MIAMI (AP) — Infielder Jonathan Villar was acquired Monday by the Miami Marlins from the Baltimore Orioles for minor league left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas.The Marlins also claimed first baseman Jesús Aguilar off waivers after he was designated for assignment last week by the Tampa Bay Rays.Villar batted .274 with 33 doubles, 24 home runs, and 73 RBI in 162 games for Baltimore this year. The switch-hitter had 40 stolen bases, 111 runs scored and 176 hits.He made $4,825,000 and likely would have received a salary of about $10 million next year had he been eligible for arbitration.Aguilar was an All-Star for Milwaukee in 2018, when he had 35 home runs and 108 RBIs. This year he had 12 homers and 50 RBIs for the Brewers and Rays.Aguilar is expected to share time at first with Garrett Cooper, who had 15 homers and 50 RBIs for Miami this year.Villar is a career .261 hitter. He had a career-best 62 stolen bases for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016. He has played shortstop (385 games), second base (333), third base (54) and the outfield (13).To make room on Miami’s 40-man roster, infielder JT Riddle and right-handed pitcher Tayron Guerrero were designated for assignment. Riddle then was not offered a contract, making him a free agent.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Giants allowed Kevin Pillar to become a free agent by failing to offer the outfielder a 2020 contract.Acquired from Toronto on April 2, Pillar hit .264 for San Francisco with 21 homers and 87 RBIs. He made $5.8 million and likely would have received a salary of around $10 million had the Giants offered a contract, which would have made him eligible for arbitration.San Francisco also declined to offer contracts to left-hander Tyler Anderson, right-hander Rico Garcia and outfielder Joey Rickard and agreed to one-year deals with outfielder Alex Dickerson ($925,000), left-hander Wandy Peralta and second baseman Donovan Solano.No Giants remain eligible for arbitration.Dickerson played 68 games for the Giants and San Diego Padres last season, batting a career-best .276 having played parts of three major league seasons. The Giants acquired Dickerson from their division rival last June. He made 33 starts in the outfield for San Francisco, 32 in left.Solano appeared in 81 games for the Giants and batted .330 with four home runs, 13 doubles and 23 RBIs in 215 at-bats. Peralta went 1-1 with a 5.67 ERA over 47 outings between the Reds and Giants. He didn’t have a decision in eight appearances and 5 2/3 innings for San Francisco after being claimed off waivers in September.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — The rebuilding Baltimore Orioles further slashed their slim salary payroll by trading infielder Jonathan Villar to Miami on Monday for minor league pitcher Easton Lucas.Villar played in all 162 games this year and led the Orioles with 176 hits, five triples and 40 stolen bases.“He was a tremendously exciting player for us, a joy to have,” general manager Mike Elias said Monday night. “It was hard to let him go, but we've got to keep an eye on our strategic objectives, which is prioritize the future right now.”Villar was too expensive to keep around. He is eligible for arbitration and likely to earn about $10 million next year, so Elias opted to trade the 28-year-old as part of a more substantial teardown.“It makes a lot of sense and it’s something you have to do,” Elias said.The GM described Villar as “a guy who's going into his last year of arbitration with the team and facing free agency who is set to command a large salary with his play this year and year's past” — qualities... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former All-Stars Blake Treinen, Aaron Sanchez and Addison Russell became free agents along with current Gold Glove second baseman Yolmer Sánchez when their teams failed to offer 2020 contracts Monday rather than make them eligible for salary arbitration.Baltimore, faced with a similar decision, traded second baseman Jonathan Villar to Miami, which claimed first baseman Jesús Aguilar off waivers from Tampa Bay.Cleveland acquired catcher Sandy León from Boston for a minor leaguer, and San Diego obtained second baseman Jurickson Profar from Oakland for a prospect.Seattle failed to offer a contract to infielder Tim Beckham, who has 32 games remaining on a drug suspension, and San Francisco let go outfielder Kevin Pillar___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — The rebuilding Baltimore Orioles further slashed their slim salary payroll by trading infielder Jonathan Villar to Miami on Monday for minor league pitcher Easton Lucas.Villar played in all 162 games this year and led the Orioles with 176 hits, five triples and 40 stolen bases.But Villar is eligible for arbitration and likely to earn about $10 million next year, so general manager Mike Elias opted to trade the 28-year-old as part of a more substantial teardown.Baltimore finished last in the AL East in 2019, the first season with Elias at the helm. From the outset, Elias made it clear that the roster will be overhauled before being injected with young talent.Lucas is a 23-year-old lefty with one year of minor league experience.The Orioles also announced that they have reached a one-year agreement with lefty Richard Bleier and offer 2020 contracts to first baseman Trey Mancini, infielder Hanser Alberto, right-handers Dylan Bundy, Miguel Castro and Mychal Givens.