MILWAUKEE (AP) — Outfielder Keon Broxton agreed Sunday to a minor league contract to return to the Milwaukee Brewers after spending last season with the New York Mets, Baltimore and Seattle.Broxton played for the Brewers from 2016-18, hitting .222 with 33 homers and 79 RBIs. The 29-year-old batted .167 last season with six homers and 16 RBIs in 155 at-bats.——— More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Right-hander Junior Guerra and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees $2.65 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the agreement, first reported by The Athletic, had not been announced.Guerra was 9-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 71 relief appearances last season for Milwaukee, striking out 77 and walking 36 in 83 2/3 innings. He was primarily a starter from 2016-18 and is 25-21 with a 3.81 ERA in part of five seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2015) and Brewers.Guerra, who turns 35 in January, became a free agent when Milwaukee failed to offer a contract by the Dec. 2 deadline. He has three years, 155 days of major league service and would not be eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season. The deal includes a club option for 2021, and if that is declined Guerra would be eligible for salary arbitration.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed former All-Star reliever Trevor Rosenthal to a minor league contract that calls for a $2 million salary in the major leagues and an invitation to big league spring training.Rosenthal could earn up to $2.25 million in bonuses while on the major league roster.The 29-year-old Rosenthal was dismal with the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals last season, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in 22 appearances. It was a far cry from his 2015 form, when Rosenthal had a 2.10 ERA while making 48 saves and helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a 100-win season and the NL Central title.Rosenthal will be reunited in Kansas City with new Royals manager Mike Matheny, who was the manager in St. Louis during his best seasons. Rosenthal has a 3.45 ERA with 121 saves in seven big league seasons. He also was part of the 2013 Cardinals team that lost to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed former All-Star reliever Trevor Rosenthal to a $2 million minor league contract that includes an invitation to big league spring training and up to $2.25 million in bonuses if he makes the major league roster.The 29-year-old Rosenthal was dismal with the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals last season, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in 22 appearances. It was a far cry from his 2015 form, when Rosenthal had a 2.10 ERA while making 48 saves and helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a 100-win season and the NL Central title.Rosenthal will be reunited in Kansas City with new Royals manager Mike Matheny, who was the manager in St. Louis during his best seasons. Rosenthal has a 3.45 ERA with 121 saves in seven big league seasons. He also was part of the 2013 Cardinals team that lost to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — General manager A.J. Preller continued to remake the San Diego Padres' outfield, and added an intriguing two-way player as well.Preller acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The moves came a week after the Padres obtained starter Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham from Milwaukee, and signed free agent reliever Drew Pomeranz.“We tried to address every area of our ballclub and we feel we're improved at this point," Preller said. The Padres need to get better. Even with $300 million slugger Manny Machado and rookie phenom Fernando Tatis Jr., they had their ninth straight losing season and missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. They finished last in the NL West at 70-92, their fourth season in a row with 90-plus losses.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — General manager A.J. Preller continued to remake the San Diego Padres' outfield, and added an intriguing two-way player as well.Preller acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The moves came a week after the Padres obtained starter Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham from Milwaukke, and signed free agent reliever Drew Pomeranz.“We tried to address every area of our ballclub and we feel we're improved at this point," Preller said. The Padres need to get better. Even with $300 million slugger Manny Machado and rookie phenom Fernando Tatis Jr., they had their ninth straight losing season and missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. They finished last in the NL West at 70-92, their fourth season in a row with 90-plus losses.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The trade was finalized Friday.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in the majors in most offensive categories last season, when they were last in the NL West at 70-92.Pham hit .273 with a .369 on-base percentage, 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last year. He set the Rays’ franchise record with a 48-game on-base streak. He helped the Rays beat Oakland in the AL wild-card game and then batted .333 with one homer in the Rays’ division series loss to Houston.He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 and was traded to the Rays on July 31, 2018.Renfroe hit 33 homers last year, his third full season in San Diego, but struggled in the second half. He hit 26 homers in each of the previous two seasons.Cronenworth led the International League with a .334 average for the Triple-A Durham Bulls and also made seven pitching appearances, including six as an opener.The 20-year-old Edwards has played two seasons in the minors, batting a combined .328 with 56 stolen bases.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The trade was finalized Friday.