LOS ANGELES (AP) — Outfielder Kevin Pillar was traded by the veteran-shedding Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday for infielder Alen Hanson, right-hander Derek Law and minor league pitcher Juan De Paula.Pillar was due to join the Giants in Los Angeles during their game against the Dodgers."We're excited, really excited," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's somebody that's been on our radar for a while, and to have him here to help out, he'll give us plus defense, another bat, experienced guy. The energy level that he plays at, I'm looking forward to getting to know him and watching him."Pillar had been Toronto's longest-tenured player, in his seventh season with the Blue Jays. Known for stellar defense in center field, the 30-year-old has a .260 average with 55 home runs and 231 RBIs in 695 games. Pillar has a $5.8 million salary, is eligible for arbitration next winter and can become a free agent after the 2020 season.Hanson, 26, has a .238 hitter with 12 home runs... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Blue Jays said goodbye to Kevin Pillar while giving a long-term deal to Randal Grichuk.Pillar was traded by the veteran-shedding Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday for infielder Alen Hanson, right-hander Derek Law and minor league pitcher Juan De Paula.Toronto also acquired outfielder Socrates Brito from San Diego for Class A outfielder Rodrigo Orozco, then announced a $52 million, five-year agreement with Grichuk, an outfielder who had been eligible for free agency after the 2020 season."The offense has always stood out," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said of Grichuk. "He's always performed. He's always hit the ball hard. He's always hit it far, and usually it goes over the fence at a pretty good rate. In our view, he's been an above average defender, and those are hard things to piece together."Grichuk is a career .247 hitter with 92 home runs and 245 RBIs in 533 games with St. Louis and Toronto, but his on-base percentage is just .297.Atkins said... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Blue Jays said goodbye to Kevin Pillar while giving a long-term deal to Randal Grichuk.Pillar was traded by the veteran-shedding Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday for infielder Alen Hanson, right-hander Derek Law and minor league pitcher Juan De Paula.Toronto also acquired outfielder Socrates Brito from San Diego for Class A outfielder Rodrigo Orozco, then announced a $52 million, five-year agreement with Grichuk, an outfielder who had been eligible for free agency after the 2020 season."The offense has always stood out," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said of Grichuk. "He's always performed. He's always hit the ball hard. He's always hit it far, and usually it goes over the fence at a pretty good rate. In our view, he's been an above average defender, and those are hard things to piece together."Grichuk is a career .247 hitter with 92 home runs and 245 RBIs in 533 games with St. Louis and Toronto, but his on-base percentage is just .297.Atkins said... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Outfielder Kevin Pillar was traded by the veteran-shedding Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday for infielder Alen Hanson, right-hander Derek Law and minor league pitcher Juan De Paula.Pillar had been Toronto's longest-tenured player, in his seventh season with the Blue Jays. Known for stellar defense in center field, the 30-year-old has a .260 average with 55 home runs and 231 RBIs in 695 games. Pillar has a $5.8 million salary, is eligible for arbitration next winter and can become a free agent after the 2020 season.Hanson, 26, has a .238 hitter with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 243 games for Pittsburgh, the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco. Law, 28, was 9-3 with five saves and a 3.83 ERA in 109 games over three seasons with the Giants. De Paula, 21, struck out 55 batters in 52 1/3 innings in Class A last season.Hanson has a $650,000 salary in the major leagues and Law $567,500.San Francisco designated outfielder Michael Reed for assignment to make room for Pillar on the 40-man roster.Toronto traded designated hitter Kendrys Morales to Oakland last Wednesday, agreeing to give the Athletics $11,445,000 to cover nearly all of Morales' $12 million salary.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto has traded outfielder Kevin Pillar to the San Francisco Giants, the second veteran the rebuilding Blue Jays have traded in the past week.Toronto receives infielder Alen Hanson, right-hander Derek Law and minor league pitcher Juan De Paula.Pillar is a career .260 hitter with 55 home runs and 231 RBI in 695 games. He's known for his highlight reel catches in center. Now in his seventh season, Pillar was Toronto's longest-tenured player.Hanson is a career .238 hitter with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 243 games for Pittsburgh, the White Sox and San Francisco. Law is 9-3 with five saves and a 3.83 ERA in 109 games over three seasons with the Giants. De Paula struck out 55 batters in 52 1/3 innings in Class-A last season.The Giants designated outfielder Michael Reed for assignment to make room for Pillar on the roster. Toronto sent designated hitter Kendrys Morales to Oakland last Wednesday.

