ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Texas Rangers have put pitcher Edinson Volquez on the 10-day injured list because of a sprained right elbow.The Rangers made the move before Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and called up pitcher Kyle Bird from Triple-A Nashville.Volquez missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2017. The right-hander went 3 2/3 innings in Thursday's 11-4 victory over Angels as he allowed two runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.The 35-year old Volquez — who pitched a no-hitter with the Miami Marlins in 2017 — had no record in two starts with a 7.04 ERA. Manager Chris Woodward said that Volquez told him before the game that something didn't feel right but that he could pitch."He said nothing was painful but he didn't feel right. The only pitch that didn't work was his curveball," Woodward said. "You could tell something wasn't right though. His velocity was down and he had erratic fastball command. He gave us almost four... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers are about to face a pair of their former aces, Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels, in consecutive games against the Chicago Cubs."That will be unique," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "It will be a good challenge for our guys because they're both so talented and it's fun to see our guys play against the best."While Darvish and Hamels will pitch during the opening series in the ballpark they used to call home, their former team is going through quite a rotation reclamation. The Rangers have four new starters, three of them coming off Tommy John surgery in 2017 — the last season Darvish and Hamels were in Texas together.Darvish made his big league debut with Texas in 2012 after playing seven pro seasons at home in Japan. He will start against the Rangers on Saturday in the second game of the series after Jon Lester made his third consecutive opening-day start for the Cubs in a 12-4 victory Thursday.Hamels, who started openers for the Rangers in... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike Minor will now do for the Rangers what Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish did the past three seasons in Texas.With those former Rangers aces in the visitors' dugout, Minor starts the season opener for Texas against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The left-hander's first career opening day start comes only a year after his return to a rotation following shoulder surgery that led to him missing two entire seasons and then being a full-time reliever."From being hurt for two years and not thinking I was ever going to throw again, pitch again in the big leagues, or pitch at all, to being the opening day starter, yeah it feels pretty good," Minor said. "I even doubted myself because of the way I felt, and then once I was healthy, I didn't doubt myself."The opener also marks the managerial debut for new Rangers skipper Chris Woodward, the 42-year-old former utility infielder who spent the past three seasons — and the last two World Series — as third base coach for the Los Angeles... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike Minor will now do for the Rangers what Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish did the past three seasons in Texas.With those former Rangers aces in the visitors' dugout, Minor starts the season opener for Texas against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The left-hander's first career opening day start comes only a year after his return to a rotation following shoulder surgery that led to him missing two entire seasons and then being a full-time reliever."From being hurt for two years and not thinking I was ever going to throw again, pitch again in the big leagues, or pitch at all, to being the opening day starter, yeah it feels pretty good," Minor said. "I even doubted myself because of the way I felt, and then once I was healthy, I didn't doubt myself."The opener also marks the managerial debut for new Rangers skipper Chris Woodward, the 42-year-old former utility infielder who spent the past three seasons — and the last two World Series — as third base coach for the Los Angeles... [More]

