NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees finalized his $12.5 million, one-year contract on Saturday.New York agreed to the deal Dec. 13 during the winter meetings, and the 36-year-old took a physical on Tuesday. His addition, following last month's $324 million, nine-year contract with pitcher Gerrit Cole, raised the Yankees' projected luxury tax payroll to about $248 million — the threshold where the highest luxury tax rate starts.Gardner gets a $2 million signing bonus payable Jan. 30 and an $8 million salary for next season. The Yankees have a $10 million option for 2021 with a $2.5 million buyout.New York opened a roster spot by designating left-hander Stephen Tarpley for assignment.Gardner earned $7.5 million last season plus a $2 million buyout after New York declined his $12.5 million option for 2019 under his previous contract. He hit .251 and set career highs with 28 homers and 74 RBIs, a rare left-handed bat in a Yankees lineup dominated by right-handed hitters.Gardner is the senior member of the Yankees, having spent his entire 12-year big league career in the Bronx. He has a .260 average, 124 homers and 524 RBIs.He is expected to see time in center field during the first half of the season while Aaron Hicks recovers from offseason Tommy John surgery, then shift back to left when Hicks returns.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Alex Wood agreed to a $4 million, one-year deal Sunday, a person familiar with the agreement said.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.“We back,” Wood tweeted on Sunday, his 29th birthday.Wood returns to Los Angeles after spending last season with the Cincinnati Reds. He was part of a deal in which the Dodgers sent Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Reds last offseason. Wood's time in Cincinnati was plagued by injury. His back flared up in spring training and then he began last season on the injured list. The left-hander was activated in July and made just seven starts before his season ended early in September. He was 1-3 with a 5.80 ERA.Wood's best year in Los Angeles was 2017 when he was a National League All-Star and had a 16-3 record with a 2.72 ERA. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Houston in Game 4 of the World Series that fall.He returns with a chance to join the Dodgers' starting rotation, which he was part of at various times during four seasons.___AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Veteran third baseman Todd Frazier and the Texas Rangers have reached an agreement on a $5 million, one-year contract, filling a significant need for the team. A person familiar with the deal said Sunday that the agreement was pending a successful physical. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. Frazier will make $3.5 million in 2020, and the deal includes a 2021 club option with a $1.5 million buyout for the two-time All-Star. Third base is a primary need for the Rangers, who lost out in their pursuit of top free agent Anthony Rendon this offseason when the Texas native instead signed with the division rival Los Angeles Angels. Frazier also provides a right-handed hitter in the middle of a left-leaning lineup, and could play first base if Texas adds other players. Adrian Beltre, a four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove third baseman who had 3,166 career hits, retired after the 2018 season. He played the last... [More]

Veteran infielder Todd Frazier and the Texas Rangers have reached an agreement on a $5 million, one-year contract, filling a significant need for the team. A person familiar with the deal said the agreement was pending a successful physical. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. Frazier will make $3.5 million in 2020, and the deal includes a 2021 club option with a $1.5 million buyout. Third base is one of the primary needs for the Rangers, who lost out in their pursuit of free agent Anthony Rendon this offseason when he signed with the division rival Los Angeles Angels. Frazier also gives the Rangers another right-handed hitter in their left-leaning lineup, and could also play first base. Frazier, a month shy of his 34th birthday, spent the past two seasons with the New York Mets. He hit .251 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs in 133 games last year. He has also played for the Cincinnati Reds (2011-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17) and Yankees (2017) in his nine big league seasons.___AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers announced Saturday right-hander Dario Agrazal has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Toledo.The Tigers acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash in a November trade. They designated the 25-year-old Agrazal for assignment earlier this month, when they acquired catcher Eric Haase in a deal with Cleveland.Agrazal made 14 starts and one relief appearance for the Pirates last season. He went 4-5 with a 4.91 ERA.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a “2019 World Series Champions” patch stitched onto the right sleeve of his white Washington Nationals jersey, and his eyes -- one brown, one blue -- open wide, Max Scherzer made it clear as clear can be Saturday that his neck is just fine and his preseason routine is same as ever.