PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — For a team that didn’t anticipate a lot of change after making the playoffs for the first time in six years, the Tampa Bay Rays have a lot of new faces on the roster entering spring training.Japanese slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo and trade acquisitions José Martinez, Hunter Renfroe, Manuel Margot and Randy Arozarena are among the newcomers the Rays are counting on to help a largely young team build on the success of the past two seasons.Key departures include catcher Travis d’Arnaud, closer Emilio Pagán and outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisaíl García, however expectations remain high after improving from 90 wins two years ago to 96 and an AL wild-card berth last season.“Expectations are up, but that’s what you want,” general manager Erik Neander said.“At the end of the day, the goal is to win by one. I think we’ve done enough on the offensive side to have a different look with guys who chip in in different ways,” Neander added. “And, I think we’ve also strengthened the... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East 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:___New York YankeesManager: Aaron Boone (third season). 2019: 103-59, first place, lost to Houston in AL Championship Series. Training Town: Tampa, Florida. Park: George Steinbrenner Field. First Workout: Feb. 13/18. He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, C Erik Kratz, C Chris Iannetta, C Josh Thole, RHP Nick Tropeano, LHP Luis Avil�nHe's Outta Here: LHP CC Sabathia, SS Didi Gregorius, 1B Edwin Encarnacion, C Austin Romine, RHP Dellin Betances, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, 1B Greg Bird, RHP Chance Adams, LHP Stephen Tarpley, LHP Nestor Cortes Jr., RHP Cory GearrinGoing campin': After a big league-record 30 players went on the injured list a total of 39 times last season, health remains a concern. Left-hander James Paxton had back surgery Feb. 5 and is expected to be sidelined until May or... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National 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:___Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Dave Roberts (fifth season). 2019: 106-56, first place, lost to Nationals in Division Series. Training Town: Glendale, Arizona. Park: Camelback Ranch. First Workout: Feb. 14/18. He's Here: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Jimmy Nelson, 2B Clayton Daniel.He's Outta Here: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, RHP Kenta Maeda, LHP Rich Hill, OF Joc Pederson, OF Alex Verdugo, 1B David Freese, RHP Yimi Garcia, 3B Jedd Gyorko, C Russell Martin, RHP JT Chargois, 2B Kristopher Negron.Going campin': In what's become a familiar refrain, the Dodgers arrive at camp still looking for their first World Series championship since 1988. After losing in two straight World Series, they were ousted by Washington in five games in the NL Division Series last fall.... [More]

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

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Glasnow agreed to a $2.05 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday that avoided arbitration and fellow right-hander Oliver Drake struck a $1,025,000, one-year deal.Outfielder Hunter Renfroe agreed at $3.3 million after making $582,100 while hitting 33 home runs with the San Diego Padres in 2019. Infielder David Robertson received a $1,025,000 deal as the Rays reached agreements with all of their arbitration-eligible players.Reliever Chaz Roe agreed at $2,185,200 on Thursday night. He made $1,275,000 last season.Glasnow, who earned $566,700 last season, was acquired in a trade sent Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates in July 2018. He earned a spot in Tampa Bay’s rotation last spring and was off to a strong start before being sidelined for nearly four months by a right forearm strain in mid-May.The 26-year-old right-hander was 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA over his first seven starts of 2019. He returned from a stint of the 60-day injured list... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are working to finalize a two-year contract worth about $12 million with Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the agreement had not been announced.Tsutsugo was made available to major league teams through the posting process by Yokohama of Japan's Central League. Major league clubs have until 19 to negotiate with Tsutsugo, who turns 28 on Nov. 26. A contract for $12 million guaranteed would require the Rays to pay a $2.4 million posting fee to Yomiuri. A left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, Tsutsugo batted .272 this year with 29 homers and 79 RBIs. He has a .285 average with 205 homers and 613 RBIs during 10 seasons with Yokohama, including 44 homers and 110 RBIs in 2016.Tampa Bay, which came within one win of reaching the AL Championship Series this year, traded outfielder Tommy Pham to San Diego for outfielder Hunter Renfroe as part of a five-player deal last week. Pham hit .273 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last year.Renfroe hit 33 homers last year, his third full season in San Diego, but struggled with injuries during the second half.Tampa Bay catcher-first baseman Travis D'Arnaud, a key mid-season addition, signed as a free agent with Atlanta.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are working to finalize a two-year contract worth about $12 million with Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the agreement had not been announced.Tsutsugo was made available to major league teams through the posting process by Yokohama of Japan's Central League. Major league clubs have until 19 to negotiate with Tsutsugo, who turns 28 on Nov. 26. A contract for $12 million guaranteed would require the Rays to pay a $2.4 million posting fee to Yomiuri. A left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, Tsutsugo batted .272 this year with 29 homers and 79 RBIs. He has a .285 average with 205 homers and 613 RBIs during 10 seasons with Yokohama, including 44 homers and 110 RBIs in 2016.Tampa Bay, which came within one win of reaching the AL Championship Series this year, traded outfielder Tommy Pham to San Diego for outfielder Hunter Renfroe as part of a five-player deal last week. Pham hit .273 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last year.Renfroe hit 33 homers last year, his third full season in San Diego, but struggled with injuries during the second half.Tampa Bay catcher-first baseman Travis D'Arnaud, a key mid-season addition, signed as a free agent with Atlanta.———More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — General manager A.J. Preller continued to remake the San Diego Padres' outfield, and added an intriguing two-way player as well.Preller acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The moves came a week after the Padres obtained starter Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham from Milwaukee, and signed free agent reliever Drew Pomeranz.“We tried to address every area of our ballclub and we feel we're improved at this point," Preller said. The Padres need to get better. Even with $300 million slugger Manny Machado and rookie phenom Fernando Tatis Jr., they had their ninth straight losing season and missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. They finished last in the NL West at 70-92, their fourth season in a row with 90-plus losses.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — General manager A.J. Preller continued to remake the San Diego Padres' outfield, and added an intriguing two-way player as well.Preller acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The moves came a week after the Padres obtained starter Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham from Milwaukke, and signed free agent reliever Drew Pomeranz.“We tried to address every area of our ballclub and we feel we're improved at this point," Preller said. The Padres need to get better. Even with $300 million slugger Manny Machado and rookie phenom Fernando Tatis Jr., they had their ninth straight losing season and missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. They finished last in the NL West at 70-92, their fourth season in a row with 90-plus losses.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The trade was finalized Friday.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in the majors in most offensive categories last season, when they were last in the NL West at 70-92.Pham hit .273 with a .369 on-base percentage, 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last year. He set the Rays’ franchise record with a 48-game on-base streak. He helped the Rays beat Oakland in the AL wild-card game and then batted .333 with one homer in the Rays’ division series loss to Houston.He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 and was traded to the Rays on July 31, 2018.Renfroe hit 33 homers last year, his third full season in San Diego, but struggled in the second half. He hit 26 homers in each of the previous two seasons.Cronenworth led the International League with a .334 average for the Triple-A Durham Bulls and also made seven pitching appearances, including six as an opener.The 20-year-old Edwards has played two seasons in the minors, batting a combined .328 with 56 stolen bases.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder-pitcher Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Hunter Renfroe, minor league infielder Xavier Edwards and a player to be named.The trade was finalized Friday.Pham gives the rebuilding Padres some pop after they finished near the bottom in the majors in most offensive categories last season, when they were last in the NL West at 70-92.Pham hit .273 with a .369 on-base percentage, 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last year. He set the Rays’ franchise record with a 48-game on-base streak. He helped the Rays beat Oakland in the AL wild-card game and then batted .333 with one homer in the Rays’ division series loss to Houston.He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 and was traded to the Rays on July 31, 2018.Renfroe hit 33 homers last year, his third full season in San Diego, but struggled in the second half. He hit 26 homers in each of the previous two seasons.Cronenworth led the International League with a .334 average for the Triple-A Durham Bulls and also made seven pitching appearances, including six as an opener.The 20-year-old Edwards has played two seasons in the minors, batting a combined .328 with 56 stolen bases.

