WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston Astros players Alex Bregman and José Altuve said Thursday the team is sorry for its sign-stealing scheme that was investigated and punished by Major League Baseball.“I am really sorry,” Bregman said.Astros owner Jim Crane and new manager Dusty Baker — who replaced the fired AJ Hinch — also spoke at a news conference at the team’s spring training facility.“We cannot take back what happened,” Crane said.MLB did not punish any players for the cheating and Crane said he stood by that.We’re not going to do anything to the players,” the owner said.Altuve said there was a full team meeting Wednesday to discuss what happened.MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred disciplined the Astros after he found the team broke rules by using electronics to steal signs during its run to the 2017 World Series championship and again in the 2018 season.The Astros were fined $5 million, the maximum allowed under major league rulesion, and forfeited their next two first- and second-round amateur draft picks.The investigation found that the Astros used the video feed from a center field camera to view and decode opposing catcher’s signs. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what was coming, believing it would improve chances of getting a hit.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Tommy Hunter passed his physical and worked out on Wednesday.Hunter finalized a one-year contract, and righty reliever David Robertson was moved to the 60-day injury list to make room on the roster. Hunter had surgery last July to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm after pitching in just five games. He had a 3.80 ERA in 64 innings in 2018. Hunter has a 4.08 ERA and 21 saves in 12 seasons. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Taijuan Walker returned to the Seattle Mariners, agreeing Wednesday to a $2 million, one-year contract that includes $500,000 each in performance and roster bonuses.The 27-year-old was selected by Seattle with the 43rd overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft and went 22-22 with a 4.18 ERA in 62 starts and three relief appearances for the Mariners from 2013-16. He was traded to Arizona in November 2016 and went 9-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 32 starts for the Diamondbacks from 2017-19. Walker had Tommy John surgery on April 25, 2018, performed by New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek. The pitcher returned to the major leagues on the final day of the regular season last year, tossing a scoreless inning against San Diego.Walker became a free agent when the Diamondbacks declined to offer him a contract by the Dec. 2 deadline.He would get $100,000 each for 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 innings. Walker would get $250,000 apiece for 100 and 120 days on the active major league roster.He would receive a $250,000 assignment bonus if traded, payable by the acquiring club.Seattle put right-hander Austin Adams on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot. The 28-year-old hurt his right knee last Sept. 15 at Baltimore and had ACL reconstruction surgery performed by Dallas Cowboys head team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper on Oct. 15.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Cameron Maybin is back with the Detroit Tigers.The Tigers and the 32-year-old outfielder agreed Wednesday on a $1.5 million, one-year contract.He can earn $750,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $100,000 each for 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 550, and $150,000 for 600.Maybin began his career with Detroit in 2007 before he was traded to the Marlins in the deal that sent Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers. Maybin returned to Detroit in a trade and played for the Tigers in 2016.Maybin spent last season with the New York Yankees, hitting .285 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 82 games. His deal with the Tigers includes performance bonuses.Maybin gives Detroit another option in an outfield that includes JaCoby Jones, Christin Stewart and Victor Reyes.To make room on the 40-man roster, Detroit put right-hander Michael Fulmer (Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day injured list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Taijuan Walker returned to the Seattle Mariners, agreeing Wednesday to a $2 million, one-year contract that includes $500,000 each in performance and roster bonuses.The 27-year-old was selected by Seattle with the 43rd overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft and went 22-22 with a 4.18 ERA in 62 starts and three relief appearances for the Mariners from 2013-16. He was traded to Arizona in November 2016 and went 9-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 32 starts for the Diamondbacks from 2017-19. Wallker had Tommy John surgery on April 25, 2018, performed by New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek. The pitcher returned to the major leagues on the final day of the regular season last year, tossing a scoreless inning against San Diego.Walker became a free agent when the Diamondbacks declined to offer him a contract by the Dec. 2 deadline.He would get $100,000 each for 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 innings. Walker would get $250,000 apiece for 100 and 120 days on the active major league roster.He would receive a $250,000 assignment bonus if traded, payable by the acquiring club.Seattle put right-hander Austin Adams on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot. The 28-year-old hurt his right knee last Sept. 15 at Baltimore and had ACL reconstruction surgery performed by Dallas Cowboys head team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper on Oct. 15.