PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets left-hander Jason Vargas is expected to miss four to six weeks after fracturing a bone in his right hand.The Mets acquired Vargas in free agency on Feb. 18, signing him to a two-year, $16 million contract. He went 18-11 with a 4.16 ERA for Kansas City last season, making his first All-Star team and tying for the major league lead in wins.The 35-year-old Vargas was hit on the hand by a line drive during a minor league game Friday.The Mets announced Sunday that he suffered a hamate fracture. He was to see hand specialist to determine his prognosis.With Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom set to face St. Louis on March 29 and 31, Vargas had been penciled in to start the series finale on April 1. Matt Harvey could move into the third spot in the starting rotation.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets left-hander Jerad Eickhoff is expected to miss four to six weeks after fracturing a bone in his right hand.The Mets acquired Vargas in free agency on Feb. 18, signing him to a two-year, $16 million contract. He went 18-11 with a 4.16 ERA for Kansas City last season, making his first All-Star team and tying for the major league lead in wins.The 35-year-old Vargas was hit on the hand by a line drive during a minor league game Friday.The Mets announced Sunday that he suffered a hamate fracture. He was to see hand specialist to determine his prognosis.With Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom set to face St. Louis on March 29 and 31, Vargas had been penciled in to start the series finale on April 1. Matt Harvey could move into the third spot in the starting rotation.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Jharel Cotton had planned to build off a promising rookie campaign for the Oakland Athletics.He'll have to wait another year.The 26-year-old righty will undergo elbow surgery and not pitch in 2018, a setback for a young club trying to improve on a last-place finish."It's tough. I'm missing the 2018 season with my boys, so it's kind of hard to take. I'm trying to take it as best as I can and just get ready for the long process, the long road that's ahead," Cotton said Saturday.Cotton had been diagnosed with a sprain and had a second scan Friday, then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.Cotton was 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA average in 24 starts. This spring, he had a 3.75 ERA in four exhibitions, striking out 16 in 12 innings."Unfortunate. Just of him having to go through what a lot of guys have to go through," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But we felt like he was on the cusp of really coming into his own and it's going to be delayed a year, unfortunately."The A's figure to go into the 2018... [More]

Second base is a deep position in fantasy baseball this season. Like most positions it's loaded at the top before the value drops, but when it comes to selecting your middle infielder in the later rounds of your draft, you are much more likely to take a second baseman than a shortstop.Positional flexibility is always a bonus when it comes to selecting a player and several 2B are likely to qualify at other positions. You will need to check league rules to discover how many games a player either needs to play at a certain position this season or last year to qualify at a different position.When it comes to a player that is eligible at multiple positions, this doesn't mean that you should move that player drastically up your draft board, but you can move him up slightly and at the very least use this flexibility as a tiebreaker between him and another player. Jose Ramirez qualifies at third base, Paul DeJong at SS, Marwin Gonzalez at just about every other position other than catcher. Ian... [More]

Jharel Cotton had planned to build off a promising rookie campaign for the Oakland Athletics.He'll have to wait another year.The 26-year-old righty will undergo elbow surgery and not pitch in 2018, a setback for a young club trying to improve on a last-place finish."It's tough. I'm missing the 2018 season with my boys, so it's kind of hard to take. I'm trying to take it as best as I can and just get ready for the long process, the long road that's ahead," Cotton said Saturday.Cotton had been diagnosed with a sprain and had a second scan Friday, then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.Cotton was 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA average in 24 starts. This spring, he had a 3.75 ERA in four exhibitions, striking out 16 in 12 innings."Unfortunate. Just of him having to go through what a lot of guys have to go through," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But we felt like he was on the cusp of really coming into his own and it's going to be delayed a year, unfortunately."The A's figure to go into the 2018... [More]

