NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Sam Dyson was suspended for the 2021 season by Major League Baseball on Friday under the domestic violence policy of the league and the players' association. The 32-year-old free agent last played in 2019 for San Francisco and Minnesota. MLB began investigating Dyson in 2019 after a woman wrote two lengthy social media posts alleging domestic violence by an unnamed individual. The woman later told The Athletic that Dyson physically abused her. The Athletic reported she provided photos showing bruises on her arms she said were caused by Dyson. She also claimed Dyson physically harmed her cat. “My office has completed its investigation," baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Dyson violated our policy and that discipline is appropriate.” MLB said Dyson will participate in a confidential evaluation and treatment program supervised by its joint policy board. Dyson is 24-23 with... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League Central 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:___Minnesota TwinsManager: Rocco Baldelli (second season). 2019: 101-61, first place, lost to Yankees in Division Series.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex. First Workout: Feb. 12/17.He's Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Homer Bailey, RHP Tyler Clippard, C Alex Avila, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Matt Wisler, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, LHP Blaine Hardy.He's Outta Here: RHP Brusdar Graterol, RHP Kyle Gibson, 1B C.J. Cron, 2B Jonathan Schoop, C Jason Castro, LHP Mart�n P�rez, RHP Ryne Harper, RHP Trevor Hildenberger, RHP Sam Dyson.Going campin': The high-priced addition of the big-swinging, slick-fielding Donaldson boosted an already deep lineup that produced a major league record 307 home runs last season. Then came the agreement this week... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent pitcher Sam Dyson has been accused of domestic violence and is being investigated by Major League Baseball.The commissioner’s office says in a statement it is “aware of it and looking into it.” Dyson’s agency, ISE, did not immediately respond to a text seeking comment.The Athletic reported Tuesday the allegation was made by an ex-girlfriend, Alexis Blackman, in posts on her personal Instagram account and on an account she writes in the voice of her cat, Snuckles.The Athletic says posts on the accounts alluding to an unidentified individual were about Dyson, citing a source who was not identified.Dyson was acquired by Minnesota from San Francisco at the July 31 trade deadline and became a free agent after the season.The 31-year-old right-hander was 5-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 61 relief appearances this year. He has spent eight seasons in the majors and has also played with Toronto, Miami and Texas.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Minnesota reliever Sam Dyson had surgery on his shoulder, ending the right-hander's season and potentially putting 2020 in jeopardy as well.Dyson had the capsule repair operation Tuesday in California. Manager Rocco Baldelli said the timeline isn't firm, but it could be a year before he can pitch in a game again."There can be instances where guys come back sooner, some later," Baldelli said. "It's something that you can certainly come back from, but that's kind of what we're looking at right now."The Twins acquired Dyson from San Francisco at the trade deadline this year, sending three minor leaguers to the Giants. He has one more club-controllable year before he can become a free agent.Dyson went on the injured list less than a week after being acquired and has made only 12 appearances since the trade."It's disappointing, certainly, I would say, with respect to what he was feeling when he was pitching here in that first couple weeks for us — and probably something he was... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Minnesota reliever Sam Dyson had surgery on his shoulder, ending the right-hander's season and potentially putting 2020 in jeopardy as well.Dyson had the capsule repair operation Tuesday in California. Manager Rocco Baldelli said the timeline isn't firm, but it could be a year before he can pitch in a game again.The Twins acquired Dyson from San Francisco at the trade deadline this year, sending three minor leaguers to the Giants. He has one more club-controllable year before he can become a free agent.Dyson went on the injured list less than a week after being acquired and has made only 12 appearances since the trade.Minnesota had a chance to clinch the AL Central title Wednesday with a victory at Detroit and a Cleveland loss to the White Sox.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Semien provided just enough early offense and Mike Fiers and three Oakland relievers combined to shut down the Kansas City Royals in a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.Semien scored in the first inning and drove in a run in the second. That was all the offense the A's pitchers needed one day after Oakland had a season-high 19 runs.Fiers (13-3) scattered eight hits in his 5 1/3 innings, but allowed just Alex Gordon's RBI double in the sixth. He's now won 11 straight decisions, dating to May 7, tying Mark Mulder for the second-longest winning streak in Oakland history.Mike Montgomery (3-7) surrendered an unearned run in the first and another run in the second, but gave up nothing else through 6 1/3 innings.ORIOLES 2, NATIONALS 0WASHINGTON (AP) — Aaron Brooks came up with an unexpected pitching gem against the torrid-hitting Nationals, throwing six innings of two-hit ball to help Baltimore end Washington's five-game winning streak.The Nationals were coming off a weekend... [More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Semien provided just enough early offense and Mike Fiers and three Oakland relievers combined to shut down the Kansas City Royals in a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.Semien scored in the first inning and drove in a run in the second. That was all the offense the A's pitchers needed one day after Oakland had a season-high 19 runs.Fiers (13-3) scattered eight hits in his 5 1/3 innings, but allowed just Alex Gordon's RBI double in the sixth. He's now won 11 straight decisions, dating to May 7, tying Mark Mulder for the second-longest winning streak in Oakland history.Mike Montgomery (3-7) surrendered an unearned run in the first and another run in the second, but gave up nothing else through 6 1/3 innings.ORIOLES 2, NATIONALS 0WASHINGTON (AP) — Aaron Brooks came up with an unexpected pitching gem against the torrid-hitting Nationals, throwing six innings of two-hit ball to help Baltimore end Washington's five-game winning streak.The Nationals were coming off a weekend... [More]