“I played catch probably two weeks after the World Series and I was playing catch OK, so I knew that there was no long-term damage. I did the whole MRI thing and that came away clean, too. Everybody wanted to dot their I's and cross their T's and everybody did,” Scherzer said with a chuckle at the club's annual fan festival at Nationals Park. “I'm good. I'm strong. I'm good,” he added, as if to emphasize the point. “I can throw a baseball. I'm good.”The three-time Cy Young Award winner, third in the 2019 NL voting after going 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 243 strikeouts in 172 1/3 innings, started his preparation for spring training on Jan. 1, just like he did a year ago.So what if he basically... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees finalized his $12.5 million, one-year contract on Saturday.New York agreed to the deal Dec. 13 during the winter meetings, and the 36-year-old took a physical on Tuesday. His addition, following last month's $324 million, nine-year contract with pitcher Gerrit Cole, raised the Yankees' projected luxury tax payroll to about $248 million — the threshold where the highest luxury tax rate starts.Gardner gets a $2 million signing bonus and an $8 million salary for next season. The Yankees have a $10 million option for 2021 with a $2.5 million buyout.New York opened a roster spot by designating left-hander Stephen Tarpley for assignment.Gardner earned $7.5 million last season plus a $2 million buyout after New York declined his $12.5 million option for 2019 under his previous contract. He hit .251 and set career highs with 28 homers and 74 RBIs, a rare left-handed bat in a Yankees lineup dominated by right-handed hitters.Gardner is the senior member of the Yankees, having spent his entire 12-year big league career in the Bronx. He has a .260 average, 124 homers and 524 RBIs.He is expected to see time in center field during the first half of the season while Aaron Hicks recovers from offseason Tommy John surgery, then shift back to left when Hicks returns.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles agreed to one-year contracts with their remaining players eligible for arbitration, securing deals Friday with slugger Trey Mancini, Mychal Givens and infielder Hanser Alberto.Mancini agreed to $4.75 million, Givens $3,225,000 and Alberto $1.65 million. Alberto would get a $50,000 bonus for making 500 plate appearances.After reaching agreement with with reliever Miguel Castro on Thursday, Baltimore general manager Mike Elias worked through the team's arbitration-eligible players on the final afternoon before the team and players would exchange salary figures.Mancini earned $575,500 last season. The first baseman/outfielder played in 154 games last season and reached career highs with 35 home runs and 97 RBIs. He also batted .291 with a career-best .364 on-base percentage.One of few power hitters on the rebuilding Orioles, Mancini was drafted by Baltimore in the eighth round of the 2013 draft. He joined the team in 2016 and quickly became a fan-favorite.Givens... [More]

DENVER (AP) — All-Star shortstop Trevor Story asked for $11.5 million and the Colorado Rockies offered him $10.75 million when players and teams exchanged proposed salaries in salary arbitration Friday.Colorado catcher Tony Wolters also could be headed toward a hearing next month after requesting a raise from $960,000 to $2,475,000. The Rockies offered $1.9 million.The club agreed to one-year deals with its four other players who were eligible for arbitration. Right-hander Jon Gray received a raise from $2,925,000 to $5.6 million, left-hander Kyle Freeland from $565,000 to $2,875,000, outfielder David Dahl from $584,288 to $2,425,000, and reliever Carlos Estévez from $565,000 to $1.08 million.Right-handed reliever Scott Oberg also was eligible for arbitration before reaching a $13 million, three-year contract with the Rockies last month. The 27-year-old Story is coming off a season in which he set career highs in runs (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363) while earning... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Matthew Boyd and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a $5.3 million, one-year deal on Friday.The Tigers avoided arbitration with Boyd and all their eligible players. Detroit agreed to contracts for 2020 with left-hander Daniel Norris ($2,962,500), right-hander Buck Farmer ($1.15 million) and outfielder JaCoby Jones ($1,575,000). Right-hander Michael Fulmer agreed to a $2.8 million deal earlier in the week.The 28-year-old Boyd went 9-12 with a 4.56 ERA last season. The left-hander was a bright spot for much of the year and finished sixth in the American League with 238 strikeouts. However, he also allowed an AL-high 39 home runs.Boyd's salary goes up from $2.6 million, but if he can keep his strikeout total high and get the home runs under control, he could become a prime trade candidate for the rebuilding Tigers, who lost 114 games last season but have some highly regarded pitching prospects in their system.Norris arrived with Boyd in the 2015 trade that sent David Price from Detroit to Toronto. Norris has battled injuries in recent years but was able to make 29 starts last season. He went 3-13 with a 4.49 ERA and earned $1.3 million.The 28-year-old Farmer pitched almost exclusively in relief last year, going 6-6 with a 3.72 ERA. He gets a raise from $570,800.Jones hit .235 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in 2019. He's batted .211 in 286 major league games for Detroit. Jones made $567,100 last season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.comMLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — All-Star infielder Tommy La Stella and closer Hansel Robles were among six arbitration-eligible Los Angeles Angels players who agreed to one-year deals Friday.La Stella got a raise from $1.35 million to $3.25 million, and Robles will jump from $1.4 million to $3.85 million. The Angels also agreed to contracts with starters Andrew Heaney ($4.3 million, up from $3.4 million) and Dylan Bundy ($5 million, up from $2.8 million), and relievers Noé Ramirez ($900,000) and Keynan Middleton ($800,000).Los Angeles couldn't reach agreement with outfielder Brian Goodwin and is headed toward salary arbitration. Goodwin is seeking $2.2 million and the Angels have offered $1.85 million.La Stella had a breakout season that was spoiled by a broken right leg in July. The 30-year-old set career highs with a .295 average, 16 homers and 44 RBIs in 80 games and made his first All-Star team, but he was unable to play in the game due to his injury.Robles had 23 saves and became a fan favorite... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers agreed to a $5.3 million, one-year deal with left-hander Matthew Boyd on Friday.The Tigers avoided arbitration with Boyd and all their eligible players. Detroit agreed to contracts for 2020 with left-hander Daniel Norris ($2,962,500), right-hander Buck Farmer ($1.15 million) and outfielder JaCoby Jones ($1,575,000). Right-hander Michael Fulmer agreed to a $2.8 million deal earlier in the week.The 28-year-old Boyd went 9-12 with a 4.56 ERA last season. He was a bright spot for much of the year and finished sixth in the American League with 238 strikeouts. However, he also allowed an AL-high 39 home runs.Boyd's salary goes up from $2.6 million, but if he can keep his strikeout total high and get the home runs under control, he could become a prime trade candidate for the rebuilding Tigers, who lost 114 games last season but have some highly regarded pitching prospects in their system.Norris arrived with Boyd in the 2015 trade that sent David Price from Detroit to Toronto. Norris has battled injuries in recent years but was able to make 29 starts last season. He went 3-13 with a 4.49 ERA and made $1.3 million.The 28-year-old Farmer pitched almost exclusively in relief last year, going 6-6 with a 3.72 ERA. He gets a raise from $570,800.Jones hit .235 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in 2019. He's batted .211 in 286 major league games for Detroit. Jones made $567,100 last season.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.comMLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — All-Star closer Kirby Yates, who led the major leagues with 41 saves, agreed Friday to a one-year contract for $7,062,500 with the San Diego Padres.Yates was named to his first All-Star team in his first full season as closer. He had 101 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. He and the Padres have been discussing a long-term deal.San Diego agreed to deals with all of its arbitration-eligible players. New left fielder Tommy Pham got a $7.9 million deal, right-hander Zach Davies a $5,250,000 contract and catcher Austin Hedges got $3 million.The Padres agreed with right-hander Dinelson Lamet for $1.3 million, center fielder Manuel Margot for $2,475,000, right-hander Luis Perdomo for $950,000 and left-hander Matt Strahm for $1.4 millionPham was acquired from Tampa Bay in a deal that sent slugger Hunter Renfroe to the Rays. Pham batted .273 with 21 homers, 68 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and an .818 OPS.Davies was obtained from Milwaukee with outfielder Trent Grisham for popular young second baseman Luis Urías and left-hander Eric Lauer, who was San Diego’s opening day starter in 2019. Davies was 10-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 2019.Hedges is one of the top defensive catchers in the majors but struggled so badly at the plate that he began to lose playing time to Francisco Mejía and could be relegated to backup duty. He hit only .176 with 11 home runs and a .252 on-base percentage.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Third baseman Kris Bryant avoided arbitration with the Chicago Cubs, agreeing Friday to an $18.6 million, one-year contract.The Cubs also avoided arbitration with their other five eligible players, agreeing to one-year deals with star shortstop Javier Báez ($10 million), All-Star catcher Willson Contreras ($4.5 million), slugger Kyle Schwarber ($7.01 million), outfielder Albert Almora Jr. ($1,575,000) and reliever Kyle Ryan ($975,000).Bryant got a significant boost from the $12.9 million he earned last year. The 2016 NL MVP rebounded from an injury-filled season to bat .282 with 31 homers and 77 RBIs. It is unclear whether he will remain with the team he led to the 2016 World Series championship, the Cubs' first title since 1908. Chicago's thin minor league system, the young players Bryant could bring back in a trade and the large contract the three-time All-Star would figure to command as a free agent have all thrown his future into question. He also has a pending grievance... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NL MVP Cody Bellinger agreed Friday to an $11.5 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest salary for a player eligible for arbitration for the first time.Shortstop Corey Seager agreed to a $7.6 million, one-year deal with the Dodgers, also skipping arbitration.Los Angeles is headed toward arbitration with four players. Outfielder Joc Pederson requested a $9.5 million salary while the Dodgers offered $7.75 million, outfielder Chris Taylor is seeking $5.8 million and was offered $5.25 million, infielder Max Muncy wants $4,675,000 and was offered $4 million, and reliever Pedro Báez faces a gap of $4 million versus $3.5 million.The Dodgers also reached one-year deals with right-hander Ross Stripling ($2.1 million), left-hander Julio Urías ($1 million) and infielder-outfielder Enrique Hernández ($5.9 million). They were all eligible for arbitration.Bellinger, the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, hit .305 with a career-high 47 homers and 115 RBIs, a bargain... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Outfielder Mookie Betts agreed Friday to a $27 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, the largest one-year salary for an arbitration-eligible player. Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. also agreed to an $11 million deal, ensuring Boston will avoid salary arbitration with two of its biggest stars.Outfielder Andrew Benintendi and left-handed starter Eduardo Rodríguez did not agree to deals and swapped numbers for arbitration. Benintendi asked for $4.15 million and was offered $3.4 million — a big raise from his $717,500 salary in 2019. Rodríguez is seeking $8,975,000 and was offered $8.3 million, a bump from $4,325,000.Boston also agreed to salaries for relievers Brandon Workman ($3.5 million), Matt Barnes ($3.1 million) and Heath Hembree ($1,612,500)Betts' deal topped the $26 million agreement last winter for third baseman Nolan Arenado, which led to negotiations for a $260 million, eight-year deal.A four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, Betts is eligible for free... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles agreed to one-year contracts with their remaining players eligible for arbitration, securing deals Friday with slugger Trey Mancini, Mychal Givens and infielder Hanser Alberto.Mancini agreed to $4.75 million, Givens $3,225,000 and Alberto $1.65 million.After reaching agreement with with reliever Miguel Castro on Thursday, Baltimore general manager Mike Elias worked through the team's arbitration-eligible players on the final afternoon before the team and players would exchange salary figures.Mancini earned $575,500 last season. The first baseman/outfielder played in 154 games last season and reached career highs with 35 home runs and 97 RBIs. He also batted .291 with a career-best .364 on-base percentage.One of few power hitters on the rebuilding Orioles, Mancini was drafted by Baltimore in the eighth round of the 2013 draft. He joined the team in 2016 and quickly became a fan-favorite.Givens made $2.15 million last season in 2019, his first season as a closer.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortstop Trea Turner and the Washington Nationals agreed to a $7.45 million, one-year contract Friday, as the World Series champions avoided arbitration by settling with all of their eligible players.Turner joined lefty reliever Roenis Elías, who got a $1,975,000 deal, and right-handed starter Joe Ross ($1.5 million) in agreeing to 2020 contracts on the day of the deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures. Outfielder Michael A. Taylor and Washington settled Thursday on a $3,325,000 salary for next season.The 26-year-old Turner was a key part of Washington’s success last season, despite being hampered by a broken right index finger. Often batting leadoff, Turner hit .298 with 19 homers, 57 RBIs, 96 runs, 37 doubles and 35 steals in 122 games. He’s heading into his sixth major league season, all with Washington; he was a first-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, then acquired by the Nationals in a trade. A year ago, Turner and the Nationals avoided... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Mariners avoided arbitration after reaching agreements Friday with outfielders Mitch Haniger and Mallex Smith and pitcher Sam Tuivailala on contracts for the upcoming season. The three were Seattle's only arbitration-eligible players. Haniger agreed to $3.01 million, Smith $2.35 million and Tuivailala $800,000. Haniger was the most notable of the three. He missed the final 3 1/2 months last season after rupturing a testicle and then having back issues during his recovery. Haniger was limited to 63 games and batted .220 with 15 homers and 32 RBIs. A year earlier, Haniger was an All-Star after hitting .285 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs and an OPS of .859. Smith slumped last season after a breakout year in 2018. He hit just .227 with a .300 on-base percentage and struck out a career-high 141 times. The upside with Smith was his speed on the bases as he led the majors with 42 stolen bases. Tuivailala missed the first half of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — All-Star infielder Tommy La Stella and closer Hansel Robles were among five arbitration-eligible Los Angeles Angels players who agreed to one-year deals Friday.La Stella got a raise from $1.35 million to $3.25 million, and Robles will jump from $1.4 million to $3.85 million. The Angels also agreed to contracts with starters Andrew Heaney ($4.3 million, up from $3.4 million) and Dylan Bundy ($5 million, up from $2.8 million), and relievers Noé Ramirez ($900,000) and Keynan Middleton ($800,000).Los Angeles couldn't reach agreement with outfielder Brian Goodwin and is headed toward salary arbitration. Goodwin is seeking $2.2 million and the Angels have offered $1.85 million.La Stella had a breakout season that was spoiled by a broken right leg in July. The 30-year-old set career highs with a .295 average, 16 homers and 44 RBIs in 80 games and made his first All-Star team, but he was unable to play in the game due to his injury.Robles had 23 saves and became a fan favorite... [More]