With opening day just around the corner, the list of notable players who are going to be absent keeps growing.World Series MVP Steve Pearce will start the season on the injured list for the Boston Red Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. went down with a knee injury Monday night when he slipped on home plate.Earlier in the day, Baltimore put scheduled opening-day starter Alex Cobb on the 10-day injured list with a strained right groin.Pearce exited an exhibition game last weekend due to discomfort in his left calf. The right-handed batter normally platoons with lefty-hitting Mitch Moreland at first base, but the Red Sox will begin defense of their championship Thursday in Seattle without Pearce."We have to do it that way," manager Alex Cora said. "It makes sense for us, it makes sense for him. He should be back sooner rather than later but he won't be ready for Seattle, so why take a chance?"Sam Travis will likely make the team and take Pearce's spot on the opening-day... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Texas Rangers pitcher Yohander Mendez could return from his elbow injury around midseason.The team's fear that Mendez might miss the entire year was allayed Monday when an MRI revealed the 24-year-old lefty has a Grade 1 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament."It's really good news. I think we dodged a bullet," assistant general manager Shiraz Rehman said. "There's some inflammation and some fluid in there, but no surgery at all. At this point, six weeks of no throw, and then we'll build him back up."That timetable calls for an April 29 return to throwing, beginning on flat ground from a close distance. By the time Mendez is ready to pitch in a game, it is likely to be another six weeks, probably in mid-June."Think of him as a second-half pitcher for us at this point, because we want to be conservative with it," Rehman said.Mendez left Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks after striking out the first batter he faced in the third inning."It hurt on... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Texas Rangers' fear that pitcher Yohander Mendez would miss the entire 2019 season was allayed on Monday when an MRI revealed the 24-year-old had a Grade 1 sprain of the left ulnar collateral ligament."It's really good news. I think we dodged a bullet," assistant general manager Shiraz Rehman said. "There's some inflammation and some fluid in there, but no surgery at all. At his point, six weeks of no throw, and then we'll build him back up."That timetable calls for an April 29 return to throwing, beginning on flat ground from a close distance. By the time Mendez is ready to pitch in a game, it is likely to be another six weeks, probably in mid-June."Think of him as a second-half pitcher for us at this point, because we want to be conservative with it," Rehman said.Mendez left Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks after striking out the first batter he faced in the third inning.The Rangers have three projected starters, Shelby Miller, Drew Smyly... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Texas Rangers pitcher Ariel Jurado did not have many Panamanian ballplayers to watch when he was growing up.So he became a fan of Cliff Lee."He's a lefty but I liked him," Jurado said Tuesday through an interpreter. "His pitches were incredible, the way he dominated on the mound."The 23-year-old Jurado studied Lee's games on television. But he has a long way to go to approach the accomplished career of Lee, who pitched 13 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies.Right now, Jurado is fighting for a spot in Texas' rotation. He made his major league debut with the Rangers last year, going 5-5 with a 5.93 ERA in 12 games, eight starts.Jurado is hoping to build on his final outing last season, when he tossed six innings of two-hit ball in a 2-0 victory at Seattle on Sept. 27."That outing, I was throwing a good slider and it helped me get through the last few innings," Jurado said. "It was a good sign for me. If something... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and a most unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield."I've never seen that. That's intense," Harper said, adding he hopes teams don't do that to him often. "If they start playing ball like that, it's definitely different."Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn't want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper."Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you're capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper," Kapler said.Harper drew a loud ovation when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith's theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."Wearing No. 3 on his uniform, eye black under his eyes and a white armband... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and a most unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield."I've never seen that. That's intense," Harper said, adding he hopes teams don't do that to him often. "If they start playing ball like that, it's definitely different."Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn't want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper."Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you're capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper," Kapler said.Harper drew a loud ovation when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith's theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."Wearing No. 3 on his uniform, eye black under his eyes and a white armband... [More]

Clayton Kershaw might not be on the mound when the two-time NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers start the season.The lefty ace is working his way back from shoulder soreness that caused him to shut down his spring training.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said "that's fair" when asked Monday whether Kershaw might miss the opener March 28 against Arizona at Dodger Stadium."There's just way too much importance put on the opening-day roster. The No. 1 thing is for him to be ready and to feel confident physically and mentally," Roberts said, "and when that is, it is."Kershaw has made a franchise-record eight consecutive opening day starts, and was tabbed to do so again when the Dodgers arrived in Arizona.But a couple days later, the three-time Cy Young Award winner had some shoulder soreness that caused him to halt his throwing program. He's taking anti-inflammatory medication.Kershaw began throwing against last week, slowly building up the amount of work and the distance of his throws. He threw on... [More]

