LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball's winter meetings (all times local):5:33 p.m.The Texas Rangers have claimed infielder Carlos Asuaje off waivers from San Diego.Asuaje was designated for assignment Friday after spending parts of the past three seasons with the Padres, hitting .240 in 175 games. He also played at Triple-A El Paso last season, hitting .314 in 47 games.The 27-year-old Asuaje has played mostly second base in the major leagues, but has seen time at third base and left field as a pro. He has a .289 career batting average in the minors.Asuaje was an 11th-round pick by Boston in 2013 and was traded to San Diego two years later in the deal involving closer Craig Kimbrel.___4:15 p.m.Harold Baines knows there a lot of fans questioning whether his credentials are worthy of the Hall of Fame. He's not sweating that."Well, they can't take it away from me now, even if they don't think I should be there," he told The Associated Press.Baines was elected to Cooperstown... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball's winter meetings (all times local):4:15 p.m.Harold Baines knows there a lot of fans questioning whether his credentials are worthy of the Hall of Fame. He's not sweating that."Well, they can't take it away from me now, even if they don't think I should be there," he told The Associated Press.Baines was elected to Cooperstown on Sunday by a Hall-picked panel of 16. The six-time All-Star with 2,866 hits was at the winter meetings Monday for a news conference along with newly chosen Lee Smith."I wasn't out there beating my chest and campaigning for this," Baines said. "I'm very honored and humbled."___4:05 p.m.Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says he has been talking about Manny Machado with the infielder's agent.New York shortstop Didi Gregorius is expected to miss at least half of next season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.Cashman says, "I've had several conversations with Dan Lozano about Manny Machado. So we are we are... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball's winter meetings (all times local):4:05 p.m.Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says he has been talking about Manny Machado with the infielder's agent.New York shortstop Didi Gregorius is expected to miss at least half of next season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.Cashman says, "I've had several conversations with Dan Lozano about Manny Machado. So we are we are definitely focused in the marketplace on those areas of need and he obviously is available and solves that area of need. So, not going to deny we've had a conversation. Or two."___12:15 p.m.New Reds manager David Bell says he's talked to pitcher Homer Bailey about his role in the future. Bell says it was a good conversation and nothing has been finalized.Bailey went 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA last season, losing his last nine decisions and his spot in the rotation. The Reds went 1-19 in the games he started.The 32-year-old right-hander, who has pitched two no-hitters for... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball's winter meetings (all times local):12:15 p.m.New Reds manager David Bell says he's talked to pitcher Homer Bailey about his role in the future. Bell says it was a good conversation and nothing has been finalized.Bailey went 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA last season, losing his last nine decisions and his spot in the rotation. The Reds went 1-19 in the games he started.The 32-year-old right-hander, who has pitched two no-hitters for the Reds, has been beset by serious injuries in recent years, including Tommy John surgery.The Reds gave Bailey a six-year, $105 million contract in 2014. He has one year left on his contract for $23 million, with an option for 2020 that includes a $5 million buyout."He's had such a great career. My focus and our focus is how can we maximize who he is, not only for us but who he is, and how he can feel great about the career he's had and be able to contribute. That's really the focus there," Bell said."Try to put him... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on Major League Baseball's winter meetings (all times local):12:05 p.m.The Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants have added players on waiver claims.The Mariners made the most interesting move, taking Kaleb Cowart from the Los Angeles Angels and announcing him as an infielder and right-handed pitcher.A prep star on the mound and at the plate, the 26-year-old Cowart has not pitched since the Angels drafted in the first round in 2010. He hit .134 with 10 RBIs in 47 games with Los Angeles last season.Texas acquired infielder Carlos Asuaje after he was cut by San Diego last week. The 27-year-old hit .240 in parts of the last three seasons with the Padres, and did well in the field at second base.The Giants got outfielder Mike Gerber from Detroit. The 26-year-old made his big league debut last season and went 4 for 42 in 18 games for the Tigers.