SAN DIEGO (AP) — All-Star closer Brad Hand and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a three-year contract reportedly worth $19.75 million, pending the left-hander passing a physical.The Padres say the deal was reached Saturday. It includes a fourth-year option.Hand went 3-4 with 21 saves and a 2.16 ERA last season. He's been mentioned in trade talk since last summer."I'm 27 right now and have the chance to be a free agent again at a younger age, which is something we kind of wanted to keep in play," Hand said. "I don't think they're far off here from winning, maybe three or four years from now will be a very exciting time."The Padres are heading into the second year of a deep rebuild. They hope to be competitive by next season.The Padres signed Hand off waivers from the Marlins on April 8, 2016."Brad's a guy that's going to lead the bullpen and anchor the bullpen," manager Andy Green said. "He has the skill and the makeup to do those things. Resiliency, too. I've never been around a pitcher that takes the ball as willingly and as often as he does. He wants to be on the mound every single day. He loves to pitch."

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros already had two Cy Young winners on their staff. They're hoping Gerrit Cole can make it three.The World Series champions boosted their rotation with another big arm, acquiring Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player trade Saturday.The Pirates got right-handers Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz, third baseman Colin Moran and outfielder Jason Martin for their 27-year-old ace.Cole will join All-Stars Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander on a team that just won its first crown. Houston breezed to the AL West title with 101 wins, and went on beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.Cole went 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA last season, by far the worst ERA of his five-year career. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft was an All-Star in 2015 but hasn't replicated those results the past two seasons. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow thinks pitching coach Brent Strom can help Cole recapture that form."We expect him to bounce back and be a Cy... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Spring training starts next month, and new Chicago Cubs hitting coach Chili Davis is already hard at work.Davis has been studying video of Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber, and he has had several one-on-one sessions with Heyward in Arizona."We started off in early November one day a week and we've graduated to Tuesdays and Thursdays," Davis said Saturday during the team's annual fan convention. "I think last Tuesday was our first on-the-field live BP. We've been in the cage most of the time."Davis was hired in October to replace John Mallee, who spent three seasons as Chicago's hitting coach. Davis played in the majors for 19 years and served as the hitting coach in Oakland and Boston for the previous six seasons, including the last three with the Red Sox."As far as I'm concerned, Mallee I look at as a really good hitting coach," Davis said. "It was surprising to me that a team that had been to the playoffs three years in a row and had won a World Series with him here was... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Outfielder-first baseman Scott Van Slyke has signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins after spending the past six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Right-handed pitchers Jumbo Diaz, Javy Guerra and Tyler Cloyd and left-hander Mike Kickham also signed minor league deals with the Marlins. All five players received invitations to spring training.Van Slyke batted .122 in 29 games last year. He's a career .242 hitter with 29 homers.Diaz went 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA in 31 games as a relief pitcher for Tampa Bay last season. Guerra has a 2.99 ERA in 169 games of relief over a seven-year career with four teams, including the Marlins last year.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have reached one-year deals with starters Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey and settled with five other players.Relievers Jeurys Familia, A.J. Ramos and Hansel Robles, catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielder Wilmer Flores also agreed Friday to one-year contracts and avoided arbitration.Starter Zack Wheeler was the only Mets player who exchanged salary figures with the team. He asked for $1.9 million and the club offered $1.5 million.While many of his Mets rotation mates got hurt or hit hard last year, deGrom ($7.4 million) was a rock all season for a team that finished 70-92. He went 15-10 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts, emerging as the staff ace with Syndergaard injured.The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, deGrom ranked second in the National League with 239 strikeouts last season and fifth with 201 1/3 innings — 81 more than any other New York pitcher. He set career highs in both categories, as well as wins, though his ERA was his highest in four... [More]

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]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals agreed with reliever Kelvin Herrera and starter Nate Karns on one-year contracts Friday to avoid arbitration, leaving reliever Brandon Maurer as their only player still on track for a hearing next month.Herrera will make $7,937,500, an increase from $5,325,000. He would get a $50,000 bonus if he's an All-Star, which he was in 2015 and 2016.He was just 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA last season after taking on the full-time closer job.Karns will make $1,375,000 in his first year of arbitration eligibility, an increase from the $571,000 he made last season. He would get a $12,500 each for 15 and 20 starts and $50,000 if he's an All-Star.Karns missed most of last season after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. He was 2-2 with a 4.17 ERA in nine games, eight of them starts, and is expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring.Maurer asked for a raise from $1.9 million to $3.5 million and was offered $2.95 million.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Closer Alex Colome and All-Star designated hitter/outfielder Corey Dickerson are among seven players who agreed to one-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding salary arbitration.Infielders Matt Duffy and Brad Miller, outfielder Steven Souza, Jr., catcher Jesus Sucre and relief pitcher Dan Jennings also reached terms before Friday's deadline for players and teams to exchange proposed salaries for next season.Pitcher Jake Odorizzi and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria are Tampa Bay's only arbitration-eligible players who didn't agree to deals. Odorizzi's case set to be settled by an arbiter for the second straight winter.The 27-year-old right-hander won his arbitration case last February, receiving a raise from $520,700 to $4.1 million. He went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts last season.This time, Odorizzi is seeking $6.3 million while the Rays are offering $6.05 million.Hechavarria, acquired in a trade from Miami in June, is asking for $5.9 million after... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year, $6.05 million contract with Nicholas Castellanos, avoiding arbitration.The Tigers also reached one-year deals with right-handers Alex Wilson ($1,925,000) and Shane Greene ($1.95 million). Shortstop Jose Iglesias is still eligible for arbitration. He is asking for $6.8 million and the team is offering $5.6 million.Castellanos hit .272 with 26 home runs and 101 RBIs last season. He started 128 games at third base and 20 in right field. He may play more in the outfield in 2018 if Jeimer Candelario can hold the third base job.In addition to his base salary, he has a $25,000 bonus for 500 plate appearances.Wilson went 2-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 66 relief appearances last year, and Greene was 4-3 with a 2.66 ERA and nine saves.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached one-year deals with center fielder A.J. Pollock, third baseman Jake Lamb and starters Robbie Ray and Taijuan Walker, avoiding salary arbitration with them and several other players.Right-hander Shelby Miller was the only Arizona player left in salary arbitration, asking for $4.9 million and being offered $4.7 million as the sides exchanged figures Friday. He lost in arbitration last year, getting $4.7 million instead of the $5.1 million he sought.The 30-year-old Pollock will get $7.75 million, up from the $6.75 million he made last season while hitting .266 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs. An All-Star in 2015, he missed nearly the entire 2016 season after breaking his elbow in a headfirst slide at home plate near the end of spring training.Lamb received a $4,275,000 contract, Ray got $3.95 million and Walker received $4,825,000.Also reaching deals were left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin for $1,195,000; right-hander Brian Boxberger at $1.85... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have avoided arbitration with all of their eligible players after reaching one-year agreements with pitchers Jimmy Nelson and Corey Knebel, as well as infielders Jonathan Villar and Hernan Perez.Nelson reached a $3.7 million deal for 2018 after a breakthrough season in which he went 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA and a team-leading 199 strikeouts. Knebel, who made the All-Star team in his first year as closer, gets $3.65 million.Villar's deal is for $2.55 million. The switch-hitter hit .241, 44 points lower than in 2016.Perez agreed to a $1,975,000 deal. He had career highs with 14 home runs, 19 doubles, 136 games and 432 at-bats last year.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with newly acquired outfielder Marcell Ozuna, avoiding arbitration.The Cardinals also reached one-year deals on Friday with outfielder Randal Grichuk ($2.6 million), right-hander Michael Wacha ($5.3 million) and left-hander Tyler Lyons ($1.2 million).Ozuna is coming off a breakout season. He hit .312 with 37 homers and 124 RBIs for the Miami Marlins, then was traded to St. Louis in December.Grichuk batted .238 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs last year, his second straight 20-homer season. Wacha was 12-9 with a 4.13 ERA in 30 starts, and Lyons was 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 50 relief appearances.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shortstop Freddy Galvis was one of six players to reach agreement on one-year deals with the San Diego Padres to avoid salary arbitration.Galvis, acquired in a trade from the Phillies last month, will make $6,825,000 in a big bump from his 2017 salary of $4,350,000. He played in all 162 games for Philadelphia last season, the first time he has done so. He batted .255 with 12 homers and 61 RBIs.Left-hander Brad Hand received a $3.6 million contract and a raise from his $1,375,000 last year, when he went 3-4 with a 2.16 ERA in 72 appearances.Also reaching one-year deals Friday to avoid arbitration were right-hander Carter Capps for $1,062,500, up from $987,500; third baseman Cory Spangenberg at $1.7 million, up from $545,500; outfielder Matt Szczur at $950,000 after he made $549,500 and right-hander Kirby Yates for $1,062,500 up, from $545,000.Spangenberg batted .264 with career-bests of 13 homers, 46 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 129 games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SEATTLE (AP) — Left-handed starter James Paxton and catcher Mike Zunino are among five players who have agreed to one-year deals with the Seattle Mariners.Right-handed starter Erasmo Ramirez and relievers David Phelps and Nick Vincent also agreed to deals Friday that will keep them out of arbitration. Seattle has not had a case go to arbitration since 2014.Paxton will get a hefty raise to $4.9 million after developing into the ace of Seattle's pitching staff. Paxton was 12-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 24 starts last season, striking out 156 in 136 innings. His health has been an issue, though. Paxton had two significant stints on the disabled list in 2017 with a forearm strain and a pectoral injury. His pectoral injury in August was a big blow to Seattle's slim playoff hopes. Paxton avoided arbitration a year ago by agreeing to a $2.35 million deal.Zunino was arbitration eligible for the first time and agreed to a $2.975 million contract coming off his best offensive season. Zunino hit .251 with... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million deal with reliever Arodys Vizcaino, avoiding arbitration.The Braves also avoided arbitration with two other players, reaching one-year agreements with right-handers Sam Freeman ($1,075,000) and Dan Winkler ($610,000).Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz remains eligible for arbitration. He's asking for $2.3 million, and the team is offering $2.2 million.The 27-year-old Vizcaino took over the closer's role from Jim Johnson last season. Improved control, accompanied by an overwhelming fastball, helped Vizcaino keep the job. He was successful on 14 of 17 save chances, including 12 of 13 after the All-Star break.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — All-Star pitcher Alex Wood agreed to a $6 million deal with the Dodgers and catcher Yasmani Grandal settled at $7.9 million, among seven Los Angeles players agreeing to one-year contracts that avoiding arbitration.The deals Friday added $24.1 million to the Dodgers luxury tax payroll and raised it to $149,069,286 for 18 players with agreements. The Dodgers' tax payroll projects to $183 million, including $10 million for the rest of their 40-man roster, a $10 million charge for cash transactions in trades, plus benefits totaling $14,044,600. That puts Los Angeles on track to drop below this year's $197 million tax threshold.Also agreeing to deals were outfielder Joc Pederson ($2.6 million), utilityman Enrique Hernandez ($1.6 million), and pitchers Tony Cingrani ($2.3 million), Josh Fields ($2.2 million) and Pedro Baez ($1.5 million).Wood was 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 25 starts and two relief appearances last season, when he made his first All-Star team. He had 151 strikeouts... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pitchers Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker agreed to one-year deals with the Los Angeles Angels along with the team's other seven arbitration-eligible players.Richards, the team's ace, agreed at $7.3 million. He made one start last April before missing the next five months while rehabbing a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The 29-year-old right-hander has made just six starts in each of the past two seasons because of elbow injuries. Richards earned $6.85 last season and can become a free agent after the 2018 season.Skaggs agreed at $1,875,000 plus awards bonuses. The left-hander was 2-6 with a 4.55 ERA last season, when he missed three months because of injury. He made $555,000.Shoemaker receives $4,125,000. Like Richards and Skaggs, he was derailed by injury last season when he was 6-3 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 starts. The right-hander took a line drive off his head in early September and missed the rest of the season. He is... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Third baseman Derek Dietrich has agreed to a $2.9 million contract for 2018 with the Miami Marlins.Shortstop Miguel Rojas agreed to a $1.18 million contract. Both players avoided arbitration.Catcher J.T. Realmuto, first baseman Justin Bour and right-hander Dan Straily are headed for arbitration after they were unable to reach contract agreements with the team by Friday's deadline.Realmuto asked for $3.5 million and the Marlins offered $2.9 million. Bour sought $3.4 million and was offered $3 million. Straily wanted $3.55 million and Miami countered at $3,375,000.Dietrich had career highs of 13 homers, 53 RBIs and 135 games last year, and batted .249. Rojas batted a career-high .290 in 90 games.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $5.1 million, one-year deal with Cesar Hernandez, avoiding arbitration with the second baseman who has led the team in batting average each of the past two seasons.The Phillies also reached one-year agreements with third baseman Maikel Franco ($2.95 million), reliever Luis Garcia ($1.2 million) and catcher Cameron Rupp ($2.05 million). Philadelphia has no remaining players eligible for arbitration.Hernandez hit .294 each of the past two years. He's thrived since moving into the leadoff role midway through 2016.Hernandez had a career-best nine homers and a .373 on-base percentage last season.Franco is coming off a disappointing season, although he did lead the Phillies with 24 homers. His average dipped to .230 with a .281 on-base percentage.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros starter Dallas Keuchel agreed to a $13.2 million, one-year contract after helping lead Houston to its first World Series title, and designated hitter/catcher Evan Gattis got a $6.7 million deal.Pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. ($2.45 million) and Brad Peacock ($2.44 million) also agreed, when players and teams were set to swap proposed salaries in arbitration.World Series MVP George Springer, reliever Ken Giles and pitcher Collin McHugh swapped figures with Houston and remain headed to hearings.Springer asked for a raise from $4,075,000 to $10.5 million and was offered $8.5 million. Giles, who stumbled in the World Series, is eligible for arbitration for the first time and asked for a raise from $555,100 to $4.6 million. The Astros countered at $4.2 million.McHugh requested a raise from $3.85 million to $5 million and was offered $4.55 million.Keuchel, the 2015 AL Young Award winner, went 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA and 125 strikeouts in the regular season and was 2-2 with a... [More]