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Brad Miller and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract Wednesday, a deal that includes $500,000 in available performance bonuses.The 30-year-old infielder can earn $100,000 each for 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 plate appearances.Miller hit .260 with 13 homers and 25 RBIs last year for Cleveland and Philadelphia. He batted .250 with one homer and four RBIs in 13 games with the Indians before getting released. He signed with the Yankees and hit .294 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 41 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His contract was purchased by the Phillies, and Miller batted .263 with 12 homers and 21 RBIs in 66 games.Miller has a .241 average with 88 homers and 293 RBIs in seven major league seasons that included time with Seattle (2013-15), Tampa Bay (2016-18) and Milwaukee (2018).To clear a roster spot, the Cardinals placed right-hander Jordan Hicks on the 60-day injured list. Hicks is recovering from Tommy John surgery last June 26.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Brad Miller and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract Wednesday, a deal that includes $500,000 in available performance bonuses.The 30-year-old infielder can earn $100,000 each for 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 plate appearances.Miller hit .260 with 13 homers and 25 RBIs last year for Cleveland and Philadelphia. He batted .250 with one homer and four RBIs in 13 games with the Indians before getting released. He signed with the Yankees and hit .294 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 41 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His contract was purchased by the Phillies, and Miller batted .263 with 12 homers and 21 RBIs in 66 games.Miller has a .241 average with 88 homers and 293 RBIs in seven major league seasons that included time with Seattle (2013-15), Tampa Bay (2016-18) and Milwaukee (2018).To clear a roster spot, the Cardinals placed right-hander Jordan Hicks on the 60-day injured list. Hicks is recovering from Tommy John surgery last June 26.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — In the ocean off the Florida coast, Mike Fiers found a way to get his mind off everything this winter for a couple of hours at a time and prepare for another baseball season.Far away from the Astros scandal. No whistleblower chatter. Just tough swims in the surf and workouts with his buddies on Pompano Beach.It's an offseason the Oakland pitcher is counting on to carry him from the momentum he established during a career year in 2019 and another playoff season, when he pitched his second career no-hitter and went on to win 15 games.Fiers made it clear he is moving forward after he told The Athletic in November that his former Houston team had stolen signs using a video camera in center field during the Astros' 2017 run to the World Series title. “Right now I want to focus on this team and not the past,” said Fiers, who has declined to speak in detail about the scheme or his decision to go public.The revelations prompted an investigation that shook up several teams. Houston... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Red Sox will make their $48 million in payments to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the David Price and Mookie Betts trade in 18 equal installments over the next three years.Boston will send Los Angeles $2,666,667 on the 15th of each month from April through September in 2020, 2021 and 2022 as part of the deal announced Monday, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.The $48 million is equal to half of what Price is owed for the remainder of the $217 million, seven-year contract he agreed to with Boston ahead of the 2016 season. He is due $32 million in each of the next three seasons.Betts has a $27 million salary this year and is eligible for free agency. Boston's net savings of $43 million this year — Betts' salary and half of Price's — drops the team's projected luxury tax payroll below the $208 million threshold. The Red Sox paid $11.95 million in tax following their World Series title in 2018 and $13.4 million in tax after missing the playoffs last year. If the Red Sox exceed the threshold for the third straight season, they would pay at a 50% rate on the first $20 million over, a 62% rate on the amount over $228 million and a 95% rate on the amount above $248 million.As part of the trade, Boston acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo, infielder Jeter Downs and catcher-infielder Connor Wong.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts and David Price finally turned up in Dodgers jerseys on Wednesday, completing the journey from Boston to Los Angeles, where they're expected to help end a World Series title drought dating to 1988.Neither seemed fazed by the trade that dragged out for over a week before it was finalized. Betts described the waiting game as “fun at times, kind of stressful at times.” Price said being moved from one storied franchise to another was “something special.”