CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Eight days before opening day, Jake Arrieta made his first appearance for the Philadelphia Phillies."I had a ton of nervous energy," Arrieta said Thursday after allowing two runs that included Miguel Cabrera's solo homer during a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.Arrieta struck out two and walked none, throwing 31 pitches over two innings. He gave up three hits."Very anxious to get out there," the 32-year-old right-hander said. "I was in here at 8, and I couldn't stop moving. But now that's over, I can kind of take a deep breath and remember what it feels like to be in a game situation. Umpires, crowd, and it felt great."Arrieta and the Phillies finalized a $75 million, three-year contract on March 12, a deal that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons.Detroit starter Matthew Boyd and Philadelphia relievers Parker Frazier and Pedro Beato were ejected along with Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler and bench coach Rob Thomson as three batters were hit by pitches.ELSEWHERE... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks were one of baseball's big surprises a year ago. The surprise this year would be if they don't keep winning."Last year we kind of snuck up on people and had to earn their respect," said Torey Lovullo, the National League manager of the year in his first season in the desert. "I think we've done that, which I'm very proud of."Nearly everyone is back from the team that went 93-69 — 24 more wins than the previous year — and earned the National League's No. 1 wild card spot. Optimism abounds in the clubhouse."We learned from last year," outfielder David Peralta said, "and that's why we're going to be better this year."Not quite everybody returns. The glaring omission is outfielder J.D. Martinez, whose torrid performance after he came in a mid-season trade with Detroit (29 home runs, 65 RBIs in 62 games), carried the Diamondbacks down the stretch. Arizona couldn't afford to keep the free agent Martinez but tried to make up for some of that lost offense... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona manager Torey Lovullo says outfielder Steven Souza Jr. likely will open the season on the disabled list after straining his right pectoral muscle while diving for a baseball in a spring training game Wednesday night.Lovullo says Souza will be out "a couple of weeks at least."The extent of the injury was discovered in an MRI on Thursday, and it was a relief to all concerned, especially to Souza, that it wasn't worse."After last night I was obviously in a little bit of pain and you never know what to think in those situations," he said. "But after this morning we got some good news that I won't be gone too long."Souza was acquired from Tampa Bay in a three-team trade to add another big bat to help make up for the loss of J.D. Martinez from last year's team. Souza batted .239 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs last season."He's a tough player. He tried to make a great play," Lovullo said, "left it all out there and he's just going to need to recuperate a little... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — From the start of spring training in Florida, their lockers were lined up all in a row at one end of the rectangular clubhouse.Left to right: Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler.The dream rotation for the New York Mets — if only their health would cooperate.More than a month later, with opening day in sight, those five prized pitchers are still feeling good and the Mets finally have a chance to roll out that entire quintet together for the very first time.After hiring rookie manager Mickey Callaway and spending nearly $90 million to fill holes in free agency, New York (with fingers crossed) is counting on its homegrown power arms to lead the way this season."All of us are All-Star capable," Wheeler said.Harvey, Matz and Wheeler struggled on the mound last year during their latest injury-stunted seasons, so they must rediscover the nasty stuff that looked so promising when they first arrived in the majors.At the top of the rotation, Syndergaard... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona manager Torey Lovullo says outfielder Steven Souza Jr. likely will open the season on the disabled list after straining his right pectoral muscle while diving for a baseball in a spring training game Wednesday night.Lovullo says Souza will be out "a couple of weeks at least."The extent of the injury was discovered in an MRI on Thursday.Souza was acquired from Tampa Bay in a three-team trade to add another big bat to help make up for the loss of J.D. Martinez from last year's team. Souza batted .239 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs last season.Lovullo said the top two internal candidates to replace Souza in right field are Chris Owings and Jarrod Dyson. Owings, originally a shortstop, has played in the outfield as well as at third and second. The speedy Dyson was signed as a free agent.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — David Phelps was ready to be a primary setup man for the Seattle Mariners ahead of closer Edwin Diaz this season. Manager Scott Servais is going to have to look elsewhere for that role now.Phelps will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on Monday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He was injured on the final pitch of his most recent outing on March 17 against the Los Angeles Angels.Phelps was acquired from Miami last July and then did two stints on the disabled list for right elbow impingements. He had surgery in September to remove a bone spur from the elbow."I'd been feeling pretty good all spring, I finally felt locked in that last outing. I was throwing my fastball where I wanted to," Phelps said. "Second to last pitch is when I felt something. Threw another one. ... I thought I felt a crack in the back of my elbow. I was hopeful maybe it was just scar tissue from my (September) surgery. Turns out what I thought was a crack was a pop."Phelps... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers say injured left-handers Boone Logan and Wade Miley won't be ready to pitch opening day.Logan will start the season on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a left triceps strain, Milwaukee said Thursday.The reliever threw only three pitches in the seventh inning of a game Wednesday before leaving with discomfort. Logan was 1-0 with a 4.71 ERA in 38 appearances with Cleveland last season.Miley was also injured Wednesday, exiting his start in the fifth inning after trying to field a bunt. The team says an MRI showed a slight muscle tear in his left groin that will keep him from throwing for two weeks. The 31-year-old has been competing for a spot in Milwaukee's rotation.Miley is in camp on a minor league contract and has an opt-out clause for Thursday. If he requests his release, Milwaukee has 72 hours to either let him go or add him to the 40-man roster. He would have to be on the 40-man to be placed on the disabled list. If Milwaukee puts him on the major league roster, he would earn $2.5 million on a one-year deal with up to $3.2 million in performance bonuses.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have claimed slugger Kennys Vargas off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.The Reds announced the acquisition Thursday. The 27-year-old Vargas batted .253 with career highs of 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 78 games last season. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound switch-hitter made all his starts with Minnesota at either first base or designated hitter.Vargas was designated for assignment by the Twins last week to make room when Jake Cave was acquired from the New York Yankees.The Reds also optioned right-handers Jackson Stephens and Robert Stephenson to Triple-A Louisville and reassigned to minor league camp right-handers Dylan Floro and Tanner Rainey, left-hander Oliver Perez, catcher Joe Hudson, outfielders Ben Revere and Mason Williams and utility player Rosell Herrera.

NEW YORK (AP) — From the start of spring training in Florida, their lockers were lined up all in a row at one end of the rectangular clubhouse.Left to right: Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler.The dream rotation for the New York Mets — if only their health would cooperate.More than a month later, with opening day in sight, those five prized pitchers are still feeling good and the Mets finally have a chance to roll out that entire quintet together for the very first time.After hiring rookie manager Mickey Callaway and spending nearly $90 million to fill holes in free agency, New York (with fingers crossed) is counting on its homegrown power arms to lead the way this season."All of us are All-Star capable," Wheeler said.Harvey, Matz and Wheeler struggled on the mound last year during their latest injury-stunted seasons, so they must rediscover the nasty stuff that looked so promising when they first arrived in the majors.At the top of the rotation, Syndergaard... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Kolten Wong has six steals during in spring training — two shy of his total during the 2017 season."I figure if I can get into that rhythm now. I won't be able to lose it too fast when the season starts," the St. Louis Cardinals second baseman said. "Obviously things kind of get drawn back a little bit."Wong has 53 regular-season stolen bases, including 20 in 2014. At one point projected a leadoff hitter, he likely will bat eighth when the season starts."I think I can still be aggressive — balls in the dirt, going first to third, different situations," Wong said.He knows he needs to get on base more. He's hitting .176 in spring training after going 1 for 2 with a walk in Thursday's 8-2 victory over Atlanta."Just an understanding of who I am as a player kind of brings that sense of calmness," Wong said. "Now I'm not trying to figure out what I want to be or what type of player I need to be now. I know what I can be - what makes me the most successful - and I'm sticking to it."Manager Mike Matheny notices the difference."I think he's handling things better, and to me that's maturity," Matheny said.Wong hit a career-high .285 last year but had four homers — his lowest total for a full season — and his eight stolen bases."Whenever I get my time to steal, where ever I am in the lineup, I'm going to go," he said. "I'm not going to be afraid or anything — just be aggressive and play the game."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge's spring training average is up to .278 after he homered twice in a 9-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles.Judge was brought along slowly at the start of spring training following left shoulder surgery Nov. 20 for loose-body removal and cartilage clean up. He didn't play in his first exhibition game until Feb. 28 and started 1 for 10."Just want to make sure I'm peaking opening day," Judge said.Judge did not play in Wednesday's game against Minnesota. When he reported for spring training last year, he was not sure he would be on the opening-day roster."It seems like just yesterday, really," Judge said. "I can't forget that — reminded every day. You never forget that."He was the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year after hitting a league-high 52 homers with 114 RBIs."It doesn't carry over," Judge said. "I wish they carried over. I wouldn't mind starting out with 52 homers. But that's the thing, nobody cares about last year now. Once it's opening day, everybody starts... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Dylan Bundy has been picked to start the Baltimore Orioles' opener against Minnesota on March 29.The 24-year-old right-hander led the Orioles in wins last season, when he was 13-9 with a 4.24 ERA.Bundy beat out Kevin Gausman, who started last year's opener, and Chris Tillman, the starter of the previous three. Last year was Bundy's first season in the rotation."I wasn't even expecting it or thinking it," Bundy said Thursday. "I was trying to get through spring training and work on the stuff I need to work on, and let things play out however they may be."Baltimore's other starters are Andrew Cashner, who was signed last month and Alex Cobb, added Wednesday.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Three pitchers were ejected along with Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler and bench coach Rob Thomson as three batters were hit by pitches during the Phillies' 6-2 exhibition loss to Detroit on Thursday.Detroit starter Matthew Boyd and Philadelphia relievers Parker Frazier and Pedro Beato also were tossed by plate umpire Tom Hallion.Boyd was ejected in the fifth inning following a two-pitch sequence to Odubel Herrera."The first one that went over his head, I looked up as I was making the delivery and he was bailing out of the box," Boyd said. "It was like he wasn't ready or something, and it slipped. The next one, I was just throwing a two-seamer in, and it really wasn't that in. Wasn't trying to hit him. You don't want to harm somebody."Herrera appeared to get out of the way of the second pitch. Hallion determined the ball hit him on the hand."It was crazy," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I guess once the precedent was decided that he thought we threw intentionally... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Josh Donaldson expects to join a free agent class that could also include fellow sluggers Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.First, the third baseman hopes to lead Toronto to the playoffs for the third time in four years.Donaldson won the AL MVP award in 2015 as the hard-hitting Blue Jays made the first of consecutive appearances in the AL Championship Series. He was limited to 113 games because of injuries last year, and Toronto scored an AL-low 693 runs as it slipped to 76-86 and finished behind Boston, New York and Tampa Bay in the AL East."I wouldn't say we're on anybody's radar at this point, which is fine," Donaldson said. "We believe we're very capable of doing damage. I believe we can still be a potent offense."Donaldson has hit .285 with 111 home runs and 300 RBIs over three seasons in Toronto."You look back at the last couple of years, he really has been the centerpiece," manager John Gibbons said.Donaldson set a record for a one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Rajai Davis made it all the way back with the Cleveland Indians. Mike Napoli remains on the outside.Davis, who hit perhaps the most memorable home run in club history during the 2016 World Series, was told Thursday by manager Terry Francona that he will be on Cleveland's opening-day roster. The 37-year-old outfielder signed a minor league contract with the club last month.With Michael Brantley and Brandon Guyer still not at 100 percent while recovering from surgeries, the Indians needed depth. Davis has filled a need and the Indians are thrilled to have him around."Raj looks like Raj," Francona said. "He does an amazing job at age 37 getting to his full speed. ... We had to play him quite a bit because we wanted to get a good look at him. It's a pretty good test for a 37-year old in spring training. He bounced back really well. I think he has the freedom to be himself. That's a good thing. We all feel that he has the chance to help us win."Davis cemented his name... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Depending on the person asked in the clubhouse, the Pittsburgh Pirates are rebuilding. Or they're not. They're retooling. Or they're not. They're pointing toward 2019 and beyond. Or they're focused on the here and now.The next six months will offer a chance at clarity.The Pirates head into 2018 without Andrew McCutchen in the outfield on opening day for the first time in nearly a decade and without Gerrit Cole in the rotation for the first time since the start of 2013, traded in offseason moves that saved the franchise millions of dollars. Though both transactions included the Pirates picking up a handful of players they believe can make an immediate impact — including starting pitcher Joe Musgrove and third baseman Colin Moran — they left established Pirates like Josh Harrison wondering aloud whether the club cared about winning or making money.Harrison suggested the team consider moving him if it didn't plan to contend. Third baseman David Freese chastised a clubhouse... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Eight days before opening day, Jake Arrieta made his first appearance for the Philadelphia Phillies."I had a ton of nervous energy," Arrieta said Thursday after allowing two runs that included Miguel Cabrera's solo homer during a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.Arrieta struck out two and walked none, throwing 31 pitches over two innings. He gave up three hits."Very anxious to get out there," the 32-year-old right-hander said. "I was in here at 8, and I couldn't stop moving. But now that's over, I can kind of take a deep breath and remember what it feels like to be in a game situation. Umpires, crowd, and it felt great."Arrieta and the Phillies finalized a $75 million, three-year contract on March 12, a deal that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons. Aaron Nola will start the March 29 opener at Atlanta, and it is not clear whether Arrieta will take a turn in the first time through the rotation."Do I think I can handle going out there? Of course," he... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — There is a sense of urgency surrounding the Baltimore Orioles as they enter the 2018 season.For several years now, the Orioles have operated under manager Buck Showalter with a core group of players led by Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Zach Britton.All three of those stars, in addition to Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette, are in the final year of their contract.Knowing that significant change is coming for a team with three playoff appearances in the last six seasons, the Orioles are preparing to make one final thrust at greatness."We all understand that you're not going to play with the same group of guys forever," first baseman Chris Davis said. "We've done a lot of great things with this team, but we haven't reached the top yet. That's still the goal for each and every guy in here."Davis signed a 7-year, $161 million contract in 2016. The deal, designed to keep a playoff-quality club intact, could make it difficult for the cash-conscious Orioles to... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets right-hander Rafael Montero probably will miss the season after tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow.New York said Thursday that the 27-year-old has a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament and will likely need Tommy John surgery.Montero was 5-11 with a 5.52 ERA in 18 starts and 16 relief appearances last year. He gave up 13 runs — nine earned — and 12 hits in nine innings during spring training.He has a salary of $558,025 in the majors and will be eligible for salary arbitration next winter.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks were one of baseball's big surprises a year ago. The surprise this year would be if they don't keep winning."Last year we kind of snuck up on people and had to earn their respect," said Torey Lovullo, the National League manager of the year in his first season in the desert. "I think we've done that, which I'm very proud of."Nearly everyone is back from the team that went 93-69 — 24 more wins than the previous year — and earned the National League's No. 1 wild card spot. Optimism abounds in the clubhouse."We learned from last year," outfielder David Peralta said, "and that's why we're going to be better this year."Not quite everybody returns. The glaring omission is outfielder J.D. Martinez, whose torrid performance after he came in a mid-season trade with Detroit (29 home runs, 65 RBIs in 62 games), carried the Diamondbacks down the stretch. Arizona couldn't afford to keep the free agent Martinez but tried to make up for some of that lost offense... [More]