NEW YORK (AP) — NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets have agreed to a $137.5 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal guarantees an additional $120.5 million over four seasons.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.New York and deGrom had agreed in January to a $17 million, one-year deal, and he was on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.His new deal calls for a $10 million signing bonus, half to be paid in January 2020 and the rest in January 2021. He gets a $7 million salary this season, $23 million in 2020, $33.5 million each in 2021 and 2022 and $30.5 million in 2023. The Mets have a $32.5 million option for 2024.DeGrom has the right to opt out of the deal after the 2022 season and become a free agent.A right-hander who turns 31 in June, deGrom had a 1.70 ERA last year yet went 10-9. He allowed three runs... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Even with huge new contracts for Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado, Major League Baseball's average salary is on track to drop on opening day for an unprecedented second straight season, according to projections by The Associated Press.The 872 players on rosters and injured lists on Monday evening averaged $4.36 million, down from $4.41 million at the start of last season and $4.45 million on opening day in 2017, according to AP studies.Back-to-back drops follow consecutive slow free-agent markets that saw salaries slashed for many veterans, and top pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel remain unsigned as openers approached.This year's exact figure could rise or fall when teams set opening-day rosters Thursday. The number will be impacted by how many players go on the injured list and how many lower-priced replacements are put on active rosters. In 2018, the average dropped slightly at the start when late-signing free agents Jake Arrieta of Philadelphia and... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Justin Verlander thinks the free-agent process is broken. Still, he says that's not why he decided to sign a new deal with the Houston Astros rather than test the market."I can't see a better situation," Verlander said Sunday after the Astros announced a three-year contract that added $66 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and '21.A 36-year-old right-hander, Verlander had been due $28 million in 2019, the final guaranteed season of a $180 million, seven-year deal he signed with Detroit before the 2013 season.His new deal followed two straight slow free-agent markets and came after agreements during spring training on long-term deals for Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, Boston left-hander Chris Sale and St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who all would have been part of the free-agent class after this season. In addition, the Los Angeles Angels gave a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract to outfielder Mike Trout, who could have become a free agent... [More]

Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros are going to continue their successful partnership for a while longer.Verlander and the Astros have agreed to a contract adding an additional $66 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and '21, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.The person spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The agreement was first reported by KRIV-FOX 26.A 36-year-old right-hander, Verlander is due $28 million in 2019, the final guaranteed season of a $180 million, seven-year deal he signed with Detroit before the 2013 season. That contract included a $22 million option for 2020 that would have become guaranteed if Verlander finished among the top five in Cy Young Award voting this year.Verlander was traded from Detroit to Houston on Aug. 31, 2017, and helped the Astros win their first World Series that season. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, he finished second in Cy Young voting last season... [More]

Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros are going to continue their successful partnership for a while longer.Verlander and the Astros have agreed to a contract adding an additional $66 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and '21, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.The person spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The agreement was first reported by KRIV-FOX 26.A 36-year-old right-hander, Verlander is due $28 million in 2019, the final guaranteed season of a $180 million, seven-year deal he signed with Detroit before the 2013 season. That contract included a $22 million option for 2020 that would have become guaranteed if Verlander finished among the top five in Cy Young Award voting this year.Verlander was traded from Detroit to Houston on Aug. 31, 2017, and helped the Astros win their first World Series that season. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, he finished second in Cy Young voting last season... [More]

Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros are going to continue their successful partnership for a while longer.Verlander and the Astros have agreed to a contract adding an additional $66 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and '21, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.The person spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The agreement was first reported by KRIV-FOX 26.A 36-year-old right-hander, Verlander is due $28 million in 2019, the final guaranteed season of a $180 million, seven-year deal he signed with Detroit before the 2013 season. That contract included a $22 million option for 2020 that would have become guaranteed if Verlander finished among the top five in Cy Young Award voting this year.Verlander was traded from Detroit to Houston on Aug. 31, 2017, and helped the Astros win their first World Series that season. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, he finished second in Cy Young voting last season... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — After winning a World Series with the Red Sox, Chris Sale preferred to stay in Boston rather than find out what he would be worth as a free agent after this season."When half the league isn't trying to win anything, and we have a team that's trying to win every year? That says a lot. As players, you can't not respect it," Sale said Saturday after Boston announced a deal that guarantees an additional $145 million from 2020 to 2024.Sale, who turns 30 on March 30, is guaranteed $15 million this year under the second option year of the contract he signed with the Chicago White Sox before the 2013 season. The deal wound up being worth $59 million over seven years plus award bonuses.The new contract raises his guarantee to $160 million over the next six seasons.He gets $30 million salaries annually from 2020-22 and $27.5 million a year in 2023 and 2024. His salary can escalate by up to $2 million per season from 2021-24 based on finish in Cy Young Award voting.His new... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Ace left-hander Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a new contract Saturday that guarantees an additional $145 million from 2020 to 2024.Sale has been an All-Star the last seven years and would have been eligible for free agency after this season.He is guaranteed $15 million this year under the second option year of the contract he signed with the Chicago White Sox before the 2013 season. The deal wound up to be worth $59 million over seven years plus award bonuses.The new contract adds $30 million salaries annually from 2020-22 and $27.5 million a year in 2023 and 2024. His salary can escalate by up to $2 million per season from 2021-24 based on finish in Cy Young Award voting.Since he was acquired from Chicago in December 2016, Sale is 29-12 with a 2.56 ERA, holding opponents to a .196 batting average and averaging 13.17 strikeouts per nine innings.He was 1-0 in four starts and four relief appearances in last year's postseason, striking out the side against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series to complete Boston's fourth title in 15 seasons.Over the last seven seasons, Sale is 103-62 with a 2.89 ERA and 1,789 strikeouts in 1,482 1/3 innings.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman's decision to sign a long-term contract with the Houston Astros was not impacted by the second slow free-agent market."I wanted to play here," the third baseman said Friday after the team announced a $100 million, five-year contract covering 2020-24. "I didn't want to play anywhere else. I wanted to be in orange and blue for as long as I possibly can. I love this organization. I want to win here for a long time."Selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Bregman debuted with the Astros in July 2016 and helped Houston win its first World Series title in 2017.His contract was renewed this month by the Astros for a major league salary of $640,500 this year. The new deal includes a $10 million signing bonus, half payable within 30 days of the agreement's approval by the commissioner's office and the rest within 90 days' of approval.Bregman gets salaries of $11 million annually from 2020-22 and $28.5 million in both 2023... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman's decision to sign a long-term contract with the Houston Astros was not impacted by the second slow free-agent market."I wanted to play here," the third baseman said Friday after the team announced a $100 million, five-year contract covering 2020-24. "I didn't want to play anywhere else. I wanted to be in orange and blue for as long as I possibly can. I love this organization. I want to win here for a long time."Selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Bregman debuted with the Astros in July 2016 and helped Houston win its first World Series title in 2017.His contract was renewed this month by the Astros for a major league salary of $640,500 this year. The new deal includes a $10 million signing bonus, half payable within 30 days of the agreement's approval by the commissioner's office and the rest within 90 days' of approval.Bregman gets salaries of $11 million annually from 2020-22 and $28.5 million in both 2023... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman's decision to sign a long-term contract with the Houston Astros was not impacted by the second slow free-agent market."I wanted to play here," the third baseman said Friday after the team announced a $100 million, five-year contract covering 2020-24. "I didn't want to play anywhere else. I wanted to be in orange and blue for as long as I possibly can. I love this organization. I want to win here for a long time."Selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Bregman debuted with the Astros in July 2016 and helped Houston win its first World Series title in 2017.His contract was renewed this month by the Astros for a major league salary of $640,500 this year. The new deal includes a $10 million signing bonus, half payable within 30 days of the agreement's approval by the commissioner's office and the rest within 90 days' of approval.Bregman gets salaries of $11 million annually from 2020-22 and $28.5 million in both 2023... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman's decision to sign a long-term contract with the Houston Astros was not impacted by the second slow free-agent market."I wanted to play here," the third baseman said Friday after the team announced a $100 million, five-year contract covering 2020-24. "I didn't want to play anywhere else. I wanted to be in orange and blue for as long as I possibly can. I love this organization. I want to win here for a long time."Selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Bregman debuted with the Astros in July 2016 and helped Houston win its first World Series title in 2017.His contract was renewed this month by the Astros for a major league salary of $640,500 this year. The new deal includes a $10 million signing bonus, half payable within 30 days of the agreement's approval by the commissioner's office and the rest within 90 days' of approval.Bregman gets salaries of $11 million annually from 2020-22 and $28.5 million in both 2023... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — It's early in spring training, time to get the new mitt ready.Or is it?For the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, some like the feel of new leather, some like it old. Some are superstitious and don't like change and others don't worry about that even after a great season."A new glove every year," reigning AL MVP and three-time Gold Glove winner Mookie Betts said Saturday morning at the team's spring training complex.But, is the right fielder a bit superstitious about changing after such a successful year?"No, they all catch the same," he said, breaking into a grin. "It's the operator."Shortstop Xander Bogaerts agreed."New year, new glove," he said.World Series MVP Steve Pearce had a different thought. He'll likely start the season with a new one if he's broken it in on time but gave some thought to not changing anything after winning the title last fall."I have them right here in my locker," the first baseman said. "I'm bringing almost everything back I had last... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Forget about this bullpen obsession for a moment. Believe it or not, plenty of big league teams are still anchored by well-armed rotations.In this age of openers and closers, with relievers starting games and starters rarely finishing them, it might seem starting pitchers have been devalued by executives all over baseball.Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, is a 31-year-old free agent still looking for a job. Same for fellow lefty Gio Gonzalez, a two-time All-Star one season removed from going 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA in 201 innings.Meanwhile, short relievers like Zack Britton ($39 million), Jeurys Familia ($30 million), Kelvin Herrera ($18 million) and Joakim Soria ($15 million) had no trouble getting multiyear deals this winter.Doesn't anyone remember what Koufax and Drysdale did for the Dodgers?Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz with the Braves?"At the end of the day, your starting staff is the backbone of your team," Washington ace Max Scherzer said.... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey would love to see Bryce Harper join them in the San Francisco Giants clubhouse."I think it'd be a huge addition for us," Bumgarner said Tuesday as the Giants opened spring training. "He's obviously a superstar in the game, a young player. I think everybody in here would be pretty damn excited to have him."Harper and the Giants met in the free agent slugger's hometown of Las Vegas last week, and new San Francisco baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi said the sides had mutual interest."I think anybody who plays Major League Baseball would love to have him on their team and that's no exception here," Posey said. "The type of player he brings and the passion he brings to the game, if we were lucky enough for it to work out, it'd be great."What is he, 26? He's won an MVP," Posey said. "That's pretty much all you need to know."San Francisco opens camp with Steven Duggar, Mac Williamson, Austin Slater and Drew Ferguson as outfield candidates."I've... [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]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — An All-Star starter to the relief-reliant Rays, a Tanner-for-Tanner trade and a Scott Boras sighting. Intrigue at the winter meetings, but not much impact.Not yet, anyway.Charlie Morton was the top name to switch teams Wednesday, joining Tampa Bay for a $30 million, two-year deal after going 15-3 with Houston last season. Reliever Jeurys Familia returned to the New York Mets after they traded him away and first baseman Justin Bour headed to the Los Angeles Angels.And in the majors' first swap of players with the first name of Tanner, the Washington Nationals sent Tanner Roark to Cincinnati for Tanner Rainey in a trade of right-handers.Roark led the National League with 15 losses, but expected he would be part of a prime rotation that recently added All-Star Patrick Corbin to stars Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg."I felt like we would have a pretty good staff over there in D.C. but they thought otherwise and I don't know what their plans are," Roark said on a conference... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — An All-Star starter to the relief-reliant Rays, a Tanner-for-Tanner trade and a Scott Boras sighting. Intrigue at the winter meetings, but not much impact.Not yet, anyway.Charlie Morton was the top name to switch teams Wednesday, joining Tampa Bay for a $30 million, two-year deal after going 15-3 with Houston last season.And in the majors' first swap of players with the first name of Tanner, the Washington Nationals sent Tanner Roark to Cincinnati for Tanner Rainey in a trade of right-handers.Roark led the National League with 15 losses, but expected he would be part of a prime rotation that recently added All-Star Patrick Corbin to stars Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg."I felt like we would have a pretty good staff over there in D.C. but they thought otherwise and I don't know what their plans are," Roark said on a conference call.Fans all over, meanwhile, waited to hear where the likes of free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and trade targets Corey Kluber and... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The champion Boston Red Sox aren't looking to cut the biggest payroll in the big leagues.After exceeding all three luxury tax thresholds paid off in a World Series title, the Red Sox anticipate going over the levels again next year even though they're increasing.Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski dismissed reports he is trying to trade some high-priced players, such as pitcher Rick Porcello."I've heard those tweets," he said Tuesday at the winter meetings. "We're not looking to move anybody. We're not driven to move anybody."Boston had the highest payroll for the first time in the free agent era. The Red Sox luxury tax payroll as of Aug. 31 was nearly $239 million, and Dombrowski said he thinks the Red Sox will be over $246 million next season.The Red Sox re-signed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi last week to a $68 million, four-year contract.Last season, Boston far exceeded the $197 million luxury tax threshold, the $217 million level for the first surcharge... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi loved what he started in Boston — emphasis on started."There were a lot of teams that reached out, wanted me to be a closer," he said. "I view myself as a starter, and that's something I've always done my entire career. And I enjoy doing that. So if I had that choice, I still wanted to be a starter."After shifting to the bullpen for three World Series relief appearances, including an epic 97-pitch outing in an 18-inning loss , Eovaldi decided last week to stay with the Red Sox for a $68 million, four-year contract ."I can't wait to see him again with us. He's going to be a huge part of this rotation," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday during a winter meetings news conference. "He's a workaholic."Eovaldi averaged nearly 98 mph with his fastball during the regular season but reached 100 mph six times in the first two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, not needing to hold back. That velocity intrigued teams as he became a free agent.Before October, Eovaldi's... [More]