ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers are bringing back reliever Matt Bush with a minor league contract as the right-hander recovers from elbow surgery.Texas said Monday it has agreed to minor league deals with Bush, pitchers Zac Curtis and Tim Dillard and infielder Chase d'Arnaud. They will report to major league spring training.Bush isn't expected to be ready until the second half of the season after surgery in September to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.The 32-year-old made the last of his 21 appearances for Texas last season on June 14. Bush had no record with a 4.70 ERA and became a free agent when the Rangers didn't offer a contract by the Nov. 20 deadline.The No. 1 overall pick as an infielder out of high school by San Diego in 2004, Bush finally made it to the big leagues as a hard-throwing reliever for the Rangers in 2016. He is 10-6 with a 3.35 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 137 innings over parts of three seasons.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Right-hander Jesse Chavez finalized an $8 million, two-year contract with the Texas Rangers on Friday, returning to the team that traded him to the Chicago Cubs last July.The 35-year-old was 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA and five saves in 62 relief appearances with the Rangers and Cubs last season. He was second in the majors among relievers with 95 1/3 innings.Chavez had a 1.68 ERA after June 1, with 61 strikeouts and 11 walks in 64 1/3 innings. He made his postseason with the Cubs, pitching a scoreless inning in Colorado's 2-1 win in the NL wild-card game.Chavez was selected by the Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2002 amateur draft. Chavez and Philadelphia's Tommy Hunter are the only active pitchers with at least 390 innings as both a starter and reliever. Chavez gets $4 million in each of the next two seasons.Texas also failed to offer 2019 contracts to four players, including right-hander Matt Bush, making the quartet free agents. Bush didn't appear in a game after June... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich drove in the winning run with the bases loaded in the ninth after beating a throw from third to avoid a double play, and the Milwaukee Brewers opened an important three-game series with the Chicago Cubs with a 4-3 win Monday.The .316 hitter hit a 1-2 fastball from Jesse Chavez right at third baseman Kris Bryant, who touched third for the second out of the ninth before firing to first. The speedy Yelich reached safely just before the throw landed in the glove of the outstretched Anthony Rizzo, allowing Keon Broxton to score the game-winner from third.Cubs reliever Steve Cishek (4-3) loaded the bases in the ninth with a walk, passed ball and two hit batters.The second-place Brewers pulled within four games of the NL Central-leading Cubs.Milwaukee tied the score 3-3 after pinch-hitter Mike Moustakas drew a four-pitch walk with two outs in the eighth from Carl Edwards Jr.Anthony Rizzo hit a two-out, two-run homer off tough left-hander Josh Hader in the eighth.Jeremy... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have placed right-hander Vince Velasquez on the 10-day disabled list with a bruised forearm a day after he made a dazzling throw with his left hand.Velasquez was hit just below the elbow on a liner back up the middle by Washington's Adam Eaton in the second inning Saturday. He picked up the ball and threw it left-handed to first base to get the final out. He then went down, riling in pain and clutching his right arm."I feel a lot better than yesterday," Velasquez told reporters Sunday. "A lot more movement going on and just continue doing my work stuff that I need to do, lower half, and then continue to doing my core and all that stuff I need to do and go from there."This is the fourth trip to the disabled list for Velasquez in his three seasons with Philadelphia.Also Sunday, the Phillies reinstated right-handed reliever Pat Neshek from the 10-day DL, recalled righty Jake Thompson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and optioned left-hander Zac Curtis to Lehigh Valley.Neshek, who was re-signed by the Phillies during the offseason, had been on the disabled list since opening day with a forearm injury.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have demoted their only left-handed pitcher, optioning reliever Zac Curtis to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and recalling right-hander Jake Thompson.The move Thursday left the Phillies with 13 right-handed pitchers on the 25-man roster. Philadelphia hasn't had a left-handed starter since Adam Morgan on Sept. 28, 2016. Morgan, now a reliever, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a back strain.Curtis allowed two runs and three hits with three walks in two innings on Wednesday in the Phillies' 11-3 win over San Francisco.Thompson has a 7.27 ERA in three big league appearances this season.

MIAMI (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies placed right-handed reliever Víctor Arano on the 10-day disabled list Monday because of a mild right rotator cuff strain.The move was made after Arano underwent an MRI in Philadelphia, and before the Phils opened a series at Miami. He has an 0.75 ERA in 12 innings and 10 games while allowing only five hits.Left-hander Zac Curtis was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball