GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Roberto Perez waited for his turn and vows to make the most of his big chance.Perez figures to get plenty of time behind the plate for the Cleveland Indians after the AL Central champions traded All-Star Yan Gomes to Washington.The 30-year-old Perez is eager to get going."I'm very excited," he said. "It was something I've always wanted. I knew Yan was the guy but now that I have the opportunity, I'm going to take advantage of it."Perez arrived in July 2014 from Triple-A after the Indians moved Carlos Santana to first base. Perez was promoted to take advantage of his defensive skill and the next season led the major leagues by throwing out 16 of the 41 runners attempting to steal — that 39 percent rate was tops among catchers with at least 40 tries.Although he hasn't hit much in his career, with a .205 batting average to go along with 21 home runs and 99 RBIs in 285 games, Perez was known for handling Cleveland's young, talented pitching staff."The biggest thing is... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Roberto Perez waited for his turn and vows to make the most of his big chance.Perez figures to get plenty of time behind the plate for the Cleveland Indians after the AL Central champions traded All-Star Yan Gomes to Washington.ThePerez arrived in JulyAlthough he hasn't hit much in his career, with a .205 batting average to go along with 21 home runs and ?99"?Even if he doesn't hit like Gomes,Francona's statement takes the pressure that Perez felt at the plate in spite of his two-homer performance in the"Playing once a week is tough,To improve his batting eye,There is more of a burden on him to help the team offensively after ?Yonder Alonso was traded to the Chicago White Sox and ?Edwin Encarnacion was sent to the Seattle Mariners.The Indians are trying to rebuild a bullpen that lost closer Cody Allen to the Angels and Andrew Miller to the Cardinals through free agency.Perez will have to prepare reliever

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Colorado Rockies will be without the reliever who boasted he could strike out Babe Ruth, but they believe the bridge between their solid starting rotation and premier closer Wade Davis remains sturdy.Colorado is counting on a veteran bullpen group that includes Scott Oberg, Seunghwan Oh, Chris Rusin and Bryan Shaw to step up the way Adam Ottavino did in 2018, when his career year with the Rockies led to a three-year, $27 million free agent deal with the New York Yankees."I think we have a lot of good arms and a lot of talented guys back there," catcher Chris Iannetta said."I think we can piece it together and be really good. Guys have good years. Guys have bad years. I don't think anyone expected Adam to have the year that he had last year after the previous year. It happens all the time."Oberg had a strong second half last season, Oh pitched well after being acquired at the trade deadline and the Rockies are counting on a return to normalcy by Shaw, Rusin,... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki fluidly went through a variety of stretches on the floor in the Seattle Mariners clubhouse even before going onto the field. Once outside, he smoothly went through fielding, hitting and baserunning drills.At 45 and in spring training again, Suzuki is working toward the chance to play for his original major league team in his home country."Being able to put on the Seattle Mariners uniform as a player, being here the first day, it is just amazing, it is great," Suzuki said through a translator. "Very satisfied with today and how it went, and I'm just going to take it day by day."The former MVP and 10-time All-Star outfielder is in camp on a minor league deal after serving in a special assistant's role most of last year when he still worked out with the team. If he's healthy, Suzuki will be part of the Mariners' expanded 28-player roster next month for their season-opening two games in Tokyo against Oakland."My body really hasn't changed," he said.Suzuki,... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — At 45 and in spring training again, Ichiro Suzuki insists his focus is on each day and not the season-opening series back home in Japan.Suzuki says was he very satisfied with how things went during the first full-squad workout Saturday with the Seattle Mariners. The former MVP and 10-time All-Star outfielder is in camp with his original major league team on a minor league deal.He served in a special assistant's role most of last season, and still worked out with the team. The Mariners expect him being part of their expanded 28-player roster for the two games in Tokyo against Oakland if he's healthy.Suzuki checked in at camp with only 7 percent body fat. He went through fielding, hitting and baserunning drills with the team, and was followed by large groups of fans and Japanese media every time he changed locations.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitchers and catchers had their first organized workout Saturday, officially ending a relatively quiet winter for the team that won the NL East.It may have been a little too quiet for some critics, considering the aggressive roster moves made by their division rivals. But All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman begs to differ."Pretty much everyone came back, and we added Josh Donaldson and B-Mac (Brian McCann)," Freeman said. "I feel we have a 90-win team that got better, so I think we're going to be very good this year."Darren O'Day was the other major winter acquisition, adding veteran depth to a bullpen that was tested last season as the Braves won the division by eight games and qualified for the postseason for the first time in five years."We've kind of gotten to the point where there's not a lot of holes, maybe one starter, and we'll take the best eight (relievers) with us north," said Brian Snitker, who won the NL Manager of the Year award.... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Eloy Jimenez says he doesn't feel the pressure of expectations. Not even when fellow Chicago White Sox prospect Michael Kopech said he thinks Jimenez is "the Babe Ruth of our generation.""Yeah, he told me that in Triple-A," Jimenez said Saturday. "I feel proud and blessed and I think he is the (next) Nolan Ryan."Kopech's time will have to wait a year, when the right-hander expects to return from Tommy John surgery. But Jimenez is coming soon to the South Side.Acquired from the Cubs two years ago in a deal for pitcher Jose Quintana, Jimenez has spent his time getting ready, working on his defense and tearing up Double-A and Triple-A pitching. Last year, splitting time between the two levels, the 22-year-old outfielder hit .337 with 22 homers and is ranked by MLB.com as the third-best prospect in baseball.Jimenez said he was "a little bit disappointed" when he was not called up at the end of last season. And he may not start this season with the big league club, as... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — It's early in spring training, time to get the new mitt ready.Or is it?For the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, some like the feel of new leather, some like it old. Some are superstitious and don't like change and others don't worry about that even after a great season."A new glove every year," reigning AL MVP and three-time Gold Glove winner Mookie Betts said Saturday morning at the team's spring training complex.But, is the right fielder a bit superstitious about changing after such a successful year?"No, they all catch the same," he said, breaking into a grin. "It's the operator."Shortstop Xander Bogaerts agreed."New year, new glove," he said.World Series MVP Steve Pearce had a different thought. He'll likely start the season with a new one if he's broken it in on time but gave some thought to not changing anything after winning the title last fall."I have them right here in my locker," the first baseman said. "I'm bringing almost everything back I had last... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jameson Taillon will be the Pittsburgh Pirates' opening-day starter.The right-hander will pitch March 28 against the Reds at Cincinnati, manager Clint Hurdle said Saturday. It will be the first opening-day start of Taillon's four-year career.Taillon was 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts last season."It's a big honor to kick off the season for the boys, try to set the tone," Taillon said at the Pirates' spring training camp. "Obviously, I care about the body of work but it's a big honor. Growing up as a fan of baseball, there was a certain (aura) about being the opening-day starter."Chris Archer will start the home opener April 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals."We put two men in play to represent the club and get us out of the blocks well in the first four games of the season," Hurdle said.Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove will pitch the second and third games at Cincinnati. The Pirates are undecided on a fifth starter.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — CC Sabathia can envision the perfect ending to his final big league season."Right now I'm just focused on trying to win the championship and have a parade at the end of the year," Sabathia said Saturday. "That would be a great way to top this thing off."The 38-year-old Sabathia agreed in early November to an $8 million one-year contract and said 2019 will be his last season.Sabathia had a stent inserted after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart in December. He has had chronic right knee problem that has required several operations."Why now? It's time," Sabathia said with a laugh. "My knee, just the shape that it's in. My family is getting older. It's time for me to be with them and be around them."When asked about his dad being home more, son Carter replied, "I know it will be two times funnier in the house because you're funny and mom's funny."Pitchers and catchers at Yankees spring training camp, and some position players taking part in early workouts were... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to terms with shortstop Alcides Escobar on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.Baltimore has been looking to increase its infield depth, and Escobar is expected to challenge for the starting shortstop spot.The 32-year-old Escobar has played 11 seasons with Milwaukee and Kansas City and has a .258 lifetime average. In 2018, he hit .231 with four homers and 31 RBIs.Escobar won the Gold Glove and was an All-Star in 2015, the same year Kansas City won the World Series.In 2014, 2016 and 2017, Escobar played all 162 games.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes says he thinks he'll be able to play at some point this season.Recovering from surgery on both heels, the New York Mets slugger told reporters through a translator at spring training Friday he is finally pain-free. He has been working out and plans to begin throwing next week, but there's no timetable for when the 33-year-old left fielder will start running or hitting — and he's not sure when he might return to the lineup.The team has said Cespedes is expected to be sidelined until at least July. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said this week he hopes Cespedes can contribute "late in the season."The oft-injured Cespedes, who said he's been frustrated and bored while recovering, has been limited to 119 games since signing a $110 million, four-year contract after the 2016 season.He had separate operations to remove calcification and bone spurs from both heels, the first last August and the second in late October.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes says he thinks he'll be able to play at some point this season.Recovering from surgery on both heels, the New York Mets slugger told reporters through a translator at spring training Friday he is finally pain-free. He has been working out and plans to begin throwing next week, but there's no timetable for when the 33-year-old left fielder will start running or hitting — and he's not sure when he might return to the lineup.The team has said Cespedes is expected to be sidelined until at least July. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said this week he hopes Cespedes can contribute "late in the season."The oft-injured Cespedes, who said he's been frustrated and bored while recovering, has been limited to 119 games since signing a $110 million, four-year contract after the 2016 season.He had separate operations to remove calcification and bone spurs from both heels, the first last August and the second in late October.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Forget about this bullpen obsession for a moment. Believe it or not, plenty of big league teams are still anchored by well-armed rotations.In this age of openers and closers, with relievers starting games and starters rarely finishing them, it might seem starting pitchers have been devalued by executives all over baseball.Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, is a 31-year-old free agent still looking for a job. Same for fellow lefty Gio Gonzalez, a two-time All-Star one season removed from going 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA in 201 innings.Meanwhile, short relievers like Zack Britton ($39 million), Jeurys Familia ($30 million), Kelvin Herrera ($18 million) and Joakim Soria ($15 million) had no trouble getting multiyear deals this winter.Doesn't anyone remember what Koufax and Drysdale did for the Dodgers?Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz with the Braves?"At the end of the day, your starting staff is the backbone of your team," Washington ace Max Scherzer said.... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar wore a specially designed protective cap Friday during his first spring training bullpen session with the New York Yankees.Farquhar collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout last April 20 after pitching in the sixth inning against Houston. He was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage, had surgery the next day and was hospitalized until May 7. Farquhar was not cleared to pitch again in 2018, became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Yankees."I am extraordinarily just thankful," Farquhar said.He met with doctors and trainers at Steinbrenner Field on Monday to design his hat, which includes Kevlar and foam. After a proper fit was found, it took just two days to create the final product."It looks like a hat, it's just two sizes big and it's got like a skully protector on the inside," Farquhar said. "At first when I put it on, it felt a little shallow on my head, like kind of sitting up a little bit. Today... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Corey Seager never really wanted to know what the next step was in his rehab process after the young Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop had the kind of elbow surgery more common for pitchers, then hip surgery as well last season."I never wanted to look forward because I never wanted to get antsy, 'Oh why are we not doing this yet?'" Seager said Friday. "I just never knew when something was going to happen, so what I did that day was what I did that day."With the two-time defending NL champion Dodgers getting ready for their first full-squad workout Tuesday, and the regular season opener six weeks away, even Seager knows what comes next. While excited about getting back in games at some point soon, he is still trying to maintain some sense of that stay-in-the-day mentality.Manager Dave Roberts said the target date for Seager remains opening day, but the real goal is to get him fully healthy. The Dodgers don't want to get overanxious with their two-time All-Star and the... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar wore a specially designed protective cap Friday during his first spring training bullpen session with the New York Yankees.Farquhar collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout last April 20 after pitching in the sixth inning against Houston. He was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage, had surgery the next day and was hospitalized until May 7. Farquhar was not cleared to pitch again in 2018, became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Yankees."I am extraordinarily just thankful," Farquhar said.He met with doctors and trainers at Steinbrenner Field on Monday to design his hat, which includes Kevlar and foam. After a proper fit was found, it took just two days to create the final product."It looks like a hat, it's just two sizes big and it's got like a skully protector on the inside," Farquhar said. "At first when I put it on, it felt a little shallow on my head, like kind of sitting up a little bit. Today... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have locked up a pair of young position players for the long term by agreeing to five-year contracts with right fielder Max Kepler and shortstop Jorge Polanco.The contracts were announced Friday, a day after they were reached as pitchers and catchers went through their first workout in Fort Myers, Florida.Kepler's contract is worth $35 million and includes an option that could increase its value to at least $44 million over six years. Polanco's deal is valued at $25.75 million, has two options that could make it worth at least $47.25 million for seven seasons.Kepler, who turned 26 on Sunday, had agreed last month to a $3,125,000 salary for 2019 in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Entering his fourth full season as a regular in the lineup, Kepler won the team's defensive player of the year award in 2018. He never found a rhythm at the plate, batting a career-low .224, but he set his major league career high with 20 home runs.Raised in Berlin... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have locked up a pair of young position players for the long term by agreeing to five-year contracts with right fielder Max Kepler and shortstop Jorge Polanco, according to two people with direct knowledge of the deals.The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had yet to announce the contracts, which were reached on Thursday as pitchers and catchers went through their first workout in Fort Myers, Florida. The Twins scheduled a news conference for Friday.Kepler's contract is worth $35 million and includes a $10 million club option for 2024 with a $1 million buyout. Polanco's deal, which is valued at $25.75 million, has a 2024 option that could become guaranteed as well as a 2025 club option.Kepler, who turned 26 on Sunday, had agreed last month to a $3,125,000 salary for 2019 in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Entering his fourth full season as a regular in the lineup, Kepler won the team's defensive... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. has one goal during his second spring training with the San Diego Padres — make the team.The Padres might not bring him up right away, but there's a good chance the son of former big leaguer Fernando Tatis will make his major league debut at some point this season for rebuilding San Diego.Fans certainly are eager to see the 20-year-old shortstop light up Petco Park with his flashy style of play.His approach?"Same thing as always, come play baseball and do what I know how to do and keep having fun as always," he said.But Tatis, the No. 2 prospect overall in all of baseball, knows it's a little different this year."There's a reality now. There's a chance it might happen. I'm just working hard for it," he said.While his goal is to make the team, Tatis knows that "always in this game you've got to get better, learn, keep learning from these guys, ask a lot of questions from the guys with experience, and bring the show."Tatis can certainly do that, even... [More]