NEW YORK (AP) — Milwaukee closer Josh Hader just made the cutoff for salary arbitration eligibility with 2 years, 115 days of major league service.Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías also is on the list of 23 so-called Super 2s with 2 years, 117 days. The cutoff was down significantly from 2 years, 134 days last offseason.Miami left-hander Jarlin García just missed with 2 years, 114 days, and Arizona right-hander Luke Weaver had 2 years, 112 days.The top 22% of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration as long as they had at least 86 days of service this year. They join the older group of 3- to 6-year players.Players and teams are scheduled to exchange proposed salaries on Jan. 10, and hearings for those lacking agreements will be scheduled for Feb. 3 to 21 in Phoenix.The New York Yankees have four Super 2s: right-handers Luis Cessa and Jonathan Holder, left-hander Jordan Montgomery and third baseman Gio Urshela.Urías is joined... [More]

Diamondbacks second. Christian Walker homers to left field. Jake Lamb walks. Adam Jones reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Jake Lamb out at second. Nick Ahmed grounds out to second base. Adam Jones out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Padres 0.Padres third. Wil Myers walks. Eric Hosmer strikes out swinging. Wil Myers steals second. Manny Machado homers to left field. Wil Myers scores. Hunter Renfroe flies out to center field to Jarrod Dyson. Ty France lines out to left field to Josh Rojas.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 2, Diamondbacks 1.Padres fourth. Luis Urias homers to left field. Austin Hedges strikes out swinging. Garrett Richards grounds out to shallow infield, Robbie Ray to Christian Walker. Manuel Margot singles to shallow infield.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 3, Diamondbacks 1.Padres sixth. Hunter Renfroe called out on strikes. Ty France doubles to deep left field. Luis Urias singles to center field. Ty France scores.... [More]

Diamondbacks second. Christian Walker walks. Wilmer Flores pops out to shortstop to Luis Urias. Adam Jones homers to left field. Christian Walker scores. Nick Ahmed triples to deep right field. Carson Kelly singles to left field. Nick Ahmed scores. Robbie Ray out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Austin Hedges to Wil Myers. Carson Kelly to second. Abraham Almonte doubles to right center field. Carson Kelly scores. Josh Rojas walks. Eduardo Escobar grounds out to second base, Ty France to Wil Myers.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Diamondbacks 4, Padres 0.Padres fourth. Hunter Renfroe walks. Ty France homers to right field. Hunter Renfroe scores. Luis Urias strikes out swinging. Austin Hedges grounds out to shallow infield, Robbie Ray to Christian Walker. Seth Mejias-Brean walks. Robbie Erlin reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Seth Mejias-Brean out at second.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Diamondbacks 4, Padres 2.Padres sixth. Hunter Renfroe walks. Ty France hit... [More]

Diamondbacks first. Abraham Almonte triples to right center field. Domingo Leyba out on a sacrifice fly to right field to Hunter Renfroe. Abraham Almonte scores. Eduardo Escobar strikes out swinging. Jake Lamb strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Padres 0.Padres fifth. Hunter Renfroe homers to center field. Francisco Mejia walks. Manuel Margot strikes out on a foul tip. Luis Urias grounds out to second base. Francisco Mejia out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 1, Padres 1.Diamondbacks sixth. Ildemaro Vargas pinch-hitting for Taylor Clarke. Ildemaro Vargas flies out to deep center field to Manuel Margot. Abraham Almonte singles to right field. Domingo Leyba singles to left center field. Abraham Almonte to third. Eduardo Escobar grounds out to third base, Manny Machado to Eric Hosmer. Domingo Leyba to second. Abraham Almonte scores. Jake Lamb strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Diamondbacks 2, Padres 1.Diamondbacks... [More]

Brewers first. Lorenzo Cain flies out to right field to Hunter Renfroe. Keston Hiura strikes out swinging. Mike Moustakas walks. Ryan Braun doubles to deep center field. Mike Moustakas scores. Tyler Austin grounds out to third base, Seth Mejias-Brean to Eric Hosmer.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 1, Padres 0.Brewers third. Keston Hiura doubles to deep left field. Mike Moustakas flies out to center field to Wil Myers. Ryan Braun singles to left field. Keston Hiura to third. Tyler Austin strikes out swinging. Hernan Perez reaches on third strike. Ryan Braun to second. Keston Hiura scores. Manny Pina walks. Hernan Perez to second. Ryan Braun to third. Orlando Arcia flies out to deep right field to Hunter Renfroe.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Brewers 2, Padres 0.Padres fourth. Eric Hosmer homers to center field. Hunter Renfroe grounds out to third base, Mike Moustakas to Tyler Austin. Seth Mejias-Brean grounds out to shallow infield, Jordan Lyles to Tyler Austin. Luis Urias... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of former Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, homered in his first game in Fenway Park, and Alex Dickerson had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the 15th inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.The game featured a major league record-tying 24 pitchers — including a team-record 13 by the Giants — and had 50 players overall, lasting 5 hours, 54 minutes. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was played in the middle of the 14th inning.San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who is retiring at the end of the season, moved one win away from becoming the 11th big-league manager to reach 2,000 victories.Donovan Solano opened the 15th with a ground-rule double against Trevor Kelley (0-2) and advanced on a wild pitch before the Dickerson's sac fly.Dereck Rodriguez (6-9) worked two innings for the victory.BLUE JAYS 8, ORIOLES 5BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, leading Toronto to the victory.Biggio... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of former Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, homered in his first game in Fenway Park, and Alex Dickerson had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the 15th inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.The game featured a major league record-tying 24 pitchers — including a team-record 13 by the Giants — and had 50 players overall, lasting 5 hours, 54 minutes. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was played in the middle of the 14th inning.San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who is retiring at the end of the season, moved one win away from becoming the 11th big-league manager to reach 2,000 victories.Donovan Solano opened the 15th with a ground-rule double against Trevor Kelley (0-2) and advanced on a wild pitch before the Dickerson's sac fly.Dereck Rodriguez (6-9) worked two innings for the victory.BLUE JAYS 8, ORIOLES 5BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, leading Toronto to the victory.Biggio... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 on Tuesday night.Biggio homered in the third inning, singled in the sixth, doubled in the eighth and tripled in the ninth. He drove in four runs and scored three times.Biggio and his father, Craig, a Hall of Famer with the Houston Astros, are the second father-son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, joining Daryle and Gary Ward.It was also the first time an opponent hit for the cycle in the 27-year history of Camden Yards.Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar homered for last-place Baltimore, which lost for the third time in four games. Mychal Givens (2-6) got the loss.Derek Law (1-2) earned the win by throwing a scoreless eighth inning.YANKEES 8, ANGELS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched four dominant innings in his injury-delayed season debut for the Yankees.A two-time All-Star and the ace of the Yankees staff, Severino got hurt while warming up before his first... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 on Tuesday night.Biggio homered in the third inning, singled in the sixth, doubled in the eighth and tripled in the ninth. He drove in four runs and scored three times.Biggio and his father, Craig, a Hall of Famer with the Houston Astros, are the second father-son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, joining Daryle and Gary Ward.It was also the first time an opponent hit for the cycle in the 27-year history of Camden Yards.Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar homered for last-place Baltimore, which lost for the third time in four games. Mychal Givens (2-6) got the loss.Derek Law (1-2) earned the win by throwing a scoreless eighth inning.YANKEES 8, ANGELS 0NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched four dominant innings in his injury-delayed season debut for the Yankees.A two-time All-Star and the ace of the Yankees staff, Severino got hurt while warming up before his first... [More]