Jharel Cotton had planned to build off a promising rookie campaign for the Oakland Athletics.He'll have to wait another year.The 26-year-old righty will undergo elbow surgery and not pitch in 2018, a setback for a young club trying to improve on a last-place finish."It's tough. I'm missing the 2018 season with my boys, so it's kind of hard to take. I'm trying to take it as best as I can and just get ready for the long process, the long road that's ahead," Cotton said Saturday.Cotton had been diagnosed with a sprain and had a second scan Friday, then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.Cotton was 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA average in 24 starts. This spring, he had a 3.75 ERA in four exhibitions, striking out 16 in 12 innings."Unfortunate. Just of him having to go through what a lot of guys have to go through," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But we felt like he was on the cusp of really coming into his own and it's going to be delayed a year, unfortunately."The A's figure to go into the 2018... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Of the 10 players in the Los Angeles Angels' starting lineup for a recent spring training game, only one had been with the team longer than Kole Calhoun.That would be the face of the club, star outfielder Mike Trout.Calhoun enters his fifth full major league season as a constant presence in a lineup of players who are new to the Angels, or haven't been around as long. He doesn't get as much of the spotlight as Trout, Albert Pujols, Justin Upton, and certainly new two-way player Shohei Ohtani. But Calhoun is someone the Angels are counting on."Trust me, we don't take Kole for granted. He's part of this core and an important part of this core," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're happy to have him."Calhoun has been the Angels' everyday right fielder since 2014. Other players have come and gone, and even the right-field wall at Angels Stadium has changed. But Calhoun will be stationed in front of it yet again in 2018."You kind of learn as you go and learn how to navigate... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Francisco Cervelli has one primary personal goal this season — stay healthy.The Pittsburgh Pirates catcher was limited to 81 games last year. A concussion landed him on the disabled list twice in June and he was also sidelined by left wrist inflammation before his season ended Aug. 26 because of a strained left quadriceps.The 32-year-old Cervelli changed his workout routine in the offseason, concentrating more on flexibility than strength. He also started his workouts in October, a month earlier than normal, because he sat out the final month of the season."All my work was focusing on prevention of injuries," Cervelli said. "I tried to fix all the problems. They already call me 'veteran," so I have to show that (32) is still young. I feel good and ready to go."Cervelli hit .249 with five home runs last season and threw out just 20 percent of runners (11 of 55) attempting to steal a base.He has hit well this spring, though, as entered Saturday with a .353 average (6... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was rocked for seven runs and seven hits over 1 1/3 innings in his second major league spring training start for the Los Angeles Angels, allowing long home runs to Colorado's Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado that went over the left-field berm on Friday in an 18-6 loss.The 23-year-old Japanese two-way star made his first big league exhibition appearance since Feb. 24, when he pitched 1 1/3 innings against Milwaukee and gave up Keon Broxton's home run leading off the second.Desmond hit a solo homer and Arenado had a three-run shot. Charlie Blackmon had a two-run single, and DJ LeMahieu a run-scoring infield single.Desmond also hit a solo homer off Tyler Warmoth. Kole Calhoun homered for the Angels and Justin Upton went deep for the third time.ELSEHWERE AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESROYALS 12, PADRES 4Mike Moustakas hit a two-run single in his first spring training appearance for Kansas City after rejoining the Royals. Salvador Perez homered twice,... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer embraced, just like they did as Kansas city teammates.Moustakas made his spring training debut after returning to the Royals and hit a two-run single off Chris Young in a 12-4 win over San Diego on Friday.Hosmer, who left to sign with San Diego, hit a two-run homer off Kelvim Herrera.Hosmer dropped his equipment bag by the first base line and trotted to center field to give his friend a bear hug before the game."It's just weird seeing him over there," Moustakas said. "For 12 years I've seen him on this side. Navy blue does look good on him though. He's one of my best friends. We text almost every single day. I love him to death."Young also was on the Royals' 2015 championship team."He got 0-2 on me and kept smiling," Hosmer said. "I had a pretty good idea a heater was coming."Moustakas agreed to a $6.5 million, one-year contract after failing to get a multi-year deal to his liking. Hosmer reached a $144 million, eight-year agreement."It... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was rocked for seven runs and seven hits over 1 1/3 innings in his second major league spring training start for the Los Angeles Angels, allowing long home runs to Colorado's Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado that went over the left-field berm on Friday in an 18-6 loss.The 23-year-old Japanese two-way star made his first big league exhibition appearance since Feb. 24, when he pitched 1 1/3 innings against Milwaukee and gave up Keon Broxton's home run leading off the second.Desmond hit a solo homer and Arrenado had a three-run shot. Charlie Blackmon had a two-run single, and DJ LeMahieu a run-scoring infield single.Desmond also hit a solo homer off Tyler Warmoth. Kole Calhoun homered for the Angels and Justin Upton went deep for the third time.ELSEHWERE AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESROYALS 12, PADRES 4Mike Moustakas hit a two-run single in his first spring training appearance for Kansas City after rejoining the Royals. Salvador Perez homered twice,... [More]