___11:30 a.m.Phillies manager Gabe Kapler intends to be publicly critical of his players more in his second... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Free agent pitcher Garrett Richards and the San Diego Padres have finalized a $15.5 million, two-year contract.Richards will earn $7 million next year and $8.5 million in 2020 as part of the deal announced Friday. He can earn an additional $2.5 million annually in performance bonuses: $250,000 for each start from 21 through 30.Richards was 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA last season for the Los Angeles Angels before reconstructive surgery in July. The 30-year-old right-hander was 45-38 with a 3.54 ERA with the Angels since 2011.Infielder Carlos Asuaje was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot.___More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eric Hosmer, San Diego's $144 million man, acknowledges he simply wasn't as good as he needed to be in what was supposed to be a steppingstone season for the rebuilding Padres.The burst of energy provided by Hosmer's signing during spring training didn't last long. The Padres, who have had three waves of young talent come up since beginning their deep rebuild during the 2016 season, staggered through another dismal year, finishing last in the NL West at 66-96, five losses worse than in 2017.Hosmer's average of .253 was down 65 points and his on-base percentage was his lowest in four seasons. His 18 homers and 65 RBIs were also his lowest in four seasons."Not where I want to be," said Hosmer, who was an All-Star and World Series champion while with Kansas City. "It was just a down year, definitely not the way I wanted to perform here the first year. Nothing I can do about it now. All I can do is go put in the work in the offseason and try to be ready to go next spring."There's... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Blake Swihart doubled into the Red Sox bullpen to score Eduardo Nunez in the 13th inning and Boston beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on Monday night to move a season-high six games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East.Boston announced after the game it had acquired Ian Kinsler from the Angels to fill in for injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia.Hector Velazquez (7-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win and Austin Davis (1-1) took the loss after pitching a perfect 12th before allowing Nunez's leadoff single in the next inning. Luis Garcia, the 12th pitcher of the night, struck out Brock Holt but allowed Nunez to steal second.Swihart lined the first pitch he saw toward the gap and into the bullpen on one hop for his first career walk-off RBI.The Red Sox have won 19 of their last 23 games and matched their biggest lead in the division of the season. At 75-33, they have the best record in baseball and are 42 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have placed rookie left-hander Joey Lucchesi on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right hip.The Padres also recalled infielder Carlos Asuaje from Triple-A Albuquerque before Tuesday night's game against Colorado.Lucchesi, who is 3-2 with a 3.23 ERA in nine starts this season, said he had tightness in his glutes during Monday night's loss to the Rockies. He struggled through five innings, allowing three runs and six hits, including two home runs.Lucchesi also was thrown out trying to score on a passed ball to end the third. The big pitcher lumbered down the line and an awkward slide left him short of the plate.Asuaje had been optioned to El Paso on Monday to make room for rookie outfielder Franmil Reyes.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Outfielder Franmil Reyes was hitting home runs in Triple-A so hard and so often that the San Diego Padres had no choice but to bring him up to make his major league debut.Reyes, who isn't even listed among the rebuilding Padres' top 30 prospects, leads all of professional baseball in homers after hitting 14 with Triple-A El Paso."A smart organization listens to what the bats are telling you, and his bat was screaming at us from El Paso," said manager Andy Green, who had the 22-year-old Reyes batting sixth and playing right field against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Reyes hit eight homers in a five-game stretch earlier this month."I'm a big guy. You guys will see a lot of homers, hopefully," said Reyes, who's from the Dominican Republic.Reyes' mother, Dominga Uribe, arrived from New York, where she's lived the last eight years, just in time to see him hit monster home runs in batting practice. When Reyes saw his mother, he walked over and... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Outfielder Franmil Reyes, whose 14 home runs for Triple-A El Paso lead professional baseball, has been brought by the San Diego Padres to make his major league debut.The 22-year-old was due to bat sixth and start in right field against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Reyes hit eight homers in a five-game stretch last week."I'm a big guy. You guys will see a lot of homers, hopefully," Reyes said.Reyes isn't considered one of the rebuilding Padres' top 30 prospects. He forced his way up with his play."He is a heck of an intriguing young player," general partner Peter Seidler said.San Diego optioned second baseman Carlos Asuaje to Triple-A. Asuaje had been among the first wave of young players to come up late in the 2016 season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — The San Diego Padres rebounded nicely from Los Angeles' combined no-hitter, using two-run homers by Eric Hosmer and Raffy Lopez to beat the Dodgers 7-4 on Saturday night in the first major league series in Mexico since 1999.A day after the first no-hitter ever outside the U.S. or Canada, Travis Jankowski led off the first with a triple for San Diego's first hit of the series. Hosmer then hit a drive over the wall in right against Kenta Maeda.Lopez's first homer of the season erased a 4-3 Los Angeles lead in the sixth, and Chase Headley and Carlos Asuaje contributed RBI singles in the eighth against Daniel Hudson.Kirby Yates got two outs for the win, and Brad Hand worked the ninth for his eighth save.Josh Fields (2-1) allowed Lopez's homer.On Friday night, Walker Buehler and three relievers posted the 12th combined no-hitter in major league history, leading the Dodgers to a 4-0 victory.YANKEES 5, INDIANS 2NEW YORK (AP) — Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's double... [More]

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — The San Diego Padres rebounded nicely from Los Angeles' combined no-hitter, using two-run homers by Eric Hosmer and Raffy Lopez to beat the Dodgers 7-4 on Saturday night in the first major league series in Mexico since 1999.A day after the first no-hitter ever outside the U.S. or Canada, Travis Jankowski led off the first with a triple for San Diego's first hit of the series. Hosmer then hit a drive over the wall in right against Kenta Maeda.Lopez's first homer of the season erased a 4-3 Los Angeles lead in the sixth, and Chase Headley and Carlos Asuaje contributed RBI singles in the eighth against Daniel Hudson.Kirby Yates got two outs for the win, and Brad Hand worked the ninth for his eighth save.Josh Fields (2-1) allowed Lopez's homer.On Friday night, Walker Buehler and three relievers posted the 12th combined no-hitter in major league history, leading the Dodgers to a 4-0 victory.YANKEES 5, INDIANS 2NEW YORK (AP) — Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's double... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Yuli Gurriel was thrown out at third base by catcher Martin Maldonado to end the game after an original safe call was reversed on replay, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 2-0 win over Houston on Monday night that ended the Astros' six-game winning streak.Third base umpire Cory Blaser signaled safe. Blaser also called Colorado's Nolan Arenado safe at home plate Sunday trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. That call was then reversed on replay for the final out in the Chicago Cubs' 9-7 win.Tyler Skaggs (3-1) allowed four hits in seven innings for the Angels, and Keynan Middleton earned his sixth save. The Astros outscored the White Sox 27-2 during a three-game sweep last weekend.Kole Calhoun had an RBI single and Justin Upton added an RBI double. Los Angeles had lost five of six following a seven-game winning streak. The Angels are 10-1 on the road, but 5-7 at home.Gerrit Cole (2-1) retired his first 13 hitters, striking out five. He gave up two runs and four hits in seven... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Yuli Gurriel was thrown out at third base by catcher Martin Maldonado to end the game after an original safe call was reversed on replay, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 2-0 win over Houston on Monday night that ended the Astros' six-game winning streak.Third base umpire Cory Blaser signaled safe. Blaser also called Colorado's Nolan Arenado safe at home plate Sunday trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. That call was then reversed on replay for the final out in the Chicago Cubs' 9-7 win.Tyler Skaggs (3-1) allowed four hits in seven innings for the Angels, and Keynan Middleton earned his sixth save. The Astros outscored the White Sox 27-2 during a three-game sweep last weekend.Kole Calhoun had an RBI single and Justin Upton added an RBI double. Los Angeles had lost five of six following a seven-game winning streak. The Angels are 10-1 on the road, but 5-7 at home.Gerrit Cole (2-1) retired his first 13 hitters, striking out five. He gave up two runs and four hits in seven... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Yuli Gurriel was thrown out at third base by catcher Martin Maldonado to end the game after an original safe call was reversed on replay, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 2-0 win over Houston on Monday night that ended the Astros' six-game winning streak.Third base umpire Cory Blaser signaled safe. Blaser also called Colorado's Nolan Arenado safe at home plate Sunday trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. That call was then reversed on replay for the final out in the Chicago Cubs' 9-7 win.Tyler Skaggs (3-1) allowed four hits in seven innings for the Angels, and Keynan Middleton earned his sixth save. The Astros outscored the White Sox 27-2 during a three-game sweep last weekend.Kole Calhoun had an RBI single and Justin Upton added an RBI double. Los Angeles had lost five of six following a seven-game winning streak. The Angels are 10-1 on the road, but 5-7 at home.Gerrit Cole (2-1) retired his first 13 hitters, striking out five. He gave up two runs and four hits in seven... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a bases-loaded triple in Los Angeles' five-run seventh inning, helping the Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.Ian Kinsler homered on his first swing in his return to the Angels' lineup, and Nick Tropeano (1-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh for his first major league win since 2016.Los Angeles has won eight of nine.Ohtani drove a 1-2 pitch from Brandon Maurer to right-center, scoring Kole Calhoun, Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena. The Royals walked Ohtani intentionally in the sixth with first base open and Simmons on second.Ohtani is tied with Mike Trout for the Angels' lead with 11 RBIs in 26 at-bats. Trout went 3 for 4 with his fifth home run.Kinsler led off the game with a home run for the 47th time in his career, driving a 1-0 pitch from Ian Kennedy (1-1) out to left. Kinsler missed the previous 11 games with an adductor strain.RED SOX 6, YANKEES 3BOSTON (AP) — Rick Porcello pitched... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer stole the first base of his professional career and allowed only two singles in his fifth big league shutout, and the Washington Nationals ended a five-game losing skid while getting back to .500 with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Scherzer (2-1), the winner of the past two NL Cy Young Awards, did not let the Braves push a runner beyond first base. Kurt Suzuki got a hit in the second, and Nick Markakis did in the fifth, but neither advanced.Scherzer managed to get farther than that: He swiped second after singling off reliever Peter Moylan in the seventh.Howie Kendrick delivered all the offense Washington needed with a two-run double.Scherzer struck out 10 and walked none in his ninth complete game in 299 major league starts. And he needed only 102 pitches, a far more efficient outing than his previous time on the mound: He threw 110 over five innings in a 7-1 loss at Atlanta on April 4.Julio Teheran (0-1) went six innings for the Braves,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer stole the first base of his professional career and allowed only two singles in his fifth big league shutout, and the Washington Nationals ended a five-game losing skid while getting back to .500 with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Scherzer (2-1), the winner of the past two NL Cy Young Awards, did not let the Braves push a runner beyond first base. Kurt Suzuki got a hit in the second, and Nick Markakis did in the fifth, but neither advanced.Scherzer managed to get farther than that: He swiped second after singling off reliever Peter Moylan in the seventh.Howie Kendrick delivered all the offense Washington needed with a two-run double.Scherzer struck out 10 and walked none in his ninth complete game in 299 major league starts. And he needed only 102 pitches, a far more efficient outing than his previous time on the mound: He threw 110 over five innings in a 7-1 loss at Atlanta on April 4.Julio Teheran (0-1) went six innings for the Braves,... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Robbie Ray worked around five walks over six innings and the bullpen closed out a two-hitter, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks spoil the St. Louis Cardinals' home opener 3-1 on Thursday night.Arizona improved to 6-1 for the second straight season and tied a franchise record for its best seven-game start. The team was also 6-1 in 2000. St. Louis dropped its first home opener since 2015.Ray (2-0) gave up a run and two hits while striking out nine. He was making his first appearance in St. Louis since being knocked out of a game by a line drive off his head on July 28, 2017.David Peralta capped off a two-run second inning with an RBI single. He pushed the lead to 3-0 with a double in the fourth.Brad Boxberger picked up his third save in three chances. Four Arizona relievers were perfect except for an error by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the eighth.Adam Wainwright (0-1) came off the 10-day disabled list to make the start for St. Louis. He gave up four hits and three runs... [More]