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — José Quintana pitched seven crisp innings, Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Sunday night in the MLB Little League Classic.Nicholas Castellanos and Jason Heyward also connected as Chicago earned its second straight win since consecutive heartbreaking losses to the Phillies and Pirates.The Cubs took two of three in the unusual weekend set and remain in a virtual tie with St. Louis for the top spot in the NL Central.Starling Marté had three hits for Pittsburgh, including his 21st homer in the ninth. Mitch Keller (1-2) allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings.With grinning Little Leaguers dressed in their uniforms filling the stands at BB&T Ballpark, Quintana (11-7) allowed five hits and walked none. The left-hander improved to 7-0 in nine starts since his last loss June 22.ASTROS 4, ATHLETICS 1OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Zack Greinke threw seven smooth innings for his 200th win, helping the AL West-leading Astros avoid... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Zack Greinke threw seven smooth innings for his 200th win, pitching the first-place Houston Astros past the Oakland Athletics 4-1 on Sunday to avoid a four-game sweep.Alex Bregman had a three-run homer among his four hits to back Greinke, who won his third straight start since joining the Astros from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the July 31 trade deadline.Greinke (13-4) went nine up, nine down on 25 pitches to start the game before giving up Marcus Semien's 21st homer. The right-hander allowed four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He became the 115th pitcher in major league history to reach 200 career wins, and the second in Houston's rotation along with Justin Verlander.Roberto Osuna finished for his 27th save as the Astros stopped a five-game slide.Yuli Gurriel added an RBI double for Houston, which snapped Oakland's four-game winning streak. The Astros went back ahead of the A's by 7 1/2 games in the AL West race.Athletics lefty Brett Anderson (10-9) allowed... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Manager Aaron Boone, Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees again hammered away at the umpires, this time in prolonged rants that brought several members of the team spilling onto the field, while beating the Cleveland Indians 6-5 Saturday.Gleyber Torres hit two home runs and Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu also connected for the AL East-leading Yankees.But what really fired up the crowd of 47,347 at Yankee Stadium occurred in the sixth inning after Cameron Maybin was called out on strikes by Triple-A ump Ben May.For the third time in a month — each time with a minor league call-up umpire behind the plate — the team with the best record in American League lost its temper in a big way. This episode led to Boone, Gardner and pitcher CC Sabathia being ejected.James Paxton (9-6) went five innings for the win. Zach Plesac (6-4) was chased in the fifth.Aroldis Chapman closed for his 35th save in 40 chances.BREWERS 15, NATIONALS 14, 14 INNINGSWASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Thames hit a... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Minnesota Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey was awarded a win on Saturday, a day after pitching in a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.Duffey entered Friday night's game with two outs and a runner at second base in the sixth inning, Texas having taken a 3-2 lead on the last batter faced by starter Jake Odorizzi. Duffey struck out Rougned Odor, the only batter he faced.The Twins scored twice in the seventh and held the lead the rest of the way. Sam Dyson pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning and was given the win by the official scorer.Duffey said he was informed Saturday afternoon that Elias Sports Bureau named him the winner the day after."First one that I'm aware of," said Duffey, who is now 3-1 with wins in his last two appearances. "Wins for relievers don't really hold any water anyway. I guess it's cool."___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After making two appearances for the Minnesota Twins following his trade from San Francisco, reliever Sam Dyson has gone on the injured list with right biceps tendinitis.Dyson allowed six runs and six hits in his two appearances with Minnesota, wasting a three-run, ninth-inning lead in a loss at Miami on Thursday."He didn't have any open injuries, and from our medical review and otherwise we felt good about where he was," Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said Sunday.Left-hander Devin Smeltzer was recalled from Triple-A Rochester and scheduled to start Sunday's series finale against Kansas Cit. Jake Odorizzi was pushed back to Monday against Atlanta.Minnesota also is without outfielder Byron Buxton (shoulder) and right-hander Michael Pineda (triceps).___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will rely on largely the same roster for the stretch run as the one that originally propelled them into first place, with the exception of a few potentially valuable additions to the bullpen.Four days after acquiring Sergio Romo from Miami, the Twins got another veteran right-handed reliever in Sam Dyson in a deadline-beating deal Wednesday with San Francisco.Romo and Dyson will assume critical late-inning bridge roles to closer Taylor Rogers for a team that has led the AL Central since late April but has seen a once-cushy lead over three-time defending division champion Cleveland shrink significantly over the last month."Having real quality options helps, and it also helps push some other guys in some very important spots, and it allows you to fill up those innings in a better way," manager Rocco Baldelli said before the Twins played the Marlins.With a 4.33 bullpen ERA that ranked 13th in the major leagues entering Wednesday, the Twins addressed their... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Big left-hander Madison Bumgarner is staying put with the San Francisco Giants, who instead determined their bullpen depth provided them the best place to make trades before Wednesday's deadline.Milwaukee acquired left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black from San Francisco for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon."We are pleased to add a veteran presence in Drew Pomeranz and a high-velocity arm in Ray Black to the organization," Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager David Stearns said.Until the Giants recently began winning, there had been thoughts Bumgarner — the 2014 World Series MVP — would surely be on the trading block, but the free-agent-to-be isn't going anywhere for now as San Francisco (54-53) tries to contend in manager Bruce Bochy's final season before retirement.Bumgarner refused to get wrapped up in the speculation about whether he would be gone, calling it "just noise." The Giants exercised his $12 million contract option for... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will rely on largely the same roster for the stretch run as the one that originally propelled them into first place, with the exception of a couple of potentially valuable additions to the bullpen.Four days after acquiring Sergio Romo from Miami, the Twins got another veteran right-handed reliever in Sam Dyson in a deadline-beating deal Wednesday with San Francisco. Romo and Dyson will assume critical late-inning bridge roles to closer Taylor Rogers for a team that has led the AL Central since late April but has seen a once-cushy lead over three-time defending division champion Cleveland shrink significantly over the last month."Having real quality options helps, and it also helps push some other guys in some very important spots, and it allows you to fill up those innings in a better way," manager Rocco Baldelli said before the Twins played the Marlins.With a 4.33 bullpen ERA that ranked 13th in the major leagues entering Wednesday, the Twins addressed... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Big left-hander Madison Bumgarner is staying put with the San Francisco Giants, who instead determined their bullpen depth provided them the best place to make trades before Wednesday's deadline.Milwaukee acquired left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black from San Francisco for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon."We are pleased to add a veteran presence in Drew Pomeranz and a high-velocity arm in Ray Black to the organization," Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager David Stearns said.Until the Giants recently began winning, there had been thoughts Bumgarner — the 2014 World Series MVP — would surely be on the trading block, but the free-agent-to-be isn't going anywhere for now as San Francisco (54-53) tries to contend in manager Bruce Bochy's final season before retirement.Bumgarner refused to get wrapped up in the speculation about whether he would be gone, calling it "just noise." The Giants exercised his $12 million contract option for... [More]

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):6:40 p.m.The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Max Stassi from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor-league outfielders Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.Stassi, who has played in parts of seven seasons with the Astros, is batting .167 with a home run and three RBIs in 31 games this season. General manager Billy Eppler said the move was more about adding catching depth and Stassi's strength behind the plate. According to MLB Statcast, Stassi is the second-best pitch framer in the AL with a 54.1% strike rate.Catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment before Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers..___5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners,... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Mark Melancon had a short time to make a decision to waive his no-trade clause, so he checked with his wife and she gave the green light.The San Francisco Giants traded their former closer to the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves for right-handed reliever Daniel Winkler and a minor league pitcher amid a flurry of moves Wednesday before the trade deadline."She's running the show here," Melancon said after his bags were packed in the visiting clubhouse in Philadelphia. "After we talked and realized it's Atlanta, a really good situation over there, we decided it's OK. It's a winning team. They got a lot of young talent, a lot of upside there. "The Braves have more bullpen help, too, getting All-Star reliever Shane Greene from Detroit in addition to Melancon.The Giants also sent left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black to Milwaukee for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon and obtained second baseman Scooter Gennett from the Reds for a player to be named. Cincinnati will send... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Big left-hander Madison Bumgarner is staying put with the San Francisco Giants, who instead determined their bullpen depth provided them the best place to make trades before Wednesday's deadline.Milwaukee acquired left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black from San Francisco for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon."We are pleased to add a veteran presence in Drew Pomeranz and a high-velocity arm in Ray Black to the organization," Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager David Stearns said.Until the Giants recently began winning, there had been thoughts Bumgarner — the 2014 World Series MVP — would surely be on the trading block, but he is staying put as San Francisco (54-53) tries to contend in manager Bruce Bochy's final season before retirement.Bumgarner refused to get wrapped up in the speculation about whether he would be gone, calling it "just noise.""He is a huge tone-setter for our clubhouse," said Farhan Zaidi, Giants president of baseball... [More]

The Latest on Major League Baseball's trade deadline (all times Eastern):5:55 p.m.Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners, an AL West rival that traded three pitchers Wednesday.Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says his team, which has dropped a game under .500, explored a lot of different options."There were a couple of things that got close later today that I thought might come to fruition, but ultimately it didn't line up for one side or the other," Daniels said, without getting into specifics.Minor, who is signed with the Rangers through next season, drew interest from teams looking to boost their rotations.Daniels said the Rangers weren't going to force a deal, and that the future options could include Minor pitching in Texas... [More]