JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt never found consistency with his swing last season. Poor swings that yield ugly results early in this year's spring training games may actually prevent that from happening again this season."That can allow you to make adjustments where sometimes (positive) results can cover up some things.” Goldschmidt said.Traded to St. Louis from Arizona prior to the 2019 season, Goldschmidt struggled to find the feel of his swing throughout the season. He never did pinpoint one specific problem.“I didn't feel like I was consistently last year in my best hitting position, whether that's from timing, the way you see the ball, or just putting a good swing on the ball,” Goldschmidt said.Goldschmidt battled through tough stretches in the first half of the season – a second consecutive slow start for a player usually locked in come opening day.Proud of what he considers a relatively simple swing, Goldschmidt surprisingly spent much of the season tinkering. “I just was... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It will be champs vs. cheaters in a World Series rematch when the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros play their exhibition opener on Saturday night.The last time these teams met, the Nationals were celebrating their first World Series title in Houston after winning Game 7 at Minute Maid Park. Since then, the Astros have become the league's villains, with a sign-stealing scandal sullying their reputation and casting a shadow on their 2017 title. As the Astros prepare to take the field for the first time since their cheating scam was uncovered there’s much speculation about what kind of reception they’ll receive, though the players say they're focused on baseball. “Honestly, I haven't thought about it,” shortstop Carlos Correa said. “But whatever it is, our job is to go there and play baseball. So, I'm not too concerned about that.”There have been a handful of hecklers at Astros camp this week as the team assembled for the first time since Major League Baseball... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — After Corey Kluber was traded to Texas, his new manager got a lot of texts and calls from people saying what a phenomenal pitcher and person the Rangers got. The only message that surprised Chris Woodward was the one he got from the two-time Cy Young Award winner. “One of the first texts he sent me, 'I've got a lot to prove,'” Woodward said Friday. “You don't expect that to come from a guy who's had so much success."While the 33-year-old right-hander had an injury-plagued final season in Cleveland last year, he was coming off an extended stretch as one of baseball's best pitchers. He was a 20-game winner in 2018, and the American League Cy Young winner in 2014 and 2017 — all that during a five-year span when he threw at least 203 innings with 222 strikeouts or more each season.Kluber was the Indians' opening day starter for the fifth season in a row last year, but suffered a broken right forearm when he was hit by a comeback liner in his seventh start. When he was... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Lewis showed late last season that he’s ready for a regular role in the Seattle Mariners outfield, and he hopes his short time in the major leagues following a September callup is a preview of the kind of offensive production he can provide.Lewis homered in his major league debut off the Cincinnati Reds’ Trevor Bauer. He went on to become the first player in major league history to hit a home run in six of his first 10 career games, and the second player in big league history to homer in each of his first three career games.“I feel like I was in a good spot going into that, you know, swinging the bat well,” Lewis recalled when asked about his torrid start, which came after he was called up from Double-A Arkansas. “Just trying to stay in the moment. Locked in with what I had been working on and trying to be free.”Lewis, a first-round pick in the 2016 first-year player draft, offered a glimmer of hope for the future last year for fans who suffered through a 68-94... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino says it is "definitely frustrating" to be shut down in spring training for the second consecutive year.Severino has right forearm soreness near the elbow, which has been an off and on issue since October. "It’s more inside, close to the bone, so I would say more like where the muscle attaches to the bone," Severino said Friday. "It’s a weird spot. I’ve never experienced pain up there."Severino will go to New York on Monday for tests. He was examined Friday by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.“We took a couple of issues off the board, I would say shoulder or stuff like muscles, but we will see on Monday what is the real issue, or the days after that” Severino said. “We’re looking to get all the answers that we can get.”Severino experienced renewed discomfort at home Wednesday night."I went to, in the offseason, New York twice to do the MRI and they didn’t find anything so right now we’re not sure what is causing that." Severino... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona reliever Archie Bradley won the final salary arbitration case of the year, leaving teams with a 7-5 advantage over players.Bradley, a 27-year right-hander, was given a raise from $1.83 million to $4.1 million on Friday by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Steven Wolf and Jules Bloch. The Diamondbacks had argued for $3,625,000.Bradley was 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 65 relief appearances and one start last year. He struck out 87 and walked 36 in 71 2/3 innings.Teams won six of the first seven decisions, and players won four of the last five. Teams have had a winning record in four of the last six years; the exceptions were a 12-10 margin for players in 2018 and a 6-4 advantage last year, the first consecutive winning years for the players since 1989-90.A relatively small percentage of players went to hearings among the 162 who were eligible after teams offered contracts on Dec. 2. Just 20 players exchanged proposed salaries with their clubs on Jan. 10 and nearly half of them... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been diagnosed with a mild strain of his right hip flexor after feeling discomfort while doing squats in the weight room during spring training.The team said Friday that Carrasco was considered day to day after an MRI revealed the strain.Manager Terry Francona said Carrasco felt something in his upper leg when squatting on Wednesday.The 32-year-old pitcher made an inspiring comeback last season after being diagnosed with leukemia. He revealed that in June, and returned as a reliever in September after treatment.Carrasco had said earlier in camp that his health was good and that he was excited about the upcoming season, when he is expected to move back into the rotation.The Indians, who traded two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber this winter, were already down one starter this spring with right-hander Mike Clevinger recovering from knee surgery and out until mid-April. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The rib is stashed away somewhere in his parents’ house in suburban Chicago, a reminder of what Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Nick Burdi needed to lose to find himself. The images are ingrained in the 27-year-old's mind forever, every pitcher's nightmare come to agonizing life. The hard-throwing right-hander, his big league career finally gaining some traction following a series of fits and starts, slung an 97 mph fastball to Arizona's Jarrod Dyson in the top of the eighth at PNC Park last April 23 that Dyson took for a ball.By the time catcher Pirates catcher Elias Díaz stood up to throw the ball back, Burdi was crumpled in a heap on the mound, his pitching arm aflame. Both dugouts fell silent as Burdi clutched his biceps in agony. Burdi had undergone Tommy John surgery in 2017. He knew what it felt like when his elbow went haywire. This was not that, which made it all the more harrowing.“I had the shooting pain, the throbbing pain in the bicep and elbow area but I... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies won their arbitration case against All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto on Thursday, putting teams ahead of players 7-4 this year and ensuring clubs will finish with a winning record.Realmuto will get a raise from $6.05 million to $10 million instead of his $12.4 million request.Arbitrators Gary Kendellen, Jeanne Charles and Richard Bloch made the decision a day after hearing arguments.Obtained from Miami just before spring training last year, Realmuto hit .275 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs, earning his second straight All-Star selection.He lost at a hearing two years ago, when he was given Miami's $2.9 million offer instead of his $3.5 million request.A decision is pending for Arizona pitcher Archie Bradley, whose case was argued Tuesday. Phillies reliever Héctor Neris agreed Thursday night to a $4.6 million, one-year deal, avoiding a hearing.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Reliever Héctor Neris avoided a salary arbitration hearing with the Philadelphia Phillies by agreeing to a $4.6 million, one-year contract.The deal reached Thursday night includes a $7 million team option for 2021 with no buyout.Neris can earn an additional $1.2 million this year in performance bonuses for games finished: $50,000 each for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35; $100,000 apiece for 40, 45 and 50; and $200,000 each for 55, 60 and 63.Neris was Philadelphia's most reliable reliever last year, leading the team with a career-high 28 saves in 34 chances. He had a 2.93 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings, earning $1.8 million.He is 67 for 83 in save opportunities in his career.Neris had asked for $5.2 million in arbitration and had been offered $4.25 million. He is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his hearing Thursday and will receive $10 million rather than his $12.4 million request.