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 AstrosManager: AJ Hinch (fifth season).2018: 103-59, first place, lost to Boston in ALCS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/18.He's Here: OF Michael Brantley, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Wade Miley, INF Aledmys Diaz.He's Outta Here: INF-OF Marwin Gonzalez, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Charlie Morton, DH Evan Gattis, LHP Tony Sipp, C Brian McCann, C Martin Maldonado.Going campin': The Astros won a franchise-record 103 games last season and reached the ALCS. But mounting injuries and inconsistent play led to their elimination by Boston in five games and kept them from repeating as champions after winning their first World Series title in 2017. Houston returns aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, who are both coming off great... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The only time Lance Lynn has pitched in the home ballpark of the Texas Rangers was as a rookie in 2011, during the World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals.Lynn will now go into that stadium's final season in 2019 as a big part of the Texas rotation. He signed a $30 million, three-year contract with the Rangers, who are coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time since before their back-to-back World Series appearances."That was my rookie year, I was just happy to be there. I'm not going to hold it over anybody," Lynn said, recalling that 2011 World Series the Cardinals won in seven games.The Rangers introduced Lynn on Tuesday, completing a deal that was reached last week during the winter meetings subject to a successful physical. The 31-year-old righty is 21-18 with a 4.04 ERA in 64 games over the past two seasons since missing all of 2016 following Tommy John surgery."I feel strong, and it's been a while since I've felt that way," Lynn said. "I think... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The only time Lance Lynn has pitched in the home ballpark of the Texas Rangers was as a rookie in 2011, during the World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals.Lynn will now go into that stadium's final season in 2019 as a big part of the Texas rotation. He signed a $30 million, three-year contract with the Rangers, who are coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time since before their back-to-back World Series appearances."That was my rookie year, I was just happy to be there. I'm not going to hold it over anybody," Lynn said, recalling that 2011 World Series the Cardinals won in seven games.The Rangers introduced Lynn on Tuesday, completing a deal that was reached last week during the winter meetings subject to a successful physical. The 31-year-old righty is 21-18 with a 4.04 ERA in 64 games over the past two seasons since missing all of 2016 following Tommy John surgery."I feel strong, and it's been a while since I've felt that way," Lynn said. "I think... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Free agent right-hander Lance Lynn has finalized a $30 million, three-year contract with the Texas Rangers.The Rangers introduced Lynn on Tuesday, completing a deal that was reached during the winter meetings subject to a successful physical.Lynn's deal includes a $4 million signing bonus, of which $3 million is payable next year and $1 million for 2020. He has salaries of $8 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $8 million in 2021.The right-hander joins a rotation with returning Mike Minor and two veterans coming off Tommy John surgery, Edinson Volquez and Drew Smyly.Lynn has an 82-57 record with a 3.57 ERA in 214 games with St. Louis, Minnesota and the New York Yankees since 2011. He split last season with the Twins and Yankees.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Catcher Jeff Mathis and the Texas Rangers finalized a $6.25 million, two-year contract Tuesday.Mathis, one of baseball's best defensive catchers, gets $3.25 million next season and $3 million in 2020.The Rangers later Tuesday added four players to their major league roster, protecting them from being available to other teams during the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings next month. They added right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez and outfielder Scott Heineman from Triple-A Nashville, along with right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang and lefty Taylor Hearn from Double-A Frisco.Texas also acquired infielder Jack Reinheimer from the Chicago Cubs on a waiver claim, while right-handers Eddie Butler and Ronald Herrera were assigned outright to Triple-A Nashville.The 35-year-old Mathis spent the last two years with Arizona and hit .200 this season with one homer and 20 RBIs in 69 games. He threw out 18 of 53 runners attempting to steal this year, and his 17 defensive runs saved were... [More]

RHP Edinson Volquez underwent Tommy John elbow surgery on Friday, ending his first season with the Marlins and putting all of 2018 in jeopardy as well. He had been on the disabled list since hurting his left knee on July 5 and experienced elbow pain as he rehabbed his knee. Volquez (4-8, 4.19 ERA) signed a two-year contract with Miami as a free agent and threw a no-hitter against Arizona on June 3. He is owned $13 million next season and this is his second Tommy John surgery.

RHP Edinson Volquez will have elbow surgery on Friday and is expected to miss the 2018 season, which was the last one on his two-year, $22 million contract with Miami. Volquez, who was Miami's Opening Day starter and has the only no-hitter in the majors this year, also had elbow surgery in 2009.

RHP Edinson Volquez (elbow surgery) is out for the year. The Marlins, looking to replace the late Jose Fernandez as the team ace, gave Volquez a two-year, $22 million contract prior to this season. But Volquez delivered little besides a four-game win streak that included a no-hitter. He finishes his first Marlins season with a 4-8 record and a 4.19 ERA.

Miami Marlins right-hander Edinson Volquez and rookie shortstop JT Riddle will be sidelined for the rest of the season.Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters Tuesday that both players, currently on the disabled list, have been ruled out for the year.Volquez, who last pitched on July 5 and started on Opening Day, tossed a no-hitter on June 3. He has been dealing with a knee injury that could require surgery, according to Mattingly."There's different issues," said Mattingly per the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale. "I know we're getting close to talking about it, making sure everybody is on the same page with exactly what's going to happen."The 34-year-old Volquez, who was signed to a two-year contract worth $22 million in the offseason, finished the year with a 4-8 record and 4.19 ERA in 17 starts.Riddle has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will undergo surgery on Aug. 11. He was batting .250 with three homers, 13 doubles and 31 RBIs.