WASHINGTON (AP) — Every team has a "next big thing" in the minors, waiting for the chance to dazzle in the majors, and Washington Nationals fans have been hearing about Victor Robles for years.He's an outfielder whose speed fuels his offense and defense. He's shown power, too. "Toolsy" is the way new Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier described him. "Explosive," was first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's adjective.Robles started in center field and went 0 for 3 in Washington's exhibition finale Monday, a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. That's also where he's expected to be on opening day, finally getting his turn to begin a season in the big leagues, moving into an outfield that lost Bryce Harper to free agency."That's what we work here for, to be an everyday player in the big leagues. I feel physically and mentally ready for that," Robles said in an interview through bullpen catcher Octavio Martinez, who serves as a team translator. "Absolutely, that's something you... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals selected the contract of first baseman Lucas Duda from Triple-A Omaha and waived outfielder Brian Goodwin on Monday as they continued to shape their opening day roster.Duda attended spring training with Minnesota on a minor league contract, was released last week and signed a minor league deal with the Royals on Friday. He gets a $1.25 million, one-year contract from Kansas City and the chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses.He hit .242 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs in 87 games for the Royals last season and was traded to Atlanta in August. Duda appeared in 20 games down the stretch, hitting .222 with a homer and two RBIs.Duda was 0 for 3 in three games during the Braves' Division Series loss to the Dodgers.Goodwin hit .200 with three homers and 12 RBIs for the Nationals last season before a late-July trade to Kansas City. He played in 27 games for the Royals, hitting .266 with three homers and 13 RBIs.Kansas City opens the season Thursday against the Chicago White Sox.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MONTREAL (AP) — Reliever Alex Wilson and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a $750,000, one-year contract, a deal that includes $825,000 in performance bonuses.The 32-year-old right-hander has a 3.23 ERA in six major league seasons, the past four with Detroit. He had attended spring training with Cleveland and opted out of his deal after being told he would not make the opening-day major league roster.Brewers closer Corey Knebel is out indefinitely with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, the type of injury that sometimes ends in Tommy John surgery. He's expected to join Jeremy Jeffress, down with a sore right shoulder, on the injured list to open the season.Milwaukee announced the deal Sunday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Tauchman (TOCK-min) needed to face facts: Getting traded to the New York Yankees meant the outfielder had to get rid of the beard he's worn for years.It was a hairy situation, because he was on the road and had a trimmer but no razor.So Tauchman said he went out in search of a pharmacy and bought the right tool the night before the Yankees' scheduled exhibition finale Monday at the Washington Nationals. That allowed him to abide by the team policy that bars Yankees players from wearing facial hair other than mustaches, except for religious reasons.The 28-year-old Tauchman made it by a whisker, arriving clean shaven at the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.His beard was gone, but he did carry one remnant from his 52-game career with Colorado since his major league debut in 2017, a purple-and-black Rockies bag.The Yankees got him in exchange for left-hander Phillip Diehl.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals placed five players on the injured list as they began to shape their roster for Thursday's opener at the Milwaukee Brewers.St. Louis said Monday the official reason for Brett Cecil's designation is carpal tunnel syndrome, though the left-hander also is dealing with arm fatigue and erratic mechanics. Right-hander Carlos Martinez is out with a strained rotator cuff and reliever Luke Gregerson with a right shoulder impingement.Jedd Gyorko will start the season on IL after dealing with a calf issue for most of March. He was hoping to be ready by opening day but will instead be out until at least April 4.Justin Williams is on the IL with a fracture in his right hand, though the Cardinals have plenty of depth in the outfield and he will likely head to Triple-A Memphis when he's ready to go.