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Reliever Héctor Neris avoided a salary arbitration hearing with the Philadelphia Phillies by agreeing to a $4.6 million, one-year contract.The deal reached Thursday night includes a $7 million team option for 2021 with no buyout.Neris can earn an additional $1.2 million this year in performance bonuses for games finished: $50,000 each for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35; $100,000 apiece for 40, 45 and 50; and $200,000 each for 55, 60 and 63.Neris was Philadelphia's most reliable reliever last year, leading the team with a career-high 28 saves in 34 chances. He had a 2.93 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings, earning $1.8 million.He is 67 for 83 in save opportunities in his career.Neris is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his hearing Thursday and will receive $10 million rather than his $12.4 million request.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies won their arbitration case against All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto on Thursday, putting teams ahead of players 7-4 this year and ensuring clubs will finish with a winning record.Realmuto will get a raise from $6.05 million to $10 million instead of his $12.4 million request.Arbitrators Gary Kendellen, Jeanne Charles and Richard Bloch made the decision a day after hearing arguments.Obtained from Miami just before spring training last year, Realmuto hit .275 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs, earning his second straight All-Star selection.A decision is pending for Arizona pitcher Archie Bradley, whose case was argued Tuesday. Phillies reliever Héctor Neris agreed Thursday night to a $4.6 million, one-year deal, avoiding a hearing.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GOODYEAR, Arizona (AP) — The Cleveland Indians could have another significant pitching problem.Right-hander Carlos Carrasco felt discomfort in his right leg during a spring training workout Wednesday and is undergoing imaging tests to find out the severity of the injury and how long he'll be sidelined.Carrasco, who made an inspiring comeback last season after being diagnosed with leukemia, got an MRI on Thursday. The Indians kept him from working out and the team plans to provide an update on his status Friday.“He was squatting and felt something in his upper leg area,” manager Terry Francona said. "I know it's a little vague but that's what we know. Instead of telling you something we don't know, we'll wait for more information and pass it on."If Carrasco is out for any period, it will put further strain on Cleveland's pitching depth. Right-hander Mike Clevinger recently underwent knee surgery and will be out until mid-April. On top of that, the team is counting on other pitchers to pick... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — It will be months, at best, before Mitch Haniger is ready to suit up and take the field for the Seattle Mariners. But after three surgeries in seven months and two within the last four weeks, Haniger is in a positive frame of mind.The 2018 All-Star outfielder said Thursday that he isn’t feeling much pain from surgery in his core area in January plus a back procedure earlier this month.“Excited to be in camp with the guys and be around everybody,” Haniger said. “Hopefully I can contribute to the team as much as I can during this time that I’m not going to be on the field.”Haniger said he believes he can play at some point this season.“I tend to and I hope so and I expect to be,” he said.Haniger, who hit .285 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs in 2018, took time to rehash his recent timeline of medical events. It all started last June when he fouled a pitch off his groin area during a game.Haniger went on the 10-day injured list with a ruptured testicle, and in August went... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Retired Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said that Astros pitcher Mike Fiers was “looking like a snitch” for disclosing the team's cheating scandal only after he had left the team.“Oh, after you make your money, after you get your ring, you decide to talk about it?" Ortiz said after arriving at the Red Sox spring training complex on Thursday. "Why didn't you talk about it during the season when it was going on? Why didn't you say, ‘I don't want to be part of it?’ “So you're looking like a snitch,” said Ortiz, who works for the Red Sox under the title special assistant. "Why do you have to talk about it after? That's my problem. Why did nobody say anything while it was going on?”The Astros were found to violate baseball rules by using video to steal opponents signs during their World Series championship season of 2017. After Fiers blew the whistle to The Athletic this offseason, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, manager A.J. Hinch and bench coach Alex Cora — who... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — As the Houston Astros put together their rotation for this season, they're faced with a Texas-sized hole after Gerrit Cole left as a free agent to sign with the New York Yankees. New manager Dusty Baker is looking for somebody to step up and help make up for the loss. But more than likely no one player will be able to replace Cole, and Baker will need multiple pitchers or "somebodies" to take a step forward.“It's not easy to replace his quality of work, or his innings pitched,” Baker said. “So, we're looking for somebody to replace him or somebodies as a group.”Justin Verlander and Cole provided a powerful 1-2 atop Houston’s rotation last season to help the Astros win the American League pennant. Cole led the AL with a career-best 2.50 ERA and finished second in the majors to Verlander with 20 wins, also a career-best.Cole was the runner up to Verlander in Cy Young Award voting before leaving Houston to sign a $324 million deal with the Yankees. Zack Greinke,... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Rick Renteria has been here before. He was managing the Chicago Cubs in 2014 when they were building a team that would end its century-long championship drought.But just as that team was coming together for a four-year postseason run, Renteria's contract was terminated when the Cubs had a chance to bring in free-agent manager Joe Maddon.Now 58, Renteria landed with the White Sox and replaced Robin Ventura as manager just as the team began its own massive rebuilding project. Now in his fourth season on the South Side, Renteria's patience is finally getting rewarded.Expectations are high for the White Sox for the first time in a decade, and Renteria is ready for it."I'm very happy right now," Renteria said Thursday at Camelback Ranch. "The task is not complete but there is satisfaction."It's like seeing your kids grow up, there are a lot of ups and downs that go along with it, some tears, some great laughter and some great harmony and joy."Renteria's personality can... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The rib is stashed away somewhere in his parents’ house in suburban Chicago, a reminder of what Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Nick Burdi needed to lose in order to find himself. The images are ingrained in the 27-year-old's mind forever, every pitcher's nightmare come to agonizing life. The hard-throwing right-hander, his big league career finally gaining some traction following a series of fits and starts, slung an 97 mph fastball to Arizona's Ketel Marte in the top of the eighth at PNC Park last April 23 that Marte took for a ball.By the time catcher Pirates catcher Elias Díaz stood up to throw the ball back, Burdi was crumpled in a heap on the mound, his pitching arm aflame. Both dugouts fell silent as Burdi clutched his biceps in agony. Burdi had undergone Tommy John surgery in 2017. He knew what it felt like when his elbow went haywire. This was not that, which made it all the more harrowing.“I had the shooting pain, the throbbing pain in the bicep and elbow area... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino has been shut down from throwing for the second consecutive spring training, this time because of right forearm soreness.Severino, who turned 26 on Thursday, was sidelined until the final weeks of the regular season last year.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Severino has been feeling on and off discomfort since October. "That's certainly concerning," Boone said. "We'll just have to continue see how this declares itself."Severino also has a loose body in his right elbow that the manager said has not been an issue.New York already expects to be without left-hander James Paxton for the first two months of the season following back surgery on Feb. 5.Severino is to be examined Friday by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad. General manager Brian Cashman was not sure Severino would be available for the March 26 opener at Baltimore."We haven't determined what we're dealing with yet," Cashman said. “All tests have been negative so far.... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies won their arbitration case against All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto on Thursday, putting teams ahead of players 7-4 this year and ensuring clubs will finish with a winning record.Realmuto will get a raise from $6.05 million to $10 million instead of his $12.4 million request.Arbitrators Gary Kendellen, Jeanne Charles and Richard Bloch made the decision a day after hearing arguments.Obtained from Miami just before spring training last year, Realmuto hit .275 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs, earning his second straight All-Star selection. His hearing was the first for the Phillies since Ryan Howard beat Philadelphia in 2008 and was awarded $10 million — then arbitration record —- over the team's $7 million.A decision is pending for Arizona pitcher Archie Bradley, whose case was argued Tuesday. Phillies reliever Héctor Neris is the lone player still scheduled for a hearing.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports