HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander has the fourth-highest average salary in the major leagues in his $94 million, three-year contract with the Houston Astros.The 36-year-old right-hander 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.That salary is kept in his new deal, which adds $33 million annually in 2020 and 2021.His average annual value of $31,333,333.33 trails only Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout ($35.5 million), Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke ($34.4 million) and Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado ($32.5 million) and is just ahead of Boston pitcher David Price and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (both $31 million).Verlander has a full no-trade provision as part of the deal announced last weekend.He would get $200,000 for winning a Cy Young Award, $175,000 for finishing second in the voting, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $100,000 for fifth. He also would get $75,000 for making the All-Star team, $75,000 for a Gold Glove, $75,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $100,000 for World Series MVP.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt's $144.5 million, six-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals includes a $20 million signing bonus to be paid over the next five years.Goldschmidt had a $14.5 million salary this season in the option year of a contract he signed with Arizona ahead of the 2013 season. That deal originally guaranteed the first baseman $32.5 million for six years and will wind up paying $46 million for seven seasons, including a $1 million assignment bonus for the trade.His new deal, announced last weekend, calls for signing bonus payments of $2.25 million each Jan. 15 and July 15 in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024, and $1 million on Jan. 15 and July 15 in 2022.Goldschmidt keeps the $14.5 million salary this season and gets $22 million annually from 2021-24.He would earn a $1.5 million bonus for MVP, $1 million for second, $500,000 for third, $250,000 for fourth or fifth, and $100,000 for sixth through 10th. He would get $250,000 for becoming an All-Star, $250,000 for a Gold Glove, $50,000 for a Silver Slugger, $100,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP. He would get $50,000 for Division Series MVP is the award is established and he wins it.Acquired in December from Arizona, the six-time All-Star first baseman gave up a chance to become a free agent after this season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Chris Sale will have to wait until middle age to collect all his money from the Boston Red Sox.His $160 million, six-year contract includes $50 million in deferred money that is not due to be paid until 15 years after it is earned, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.A left-hander who turns 30 on Saturday, Sale already was guaranteed $15 million this season under the second option year of the contract he signed with the Chicago White Sox before the 2013 season. That deal wound up being worth $59 million over seven years plus award bonuses.His new deal, announced last weekend, added $145 million over five years.Sale keeps his $15 million pay for this year, adds $30 million salaries annually from 2020-22 and $27.5 million a year in 2023 and 2024. The $10 million in deferred money each season is due on June 30 in the 15th year after it was earned.His base salary each year from 2021-24 can escalate based on Cy Young Award voting in the previous season: by $2 million for winning,... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis got the call he knew he'd be receiving sooner or later from his son, top shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Jr.And just like that, opening day for the San Diego Padres will be that much more exciting, when long-suffering fans will get to watch the younger Tatis playing next to All-Star slugger Manny Machado at third base.Tatis said his son, the No. 2 prospect overall in baseball, called him Tuesday to tell him he has made the Padres' opening day roster."He's very happy about it," Tatis told The Associated Press from his home in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. "He was very excited. I'm very happy."The senior Tatis said his son called after the Padres' exhibition game in Seattle. While the Padres were flying back to San Diego, the senior Tatis was making arrangements for him and the rest of his family to travel to San Diego for opening day Thursday against the San Francisco Giants."We've got to be there for his first game," he said.The Athletic first... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis got the call he knew he'd be receiving sooner or later from his son, top shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Jr.And just like that, opening day for the San Diego Padres will be that much more exciting, when long-suffering fans will get to watch the younger Tatis playing next to All-Star slugger Manny Machado at third base.Tatis said his son, the No. 2 prospect overall in baseball, called him Tuesday to tell him he has made the Padres' opening day roster."He's very happy about it," Tatis told The Associated Press from his home in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. "He was very excited. I'm very happy."The senior Tatis said his son called after the Padres' exhibition game in Seattle. While the Padres were flying back to San Diego, the senior Tatis was making arrangements for him and the rest of his family to travel to San Diego for opening day Thursday against the San Francisco Giants."We've got to be there for his first game," he said.The Athletic first... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr., the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, has made the San Diego Padres' opening day roster, his father told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.Fernando Tatis, who played parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues, said he received a call from his son after the team's exhibition game in Seattle informing him of the team's decision. The senior Tatis said he was making arrangements to travel from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, to San Diego for opening day Thursday against the San Francisco Giants."He's very happy about it," Tatis said. "He was very excited. I'm very happy."The left side of the Padres' infield will be Tatis at shortstop and All-Star slugger Manny Machado at third base.The Athletic first reported that Tatis had made the opening day roster. Team officials didn't respond to requests for comment.There was a belief that Tatis would start the season in Triple-A, in order to delay his service time clock and because he's never played above Double-A.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Jose Ramirez is expected to be in the Cleveland Indians' opening day lineup Thursday, four days after fouling a pitch off the area below his left knee.Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Ramirez should be ready to go for the opener at Minnesota. The All-Star third baseman worked out Monday and Tuesday in Arizona, testing his bruised left knee while Cleveland finished its exhibition schedule with games against the Rangers in Texas. Ramirez will join the team for a workout Wednesday in Minnesota.Ramirez left the field on a cart Sunday in an alarming scene for the Indians, who will already be without star shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Both players are working back from right calf strains.Ramirez had 39 home runs and 105 RBIs last season, finishing third in AL MVP voting for the second straight year.Cleveland lost to Texas 5-4 on Tuesday in its final spring training game. Mike Clevinger allowed four runs (two earned) in three innings. He walked two, struck... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Angels outfielder Justin Upton will open the season on the injured list because of a sore right big toe.Manager Brad Ausmus announced the injury Tuesday. He says Upton has "turf toe" and that no timetable has been determined for his return. Upton was injured in Sunday's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he bumped into the left field wall while chasing a flyball.Upton had just returned after missing most of spring training because of right knee tendinitis.Ausmus said Peter Bourjos will likely see more playing time until Upton returns, but he is still waiting to solidify a plan moving forward.Upton, 31, hit 30 home runs with 85 RBIs over 145 games last season, his second with the Angels.The Angels also announced Tuesday that right-hander Jaime Barria will start the season at Triple-A Salt Lake. Barria was 10-9 over 26 starts as a rookie last season, posting a 3.41 ERA.The Angels also got closer to a final bullpen with the announcement that left-hander Dan Jennings had been released.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — David Price is set to be the No. 5 starter in the Boston Red Sox rotation, but the left-hander isn't ruling out a relief appearance during the season's opening weekend.Price pitched four innings Tuesday in Boston's final exhibition game, a 16-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs, then said he's interested in pitching an inning or two during a season-opening series at Seattle that begins Thursday.The 33-year-old Price was slowed this spring because of a norovirus, and Tuesday was his first game since March 12. Boston decided to slot Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Eduardo Rodriguez and Rick Porcello ahead of him in the rotation, with an eye on potentially getting Price some work during one of the first two regular season games."I don't know if he wants a tune-up, but we could do a cool thing in game one or two in Seattle just to get his feet wet," manager Alex Cora said."It's just another rep," Price said. "It's just getting out there in a real game, one that counts. You can kind of... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Lewis visualized it so many times. A touted first-round draft pick by the Mariners, Lewis was certain by the time 2019 rolled around, he would be a major-league starting outfielder.Those thoughts were three years ago, before a devastating knee injury caused a major setback to his career dreams."I definitely felt I was on the right path," Lewis said. "But honestly, I think I'm still on the right path. Everybody gets thrown a curveball in life."Lewis and other top Mariners prospects got a chance to spend this week in Seattle during a two-game exhibition series against the San Diego Padres. Lewis grounded out and walked Tuesday in San Diego's 1-0 win over the Mariners to close out spring training."I'm just trying to soak in the moment and enjoy it," Lewis said.Lewis was the 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft as a talented outfielder from Mercer University. Only 30 games into a pro career at Class A Everett, Lewis suffered a gruesome knee injury on a collision at home plate.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jose Ramirez is expected to be in the Cleveland Indians' opening day lineup Thursday, four days after fouling a pitch off the area below his left knee.Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Ramirez should be ready to go for the opener at Minnesota. The All-Star third baseman worked out Monday and Tuesday in Arizona, testing his bruised left knee while Cleveland finished its exhibition schedule with games against the Rangers in Texas. Ramirez will join the team for a workout in Minnesota on Wednesday.Ramirez left the field in a cart Sunday in a scary scene for the Indians, who will already be without shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Both players are working back from right calf strains.Ramirez had 39 home runs and 105 RBIs last season, finishing third in AL MVP voting for the second straight year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — The season hasn't started yet, and the Baltimore Orioles are already in next-man-up mode.Right-hander Andrew Cashner will replace injured Alex Cobb as Baltimore's starter Thursday on opening day at Yankee Stadium. Though he wasn't the first choice of rookie manager Brandon Hyde, the 32-year-old Cashner was happy to step into the role."This will be my second one. I'm excited for it," Cashner said Tuesday after a team workout at Camden Yards. "I have some family in town, and I get to kick off baseball."Cashner's previous opening day start came in 2014, when he stymied the Los Angeles Dodgers over six innings for San Diego."That was before the home crowd," he said. "It's a little bit different, but you take it in stride. There's only one opening day."Cobb was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a strained groin. The Orioles also put designated hitter Mark Trumbo on the 60-day injured list to allow him to recover from knee surgery, and catcher Austin Wynns went on... [More]