__More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Second baseman César Hernández and third baseman Maikel Franco became free agents when the Phillies did not offer them contracts on Monday.The Phillies offered 2020 contracts to catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitchers Héctor Neris, Vince Velasquez, Zach Eflin, Adam Morgan and José Álvarez. The six are eligible for arbitration. The team avoided arbitration with catcher Andrew Knapp, agreeing on a one-year deal.Hernández had been a starter since 2015. He replaced Chase Utley and led the team in average in 2016 and 2017, hitting .294 both seasons. Hernández hit .279 with 14 homers and a career-high 71 RBIs last year. He has a .277 career average and .352 on-base percentage.Franco also became a starter in 2015 but didn’t play regularly the past two seasons. He averaged 24 homers and 77 RBIs from 2016-18. Franco batted .234 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs in this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Infielder Jonathan Villar was acquired Monday by the Miami Marlins from the Baltimore Orioles for minor league left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas.The Marlins also claimed first baseman Jesús Aguilar off waivers after he was designated for assignment last week by the Tampa Bay Rays.Villar batted .274 with 33 doubles, 24 home runs, and 73 RBI in 162 games for Baltimore this year. The switch-hitter had 40 stolen bases, 111 runs scored and 176 hits.He made $4,825,000 and likely would have received a salary of about $10 million next year had he been eligible for arbitration.Aguilar was an All-Star for Milwaukee in 2018, when he had 35 home runs and 108 RBIs. This year he had 12 homers and 50 RBIs for the Brewers and Rays.Aguilar is expected to share time at first with Garrett Cooper, who had 15 homers and 50 RBIs for Miami this year.Villar is a career .261 hitter. He had a career-best 62 stolen bases for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016. He has played shortstop (385 games), second base (333), third base (54) and the outfield (13).To make room on Miami’s 40-man roster, infielder JT Riddle and right-handed pitcher Tayron Guerrero were designated for assignment. Riddle then was not offered a contract, making him a free agent.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves did not offer a 2020 contract to Charlie Culberson on Monday, making the popular utility player a free agent.Atlanta also did not offer contracts to catcher John Ryan Murphy and outfielder Rafael Ortega.The 30-year-old Culberson played two years with Atlanta. His 2019 season ended on Sept. 14 after he was hit by a pitch from Washington’s Fernando Rodney. Culberson sustained multiple facial fractures and missed the Braves’ NL Division Series loss to St. Louis.Culberson hit .259 with five home runs in 2019 after hitting .270 with 12 homers in 2018.Culberson was valuable for his versatility, as he played almost every position. He even pitched in relief in two games.He earned $1,395,000 and likely would have gained a salary of about $1.75 million had the Braves offered him a contract and allowed him to become eligible for arbitration.The 28-year-old Ortega hit .205 in 34 games. Murphy had only one at-bat with Atlanta after hitting .177 with four homers for Arizona before being traded to the Braves for $100,000 on July 31.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics did not tender a contract to former closer Blake Treinen on Monday, letting the 2018 All-Star become a free agent.The right-handed Treinen posted a 0.78 ERA in 2018, but that number ballooned to 4.91 in 2019. He was replaced by Liam Hendriks in the closer role as the low-budget A’s earned the AL’s top wild card.Treinen was expected to command roughly $7.5 million in arbitration.Left-hander Ryan Buchter and catcher Josh Phegley also didn’t receive contracts. Lefty T.J. McFarland reached agreement on a one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration. He was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks on Nov. 4.The A’s announced the moves after completing a trade that sent switch-hitting second baseman Jurickson Profar to the San Diego Padres for catcher Austin Allen and a player to be named.Treinen started the 2019 season as A’s closer but wasn’t nearly as consistent. He had a 6.14 ERA during a 19-game span from April 28 to June 20 before a strained pitching... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have tendered outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. a contract for the 2020 season, preserving their rights to him.The move means the sides can continue to negotiate or go to arbitration. The Red Sox did not tender contracts to infielder Marco Hernández or left-hander Josh Osich, making them free agents.The Bradley decision was closely watched because the team has said it would like to shed about $30 million in payroll to get under baseball’s luxury tax threshold. To do so, it might now have to trade 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts.Bradley batted .225 last season while leading the AL in assists and putouts for a center fielder. He is projected to earn about $10 million next season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — The Diamondbacks did not offer 2020 contracts to outfielder Steven Souza Jr., pitcher Taijuan Walker and catcher Caleb Joseph, making them free agents.Souza, 30, missed last season because of a left knee injury after he slipped on home plate and tore multiple ligaments near the end of spring training. Souza’s best year was in 2017, when he hit 30 homers for the Tampa Bay Rays. He made $4,125,000.The 27-year-old Walker missed most of the last two years after Tommy John surgery. The right-hander pitched one inning during the last week of the 2019 season and made $5,025,000.Joseph, 33, spent a big chunk of the year in Triple-A and played in 20 games for Arizona, hitting .211 in 38 at-bats. He had a split contract calling for $1.1 million while in the majors and $250,000 in the minors.All three would have been eligible for arbitration had they been offered contracts.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Catcher Elias Diaz will not return to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the club declined to offer him a contract for the 2020 season Monday.The 29-year-old Diaz inherited the starting job last season while Francisco Cervelli dealt with a concussion before being released in August. Diaz hit .241 with two home runs and 28 RBIs in 101 games while splitting time with Jacob Stallings. Diaz struggled defensively. His 12 errors led all National League catchers and his eight passed balls ranked fifth.The Pirates did sign shortstop Erik Gonzalez to a 2020 contract. Gonzalez hit .254 with one home run and six RBIs in his first season in Pittsburgh in 2019. He missed more than three months after fracturing his collarbone during a collision with center fielder Starling Marte in April.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — First baseman Jesús Aguilar has been claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins after being designated for assignment last week by the Tampa Bay Rays.Aguilar was an All-Star for Milwaukee in 2018, when he had 35 home runs and 108 RBIs. This year he had 12 homers and 50 RBIs for the Brewers and Rays.Aguilar is expected to share time at first with Garrett Cooper, who had 15 homers and 50 RBIs for Miami this year. He is projected to earn about $2.5 million in arbitration.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and left-hander Mike Montgomery, the club’s once-heralded prospect, agreed to a $3.1 million contract for next season on Monday to avoid salary arbitration.Montgomery was traded to the Rays as part of a blockbuster deal in 2012. He went on to pitch for the Mariners and Cubs before returning to Kansas City last season, when Chicago traded him for backup catcher Martin Maldonado just before the trading deadline.He wound up making 13 starts for the Royals, going 2-7 with a 4.64 ERA. The numbers were good enough for the Royals to believe Montgomery could be part of the rotation next season.Montgomery, who made $2.44 million last season, is 23-34 with a 3.83 ERA in 180 appearances.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs did not offer a 2020 contract to shortstop Addison Russell on Monday, making the 2016 All-Star a free agent one year after he was suspended for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.Russell was banned for 40 games last offseason after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. The 25-year-old returned to the Cubs in May and batted a career-low .237 with nine homers, 23 RBIs and a .699 OPS.Russell earned $4 million in 2019 and was likely to gain a raise in arbitration, probably to around $5 million.“We decided to non-tender Addison Russell today simply because the role we expected him to play for the 2020 Cubs was inconsistent with how he would have been treated in the salary arbitration process,” Cubs executive Theo Epstein said in a statement.MLB began an investigation in 2017 after allegations against Russell first became public. Reidy published a blog post last September describing more detailed allegations, including years... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Backup infielder Ehire Adrianza and the Minnesota Twins agreed Monday to a $1.6 million, one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.The deal was reached ahead of the deadline for major league teams to offer 2020 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters.Adrianza played seven positions this year, everywhere but catcher and center field, taking the majority of his turns at third base, shortstop and first base. The 30-year-old batted .272 with a .765 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, both career bests. He had five homers and 22 RBIs in 202 at-bats.Adrianza has hit .260 with a .711 OPS in 267 games with the Twins since being claimed off waivers in 2017, playing at least five positions in all three years. He’s eligible for free agency after next season.___More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB

CHICAGO (AP) — All-Star catcher James McCann agreed to a $5.4 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox on Monday, more than doubling his salary.The 29-year-old McCann was eligible for arbitration.Chicago declined to offer 2020 contracts to Gold Glove second baseman Yolmer Sánchez and relievers Ryan Burr and Caleb Frare, making the trio free agents. Right-hander Thyago Vieira was released to pursue an opportunity to play in Japan.Left-hander Carlos Rodon, closer Alex Colomé, reliever Evan Marshall and utlityman Leury García were tendered contracts, making them eligible for arbitration.McCann signed a $2.5 million, one-year deal with Chicago last December after Detroit didn't offer him a contract for the 2019 season.McCann set career highs with a .273 batting average, 18 homers and 60 RBIs in his first year with the White Sox. He also was an All-Star selection for the first time.The White Sox signed free-agent catcher Yasmani Grandal to a $73 million, four-year contract last... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a $64 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, the team’s first move to upgrade a lineup that struggled to score.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the agreement had not been announced.For the second straight offseason, the Reds are making a splurge in free agency as they try to shake themselves out of a rut of six straight losing seasons. Their first move involves getting a player from the NL Central-rival Milwaukee Brewers. The 31-year-old could fill the Reds’ hole at second base that opened when Scooter Gennett got hurt and then was traded last season.Cincinnati scored the fourth-fewest runs in the NL last season despite one of the league’s most hitter-friendly ballparks. Bulking up on offense, stabilizing the outfield and overhauling the bullpen are the Reds’ priorities in the offseason.Moustakas is a first step toward... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Switch-hitting second baseman Jurickson Profar was acquired by the San Diego Padres from the Oakland Athletics on Monday for catcher Austin Allen and a player to be named.In his lone season with the A’s, Profar matched his career high with 20 home runs and batted .218 with 67 RBIs over 139 games.He provides versatility to play other infield positions as well as the outfield.Profar was acquired from AL West rival Texas last year. The 26-year-old is eligible for arbitration and is expected to earn about $5.5 million.Allen, 25, played in 34 games during three 2019 stints with the Padres for his first major league experience. A fourth-round draft pick by the Padres in 2015, he batted .215 with four doubles and three RBIs while striking out 21 times to his six walks. Allen also made his debut at the Triple-A level last season and has hit 20 or more home runs in each of his last three seasons in the minors.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CINCINNATI (AP) — All-Star infielder Mike Moustakas and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a $64 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, the team’s first move to upgrade a lineup that struggled to score.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the agreement had not been announced.Moustakas became a free agent for the third straight offseason after declining a mutual option with the Brewers. The 31-year-old could fill the Reds’ hole at second base that opened when Scooter Gennett got hurt and then was traded last season.Moustakas earned $18.7 million in a pair of one-year deals. He hit .254 with 35 homers and 87 RBIs this year, making his third All-Star team. He began the season at second base and moved to third with Travis Shaw in a slump.Moustakas rejected a $17.4 million qualifying offer from Kansas City after the 2017 season but eventually returned to the Royals on a one-year deal. He was traded to the Brewers that July and finished with a .251 average, 28 homers and 95 RBIs. He had a $7 million salary this year and gets a $3 million buyout for declining his $10 million option.___AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports