MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins and third baseman Josh Donaldson finalized their four-year, $92 million contract Wednesday that is the richest in team history for a free agent.Donaldson agreed last week to the deal that includes a club option for a fifth season. The 34-year-old will make $21 million per season. For 2024, the Twins can either retain him for $16 million or buy him out for $8 million.The deal far surpassed the previous high-dollar mark for Minnesota on the open market, a four-year, $55 million deal for starting pitcher Ervin Santana that began in 2015. The Twins gave then-catcher Joe Mauer an eight-year, $184 million contract in 2010, but that was an in-house extension that kicked in the following season.Donaldson batted .259 with 33 doubles, 37 home runs, 96 runs, 94 RBIs and 100 walks in 155 games for Atlanta in 2019. The 2015 American League MVP award winner with Toronto, Donaldson brings 219 career homers to a lineup that was already one of the deepest in baseball. The Twins set the all-time major league record with 307 homers in 2019.The Twins also pursued Donaldson for his ability to upgrade the infield defense that was a relative weakness last year. His arrival will move Miguel Sanó across the diamond to first base.___More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Looking to replenish their depth, the banged-up New York Mets agreed to minor league contracts Friday with veteran outfielder Matt Kemp and pitcher Ervin Santana.Each move is pending a successful physical, and both players are expected to report to the club's spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The 34-year-old Kemp, who made his third All-Star team last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was released May 4 by Cincinnati. He batted .200 with a home run and five RBIs for the Reds and had been sidelined since April 23 with a broken left rib."Obviously, still pretty high ceiling," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said following a 9-8 loss to Detroit. "He's been playing well the last couple years. He had a good year very recently. So we're going to send him down to Florida, very similar to Santana, and get him in playing shape and see what we've got. Just another piece that at some point may be able to help us."The 36-year-old Santana, a two-time All-Star, became... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Looking to replenish their depth, the banged-up New York Mets agreed to minor league contracts Friday with veteran outfielder Matt Kemp and pitcher Ervin Santana.Each move is pending a successful physical, and both players are expected to report to the club's spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The 34-year-old Kemp, who made his third All-Star team last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was released May 4 by Cincinnati. He batted .200 with a home run and five RBIs for the Reds and had been sidelined since April 23 with a broken left rib.The 36-year-old Santana, a two-time All-Star, became a free agent on April 29, three days after he was designated for assignment by the White Sox, who signed him for a $4.3 million salary this year. He was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts for Chicago this season."It's just another depth piece for us and one that has some upside to it, because when he gets rolling, he can be a pretty good pitcher," Mets manager Mickey... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says veteran outfielder Matt Kemp and the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league contract.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.It was the second move the banged-up Mets made Friday to replenish their depth. Hours earlier, they announced an agreement with pitcher Ervin Santana on a minor league contract, pending a successful physical.Both players are expected to report to the club's spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The 34-year-old Kemp, who made his third All-Star team last season with the Dodgers, was released May 4 by Cincinnati. He batted .200 with a home run and five RBIs for the Reds and had been sidelined since April 23 with a broken left rib.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Ervin Santana has agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets pending a successful physical and will report to the team's spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.Santana became a free agent on April 29, three days after he was designated for release by the Chicago White Sox, who signed him for a $4.3 million salary this year.A two-time All-Star, the 36-year-old right-hander was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts. He has a 149-127 record in 15 major league seasons.New York announced the deal Friday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jake Odorizzi pitched seven solid innings to outduel Justin Verlander, Ehire Adrianza homered off Houston's ace and the Minnesota Twins beat the Astros 1-0 on Monday night.Odorizzi (3-2) gave up four hits while beating Houston for the second time in two starts. He walked one and struck out seven, and Minnesota won for the eighth time in 10 games. Blake Parker recorded his sixth save.Adrianza's first homer of the season led off the third. He hit a towering, deep shot to the plaza in right field on a full count against Verlander (4-1), who allowed two hits, walked two and struck out seven over six innings.Coming off a dominant sweep of Baltimore, the Twins faced Houston for the second time in a week. They also saw Verlander in the previous series, when he gave up one run and needed just 98 pitches to get through eight innings.BREWERS 5, ROCKIES 1MILWAUKEE (AP) — Struggling slugger Jesús Aguilar hit his first two homers of the season and Milwaukee beat Colorado with NL MVP... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have designated struggling right-hander Ervin Santana for assignment and inserted lefty Manny Bañuelos in his rotation spot.Santana, a two-time All-Star, was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts after his contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte on April 9. The White Sox signed him to a minor league deal in February that called for a $4.3 million salary while in the major leagues. A finger injury, followed by surgery, limited Santana to five appearances with Minnesota last season."Frankly, we weren't quite getting what we were hoping for out of that spot in terms of consistency and we decided to make a change," general manager Rick Hahn said Friday. "We didn't feel like it was working out, and we decided to go a different direction in the interest of the long-term."The 36-year-old Santana is 149-127 with a 4.09 ERA over 15 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City, Atlanta, Minnesota and Chicago. He an All-Star for Minnesota in 2017, going... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have designated struggling right-hander Ervin Santana for assignment.The two-time All-Star was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts after his contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte on April 9. The White Sox signed him to a minor league deal in February. A finger injury limited him to five appearances with Minnesota last season.The 36-year-old Santana is 149-127 with a 4.09 ERA over 15 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City, Atlanta, Minnesota and Chicago.Also Friday, the White Sox reinstated outfielder Eloy Jimenez from the bereavement list. He had returned home to the Dominican Republic following the death of his grandmother.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PHILLIES 6, METS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.PADRES 1, MARINERS 0SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Chris Paddack shut down baseball's... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Tommy La Stella homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-8 on Tuesday after Mike Trout departed with a groin injury.Los Angeles extended its win streak to five games. Jonathan Lucroy had two hits and three RBIs against his first major league team.Trout left in the fourth inning after he strained his right groin while sliding into second base in the second. The Angels say their $426.5 million center fielder is day to day.Cam Bedrosian (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win and Cody Allen got three outs for his third save.Yasmani Grandal homered twice and drove in three runs for Milwaukee. Alex Wilson (1-1) got the loss.BLUE JAYS 7, RED SOX 5BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale let a Toronto runner steal home, Mookie Betts fanned with two on for the final out and the Red Sox stumbled again, losing to the Blue Jays in their home opener.After receiving their World Series rings, the Red Sox fell to 3-9. A return to Fenway... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale let a Toronto runner steal home, Mookie Betts fanned with two on for the final out and the champion Boston Red Sox stumbled again, losing to the Blue Jays 7-5 Tuesday in their home opener.After receiving their World Series rings during a ceremony that included the Super Bowl champ New England Patriots, the Red Sox fell to 3-9. A return to Fenway Park failed to shake the doldrums that plagued Boston during a season-opening trip to Seattle, Oakland and Arizona.Red Sox sparkplug Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 4 in his first major league game since May. He played only three times last year while slowed by a knee injury.The game also made history: It was the first big league matchup of managers born in Puerto Rico, with Toronto's Charlie Montoyo topping Boston's Alex Cora.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stole home and had an RBI single as Toronto ended a four-game losing streak. Freddy Galvis drove in two runs to back Matt Shoemaker (3-0), who allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.Sale... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BOSTON BASHThe Red Sox are set to receive their 2018 World Series rings ahead of their home opener at Fenway Park. Boston plans to unveil a championship banner, and ceremonies will include a flyover by four F-16 jets prior to the first pitch. The club will sport gold-trimmed hats and jerseys, as well. One member of last year's team who won't attend is Craig Kimbrel. The All-Star closer and current free agent declined an invitation.The 2019 season hasn't been quite so sparkling. Boston returns from a season-opening West Coast swing 3-8, and the starting pitching has been especially suspect. Chris Sale (0-2, 8.00 ERA) faces Toronto in the home opener. His fastball has averaged 90.7 mph over his first two outings, down from 95.4 mph last season.EL GUERRERO ROJOThe Reds have lost eight straight since an opening day victory, a skid they'll try to end against the Marlins. Cincinnati went 30 innings between runs during one stretch, though the... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:BOSTON BASHThe Red Sox are set to receive their 2018 World Series rings ahead of their home opener at Fenway Park. Boston plans to unveil a championship banner, and ceremonies will include a flyover by four F-16 jets prior to the first pitch. The club will sport gold-trimmed hats and jerseys, as well. One member of last year's team who won't attend is Craig Kimbrel. The All-Star closer and current free agent declined an invitation.The 2019 season hasn't been quite so sparkling. Boston returns from a season-opening West Coast swing 3-8, and the starting pitching has been especially suspect. Chris Sale (0-2, 8.00 ERA) faces Toronto in the home opener. His fastball has averaged 90.7 mph over his first two outings, down from 95.4 mph last season.EL GUERRERO ROJOThe Reds have lost eight straight since an opening day victory, a skid they'll try to end against the Marlins. Cincinnati went 30 innings between runs during one stretch, though the... [More]

With opening day just around the corner, the list of notable players who are going to be absent keeps growing.World Series MVP Steve Pearce will start the season on the injured list for the Boston Red Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. went down with a knee injury Monday night when he slipped on home plate.Earlier in the day, Baltimore put scheduled opening-day starter Alex Cobb on the 10-day injured list with a strained right groin.Pearce exited an exhibition game last weekend due to discomfort in his left calf. The right-handed batter normally platoons with lefty-hitting Mitch Moreland at first base, but the Red Sox will begin defense of their championship Thursday in Seattle without Pearce."We have to do it that way," manager Alex Cora said. "It makes sense for us, it makes sense for him. He should be back sooner rather than later but he won't be ready for Seattle, so why take a chance?"Sam Travis will likely make the team and take Pearce's spot on the opening-day... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they'll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday's noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they'll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hecnavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday's noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release... [More]

Bryce Harper got his first hit with Philadelphia, and Manny Machado homered for San Diego.Both of baseball's big offseason free agents are finally getting into the swing of things at spring training.Harper lined a 97 mph fastball to center field for a single in the fourth inning Wednesday against Detroit, snapping his 0-for-9 start to Grapefruit League play with the Phillies. The slugger jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball as a souvenir.It was Harper's 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first inning.His final time up, Harper walked against Reed Garrett leading off the seventh. The 2015 NL MVP has struck out six times and drawn five walks."Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after his team's 3-1 loss to the Tigers."And one swing, a foul ball (down the third base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit... [More]

Bryce Harper is on the board at spring training.The slugger lined a 97 mph fastball to center field in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against Detroit for his first hit with the Philadelphia Phillies after an 0-for-9 start.Harper jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball.It was Harper's 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first.His final time up, Harper walked against Reed Garrett to lead off the seventh. Harper has struck out six times and drawn five walks."Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after the 3-1 loss to the Tigers."And one swing, a foul ball (down the third base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit better timing that ball is in the seats in left field. So, a lot to get excited about there with Bryce."Harper played seven innings in right field.Kapler plans to hit Harper third regularly during... [More]