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 deal that guarantees an additional $120.5 million over four seasons.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. He also gets the ability to block being traded.A right-hander who turns 31 in June, deGrom had a 1.70 ERA last year yet went 10-9 on a Mets team that finished 77-85. He allowed three runs or fewer in 29 consecutive starts to close the season, but the Mets were 11-18 in those games.DeGrom... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner thinks New York has a championship-caliber team as it heads into Thursday's opener against Baltimore."We're excited," Steinbrenner said Tuesday after watching CC Sabathia pitch in a minor league game. "We're as good as anybody. The team is going to do everything they can to win this thing. I believe they're going to play up to their potential."Steinbrenner thinks the Yankees have enough depth to overcome injuries to Sabathia, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks, and Jordan Montgomery."I'd like to be more healthy, but the good news is none of the injuries are significant and the guys are going to be back," Steinbrenner said.New York went 100-62 last season for its best record since 2009, yet finished eight games back of the AL East champion Boston Red Sox, who won the World Series for the fourth time in 15 seasons.Last year's Yankees, led by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton set a major league record with 267 homers,... [More]

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Mets went inside Syracuse University's Carrier Dome for the final tuneup of spring, and more than 4,000 fans made the moment special."It was awesome. Just to see how many people came out," second-year Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Tuesday. "It was a great feeling. They filled this with a lot of energy and we felt it."The open workout attracted 4,296 fans and marked the first time the Carrier Dome played host to baseball since it opened in 1980. Batting cages were lined up along the sideline of the football field where the Syracuse Orange play their home games. There was no batting practice but lots of pitching practice, some infield and base-running drills, and a lot of interaction with the fans."It was great," outfielder Brandon Nimmo said. "We had a great time out there, I felt like the fans were really into it and guys were throwing balls out into the stands. It was definitely a different feeling than I've ever been a part of. I started to get a... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Hendricks' focus is on the season, among the reasons the Cubs didn't hesitate to give the right-handed pitcher a new deal.Hendricks and the Cubs agreed Tuesday to a contract that adds $55.5 million from 2020 to 2023, guaranteeing he will receive $62,905,000 over the next five seasons.He had agreed in January to a one-year deal for $7,405,000 and would have been eligible for arbitration next winter."I love everything about being a Chicago Cub," Hendricks said. "I love everything about the city, about the fans and especially about my teammates in the clubhouse. That's where my focus is at. As much as I'll revel and be excited about this, our focus 100 percent is on Thursday and the season. That's what I told the guys in there. I want to be with them as long as I can."His new deal adds salaries of $12 million for 2020 and $14 million annually from 2021-23. The agreement includes a $16 million team option for 2024 with a $1.5 million buyout, and the option would become... [More]

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. He also gets the ability to block being traded.A right-hander who turns 31 in June, deGrom had a 1.70 ERA... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a contract that adds $55.5 million from 2020 to 2023, guaranteeing he will receive $62,905,000 over the next five seasons.Hendricks agreed in January to a one-year deal for $7,405,000. He would have been eligible for arbitration next winter.His new deal adds salaries of $12 million for 2020 and $14 million annually from 2021-23. The agreement includes a $16 million team option for 2024 with a $1.5 million buyout, and the option would become guaranteed if he finished among the top three in Cy Young Award voting in 2020. There are $3 million annually in escalators based on finishing among the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting.Hendricks' deal is somewhat patterned after the deal agreed to last month by St. Louis pitcher Miles Mikolas, who was guaranteed an additional $68 million from 2020-23, raising his total to $75.25 over five seasons.Hendricks, who turned 29 in December, is 52-33 with a 3.07 ERA in five seasons with the Cubs, including 14-11 with a 3.44 last year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Aside from the attention he gets because of his talent as a pitcher, Yusei Kikuchi is well aware his first season in the majors will be subject to additional scrutiny.Kikuchi's rookie season is something of an experiment, an attempt by the Seattle Mariners to see whether pitchers coming to the major leagues from Asia should be handled differently in their first season. The team will regulate Kikuchi's innings while making sure he starts on a regular five-day rotation, even if that means some outings are kept very short.If it works, the strategy could become a blueprint for the future."As a player you want to go out there every start and perform and pitch one more inning, one more out," Kikuchi said through an interpreter. "But the front office guys, the GM the (manager) are taking an importance in me and making an adjustment to the states. I'm really happy about that and thankful for that."By using a deliberate approach, the team and Kikuchi's representatives believe... [More]