 2Bs; expected to begin season on DL recovering from knee surgery), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.303, 36, 108, 33 2Bs), CF Michael A. Taylor (.271, 19, 53), C Matt Wieters (.225, 10, 52).Rotation: RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA, NL-high 268 Ks, 200 2/3 IP, 3rd Cy Young Award), RH Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52, 204 Ks), LH Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96, 79 walks), RH Tanner Roark (13-11,... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rebuilding time is over for the Philadelphia Phillies.When free-agent ace Jake Arrieta arrived at spring training on co-owner John Middleton's private plane, it signaled the start of a new era for this franchise.Stocked with young talent on the major-league roster and prospects in the minors, management sent a clear message that it will do whatever it takes to start winning after five straight losing seasons and 96 losses last year."I intend to come in here and win right away," Arrieta said.Even before the 2015 NL Cy Young award winner joined the Phillies, players were confident this team could contend this season."We're ready to win right now," third baseman Maikel Franco said. "We have a lot of talent here. We're on the same page."The Phillies signed veteran slugger Carlos Santana away from Cleveland in December and bolstered the bullpen by adding right-handers Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter. They waited on Arrieta and got him at their price — $75 million over three years... [More]

Capsules of National League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Washington Nationals2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Cubs in NLDS.Manager: Dave Martinez (first season).He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero, RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Joaquin Benoit, INF Matt Reynolds.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, 1B-LF Adam Lind, C Jose Lobaton, RHP Matt Albers.Projected Lineup: SS Trea Turner (.284, 11 HRs, 45 RBIs, 46 SBs in 98 games), LF Adam Eaton (.297, 2, 13 in 23 games), RF Bryce Harper (.319, 29, 87), 3B Anthony Rendon (.301, 25, 100, 41 2Bs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.322, 23, 93, 43 2Bs, expected to begin season on DL recovering from knee surgery), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.303, 36, 108, 33 2Bs), CF Michael A. Taylor (.271, 19, 53), C Matt Wieters (.225, 10, 52).Rotation: RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA, NL-high 268 Ks, 200 2/3 IP, 3rd Cy Young Award), RH Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52, 204 Ks), LH Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96, 79 walks), RH Tanner Roark (13-11,... [More]

Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Jake Arrieta put on a red No. 49 Philadelphia Phillies jersey for the first time and sent a message to his new teammates and fans."We're going to promise a fight," Arrieta said Tuesday, a day after the ace righty finalized a $75 million, three-year contract that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons. "We're going to have conviction and we're going to fight and we're going to win."The Phillies haven't had a winning season since 2011, when they won their fifth straight NL East title. But the addition of Arrieta signals the end of a long, arduous rebuilding process."We're serious about winning and we're going to do what it takes to win," co-owner John Middleton said.Arrieta is confident a team that won only 66 games last year is poised to contend under first-year manager Gabe Kapler. The Phillies spent big in free agency, signing slugger Carlos Santana and relievers Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek. They have a solid core of young hitters and their rotation... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National 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:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (third season).2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Brandon McCarthy, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, 2B Chase Utley, OF Andre Ethier.Going campin': The Dodgers returned to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1988, only to lose to Houston in seven games. They topped 100 wins while earning a fifth straight NL West title. Clayton Kershaw is one of the elite pitchers in the game, a seven-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He begins the season with 144 career victories, 21 shy of Sandy... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Playing meaningful games in September seems attainable for the Philadelphia Phillies.That's a big step forward for a team with five straight losing seasons. Philadelphia won only 66 games in 2017 and finished last in the NL East for a third time in four years.A decade after winning the franchise's second World Series title, the Phillies have a solid group of young players ready to make summers at the ballpark fun again the way Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins did from 2007-11.Slugger Rhys Hoskins, shortstop J.P. Crawford, outfielder Nick Williams and catcher Jorge Alfaro proved they belonged in the majors and will get a chance to showcase their talent over a full season.Outfielders Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr and second baseman Cesar Hernandez have been productive for a few years. Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana got big money in free agency to complete a lineup that has a chance to be dynamic.It will be up to new manager Gabe Kapler to maximize their... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Francisco Rodriguez and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training.A six-time All-Star closer, K-Rod ranks fourth on the career list with 437 saves, including the single-season record of 62 in 2008 for the Angels. But the 36-year-old right-hander is coming off his worst season in the majors. He had a 7.82 ERA in 28 appearances with Detroit last year.Rodriguez was 44 for 49 in save chances just two years ago. He gives Philadelphia another option in the late innings along with Hector Neris and Pat Neshek.Rodriguez has a 2.86 career ERA in 948 games with 1,142 strikeouts in 976 innings. The Phillies are his sixth team in 17 seasons.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Phillies have signed six-time All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.K-Rod ranks fourth on the career list with 437 saves, including the single-season record of 62 in 2008 for the Angels. But the 36-year-old right-hander is coming off his worst season in the majors. He had a 7.82 ERA in 28 appearances with Detroit last season.Rodriguez was 44 for 49 in save chances just two years ago. He gives Philadelphia another option in the late innings along with Hector Neris and Pat Neshek.Rodriguez has a 2.86 career ERA in 948 games with 1,142 strikeouts in 976 innings. The Phillies are his sixth team in 17 seasons.

RHP Pat Neshek signed a two-year, $16.25 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Neshek began last season with the Phillies and made the National League All-Star team before being traded to the Colorado Rockies. The 37-year-old Neshek went 5-3 with a 1.59 ERA in 71 appearances last season. The two-time All-Star is 33-22 with eight saves and a 2.75 ERA in 494 career appearances (all in relief). He also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros during his 11-year career.

The Philadelphia Phillies added a consistent bat to their lineup on Friday by agreeing to a three-year, $60 million contract with first baseman Carlos Santana.The Phillies also signed right-handed reliever Pat Neshek to a two-year, $16.25 million contract.The 31-year-old Santana has been a mainstay for the Cleveland Indians with more than 600 plate appearances in each of the past seven seasons. He batted .259 with 23 homers and 79 RBIs last season.Santana hit 20 or more homers on five occasions for the Indians, including a career-best 34 in 2016 when Cleveland advanced to the World Series. Santana has 174 career homers and 587 RBIs to go with a .249 batting average since reaching the majors in 2010.The switch-hitting Santana also walked more than 90 times in six consecutive season before having just 88 last season.Santana smacked four postseason homers for the Indians, including one in the 2016 World Series.Neshek began last season with the Phillies and made the National League All-Star team before being traded to the Colorado Rockies. The 37-year-old Neshek went 5-3 with a 1.59 ERA in 71 appearances last season.The two-time All-Star is 33-22 with eight saves and a 2.75 ERA in 494 career appearances (all in relief). He also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros during his 11-year career.

RHP Pat Neshek, acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in exchange for three minor leaguers, was added to the 25-man roster Friday. The two-time All-Star is 3-2 with a 1.12 ERA in 43 relief appearances this season. In 466 career relief appearances, he is 31-21 with eight saves, a 2.76 ERA, 125 walks and 423 strikeouts. "(He is) a guy who figures in the back end of the game when the game is in the balance and he's been very capable of protecting leads and keeping leads where they are, and you feel comfortable about the performance," manager Bud Black said. "He's proven that. He's another dependable arm in the back end of the bullpen."

RHP Pat Neshek was acquired from Philadelphia for three minor leaguers. "It's exciting," the two-time All-Star said. "You're jumping into a playoff race. That's a great team, great offense. I don't know the exact standings, but I know they're in the wild card right now. I've played for (Rockies manager) Bud Black before, he was awesome. I played with Nolan Arenado in the World Baseball Classic. It's bittersweet, too. I enjoyed my time here. These guys are some of the better guys I played with and this is one of my favorite places I've been. It's tough, I've never been through something like this to another big league team. It's a lot of emotion." The 36-year-old Neshek went 3-2 with a 1.12 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings this year for Philadelphia. He is in the final year of a three-year contract that he signed with Houston after an All-Star season in 2014 with St. Louis. "I'm actually relieved," Neshek said. "People have been talking about (a trade) since April. I thought it was going to go to the last day. It's kind of nerve-wracking. You read Twitter, and it seems like every team imaginable might. I kind of had a feeling the Rockies might." Neshek figures to become the eighth-inning option to set up closer Greg Holland, the National League saves leader with 31, for a Colorado team that entered Wednesday night with a 58-44 record and the NL's second wild-card berth.

The Colorado Rockies, in contention for a playoff spot for the first time since 2009, strengthened their bullpen Wednesday night by acquiring two-time All-Star Pat Neshek from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for three minor leaguers."It's exciting," Neshek said. "You're jumping into a playoff race. That's a great team, great offense. I don't know the exact standings, but I know they're in the wild card right now. I've played for (Rockies manager) Bud Black before, he was awesome. I played with Nolan Arenado in the World Baseball Classic. "It's bittersweet, too. I enjoyed my time here. These guys are some of the better guys I played with and this is one of my favorite places I've been. It's tough, I've never been through something like this to another big league team. It's a lot of emotion."The 36-year-old Neshek went 3-2 with a 1.12 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings this year for Philadelphia. He was the Phillies' lone representative at the All-Star Game, and is in the final... [More]

RHP Pat Neshek, who is rumored to likely be dealt before the trade deadline, hasn't given up a run in his last seven appearances for the Phillies. He hasn't allowed a run in 22 appearances at home this season.

RHP Pat Neshek struck out the side in a scoreless seventh inning Saturday and has now gone four straight appearances without allowing an earned run. In all, he's kept opponents off the board in 38 of his 39 outings this season, posting a 2-2 record and 1.27 ERA along the way. Neshek's may with the Phillies may be short; in the final year of a three-year, $18.5 million contract, the veteran reliever has been a popular name in trade rumors as the deadline approaches.

RHP Pat Neshek, the Phillies' only All-Star selection ran his scoreless innings streak at Citizens Bank park to 18 2/3 innings spread over 20 outings to begin the season after throwing a scoreless inning on Friday night. It's the second-longest such streak by any Phillies reliever since 1913, trailing only Jeff Calhoun's 21 scoreless appearances in 1987.

RHP Pat Neshek is headed to his second All-Star Game. Neshek was selected as a reserve pitcher for the National League when the All-Star Game rosters were revealed Sunday night. The news came as no surprise given Neshek's impressive first half. He had an 18-inning scoreless streak snapped Saturday and is 2-2 with one save and a 1.39 ERA in 35 games. There was also a lack of other viable All-Star candidates on the Phillies, who have the worst record in baseball at 27-53. Neshek took the loss in his first All-Star Game in 2014, when he represented the St. Louis Cardinals in his home state of Minnesota but gave up two runs in one-third of an inning at Target Field.