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Every team has a "next big thing" in the minors, waiting for the chance to dazzle in the majors, and Washington Nationals fans have been hearing about Victor Robles for years.He's an outfielder whose speed fuels his offense and defense. He's shown power, too. "Toolsy" is the way new Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier described him. "Explosive," was first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's adjective.Robles started in center field Monday for Washington's exhibition finale against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. That's also where where he's expected to be on opening day, finally getting his turn to begin a season in the big leagues, taking over in an outfield that lost Bryce Harper to free agency."That's what we work here for, to be an everyday player in the big leagues. I feel physically and mentally ready for that," Robles said in an interview through bullpen catcher Octavio Martinez, who serves as a team translator. "Absolutely, that's something you imagine, to be with... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles put scheduled opening-day starter Alex Cobb on the 10-day injured list because of a strained right groin.He likely will be replaced by Andrew Cashner for Thursday's game at the New York Yankees. Cobb's last spring training was cut short after one inning Saturday because of the groin.Baltimore also placed catcher Austin Wynns on the 10-day IL on Monday because of a left oblique strain.Baltimore also selected the contract of catcher Jesus Sucre from Norfolk of the International League. Sucre, at spring training with a minor league contract, gets a one-year deal paying at the rate of $850,000 in the major leagues and $250,000 in the minors. Outfielder Mark Trumbo, recovering from September surgery on his right knee, was placed on the 60-day injured list, opening a spot on the 40-man roster.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Tauchman (TOCK-min) needed to face facts: Getting traded to the New York Yankees meant the outfielder had to get rid of the beard he's worn for years.It was a hairy situation, because he was on the road and had a trimmer but no razor.So Tauchman said he went out in search of a pharmacy and bought the right tool the night before the Yankees' scheduled exhibition finale Monday at the Washington Nationals. That allowed him to abide by the team policy that bars Yankees players from wearing facial hair other than mustaches, except for religious reasons.The 28-year-old Tauchman made it by a whisker, arriving clean shaven at the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.His beard was gone, but he did carry one remnant from his 52-game career with Colorado since his major league debut in 2017, a purple-and-black Rockies bag.The Yankees got him in exchange for left-hander Phillip Diehl.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Tauchman (TOCK-min) needed to face facts: Getting traded to the New York Yankees meant the outfielder had to get rid of the beard he's worn for years.It was a hairy situation, because he was on the road and had a trimmer but no razor.So Tauchman said he went out in search of a pharmacy and bought the right tool the night before the Yankees' scheduled exhibition finale Monday at the Washington Nationals. That allowed him to abide by the team policy that bars Yankees players from wearing facial hair other than mustaches, except for religious reasons.The 28-year-old Tauchman made it by a whisker, arriving clean shaven at the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.His beard was gone, but he did carry one remnant from his 52-game career with Colorado since his major league debut in 2017, a purple-and-black Rockies bag.The Yankees got him in exchange for left-hander Phillip Diehl.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Jake Arrieta has no doubt the Philadelphia Phillies will be successful this season."Of course I think we're a playoff team," Arrieta said Monday after the Phillies completed spring training with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.The 33-year old right-hander allowed two runs, six hits and struck out eight in over six innings. He induced 20 swings and misses."Lots of empty swings," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "That was the most encouraging thing about the day. Super encouraging. Strong in his legs. Delivery was easy. Arm slot was perfect. I thought everything looked really good."Philadelphia opens at home Thursday against NL East champion Atlanta. The Phillies transformed during the offseason, signing right fielder Bryce Harper to a $330 million, 13-year contract after adding left fielder Andrew McCutchen, shortstop Jean Segura and catcher J.T. Realmuto.Aaron Nola starts the opener for Philadelphia and Julio Teheran for Atlanta."It's exciting," Arrieta said.... [More]

MONTREAL (AP) — Reliever Daniel Hudson has agreed to a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that includes a $1.5 million salary while in the major leagues, a deal that followed his release from a minor league deal by the Los Angeles Angels last weekend.To open a roster spot, the Blue Jays placed second baseman Devon Travis on the 60-day injured list Monday because of an inflamed left knee.Toronto also agreed to a minor league contract with reliever John Axford, two days after the Blue Jays released him. By cutting him and then bringing him back, the Blue Jays avoided having to pay a $100,000 retention bonus.A 32-year-old right-hander, Hudson was 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He struck out 44 and walked 18 in 46 innings.Axford, a 35-year-old right-hander from Simcoe, Ontario, has a stress reaction in a bone in his right elbow. He was 4-1 with a 5.27 ERA last year for the Blue Jays and Dodgers, who acquired him on July 31.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — As spring training neared its conclusion, a reporter mentioned to Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez that Max Scherzer was not precisely on schedule to start on opening day."He's going to be lined up," Martinez said with a laugh. "Come Thursday at 1:05, he'll be on the mound."Of course he will. Scherzer is, after all, one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and runner-up last season. So it makes perfect sense that when Washington hosts the NL East rival New York Mets this week, Scherzer will take on the pitcher who topped him in the NL voting, Jacob deGrom."It definitely has its prestige," Scherzer said. "It's symbolic. It's an honor to get the ball in that situation."That's because even in this data-driven age in baseball, when analytics and analysis are supposed to be replacing "gut feel" and sentiment when it comes to making any and all decisions, granting an opening day start to a particular pitcher because... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Greg Holland has earned the closer's job with the Arizona Diamondbacks.Holland returned from Tommy John surgery and led the NL with 41 saves for Colorado in 2017. He was 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA with St. Louis and Washington last season, when he earned $14 million. He has a 2.83 ERA in eight major league seasons and has reached 40 saves three times.The 33-year-old right-hander agreed to a deal with the Diamondbacks on Jan. 31 that calls for a $3.25 million base salary and allows him to earn an additional $3.5 million in performance bonuses: $1 million for games and $2.5 million for games finished.He has a 12.27 ERA in four appearances this spring training and has given up two homers in 3 2/3 innings. Holland won out Sunday over right-handers Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano. The job opened when Brad Boxberger left to sign with Kansas City.Bradley and Hirano, who will open the season as setup men, had three saves apiece last year. Hirano, a closer from 2013-17 with the Orix... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Dan Straily was released Monday by the Miami Marlins, who will give the pitcher $1,209,677 in termination pay rather than his $5 million salary.The 30-year old right-hander was 15-15 in two seasons with the Marlins, who acquired him from Cincinnati in January 2017. He was limited to 23 starts last year, when he went on the disabled list twice because of forearm and oblique strains.Straily had a 5.94 ERA over 16 2/3 innings in five spring training appearances.All five members of the Marlins starting rotation are 27 and younger."We're going to be built with our starting pitching," Miami president of baseball operations Michael Hill said Monday. "These guys are part of our future and we want to give them every opportunity to continue to grow and to get better, help us win ballgames."Straily is 42-36 with a 4.23 ERA in seven major league seasons.The Marlins saw improvement in the breaking balls of Trevor Richards and Pablo Lopez, a better delivery from Sandy Alcantara and a healthy Caleb Smith."We have five starters that we really like," Hill said. "We have depth at Triple A that we really like and Double-A and High A."Miami is sending Wei-Yin Chen to the bullpen. Manager Don Mattingly said Chen will be able to make some spot start, if needed.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Marty Noble, the longtime baseball writer and Hall of Fame voter who was a mainstay on the New York Mets beat for decades, has died. He was 70.He died Sunday in Florida, according to Newsday and MLB.com. Newsday said a family member confirmed his death, but no cause was given.Noble covered the New York Yankees and Mets for Newsday from 1981-2004, the newspaper said. After that he moved to MLB.com, remaining on the Mets beat through 2010 and then working in a general role until he retired in 2016. But he could still be found at the ballpark some days, making a visit to the Mets' spring training facility as recently as Friday, the website said.A dean among the city's many experienced baseball writers, Noble was a familiar presence to all in the press box and clubhouse at Shea Stadium and Citi Field, often smiling as he pulled up a chair to strike up a friendly chat with a Mets player sitting at his locker.A skillful writer who enjoyed producing long-form pieces, Noble was... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Marty Noble, a longtime baseball writer and Hall of Fame voter who was a mainstay on the New York Mets beat for decades, has died. He was 70.He died Sunday in Florida, according to Newsday and MLB.com. Newsday said a family member confirmed his death, but no cause was given.Noble covered the New York Yankees and Mets for Newsday from 1981-2004, the newspaper said. He later worked for MLB.com, chronicling the Mets there as well.A dean among the city's many experienced baseball writers, Noble was a familiar presence to all in the press box and clubhouse at Shea Stadium and Citi Field, often smiling as he pulled up a chair next to a Mets player sitting at his locker to strike up a friendly chat.An artful writer who was still producing long-form pieces, Noble was a go-to source on the history of both New York baseball teams. He established good relationships with generations of Mets stars from Tom Seaver and Keith Hernandez to Dwight Gooden and David Wright.According to Newsday,... [More]

The Cleveland Indians already were dealing with a depleted infield when Jose Ramirez took a most damaging swing.A two-time All-Star third baseman, Ramirez bruised his left knee when he fouled a ball off his leg Sunday in a spring training game. His status for opening day was uncertain.X-rays were negative. The Indians said Ramirez will remain in Arizona, and that it will be determined later whether he can play Thursday when the AL Central champions open at Minnesota.Ramirez was carted from the field after getting hurt against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland's final Cactus League exhibition. He wasn't able to put any pressure on his leg as manager Terry Francona and a trainer helped him onto the cart.The 26-year-old Ramirez hit 39 home runs with 105 RBIs while batting .270 and stealing 34 bases last season. He has finished third in AL MVP voting in each of the last two seasons.Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is starting the season on the injured list and second baseman Jason Kipnis is... [More]

The Cleveland Indians already were dealing with a depleted infield when Jose Ramirez took a most damaging swing.A two-time All-Star third baseman, Ramirez bruised his left knee when he fouled a ball off his leg Sunday in a spring training game. His status for opening day was uncertain.X-rays were negative. The Indians said Ramirez will remain in Arizona, and that it will be determined later whether he can play Thursday when the AL Central champions open at Minnesota.Ramirez was carted from the field after getting hurt against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland's final Cactus League exhibition. He wasn't able to put any pressure on his leg as manager Terry Francona and a trainer helped him onto the cart.The 26-year-old Ramirez hit 39 home runs with 105 RBIs while batting .270 and stealing 34 bases last season. He has finished third in AL MVP voting in each of the last two seasons.Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is starting the season on the injured list and second baseman Jason Kipnis is... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout smiled into the postcard-perfect Orange County sunlight and said exactly what every Los Angeles Angels fan has spent years hoping to hear."I know there was a lot of talk about going back East, but I enjoy every minute being here," Trout said Sunday. "This is my home. I love it. I think the direction of the franchise, if it was going the other way, I would have had to consider going. But it never crossed my mind. I was going to be an Angel for life, sure."The crowd around the main entrance to Angel Stadium burst into raucous cheers, and so did Trout's dozens of teammates and coaches in the audience below the podium.The $426.5 million, 12-year contract for the two-time AL MVP is an extraordinary reward for a singular homegrown talent who never wanted to leave. After returning from spring training with their franchise cornerstone firmly in place, the Angels paused on the final weekend before the regular season to celebrate Trout being home to stay."I want... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout smiled into the postcard-perfect Orange County sunlight and said exactly what every Los Angeles Angels fan has spent years hoping to hear."I know there was a lot of talk about going back East, but I enjoy every minute being here," Trout said Sunday. "This is my home. I love it. I think the direction of the franchise, if it was going the other way, I would have had to consider going. But it never crossed my mind. I was going to be an Angel for life, sure."The crowd around the main entrance to Angel Stadium burst into raucous cheers, and so did Trout's dozens of teammates and coaches in the audience below the podium.The $426.5 million, 12-year contract for the two-time AL MVP is an extraordinary reward for a singular homegrown talent who never wanted to leave. After returning from spring training with their franchise cornerstone firmly in place, the Angels paused on the final weekend before the regular season to celebrate Trout being home to stay."I want... [More]