PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chad Kuhl's long road back from Tommy John surgery is over. More than two years removed from wondering where his career was heading after doctors reconfigured his mangled right elbow, Kuhl will be Pittsburgh's opening day starter in Chicago on Thursday when the Pirates face the Cubs. The 28-year-old is the longest-tenured starter on a staff that is largely inexperienced and largely anonymous. The void left by the offseason departures of Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams and Chris Archer is palpable. Kuhl knows he will play a major role in trying to fill it. “We talk about the guys that have left and there’s a lot of leadership, a lot of innings to take up, a lot of youth on this team,” he said. “So it adds to the leadership role that me and (Steven) Brault and those guys are trying to take over. It’s just trying to lead by example, do the right things.” Kuhl underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in September 2018. He missed all of 2019 and was handled largely... [More]

Scott Oberg’s arm was just the right amount of sore the day after his first spring training game. Even a good kind of sore, the Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever explained Saturday morning on the heels of his 17-pitch, four-batter outing against San Francisco. Most definitely the sort of sore that he views as a step in the right direction. Oberg's steadily working his way back to the mound after missing all of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season due to a blood clot — the third time over his career the issue has surfaced. Oberg underwent thoracic outlet surgery in September, which he's optimistic will alleviate the concern. “It just felt good to be back out there (Friday), to get through the whole rehab process, to go through all the obstacles that I’ve had to undergo the last couple of years,” said Oberg, who remains on track to be part of the bullpen when the Rockies begin the season by hosting the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on April 1. “A big step for me physically... [More]

Trey Mancini had surgery for colon cancer last year on the same day Major League Baseball shut down spring training due to COVID-19. Baseball returned later in 2020 and Mancini is back now, healthy and ready to go. His comeback story has been a highlight of spring training. Mancini is not only the best player on the Baltimore Orioles, he’s the most popular. “There were times, especially when I was diagnosed early on where I wasn’t totally sure if I was ever going to play baseball again,” Mancini recalled upon his return. “Just being able to feel like myself, feel great and participate in everything fully is something I’m very appreciate of and I don’t take for granted at all.” Mancini, who turns 29 next week, had a breakout season in 2019, batting .291 with 35 homers and 97 RBIs. He singled in his first at-bat in nearly a year and got a standing ovation from a socially distanced crowd at the ballpark. “I can’t remember a bigger hug that I gave anybody than seeing him for the first time,”... [More]

Chris Archer is back in familiar surroundings, eager to re-establish himself with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 32-year-old right-hander is three seasons removed from a being a two-time All-Star and the ace of a rotation the AL champions are revamping after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series last fall. Archer, who was with Tampa Bay from 2012 to 2018, signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract to rejoin the Rays after missing all of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season with the Pittsburgh Pirates while recovering from surgery to relieve symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. The Rays, who have made the playoffs the past two seasons, traded him to the Pirates on July 31, 2018, as part of a deal that brought Tampa Bay right-hander Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Austin Meadows and minor league pitching prospect Shane Baz. Archer hasn’t pitched in a major league game since August 2019. He went 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA over 33 starts with Pittsburgh and is excited to have a second... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tyler Anderson knows about team building. The left-hander entered Spring Valley High in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a freshman when the school opened in 2004. He helped Oregon kick-start its fledging program when the Ducks returned to the Division I level in 2009 following 27 years as a club sport. Getting in on the ground floor is kind of his thing. No wonder he's not exactly concerned about joining the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nascent stages of a franchise-wide makeover. The 31-year-old finalized a one-year deal worth $2.5 million on Wednesday, becoming part of the present for a club that is very clearly pointing toward the future. That's fine by Anderson. “I know the culture over here they want to create is a winning culture,” Anderson said. “And I don’t think that had any involvement in them signing me, but for me, I love the idea because I’ve been through it a few times and it’s just fun. It’s a lot of guys that are searching for something, and it’s really easy to create... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Free agent right-hander Chris Archer has finalized a one-year, $6.5 million contract that reunites him with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 32-year-old is back with the AL champions after missing all of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season after surgery to relieve symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome last June, when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Archer spent parts of seven seasons with the Rays, ranking fourth on the franchise’s all-time list for victories, before being traded to the Pirates in a deal that brought pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows to Tampa Bay in 2018. With the Rays, Archer will have an opportunity to win a spot in a revamped pitching rotation that’s lost right-hander Charlie Morton and 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell since Tampa Bay lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. In addition to ranking fourth on the Rays career wins list, Archer is second in strikeouts (1,146) and starts (177) and third in innings pitched (1,063). Over portions of eight major league seasons, the two-time AL All-Star is 60-80 with a 3.86 ERA in 212 appearances, including 210 starts. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Free agent right-hander Chris Archer has finalized a one-year, $6.5 million contract that reunites him with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 32-year-old is back with the AL champions after missing all of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season after surgery to relieve symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome last June, when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Archer spent parts of seven seasons with the Rays, ranking fourth on the franchise’s all-time list for victories, before being traded to the Pirates in a deal that brought pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows to Tampa Bay in 2018. With the Rays, Archer will have an opportunity to win a spot in a revamped pitching rotation that’s lost right-hander Charlie Morton and 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell since Tampa Bay lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. In addition to ranking fourth on the Rays career wins list, Archer is second in strikeouts (1,146) and starts (177) and third in innings pitched (1,063). Over portions of eight major league seasons, the two-time AL All-Star is 60-80 with a 3.86 ERA in 212 appearances, including 210 starts. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Two-time All-Star pitcher Chris Archer has agreed to rejoin the Tampa Bay Rays on a $6.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced. The 32-year-old right-hander, an All-Star with the Rays in 2015 and 2017, is expected to get an opportunity to compete for a spot in a starting rotation that lost Charlie Morton and 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell this winter. The AL champion Rays declined a $15 million option on Morton for 2021. Snell was traded to the San Diego Padres. Archer went 54-68 with a 3.69 ERA in seven seasons with the Rays, who traded him to Pittsburgh in a fruitful deal that brought them right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows in July 2018. Archer missed the pandemic-shortened 2020 season after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery. He was 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA over two seasons with the Pirates, who declined an $11 million option on his contract for 2021. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Two-time All-Star pitcher Chris Archer has agreed to rejoin the Tampa Bay Rays on a $6.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced. The 32-year-old right-hander, an All-Star with the Rays in 2015 and 2017, is expected to get an opportunity to compete for a spot in a starting rotation that lost Charlie Morton and 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell this winter. The AL champion Rays declined a $15 million option on Morton for 2021. Snell was traded to the San Diego Padres. Archer went 54-68 with a 3.69 ERA in seven seasons with the Rays, who traded him to Pittsburgh in a fruitful deal that brought them right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows in July 2018. Archer missed the pandemic-shortened 2020 season after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery. He was 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA over two seasons with the Pirates, who declined an $11 million option on his contract for 2021. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees made another high-risk offseason addition to their starting rotation, acquiring right-hander Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday for four prospects. Pittsburgh received right-handers Roansy Contreras and Miguel Yajure, infielder Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith. Taillon, 29, has not pitched since May 1, 2019, following his second Tommy John surgery. New York also has a pending $11 million, one-year deal with right-hander Corey Kluber, who has pitched just one inning since his right forearm was broken by a comebacker on May 1, 2019. He tore a muscle in his pitching shoulder in his season debut last season. They hope to join a rotation headed by Gerrit Cole, Taillon's former Pirates teammate, and projected to include Deivi García and Jordan Montgomery. In addition, Luis Severino is expected to return from Tommy John surgery last Feb. 27 and Domingo Germán is expected back from a domestic violence suspension that caused him to miss last... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer’s $11 million option for 2021 has been declined by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the 32-year-old right-hander became a free agent. Archer will receive a $250,000 buyout, completing a contract he agreed to with Tampa Bay in April 2014. The deal originally guaranteed $25.5 million over six seasons and included a $9 million club option for 2020 that the Pirates exercised. Archer was a two-time All-Star with the Rays, then was traded to the Pirates on July 31, 2018, for right-hander Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Austin Meadows and a player to be named, who later became minor league right-hander Shane Baz. Archer disappointed with the Pirates, going 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts, including 3-9 with a 5.19 ERA in 2019. Glasnow and Meadows became important players who helped the Rays reach the World Series this year for the first time since 2008. Archer reported discomfort in the neck/shoulder area on his right side in shortly before spring training was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had season-ending surgery June 2 with Dr. Robert Thompson to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. His prorated pay in the pandemic-shortened season was reduced to $3,333,333. In his big league career, Archer is 60-80 with a 3.86 ERA in 210 starts and two relief appearances. His average fastball velocity dropped from 95.75 mph in 2017 to 93.30 mph in 2019. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — What figures to be a down and perhaps brutal market for baseball free agents in the offseason following the pandemic began Wednesday when a dozen players were told their contract options had been declined, among them St. Louis Cardinals Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong. The 30-year-old Wong will receive a $1 million buyout. Wong, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, made his big league debut in 2013 and spent his first eight seasons with St. Louis. Wong hit. 265 with a homer and 16 RBIs in 53 games during the pandemic-shortened season, helping the Cardinals make the playoffs for the second straight year. They were eliminated by San Diego in the first round. “STL will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget all the amazing people who impacted me along the way! Much love,” Wong said Wednesday in an Instagram post. Many teams are cutting costs following a shortened regular season played with no fans in attendance due to the novel coronavirus.... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — What figures to be a down and perhaps brutal market for baseball free agents in the offseason following the pandemic began Wednesday when a dozen players were told their contract options had been declined, among them St. Louis Cardinals Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong. The 30-year-old Wong will receive a $1 million buyout. Wong, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, made his big league debut in 2013 and spent his first eight seasons with St. Louis. Wong hit. 265 with a homer and 16 RBIs in 53 games during the pandemic-shortened season, helping the Cardinals make the playoffs for the second straight year. They were eliminated by San Diego in the first round. “STL will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget all the amazing people who impacted me along the way! Much love,” Wong said Wednesday in an Instagram post. Many teams are cutting costs following a shortened regular season played with no fans in attendance due to the novel coronavirus.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:BLISTERING BLACKMONCharlie Blackmon raised his batting average to an amazing .500 with three more hits in Colorado's 8-7 win over Arizona.After starting out the year 0 for 9, Blackmon has hit in 15 straight games. He’s 34 for 68 through 17 games in the coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.C YOU LATERCleveland is minus two of its top starting pitchers after putting Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list. The Indians made the moves after the right-handers broke team rules and Major League Baseball protocols by leaving their hotel in Chicago last weekend and risking exposure to the COVID-19 virus.The Indians had implemented a code of conduct for players to follow on road trips, forbidding them from socializing outside of the team’s players and staff.MLB permits teams to use the restricted list for players who are unavailable to play for non-baseball reasons. The players will be paid during their leave and be given service times.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:BLISTERING BLACKMONCharlie Blackmon raised his batting average to an amazing .500 with three more hits in Colorado's 8-7 win over Arizona.After starting out the year 0 for 9, Blackmon has hit in 15 straight games. He’s 34 for 68 through 17 games in the coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.C YOU LATERCleveland is minus two of its top starting pitchers after putting Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list. The Indians made the moves after the right-handers broke team rules and Major League Baseball protocols by leaving their hotel in Chicago last weekend and risking exposure to the COVID-19 virus.The Indians had implemented a code of conduct for players to follow on road trips, forbidding them from socializing outside of the team’s players and staff.MLB permits teams to use the restricted list for players who are unavailable to play for non-baseball reasons. The players will be paid during their leave and be given service... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:C YOU LATERCleveland is minus two of its top starting pitchers after putting Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list. The Indians made the moves after the right-handers broke team rules and Major League Baseball protocols by leaving their hotel in Chicago last weekend and risking exposure to the COVID-19 virus.The Indians had implemented a code of conduct for players to follow on road trips, forbidding them from socializing outside of the team’s players and staff.MLB permits teams to use the restricted list for players who are unavailable to play for non-baseball reasons. The players will be paid during their leave and be given service times. They can come off the list at any time.SIDELINED SLUGGERYankees designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is expected to miss three to four weeks after being diagnosed with a grade 1 left hamstring strain.Manager Aaron Boone says the team is still evaluating the 2017 NL MVP and... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An unexpected break didn't stop the steady stream of pitchers to the injured list for the Pittsburgh Pirates.The team placed opening day starter Joe Musgrove on the 10-day IL Tuesday with what manager Derek Shelton called a right triceps issue. The Pirates scratched Musgrove (0-3, 6.75 ERA) before Sunday's start against Detroit with what Shelton called an ankle injury.Musgrove is the sixth Pittsburgh pitcher to be placed on the injured list this season. The list includes starter Mitch Keller and relievers Nick Burdi, Clay Holmes, Michael Feliz and Kyle Crick. It doesn't include closer Keone Kela, who has yet to pitch this season after testing positive for COVID-19. The Pirates began the truncated season with starters Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer already out due to injury.Travis Williams will start when Pittsburgh travels to Cincinnati for a four-game series beginning on Thursday. The Pirates were supposed to be in St. Louis on Tuesday, but their three-game set with... [More]

July 271918 — Brooklyn rookie Henry Heitman completed one of the shortest careers in major league history. Heitman appeared on the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals, gave up four consecutive hits and then left the game, never to play a major league game again.1930 — Ken Ash of Cincinnati got his last major league victory by throwing one pitch. Ash came into relieve in the fifth inning and got Chicago’s Charlie Grimm to hit into a triple play. Ash was removed for a pinch hitter and the Reds beat the Cubs 6-5.1946 — Rudy York of Boston hit two grand slams and drove in 10 runs as the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns 13-6.1950 — Del Ennis of the Philadelphia Phillies drove in seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings of a 13-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Ennis doubled with the bases loaded in the seventh and hit a grand slam in the eighth.1959 — New York lawyer William Shea announced the formation of the Continental League. New York, Houston, Toronto, Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joe Musgrove is ready for opening day. Gregory Polanco and Keone Kela are decidedly not.Pittsburgh Pirates first-year manager Derek Shelton announced Friday that Musgrove will be the starter when the Pirates begin the truncated 2020 season in St. Louis on July 24 while Kela and Polanco will likely not be available due to health issues.Kela, slated to be the team's closer, was placed on the injured list on Friday for an undisclosed reason while Polanco is out indefinitely after testing positive for COVID-19. Polanco, the starting right field who hasn't practiced since Monday, gave the team permission to release his name. Shelton said the 28-year-old, who is the longest-tenured player on the roster, is doing well.“He protected his teammates because he put himself in a conversation where he let us know through the protocols and the testing,” Shelton said. “He was not around anybody else. And because of that, with getting a test and finding out that that he was positive, I... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mitch Keller's first go-round in the majors was a study in contrasts and a snapshot of where baseball is at in 2020.The traditional numbers for the Pittsburgh Pirates top-ranked pitching prospect weren't great. One win in 11 starts. An ERA north of 7.00. An inability to work deep into games. For a franchise that needs young players to do a fair share of the heavy lifting in order to contend, the early returns were jarring.The advanced metrics, however, were far kinder to the big-armed 23-year-old. His spin rate, pitch efficiency and his strikeouts per nine innings (12.2) offered proof his stuff was good. That didn't make it any easier for the soft-spoken kid from Iowa to endure. There would be times he would get to the dugout wondering how things got sideways so quickly.“When you make pitches and a ground ball gets through the hole there or a double down the line or something like that, I mean, you kind of feel it out there,” Keller said. “Like, ‘Dang, that was a really... [More]