A team-by-team look at the National League West 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:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (fourth season).2018: 92-71, first place, lost to Boston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 13/19.He's Here: CF A.J. Pollock, RHP Joe Kelly, C Russell Martin, RHP Homer Bailey, 3B Justin Yorchak, LHP Adam McCreery, RHP Jaime Schultz.He's Outta Here: SS Manny Machado, OF Matt Kemp, OF Yasiel Puig, C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Alex Wood, 2B Brian Dozier, RHP Ryan Madson, C Kyle Farmer, 2B Chase Utley, RHP John Axford, RHP Daniel Hudson, LHP-RHP Pat Venditte.Going campin': The Dodgers arrive at camp with unfinished business yet again, having lost in the World Series for the second straight year. They won their sixth consecutive NL West title and second straight NL pennant only to fall short in seven... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryce Harper and the Giants met in the free agent slugger's hometown of Las Vegas this week, and new San Francisco baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi said the sides had mutual interest.Zaidi, the club's new president of baseball operations, would not say whether an offer was extended to the star outfielder. The Giants still hope to add two outfielders.A fan posted that he had spotted Giants CEO Larry Baer in the Bellagio on Monday night."It's kind of hard to deny when your CEO gets made in the casino," Zaidi said with a chuckle Friday. "There's obviously mutual interest on both sides, so we thought it made sense to get together. We had a good conversation over a few hours and he's obviously got a lot of suitors and a lot of interest. He's going to have some decisions to make, but again I think it's fair to say that was an expression of our interest level to make the trip out there and meet with him."Zaidi said background discussions led to the meeting: "We didn't... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League West 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:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (fourth season).2018: 92-71, first place, lost to Boston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 13/19.He's Here: CF A.J. Pollock, RHP Joe Kelly, C Russell Martin, RHP Homer Bailey, 3B Justin Yorchak, LHP Adam McCreery, RHP Jaime Schultz.He's Outta Here: SS Manny Machado, OF Matt Kemp, OF Yasiel Puig, C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Alex Wood, 2B Brian Dozier, RHP Ryan Madson, C Kyle Farmer, 2B Chase Utley, RHP John Axford, RHP Daniel Hudson, LHP-RHP Pat Venditte.Going campin': The Dodgers arrive at camp with unfinished business yet again, having lost in the World Series for the second straight year. They won their sixth consecutive NL West title and second straight NL pennant only to fall short in seven... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League West 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:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (fourth season).2018: 92-71, first place, lost to Boston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 13/19.He's Here: CF A.J. Pollock, RHP Joe Kelly, C Russell Martin, RHP Homer Bailey, 3B Justin Yorchak, LHP Adam McCreery, RHP Jaime Schultz.He's Outta Here: SS Manny Machado, OF Matt Kemp, OF Yasiel Puig, C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Alex Wood, 2B Brian Dozier, RHP Ryan Madson, C Kyle Farmer, 2B Chase Utley, RHP John Axford, RHP Daniel Hudson, LHP-RHP Pat Venditte.Going campin': The Dodgers arrive at camp with unfinished business yet again, having lost in the World Series for the second straight year. They won their sixth consecutive NL West title and second straight NL pennant only to fall short in seven... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis hit a long home run after letting a young fan from the Make-A-Wish Foundation sign his jersey, Ramon Laureano hit the first two homers of his career, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 9-0 on Monday night.Davis' shot for his 37th homer of the year was estimated at 438 feet and clanked off a window in the suite-level in left-center field. He did it wearing a uniform signed by 10-year-old Anthony Slocumb. The Oakland sixth-grader attended the game with a group from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Davis asked him to sign his jersey before the game.Laureano connected in the second and again in the sixth with a three-run shot that chased Bartolo Colon (7-11), the 45-year-old Rangers starter scratched a day earlier against the Angels because of back stiffness.Stephen Piscotty homered in the seventh and Marcus Semien added an RBI double to back Mike Fiers (9-6) as Oakland matched Houston atop the AL West.INDIANS 5, RED SOX 4BOSTON (AP) — Greg Allen... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have transferred Johnny Cueto to the 60-day disabled list, meaning it will be late June at the earliest before the right-hander returns to the rotation.Giants manager Bruce Bochy also announced Thursday that fellow ace Madison Bumgarner will throw his first bullpen session next week as the leftie begins to work his way back from a broken pinkie finger suffered in spring training.The Giants made the move with Cueto on Thursday to free a 25-man roster spot for right-hander Jose Valdez, who was promoted from Triple-A Sacramento. Right-hander Derek Law was optioned to Triple-A, a day after throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings in an 11-3 loss to Philadelphia.The Giants announced earlier this week that Cueto would miss 6-8 weeks with a strained right elbow.Bochy said Cueto perhaps could have returned within 60 days, but they want to be cautious.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have reinstated pitcher Chris Stratton from the paternity list and plan to start the right-hander in the first game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Second baseman Joe Panik was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb, one of a number of moves made by the Giants.Outfielder Mac Williamson was put on the seven-day concussion list after he stumbled over the bullpen mound near left field and crashed into a low wall near the stands Tuesday. Reliever Mark Melancon was transferred to the 60-day disabled list and right-hander Derek Law was appointed as the 26th man for Saturday's doubleheader.Additionally, outfielder Austin Slater was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento one day after being sent down. The Giants also promoted infielder Alen Hanson from their top farm club.Panik injured himself during a pickoff attempt in Friday night's 6-4 win over the Dodgers.

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]

RHP Derek Law got the only man he faced, St. Louis Cardinals C Yadier Molina, to fly out in his return to the majors Friday night. He was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento earlier in the day when major-league rosters expanded. The 26-year-old went 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 31 games out of the bullpen in an earlier stint with the Giants this year. Law had 10 saves at Sacramento, where he went 1-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 25 games.

RHP Derek Law is a candidate to be recalled when rosters expand Sept. 1, manager Bruce Bochy said. Law was 4-2 with four saves and a 2.13 ERA in 61 games for the Giants last season, but was 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 31 games this season before being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on June 20. "More than anything, it is command of the ball," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said on the improvement needed from Law. "You talk about mechanics. He had to get back to locating his pitches. Velocity and stuff, it was fine." Law is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA and nine saves at Sacramento.

Law (elbow) remains on track to start facing hitters in about two months, CSN Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic reports.

Law hopes to be pitching in games by June or July, and while his recovery from Tommy John surgery seems to be going well, the injury has likely pushed back his timetable to reach the majors. Although he's yet to pitch above the Double-A level, Law was a candidate for the big-league bullpen last spring, due in large part to some injuries in front of him.

Law (elbow) was optioned to High-A San Jose on Tuesday, CSN Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic reports.

He has just started throwing bullpen sessions for the first time since his Tommy John surgery, so he probably won't make any minor league starts until this summer. Law remains a couple years away from the big leagues.

Law threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, his first since undergoing Tommy John last June, CSN Bay Area reports.

Law said that the session went "really, really well" and that his arm feels about "60 percent." The hard-throwing righty almost made the Giants' Opening Day roster in 2014 after a spectacular spring campaign, but spent the year at Triple-A Fresno before having to undergo Tommy John surgery in June. It sounds like Law is progressing well and should be looking at a June or July return to the mound.