ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Left-hander Andrew Heaney is expected to make his first opening day start for the Los Angeles Angels.Manager Joe Maddon confirmed his choice Sunday before the Angels' third workout of summer camp. Los Angeles is expected to open the season July 24.The 29-year-old Heaney will be the Angels' fourth different opening day starter in four years. He went 4-6 last season with a 4.91 ERA and 118 strikeouts over 95 1/3 innings while missing time with injuries to his left elbow and shoulder.Heaney was the best friend of fellow starter Tyler Skaggs, who died a year ago on the night before a game in Texas.Heaney led the Angels last season with 18 starts, but their rotation was in shambles, ranking among the majors’ worst in many categories. The Angels became the second team in modern baseball history to have only one pitcher who logged than 100 innings — and that pitcher, opening day starter Trevor Cahill, was dropped from the rotation early in the season for ineffectiveness.Los... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Versatile infielder Wilmer Flores and the San Francisco Giants finalized a $6.25 million, two-year contract Wednesday as spring training began, giving the club a proven hitter against left-handed pitching. Flores will earn $3 million each of the next two seasons, and the deal includes a $3.5 million club option for 2022 with a $250,000 buyout. “The addition of Wilmer Flores gives us great flexibility with his ability to play across the infield,” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said. “Offensively, he matches up well against both right-handed and left-handed pitching and adds another bat to the mix that can help lengthen our lineup.” The 28-year-old Flores batted .317 with nine home runs, 18 doubles and 37 RBIs in 89 games for the NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks last season.Earlier Wednesday, the Giants agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Trevor Cahill, and he participated in the first spring training workout for pitchers and... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Versatile infielder Wilmer Flores and the San Francisco Giants finalized a $6.25 million, two-year contract Wednesday as spring training began, giving the club a proven hitter against left-handed pitching. Flores will earn $3 million each of the next two seasons, and the deal includes a $3.5 million club option for 2022 with a $250,000 buyout. “The addition of Wilmer Flores gives us great flexibility with his ability to play across the infield,” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said. “Offensively, he matches up well against both right-handed and left-handed pitching and adds another bat to the mix that can help lengthen our lineup.” The 28-year-old Flores batted .317 with nine home runs, 18 doubles and 37 RBIs in 89 games for the NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks last season.Earlier Wednesday, the Giants agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Trevor Cahill, and he participated in the first spring training workout for pitchers and... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The San Francisco Giants signed veteran right-hander Trevor Cahill to a minor league contract Wednesday, and Cahill took part in the day's first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers.Cahill, 31, is on his eighth team in his 12th major league season. He's wearing his sixth different uniform in six seasons, following stints with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels. Cahill made his major league debut with the A's in 2009. He's 84-92 in his career with a 4.77 earned run average. With the Angels in 2019, Cahill went 4-9 with a 5.98 ERA in 37 games with 11 starts. He could compete for the fifth starter role in the Giants rotation, though he's also been an effective reliever over his career.

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston Astros Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). 2019: 107-55, first place, lost to Nationals in World Series. Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida. Park: Ballpark of Palm Beaches. First Workout: Feb. 13/17. He's Here: Manager Dusty Baker, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau.He's Outta Here: Manager AJ Hinch, RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Tony Kemp. Going campin': The Astros enter the spring reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. They brought in Baker to steady the team, and it gives the 70-year-old another chance to chase his first World Series title as a manager. He’ll get a crash course learning his new team this spring after being hired less than three weeks before pitchers and catchers... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels acquired right-hander Dylan Bundy from the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in a trade for four minor league pitchers.The 27-year-old Bundy has been a durable starter with a nasty slider for the past four seasons with the Orioles, who chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft. The Angels got him for four prospects, none ranked among their top 20 by most estimates.Baltimore general manager Mike Elias said his latest trade "represents a big step toward our stated goals to accumulate and develop as much young talent as possible.""It's a bittersweet thing, parting with Dylan," Elias added. "He has done a lot for the Orioles. He has laid it on the line at all times for the Orioles and always taken the ball, and this dates well back beyond my short time here. We're going to miss him, and we have a hole in our rotation to fill."Bundy's durability and consistency are extremely enticing to the Angels, whose starters last season had... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — General manager Billy Eppler said the Los Angeles Angels' abrupt firing of manager Brad Ausmus wasn't all about Joe Maddon.In his first comments on the move made after the club finished its worst season since 1999, Eppler flatly denied the Angels already know who will be their second new manager in two seasons.The availability of Maddon, the longtime Angels employee who wrapped up his World Series-winning tenure with the Chicago Cubs last weekend, wasn't a factor in the Angels' move, according to Eppler."We have a hiring process to go through, so I think it's premature to say anything contrary to that," Eppler said. "We're going to collect names this afternoon, and particularly plan on sitting down with a number of candidates. I would not handicap it any other way at this moment in time."Maddon spent 31 seasons working for the Halos, and he was their bench coach when they won their only World Series title in 2002. Maddon and Angels owner Arte Moreno have a cordial... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Manager Brad Ausmus has been fired by the Los Angeles Angels after just one difficult season in charge.Angels general manager Billy Eppler announced the decision to move on swiftly from Ausmus on Monday, a day after they finished 72-90 for the franchise's worst record since 1999.The dismissal of Ausmus immediately sparked speculation that former Angels bench coach Joe Maddon, who parted ways with the Chicago Cubs one day earlier, will return to the franchise where he spent three decades of his career.A candidate of Maddon's magnitude would be an obvious reason for such an abrupt change of plan by the Angels, who have had four consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1993-96. Maddon was with the Angels when Arte Moreno bought the ballclub in 2003, and the two have a cordial relationship.Ausmus got a three-year contract last October as the Angels' hand-picked replacement for Mike Scioscia, who spent 19 years on the Angels' bench and won their only World Series... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Manager Brad Ausmus has been fired by the Los Angeles Angels after just one season in charge.Angels general manager Billy Eppler announced the decision to move on swiftly from Ausmus on Monday, a day after they finished 72-90 for the franchise's worst record since 1999.The dismissal of Ausmus has sparked speculation that former bench coach Joe Maddon, who was let go by the Cubs this weekend, will take over as the Angels' manager.Ausmus was the Angels' hand-picked replacement last October for Mike Scioscia, who spent 19 years on the Angels' bench and won their only World Series title in 2002.After Ausmus was let go by the Detroit Tigers in late 2017 following four seasons as their manager, he spent the 2018 season as a special adviser to Eppler, gaining comprehensive insight into every level of the organization.But that knowledge didn't translate to wins as the 17th manager in the franchise history of the Angels, who regressed in his sole season with a poor pitching... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Aaron Sanchez looked like a reinvented pitcher in his Houston debut, throwing six stellar innings to start the Astros on a combined no-hitter Saturday night in their 9-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.Sanchez was an All-Star in 2016 and led the American League in ERA, but he's struggled badly this season and had lost 13 straight decisions to lead the majors with 14 losses. Three days after he was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline, the 27-year-old right-hander teamed with Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski to shut down Seattle.It was the second time in less than a month the last-place Mariners were no-hit by multiple pitchers. The Los Angeles Angels used two pitchers in a combined no-hitter July 12 against Seattle on a night when they honored late left-hander Tyler Skaggs by all wearing his No. 45 in their first home game since his death.Sanchez (4-14) struck out six, walked two and hit a batter in his first victory since April 27 for Toronto.Seattle's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Aaron Sanchez looked like a reinvented pitcher in his Houston debut, throwing six stellar innings to start the Astros on a combined no-hitter Saturday night in their 9-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.Sanchez was an All-Star in 2016 and led the American League in ERA, but he's struggled badly this season and had lost 13 straight decisions to lead the majors with 14 losses. Three days after he was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline, the 27-year-old right-hander teamed with Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski to shut down Seattle.It was the second time in less than a month the last-place Mariners were no-hit by multiple pitchers. The Los Angeles Angels used two pitchers in a combined no-hitter July 12 against Seattle on a night when they honored late left-hander Tyler Skaggs by all wearing his No. 45 in their first home game since his death.Sanchez (4-14) struck out six, walked two and hit a batter in his first victory since April 27 for Toronto.Seattle's... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Félix Peña was carried off the field after spraining his right knee in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.Peña was hurt as he stepped on first base to record an out on a ground ball hit by José Ramírez. First baseman Albert Pujols fielded the ball and made a high underhand toss to Peña, who was covering the bag.Peña reached for the ball and his left foot landed on the base. He hopped around on his left foot before going to the ground in pain holding his right leg.The pitcher was eventually carried to the dugout by Pujols and a trainer. The team said he will undergo an MRI.Peña retired the first five hitters and was replaced by Trevor Cahill.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:EVEN MORE FREEAll-Star starter Dallas Keuchel and imposing closer Craig Kimbrel, the last two top free agents on the market, can sign without their new teams having to forfeit amateur draft picks as compensation. Both turned down $17.9 million qualifying offers in November, Keuchel from Houston and Kimbrel from the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Under baseball's labor contract, compensation is eliminated for free agents who sign starting on the day the amateur draft begins.Before Monday, a new team signing either player would have lost at least one draft pick and possibly two, and some teams would have lost international signing bonus allocation.PICK 'EMThe Baltimore Orioles make the first selection when the Major League Baseball draft begins at MLB Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.The top prospects include Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. — son of the former big league pitcher... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:EVEN MORE FREEAll-Star starter Dallas Keuchel and imposing closer Craig Kimbrel, the last two top free agents on the market, can sign without their new teams having to forfeit amateur draft picks as compensation. Both turned down $17.9 million qualifying offers in November, Keuchel from Houston and Kimbrel from the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Under baseball's labor contract, compensation is eliminated for free agents who sign starting on the day the amateur draft begins.Before Monday, a new team signing either player would have lost at least one draft pick and possibly two, and some teams would have lost international signing bonus allocation.PICK 'EMThe Baltimore Orioles make the first selection when the Major League Baseball draft begins at MLB Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.The top prospects include Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. — son of the former big league pitcher... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Sandy León hit a three-run homer off Oliver Pérez after the Indians reliever caused an odd stoppage asking for new footwear, J.D. Martinez homered twice and the Boston Red Sox beat Cleveland 12-5 Monday.Jackie Bradley Jr. added two RBI doubles, and Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts each had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 18 of 26.Boston held a moment of silence and showed highlights of former player Bill Buckner, who died Monday. He was 69.Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia revealed before the game that he will take an indefinite leave in his long struggle to recover from knee trouble, putting in doubt whether he'll play again in the majors.The Indians have lost seven of eight, and even the team's equipment is having a rough go of it.Pérez put Fenway Park into a strange delay when he relieved during Boston's six-run fifth inning. The 37-year-old left-hander noticed something amiss with his spikes while warming up and signaled for a replacement pair,... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Sandy León hit a three-run homer off Oliver Pérez after the Indians reliever caused an odd stoppage asking for new footwear, J.D. Martinez homered twice and the Boston Red Sox beat Cleveland 12-5 Monday.Jackie Bradley Jr. added two RBI doubles, and Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts each had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 18 of 26.Boston held a moment of silence and showed highlights of former player Bill Buckner, who died Monday. He was 69.Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia revealed before the game that he will take an indefinite leave in his long struggle to recover from knee trouble, putting in doubt whether he'll play again in the majors.The Indians have lost seven of eight, and even the team's equipment is having a rough go of it.Pérez put Fenway Park into a strange delay when he relieved during Boston's six-run fifth inning. The 37-year-old left-hander noticed something amiss with his spikes while warming up and signaled for a replacement pair,... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:LOOKING FOR SIXYankees right-hander Domingo Germ�n (8-1, 2.50 ERA) seeks to win his sixth consecutive start on Tuesday night against the last-place Orioles.The major league leader in victories, Germ�n has a chance to join Tommy John (1979), Herb Pennock (1926) and Jack Chesbro (1904) as the only Yankees to notch nine wins by the end of May.It's pretty heady stuff for a 26-year-old who entered the season with a 2-7 career record.Baltimore will counter with rookie Davis Hess (1-5, 5.58), who has gone seven straight starts without a victory, including two losses to New York during that span.STREAKINGHouston ace Justin Verlander (7-1, 2.38 ERA) will look for his fourth straight win and the seventh in eight starts when he faces the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in the second game of a four-game series. Verlander has dominated in his last two outings against Texas and Detroit, allowing one run and three hits while striking out 17 in 14 innings.... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun's career-high sixth hit, a two-run single with one out in the 18th inning, lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night in the longest game in Miller Park history.Braun stood on first base with his hands raised above his head as Yasmani Grandal slid across home plate with the winning run, ending the game that lasted 5 hours and 22 minutes. A jubilant bunch of Brewers ran out to greet Braun, who was the only Milwaukee player to have multiple hits.The Mets took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 18th on Jeff McNeil's run-scoring single off Taylor Williams (1-1), who was Milwaukee's eighth and final pitcher.But the Brewers were far from done. Eric Thames drew a leadoff walk from Chris Flexen (0-2), who then got Mike Moustakas to fly out to center. Flexen, just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, walked Grandal and Travis Shaw to load the bases for Braun. The Brewers' longest-tenured hit a sharp grounder... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox strung together 10 straight hits against White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos, ending one hit shy of the major league record during a nine-run third inning in a 15-2 rout of Chicago on Saturday night.Bañuelos (2-1) retired his first eight batters before Christian Vázquez opened Boston's two-out rally with a single. Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis and Eduardo Núñez each homered, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI doubles, and Vázquez capped the streak with another single before White Sox manager Rick Renteria pulled Bañuelos with a 9-1 deficit. Carson Fulmer replaced Bañuelos and interrupted the hit parade by walking Andrew Benintendi. Betts flew out to right to end the inning after 14 batters.The Colorado Rockies had a major league-record 11 straight hits during a 17-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on July 30, 2010.Chavis added another solo shot in the fifth for his first multihomer game and finished with four hits and three RBIs. All of... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox strung together 10 straight hits against White Sox left-hander Manny Bañuelos, ending one hit shy of the major league record during a nine-run third inning in a 15-2 rout of Chicago on Saturday night.Bañuelos (2-1) retired his first eight batters before Christian Vázquez opened Boston's two-out rally with a single. Xander Bogaerts, Michael Chavis and Eduardo Núñez each homered, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI doubles, and Vázquez capped the streak with another single before White Sox manager Rick Renteria pulled Bañuelos with a 9-1 deficit. Carson Fulmer replaced Bañuelos and interrupted the hit parade by walking Andrew Benintendi. Betts flew out to right to end the inning after 14 batters.The Colorado Rockies had a major league-record 11 straight hits during a 17-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on July 30, 2010.Chavis added another solo shot in the fifth for his first multihomer game and finished with four hits and three RBIs. All of... [More]