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in the majors in most offensive categories last season, when they were last in the NL West at 70-92.Pham hit .273 with a .369 on-base percentage, 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last year. He set the Rays’ franchise record with a 48-game on-base streak. He helped the Rays beat Oakland in the AL wild-card game and then batted .333 with one homer in the Rays’ division series loss to Houston.He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 and was traded to the Rays on July 31, 2018.Renfroe hit 33 homers last year, his third full season in San Diego, but struggled in the second half. He hit 26 homers in each of the previous two seasons.Cronenworth led the International League with a .334 average for the Triple-A Durham Bulls and also made seven pitching appearances, including six as an opener.The 20-year-old Edwards has played two seasons in the minors, batting a combined .328 with 56 stolen bases.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have completed a $28 million, three-year contract with right-hander Kyle Gibson, adding another veteran in the middle of their starting rotation.Texas announced Gibson’s addition on Friday. He spent the first seven years of his big league career with the Minnesota Twins.Gibson got a $2 million signing bonus, half payable on Jan. 3 and the other half on Jan. 15, 2021. His 2020 salary with the Rangers will be $10 million, followed by $9 million in 2021 and then $7 million in the final year of the deal. The pitcher could also make up to an extra $4 million in performance and roster bonuses. He could get a $500,000 bonus in both 2021 and 2022 for pitching 180 innings, and a $1 million bonus in each season he is on the active roster for 150 days.Gibson was 13-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 34 games last season for the Twins, making 29 starts and five relief appearances. He spent time on the injured list in September because of ulcerative colitis. In 193 career... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and reliever Dan Winkler agreed Friday to a one-year contract that pays $750,000 in the majors.The 29-year-old right-hander is 8-2 with two saves and a 3.68 ERA in 117 relief appearances over five seasons with Atlanta. He was 3-1 with a 4.98 ERA in 27 outings for the Braves last year before getting traded to San Francisco for pitcher Mark Melancon on July 31. Winkler spent the rest of the season in the minors.The Cubs went 84-78 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.Winkler gets a $200,000 if he's in the minors. He can earn $750,000 in performance bonuses for games pitched: $50,000 each for 30 and 35, $75,000 apiece for 40 and 45, $100,000 each for 50 and 55, and $150,000 apiece for 60 and 65. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets re-signed reliever Brad Brach to a one-year, $850,000 contract on Friday, encouraged by his solid showing after they added him last August.Brach’s deal includes a player option for 2021 at $1.25 million.The 33-year-old right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 games for the Mets, holding righty hitters to a .194 batting average.The Mets signed Brach on Aug. 8 after he was released by the Cubs. Brach was 4-3 with a 6.13 ERA in 42 games for Chicago."Brad is a former All-Star who made an immediate and positive impact to our bullpen last year," Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement. "We are confident that his presence will make us better in 2020."Brach was an All-Star in 2016 with Baltimore, going 10-4 with a 2.05 ERA in 71 games. He is 36-27 with 33 saves and a 3.33 ERA in 482 games in a nine-season career with the Orioles, Mets, Cubs, Atlanta and San Diego.The option price in Brach’s contract can escalate by up to $2,225,000 based on games pitched in 2020: $125,000 for 20 and $350,000 each for 30, 35, 40, 50, 60 and 65.Brach can earn another $400,000 in performance bonuses in 2020 and in 2021: $100,000 each of 50, 55, 60 and 65 games pitched. He can make another $100,000 in 2021 if he pitches 70 times.The Mets designated righty Chris Flexen for assignment. The 25-year-old was 0-3 with a 6.59 ERA in nine games last season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Free agent catcher Alex Avila and the Minnesota Twins have reached agreement on a one-year contract for $4.25 million.A person with direct knowledge of the deal, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been finalized, confirmed the details on Friday.Avila hit .207 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 63 games for Arizona last season. He also pitched in two games.Avila turns 33 in January. He's batted .235 with 103 homers in an 11-season career with Detroit, the White Sox, the Cubs and Arizona.The AL Central champion Twins had been looking for a reliable backup this offseason. Jason Castro became a free agent, so Minnesota was in the market for a veteran complement to Mitch Garver after his breakout season. Garver hit 31 home runs in 93 games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox claimed hard-throwing reliever Tayron Guerrero off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Friday.Boasting about a 100-mph fastball, the 6-foot-8 right-hander went 1-2 with a 6.26 ERA in 52 appearances for Miami last season. He had 43 strikeouts over 46 innings. The 28-year-old Guerrero has a 5.77 ERA in 113 appearances over parts of three seasons with San Diego and Miami. He was designated for assignment on Dec. 2. The White Sox went 72-89 in their seventh straight losing season. But they believe they are poised for a turnaround with a promising young core. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and reliever Dan Winkler agreed Friday to a one-year contract that pays $750,000 in the majors.The 29-year-old right-hander is 8-2 with two saves and a 3.68 ERA in 117 relief appearances over five seasons with Atlanta. He was 3-1 with a 4.98 ERA in 27 outings for the Braves last year before getting traded to San Francisco for pitcher Mark Melancon on July 31. Winkler spent the rest of the season in the minors.The Cubs went 84-78 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets re-signed reliever Brad Brach to a one-year contract on Friday, encouraged by his solid showing after they added him last August.Brach’s deal includes a player option for 2021.The 33-year-old right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 games for the Mets, holding righty hitters to a .194 batting average.The Mets signed Brach on Aug. 8 after he was released by the Cubs. Brach was 4-3 with a 6.13 ERA in 42 games for Chicago."Brad is a former All-Star who made an immediate and positive impact to our bullpen last year," Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement. "We are confident that his presence will make us better in 2020."Brach was an All-Star in 2016 with Baltimore, going 10-4 with a 2.05 ERA in 71 games. He is 36-27 with 33 saves and a 3.33 ERA in 482 games in a nine-season career with the Orioles, Mets, Cubs, Atlanta and San Diego.The Mets designated righty Chris Flexen for assignment. The 25-year-old was 0-3 with a 6.59 ERA in nine games last season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Postseason star Howie Kendrick and the World Series champion Washington Nationals agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations.Speaking on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was still pending a successful physical exam, the people confirmed to The Associated Press that an agreement was in place for Kendrick to return to Washington for what will be his 15th season in the majors. One of the people said the contract includes a mutual option for 2021.The 36-year-old Kendrick, who was a free agent, provides Washington with a middle-of-the-order bat and some flexibility in the field. He primarily plays at first base now, but started games at every infield position except shortstop in 2019.The righty batter hit .344 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs in 121 regular-season games before all of his postseason contributions provided some real pop in the postseason. He hit a tiebreaking grand slam off Joe Kelly in the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Postseason star Howie Kendrick and the World Series champion Washington Nationals agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations.Speaking on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was still pending a successful physical exam, the people confirmed to The Associated Press that an agreement was in place for Kendrick to return to Washington for what will be his 15th season in the majors. One of the people said the contract includes a mutual option for 2021.The 36-year-old Kendrick, who was a free agent, provides Washington with a middle-of-the-order bat and some flexibility in the field. He primarily plays at first base now, but started games at every infield position except shortstop in 2019.The righty batter hit .344 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs in 121 regular-season games before all of his postseason contributions provided some real pop in the postseason. He hit a tiebreaking grand slam off Joe Kelly in the... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have completed a $28 million, three-year contract with right-hander Kyle Gibson, adding another veteran in the middle of their starting rotation.Texas announced Gibson’s addition on Friday. He spent the first seven years of his big league career with the Minnesota Twins.Gibson got a $2 million signing bonus, half payable on Jan. 3 and the other half by the following January. His 2020 salary with the Rangers will be $10 million, followed by $9 million in 2021 and then $7 million in the final year of the deal. The pitcher could also make up to an extra $4 million in performance and roster bonuses. He could get a $500,000 bonus in both 2021 and 2022 for pitching 180 innings, and a $1 million bonus in each season he is on the active roster for 150 days.Gibson was 13-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 34 games last season for the Twins, making 29 starts and five relief appearances. He spent time on the injured list in September because of ulcerative colitis. In 193... [More]

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — While Brian Cashman was descending the outside of a building Friday, the New York Yankees’ general manager came across a message taped to a 10th-floor window from a fan: Please sign Gerrit Cole.Cashman, whose rappelling adventure has become a holiday tradition, confirmed he met with Cole in California on Tuesday and spoke with free-agent pitcher Stephen Strasburg the following day.“It was a great opportunity, clearly it was very public, that we met with Gerrit Cole and Strasburg while I was on the West Coast,” Cashman said. “At least, that’s who you all are aware of so far. Who knows who I met with?Cole and Strasburg are the top pitchers on the free-agent market. The Yankees would like to add an ace to a rotation that already includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton and J.A. Happ.Along with Cashman, assistant general manager Mike Fischman, manager Aaron Boone, new Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake and former Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte made the trip... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Postseason star Howie Kendrick and the World Series champion Washington Nationals agreed in principle to a $6.25 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.Speaking on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was still pending a successful physical exam, the person confirmed to The Associated Press that an agreement was in place for Kendrick to return to Washington for what will be his 15th season in the majors. The 36-year-old Kendrick, who was a free agent, provides Washington with a middle-of-the-order bat and some flexibility in the field. He primarily plays at first base now, but started games at every infield position except shortstop in 2019.The righty batter hit .344 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs in 121 regular-season games before all of his postseason contributions provided some real pop in the postseason. He hit a tiebreaking grand slam off Joe Kelly in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the NL Division Series to lead the... [More]