NEW YORK (AP) — The Mets signed second baseman Joe Panik on Friday before their series opener against the wild card-leading Washington Nationals, a homecoming for the New York native.Born about twenty miles north of Citi Field in Yonkers, Panik lived in suburban Dutchess County where he attended John Jay High School in the hamlet of Hopewell Junction. He played college baseball for St. John's not far from his new team's Queens stadium"It couldn't have worked out any better for myself, personally, a lot of family, a lot of friends in the area," Panik said. "For me to be coming to a club that's hot right now... It's very exciting. For me, it's a great situation."The 28-year-old Panik was designated for assignment by San Francisco this week and later released. The Giants selected him in the first round out of St. John's in 2011, and the former Gold Glove winner played a key role during the club's 2014 World Series run."I think what we have in that clubhouse is something very special. There's... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets second baseman Robinson Canó has been pulled from New York's game against the San Francisco Giants hours after coming off the injured list.New York said Canó left Wednesday night with tightness in his left quadriceps. He went on the IL two weeks ago after straining the muscle.Canó hit two groundouts in two at-bats, including an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the third. He favored his left leg coming up the line and was beaten to the bag by about a step. Adeiny Hechavarria replaced him at second base to begin the fifth.Canó said before the game he would be cautious to avoid re-injury, noting it might take a few games before he felt 100 percent.Acquired last offseason from Seattle, Canó is hitting .238 with three homers and 14 RBIs for New York. He has been criticized for failing to hustle on a few groundball outs this season, then was injured running hard on a groundout two weeks ago.Canó ran the bases and did other exercises Monday and Tuesday and was cleared after waking up feeling well Wednesday.Outfielder Aaron Altherr was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

June 21928 — Les Bell of the Boston Braves hit three home runs and a triple at Braves Field, but the Cincinnati Reds came away with a 20-12 triumph.1928 — The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. All the runs came from three pinch-hit home runs.1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, announces his retirement as a player.1941 — Lou Gehrig died in New York at age 37.1949 — The Philadelphia Phillies hit five homers in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Andy Seminick hit two and Del Ennis, Willie Jones, and Schoolboy Rowe hit one apiece. Seminick had homered earlier in the game.1959 — The Baltimore Orioles-Chicago White Sox game at Comiskey Park was delayed for nearly half an hour as a swarm of gnats overcame the field. Groundskeepers tried using bug sprays and torches, but the gnats wouldn't budge. A post-game fireworks display was brought in from center field and a smoke bomb was attached to the framework. The gnats left and the Orioles defeated the White Sox, 3-2.1990 —... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Sandy León hit a three-run homer off Oliver Pérez after the Indians reliever caused an odd stoppage asking for new footwear, J.D. Martinez homered twice and the Boston Red Sox beat Cleveland 12-5 Monday.Jackie Bradley Jr. added two RBI doubles, and Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts each had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 18 of 26.Boston held a moment of silence and showed highlights of former player Bill Buckner, who died Monday. He was 69.Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia revealed before the game that he will take an indefinite leave in his long struggle to recover from knee trouble, putting in doubt whether he'll play again in the majors.The Indians have lost seven of eight, and even the team's equipment is having a rough go of it.Pérez put Fenway Park into a strange delay when he relieved during Boston's six-run fifth inning. The 37-year-old left-hander noticed something amiss with his spikes while warming up and signaled for a replacement pair,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers homered off Justin Verlander, and the Boston Red Sox took advantage of two errors by the Houston Astros to avoid a series sweep with a 4-1 victory Sunday.Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3) held Houston to one run and four hits in six innings, improving to 5-1 in his last eight starts.The Astros lost for just the fifth time in 22 games and finished the regular season 4-2 against the Red Sox, who beat them 4-1 in the ALCS last season on the way to a World Series championship.Devers' solo shot in the fourth gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. It was Devers' seventh homer of the season and fourth in six games.Marcus Walden earned his second major league save and first this season.Verlander (8-2) permitted three runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six.ATHLETICS 7, MARINERS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Chapman homered for the second consecutive day, Josh Phegley also went deep and had three RBIs, and the streaking Oakland Athletics won their ninth straight, beating Seattle... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers homered off Justin Verlander, and the Boston Red Sox took advantage of two errors by the Houston Astros to avoid a series sweep with a 4-1 victory Sunday.Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3) held Houston to one run and four hits in six innings, improving to 5-1 in his last eight starts.The Astros lost for just the fifth time in 22 games and finished the regular season 4-2 against the Red Sox, who beat them 4-1 in the ALCS last season on the way to a World Series championship.Devers' solo shot in the fourth gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. It was Devers' seventh homer of the season and fourth in six games.Marcus Walden earned his second major league save and first this season.Verlander (8-2) permitted three runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six.ATHLETICS 7, MARINERS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Chapman homered for the second consecutive day, Josh Phegley also went deep and had three RBIs, and the streaking Oakland Athletics won their ninth straight, beating Seattle... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Cubs reliever Steve Cishek, rallying the Cincinnati Reds past Chicago 6-5 on Friday.Joey Votto drew a leadoff walk from Cishek (1-2) and Suárez hit the next pitch for his 14th home run.Yasiel Puig hit a two-run homer and an RBI single for the Reds after missing two games with a sprained right shoulder.Anthony Rizzo homered for the third straight game, and Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant also went deep for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who have lost three of four to the last-place Reds this season.Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras singled home Rizzo in the eighth to put Chicago ahead 5-4. Jesse Winker's double off Brad Brach in the Reds seventh tied it at 4.David Hernandez (1-2) got one out and the win. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th in 13 chances.PADRES 6, BLUE JAYS 3TORONTO (AP) — Hunter Renfroe hit a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the eighth inning, Greg Garcia and Austin Hedges also went deep,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Cubs reliever Steve Cishek, rallying the Cincinnati Reds past Chicago 6-5 on Friday.Joey Votto drew a leadoff walk from Cishek (1-2) and Suárez hit the next pitch for his 14th home run.Yasiel Puig hit a two-run homer and an RBI single for the Reds after missing two games with a sprained right shoulder.Anthony Rizzo homered for the third straight game, and Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant also went deep for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who have lost three of four to the last-place Reds this season.Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras singled home Rizzo in the eighth to put Chicago ahead 5-4. Jesse Winker's double off Brad Brach in the Reds seventh tied it at 4.David Hernandez (1-2) got one out and the win. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th in 13 chances.PADRES 6, BLUE JAYS 3TORONTO (AP) — Hunter Renfroe hit a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the eighth inning, Greg Garcia and Austin Hedges also went deep,... [More]

April 141910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.1910 — Chicago's Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A's blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two outs in the ninth.1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees' only hit in a 3-0... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets cut five players from major league camp Saturday and informed catcher Devin Mesoraco that he won't be on the opening day roster.The Mets re-assigned outfielders Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and pitchers Ryan O'Rourke and Hector Santiago to minor league camp. All six players were offered $100,000 retention bonuses.The moves trimmed New York's spring roster to 30, with five days to get that number to 25. The toughest calls appear to be at the catching and pitching positions.Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielders Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie could be placed on the injured list prior to the Mets' season opener at Washington.D'Arnaud is working back from Tommy John surgery last April, and it's uncertain if he or Tomas Nido will break camp as the backup to Wilson Ramos. New York has been careful with the 30-year-old d'Arnaud, who caught eight innings over two games Thursday and Friday and has played eight spring games."We... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets cut five players from major league camp Saturday and informed catcher Devin Mesoraco that he won't be on the opening day roster.The Mets re-assigned outfielders Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and pitchers Ryan O'Rourke and Hector Santiago to minor league camp. All six players were offered $100,000 retention bonuses.The moves trimmed New York's spring roster to 30, with five days to get that number to 25. The toughest calls appear to be at the catching and pitching positions.Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielders Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie could be placed on the injured list prior to the Mets' season opener at Washington.D'Arnaud is working back from Tommy John surgery last April, and it's uncertain if he or Tomas Nido will break camp as the backup to Wilson Ramos. New York has been careful with the 3-year-old d'Arnaud, who caught eight innings over two games Thursday and Friday and has played eight spring games."We... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they'll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday's noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Retired pitchers Al Leiter and John Franco have been hired as baseball operations advisers by the New York Mets.Leiter, a broadcaster since his last season in 2005, will be involved with scouting, player development and pitchers' mental preparation."Al's passion for the game is infectious," general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Monday. "His unique ability to communicate his knowledge to players, coaches and the front office will immediately make us better."Franco will scout and assist pitchers. The Mets said he will also continue in the club ambassador role he has held since 2010.Notes: SS Amed Rosario was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Boston RHP Mike Shawaryn in the fifth inning of a Mets' split squad's 9-3 loss to Boston. X-rays following the game were negative, manager Mickey Callaway said. ... Adeiny Hechavarria, one option for the Mets at shortstop, went 0 for 3 in the other squad's 7-4 win over Houston in West Palm Beach. He is hitting .077. Veteran... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The Mets are missing a pair of injured infielders, and the calendar hasn't even reached March.Third baseman Todd Frazier injured his left oblique muscle and will return to New York for a cortisone injection, the second Mets infielder to get hurt at spring training after fellow infielder Jed Lowrie.The 33-year-old Frazier had an MRI that revealed the injury."I was hitting the ball great, and then I felt a little tightness in my left side," Frazier said Tuesday.Frazier said he had not experienced the injury before."I thought I was doing everything right," he said. "I'm frustrated, very frustrated myself. It's just one of those things where you come into the year all healthy and ready to roll and this happens. It's not fun."Frazier hit 18 homers and drove in 59 runs in 115 games last year, when he went on the disabled list for the first two times in his big league career. He was out from May 8 to June 2 with a left hamstring strain and from July 9 to Aug. 2 with... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training.Hechavarria is a light hitter known for his defense. He gives New York a legitimate, established shortstop who could be a backup to young starter Amed Rosario. Even with a crowded infield, that's something the Mets were lacking as they opened spring training."From the onset we wanted to create depth and versatility at a variety of positions. The shortstop position in particular was one that we felt like we wanted to continue to create options," new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said at spring training media day. "Rosario is a premium guy. He's young and he's improving every day and the goal is to make sure we can surround him with not only support to get better, but also give us some protection in the event that we need to get him help or need to replace him in some scenario. So that was something we've wanted to do... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Veteran shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to a person familiar with the deal.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the deal is pending a physical planned for Monday, when Hechavarria is expected to arrive at Mets camp in Port St. Lucie.Hechavarria is a light hitter known for his defense. He gives New York a legitimate, established shortstop who could be a backup to young starter Amed Rosario. Even with a crowded infield, that's something the Mets were lacking as they opened spring training."From the onset we wanted to create depth and versatility at a variety of positions. The shortstop position in particular was one that we felt like we wanted to continue to create options," new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said at spring training media day. "Rosario is a premium guy. He's young and he's improving every day... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American 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:___Boston Red SoxManager: Alex Cora (second season).2018: 108-54, first place, World Series champions.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park at Fenway South.First Workout: Feb. 13/18.He's Here: OF Gorkys Hernandez, RHP Jenrry Mejia.He's Outta Here: RHP Craig Kimbrel, RHP Joe Kelly, 2B Ian Kinsler.Going campin': The Red Sox are largely standing pat as they attempt to win back-to-back World Series for the first time in more than a century. The team that won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season last year is largely intact, with All-Star closer Kimbrel the biggest loss. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is hoping to return from a knee injury that limited him to three games last season. Christian Vazquez, Blake Swihart and Sandy Leon will compete for two spots at catcher.... [More]

Paul Goldschmidt and Robinson Cano have already switched teams this offseason, going to the Cardinals and Mets in major trades.As for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper — the jewels of the free agent market — they're still waiting.Patrick Corbin and Josh Donaldson are already signed, but there are plenty of significant free agents still available heading into the winter meetings this week. The market appears less sluggish than a year ago, and Machado and Harper will remain focal points.Here's a look at the top free agents — broken down by position — who are still available. Players are listed with their most recent teams, with their ages in parentheses:LEFT-HANDED STARTERDallas Keuchel, Astros (30)With Corbin off the board , Keuchel may be the top remaining starter on the market. He slipped a bit after his Cy Young-winning performance of 2015, but this past season was encouraging from a health standpoint. He made a career-high 34 starts and posted a 3.74 ERA.Other options: J.A. Happ hasn't... [More]

Paul Goldschmidt and Robinson Cano have already switched teams this offseason, going to the Cardinals and Mets in major trades.As for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper — the jewels of the free agent market — they're still waiting.Patrick Corbin and Josh Donaldson are already signed, but there are plenty of significant free agents still available heading into the winter meetings this week. The market appears less sluggish than a year ago, and Machado and Harper will remain focal points.Here's a look at the top free agents — broken down by position — who are still available. Players are listed with their most recent teams, with their ages in parentheses:LEFT-HANDED STARTERDallas Keuchel, Astros (30)With Corbin off the board , Keuchel may be the top remaining starter on the market. He slipped a bit after his Cy Young-winning performance of 2015, but this past season was encouraging from a health standpoint. He made a career-high 34 starts and posted a 3.74 ERA.Other options: J.A. Happ hasn't... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees are in danger of going an entire decade without reaching a World Series for the first time since the 1910s.Aaron Boone's rookie season as a manager ended in failure when New York fizzled in the AL Division Series against Boston and was eliminated in four games."You're always chasing utopia," Boone said after the Yankees' final rally of the season fell short Tuesday night.A year after losing in the AL Championship Series was perceived as success, elimination by Boston left a feeling of failure for the title-worshipping Yankees.New York went 100-62 for its best record since its last World Series championship in 2009, yet finished eight games back of the Red Sox. The Yankees have gone six straight seasons without a first-place finish.They're set to retool around the young core of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Luis Severino, plus in-prime regulars Giancarlo Stanton, Didi Gregorius and Aaron Hicks. The Yankees got the power but were... [More]