“It wasn't as easy for us,” joked Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations. “It was definitely a roller coaster.” Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, joins current NL MVP Cody Bellinger in the Dodgers' outfield. Price, the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner, joins three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in the starting rotation.“Definitely going to be pretty special,” Betts said. “He's going to put on a show and I'll do my best to keep up with him.”Friedman sees the 2020 Dodgers as “quite possibly our most... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Infielder Derek Dietrich agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds and will report to big league spring training, a chance to rejoin a team he helped with a torrid May last season.Dietrich became a free agent in November after finishing last season with 19 homers, 43 RBIs and a .187 batting average in 113 games. In May, he hit 12 homers, drove in 22 runs and batted .304, helping the Reds get through the loss of second baseman Scooter Gennett.Dietrich was limited to a backup role when Gennett returned from a severe groin injury on June 28. He managed only two homers in the second half of the season.The Reds also invited infielder Blake Trahan to camp. He played 11 games for the Reds in 2018, batting .214, and spent last season with Triple-A Louisville. He was a third-round pick in 2015.Reds pitcher and catchers have their first workout on Saturday. The first full-squad workout is next Tuesday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has no problem with the Los Angeles Angels' plan to delay his return to the mound so they can preserve his pitching arm for later in the season.The two-way star also wouldn't have minded if the Angels wanted him to start on opening day, either.Ohtani reacted positively Wednesday to the Angels' announcement of their plan to delay his return to the mound until mid-May.“I was getting prepared to start the year on opening day,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “But if that’s what the team wants me to do, then I’ll be prepared to delay my debut. I don’t see any problems.”The Angels are exercising caution with the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, who hasn't pitched since undergoing Tommy John surgery after his rookie season stateside.The team is also apparently planning to keep Ohtani to an innings limit over the season, and delaying his return to the mound allows the Angels to concentrate his innings later in the regular season, when the Halos hope to be in a... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts and David Price finally turned up in Dodgers jerseys on Wednesday, completing the journey from Boston to Los Angeles, where they're expected to help end a World Series title drought dating to 1988.Neither seemed fazed by the trade that dragged out for over a week before it was finalized. Betts described the waiting game as “fun at times, kind of stressful at times.” Price said being moved from one storied franchise to another was “something special.”“It wasn't as easy for us,” joked Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations.Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, joins current NL MVP Cody Bellinger in the Dodgers' outfield. Price, the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner, joins three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in the starting rotation.“Definitely going to be pretty special,” Betts said. “He's going to put on a show and I'll do my best to keep up with him.”Friedman sees the 2020 Dodgers as “quite possibly our most talented team.”Betts was traded for... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Schwarber was among the position players who reported early to spring training after the Chicago Cubs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014."It's a tone setter for the season. I have no doubts that everyone is going to come in here hungry ready to go," Schwarber said Wednesday when pitchers and catchers held their first formal workout. "We have to do things better, and I don't think it's a secret we have to do things better."Chicago won its first World Series title in 108 years in 2016, lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 NL Championship Series and lost to Colorado in the 2018 NL wild-card game. he Cubs faded to an 84-78 record and third-place finish in the NL Central.Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward also were among the early arrivals ahead of Monday's first full-squad workout."I would say there's a new-found experience for the group as far as getting a taste of what it's like to not get what you want to get as far as not getting into October,"... [More]