A person familiar with the deal says right-hander Jeremy Hellickson and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a minor league contract.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced.Hellickson, who turns 31 on April 8, would get a $2 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and would have a chance to make an additional $4 million in performance bonuses.He was 8-11 with a 5.43 ERA last year in 30 starts for Philadelphia and Baltimore, which acquired him July 28. Hellickson was 2-6 with a 6.97 ERA in 10 starts with the Orioles.Washington's fifth-starter slot is uncertain in a rotation that includes Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is back at the New York Yankees' spring training camp, three days after having knee surgery.The 71-year-old Jackson had surgery Tuesday, a day after slipping and falling during a walk.A Yankees special adviser, Jackson said Friday at Steinbrenner Field that he is "getting better" and will use a walker for four to six weeks..Jackson hit 563 home runs, including 144 with the Yankees from 1977-81.Notes: Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is to play left field for the first time in a minor league game Saturday. Giancarlo Stanton started in left in Friday night's game against Houston as New York searches for options when starting left fielder Brett Gardner gets a day off. ... It appears likely that backup OF Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) will not be ready for opening day. "We're, probably, from the time standpoint up against it," manager Aaron Boone said. ... Boone said he is close to announcing his opening day starter. Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka are the top candidates.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Third baseman Eugenio Suarez and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a $66 million, seven-year contract, a deal that includes a team option for 2025 that if exercised would make the deal worth $79 million over eight years.The deal announced Friday supersedes the $3.75 million, one-year contract the 26-year-old was awarded when he lost his salary arbitration case last month. The team option is for $15 million with a $2 million buyout.Cincinnati obtained Suarez from Detroit in December 2014 as part of the trade that sent right-hander Alfredo Simon to the Tigers. Suarez hit .260 last season and set career bests with 26 homers, 82 RBIs and .828 OPS. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.Suarez has a .258 average with 64 homers and 223 RBIs in four major league seasons.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have released veteran reliever Justin Grimm.The 29-year-old right-hander was a part of teams that made three straight NL Championship Series appearances and won the World Series in 2016. But he struggled last season with a 1-2 record and 5.53 ERA in 50 appearances.Grimm had a 3.82 ERA in 4 1/2 years with the Cubs. Chicago acquired him and Carl Edwards Jr. from Texas in a deal that sent Matt Garza to the Rangers in July 2013. Grimm's best season was in 2015, when he had a 1.99 ERA in 62 appearances.The Cubs announced the move on Thursday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen needed 13 pitches to throw a perfect inning in his first game appearance since the World Series, an exhibition against Kansas City on Thursday.Jansen entered in the third inning with an 8-3 lead. He struck out Ramon Torres, retired Jon Jay on a popup and got Alex Gordon to make weak contact on a cutter, producing a flyout."To get back in front of 8,000 people out there, it gets your adrenalin going a little bit more," the two-time National League Reliever of the Year said. "I feel great."The Royals beat the Dodgers 14-8.Jansen was to have pitched last Friday but was held out after feeling hamstring tightness. He said he is to pitch Saturday against the Chicago White Sox."Just stick with the process. Stay with running and the weight room. Building my arm strength outside, playing catch. Don't rush it," Jansen said. "You just have to have that confidence and go out there and trust it. I felt really good today."A two-time All-Star,... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — David Price made his delayed spring-training debut for Boston, allowing one hit over four scoreless innings in a 7-5 win over Toronto on Thursday.Price struck out five and walked one. An elbow injury limited to a career-low 11 starts last season."Felt good," Price said. "I had really good fastball command early. I made good pitches when I needed to. I stayed away from the big part of the plate with the exception of a couple of fastballs. I thought it was a good day.Price retired the side in order in the first. After Teoscar Hernandez singled and Jason Leblebijian walked starting the second, Reese McGuire sacrificed, Richard Urena was called out on strikes and Gift Ngoepe flied out. Price then retired the side in order in the third and fourth."He was great," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "From the dugout it looked like his misses were just by an inch. He was on target, good tempo, very impressive for his first outing in a real environment, not a controlled one.... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen needed 13 pitches to throw a perfect inning in his first game appearance since the World Series, an exhibition against Kansas City on Thursday.Jansen entered in the third inning with an 8-3 lead. He struck out Ramon Torres, retired Jon Jay on a popup and got Alex Gordon to make weak contact on a cutter, producing a flyout."To get back in front of 8,000 people out there, it gets your adrenalin going a little bit more," the two-time National League Reliever of the Year said. "I feel great."Jansen was to have pitched last Friday but was held out after feeling hamstring tightness. He is to pitch Saturday against the Chicago White Sox."Just stick with the process. Stay with running and the weight room. Building my arm strength outside, playing catch. Don't rush it," Jansen said. "You just have to have that confidence and go out there and trust it. I felt really good today."A two-time All-Star, Jansen threw 85 innings over 78 games... [More]

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Chris Archer has been picked as the Tampa Bay Rays' opening day starter for a franchise-record fourth consecutive season.Archer is set to pitch against the Boston Red Sox on March 29 at Tropicana Field, the team announced Thursday. The 29-year-old right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA on opening day.Archer will tie James Shields for most opening day starts overall for the franchise. Shields pitched three straight openers from 2008-10 and another in 2012. Former ace David Price made three opening day starts for the franchise, which began play in 1998."It's always a goal of mine, and it's such a pitching-rich organization, it's an honor every single year to represent the Tampa Bay Rays on the first game of the season," Archer said. "Obviously there's a little extra energy, but I feel like since it is my fourth one I know how to tame it and control it a little bit more than if it was my first."Archer was 10-12 with a 4.07 ERA in 34 starts last year and is 51-63 with... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball has told New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge his comments attempting to recruit Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado violate the sport's tampering rules, and Judge says he has learned the lesson.When the Yankees played the Orioles in Sarasota on Wednesday, Judge encountered Machado on the field before the game."Adding him to our lineup that we've already got, it'd be something special," Judge told reporters. "I told him, 'You'd look good in pinstripes.' "Judge added: "He just kind of laughed it off. Didn't really say much."Machado is eligible for free agency after this season, part of a class that includes Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson.Major League Baseball says in a statement: "We have been in contact with the Yankees. They communicated to us that Mr. Judge's off the cuff comments were not appropriate and not authorized by the club. They will speak to him to make sure that this does not happen again."Judge and general manager Brian Cashman had a... [More]