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves left-hander Cole Hamels won't be ready for the start of the season after hurting his pitching shoulder during an offseason workout.General manager Alex Anthopoulos says Hamels will be shut down for at least three weeks. Anthopoulos said Wednesday the 36-year-old Hamels hurt his shoulder while throwing a weighted ball in an attempt to build strength for spring training.Hamels signed an $18 million, one-year deal with Atlanta on Dec. 4 to add experience to a young rotation that also includes Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz. Hamels was not present when pitchers and catchers reported to the team's new spring facility for Thursday's first workout.Anthopoulos says Hamels will be evaluated in three weeks. Hamels would miss the start of the season even if he is cleared to begin a throwing program in three weeks.“He said he overdid it,” said Anthopoulos of Hamels. “He was doing weighted ball drills and was apologetic.”Hamels was 7-7 with a 3.81 ERA in 27 starts with the Cubs last season. He was 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA in the first half before suffering an oblique injury. He said last month he rushed his return, failing to build sufficient strength in the shoulder before making his return to post a 5.79 ERA in the second half. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Pedro Báez became the first player to win in salary arbitration this year and will earn $4 million rather than the team's offer of $3.5 million.A right-hander who turns 32 next month, Báez was 7-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 71 relief appearances last season, striking out 69 in 69 2/3 innings while walking 23. He had a $2.1 million salary last year and is eligible for free agency after this season.Arbitrators Robert Herman, Jeanne Charles and Margaret Brogan made the decision Wednesday, a day after hearing arguments. Teams had won the first four decisions this year, beating Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, Minnesota pitcher José Berríos, Atlanta reliever Shane Greene and Colorado catcher Tony Wolters.Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez argued his case Wednesday, asking for a raise to $8,975,000 rather than the $8.3 million offer of the Red Sox. A right-hander who turns 27 in April, Rodríguez was a career-best 19-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 34 starts last season, when he made $4,325,000. He is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.The case was heard by Steven Wolf, Walt De Treux and Melinda Gordon, who are expected to rule Thursday.Eight players remain scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 21.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Casey Mize was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 amateur draft, and Matt Manning was a first-round selection two years earlier. Those two pitchers are the headliners of Detroit's rebuilding process — and they aren't the only Tigers prospects worth paying attention to this year.“I think there's some other names that probably should be involved in that as well," Mize said. "We have a really good group, honestly. The more people we can attach to that headline, is probably for the better. That's good news for Tigers fans, good news for the organization.”The Tigers held their first workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday, and while only the most optimistic Detroit fan would predict a great season, there are finally some signs of promise. Mize, Manning and Tarik Skubal are all in camp as non-roster invitees. Although none of them are expected to be in the big leagues on opening day, they could form the core of the Tigers' rotation of the future.“I think that's something this... [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]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. will continue to make his diving, spinning moves at shortstop rather than in center field, rookie San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler said Wednesday.Tingler said he has no plans to give the Padres’ most dynamic player even a few spring training reps in center field. That thought popped up in the offseason when the Padres had preliminary talks with Cleveland about shortstop Francisco Lindor.The rumors gained brief traction after the Padres traded center fielder Manuel Margot to Tampa Bay for reliever Emilio Pagán on Saturday.“We have considered a couple center fielders; we never once discussed, honestly, Tatis being out there,” Tingler said in his opening news conference of spring.Tatis’ aggressive style of play contributed to him playing only 84 games last year. He thrust himself into the race for NL Rookie of the Year with his spectacular play before a stress reaction in his lower back ended his season in mid-August. The 21-year-old also missed... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona manager Torey Lovullo had plenty of praise for newly acquired left-hander Madison Bumgarner, calling the four-time All-Star exactly what his team needs at the top of the rotation.Then came the follow-up question: Does that mean Bumgarner would start on opening day?“I kind of walked myself into that one,” Lovullo acknowledged with a grin.Lovullo wasn't ready to name an opening day starter six weeks before the first game, but said he'd be “an idiot” not to consider Bumgarner for the task.The big lefty hasn't always pitched like an ace the past three seasons, but the Diamondbacks are confident he has plenty of stellar performances ahead as they chase the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.“He sets a tone for everyone behind him," Lovullo said Wednesday. "It’s very hard to find a true No. 1 and we’ve had that in the past here. When you get someone like Madison Bumgarner everybody follows behind him, sits in very comfortably behind him and... [More]