ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson is expected to be ready for spring training following surgery on his left wrist.The Braves said Wednesday Swanson had a procedure on Monday to remove a "loose body" in the wrist.The 24-year-old Swanson hit .238 with 14 home runs and 59 RBI in 136 games last season. He was left off the National League Division Series roster against the Los Angeles Dodgers after tearing a ligament in his left hand late in the season. His hand and wrist were examined at the time.Charlie Culberson filled in at shortstop in the NL Division Series loss to the Dodgers.Swanson is expected to enter the 2019 season as the starter. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said after the season he is happy with the team's infield.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — The Washington Nationals made an offer to Bryce Harper late in the season in an attempt to reach a deal before he became a free agent.Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo disclosed the talks with agent Scott Boras at the general managers' meetings on Tuesday."We've had conversations and we utilized our exclusivity to negotiate with him late in the season through when he became eligible to sign with a team," Rizzo said. "We didn't get anything done, but he's a guy that is near and dear to us and we are not closing any doors."Harper, who turned 26 last month, is expected to receive the largest contract among the 164 free agents. He is a six-time All-Star with 184 homers, 521 RBIs and a .900 OPS."He's shown the type of player he is and now he's a grizzled veteran," Rizzo said. "He has done a lot in the game already, and he is just scratching the surface."Harper was dressed in his full Nats uniform more than 3½ hours before the team's final home game in September and... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Brodie Van Wagenen made his first public moves as New York Mets general manager, firing hitting coach Pat Roessler along with bullpen coach Ricky Bones on Monday and announcing manager Mickey Callaway will have a new bench coach.After meeting for two days with Callaway last week, Van Wagenen said bench coach Gary DiSarcina will replace third-base coach Glenn Sherlock, who will shift to first-base coach.New York went 77-85 in Callaway's first season as a manager, and Callaway drew attention for game management.In a 2-1, 10-inning loss at Cincinnati on May 9, Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilmer Flores batted out of order because the hand-written lineup card given to umpires was different than a computer-printed version posted in the Mets dugout. And on July 9, Callaway brought in left-hander Jerry Blevins against Philadelphia before lefty-hitting Odubel Herrera was announced as a pinch hitter, allowing Phillies manager Gabe Kapler to bat righty-hitting Jesmuel Valentin without... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Brodie Van Wagenen made his first public moves as New York Mets general manager, firing hitting coach Pat Roessler along with bullpen coach Ricky Bones on Monday and announcing manager Mickey Callaway will have a new bench coach.After meeting for two days last week with Callaway, Van Wagenen said bench coach Gary DiSarcina will replace third-base coach Glenn Sherlock, who will shift to first-base coach.New York went 77-85 in Callaway's first season as a general manager, and Callaway drew attention for game management.In a 2-1, 10-inning loss at Cincinnati on May 9, Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilmer Flores batted out of order because the hand-written lineup card given to umpires was different than computer-printed version posted in the Mets dugout. And on July 9, Callaway brought in left-hander Jerry Blevins against Philadelphia before lefty-hitting Odubel Herrera was announced as a pinch hitter, allowing Phillies manager Gabe Kapler to bat righty-hitting Jesmuel Valentin... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Brodie Van Wagenen made his first public moves as New York Mets general manager, firing hitting coach Pat Roessler along with bullpen coach Ricky Bones on Monday and announcing manager Mickey Callaway will have a new bench coach.After meeting for two days last week with Callaway, Van Wagenen said bench coach Gary DiSarcina will replace third-base coach Glenn Sherlock, who will shift to first-base coach.New York went 77-85 in Callaway's first season as a general manager, and Callaway drew attention for game management. On July 9, he brought in left-hander Jerry Blevins against Philadelphia before lefty-hitting Odubel Herrera was announced as a pinch hitter, allowing Phillies manager Gabe Kapler to bat righty-hitting Jesmuel Valentin without wasting a player. Callaway insisted that was the matchup he wanted.Van Wagenen said the impetus for change started with Callaway's self-evaluation."Having someone that is an experienced coach that can help him with in-game management... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Brian Cashman wants to bring CC Sabathia back for an 11th season with the New York Yankees, and he's also holding out some hope of re-signing J.A. Happ.Eight days after the Boston Red Sox won their fourth World Series title in 15 seasons — compared to one in that span for New York — Cashman arrived at the annual general managers' meetings searching for pitching."The Red Sox winning doesn't change the hunger level of trying to deliver a championship sooner than later for our fan base," the Yankees GM said Monday. "I think the hunger and the effort, the passion's there, despite the horrible outcome that took place in the World Series this year."After paying luxury tax for 15 straight years, a total of $341 million, the Yankees dropped below the threshold for the first time in 2018, when Boston took over as baseball's biggest spender for the first time since records began in the free-agent era. Cashman is a man with money to spend this offseason."Yeah, we got under... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Rosenthal's comeback from his 2017 Tommy John surgery went so well, the Washington Nationals newest reliever says he considered trying to get back to the majors last season."The whole process has been very smooth. No hiccups. I felt really good the whole time. Almost too good," Rosenthal said Monday during a conference call with reporters. "Especially there, after the All-Star break, I was kind of anxious, thinking I might be able to pitch before the season was over. But the plan all along from my doctor was just to take this year off, so we stuck with that plan."Rosenthal, the former St. Louis Cardinals closer, agreed last week to a deal with the Nationals, who officially announced Saturday that they signed him.He joins holdover lefty closer Sean Doolittle at the back of Washington's bullpen.Rosenthal said he hasn't "really had too many conversations" yet with the Nationals about how they plan to use him."Obviously, I mean, I think the plan is just being in high-leverage... [More]

Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Chris Woodward was hired as manager of the Texas Rangers on Saturday, six weeks after Jeff Banister was fired.He received a three-year contract with a club option for 2022. He will be introduced at a news conference Monday.Woodward inherits a team that went 67-95 and finished last in the AL West, with the focus turning to the development of younger players. Texas had its first consecutive losing seasons since 2005-08.The hiring ended a process during which general manager Jon Daniels and the Rangers interviewed more than 10 candidates, including bench coach Don Wakamatsu after he served as interim coach the final 10 games of the season.Woodward was interviewed this week after the Dodgers finished their second straight season in which they advanced to the World Series, losing both times. The last team before Los Angeles that appeared in consecutive World Series without winning the title was Texas in 2010 and 2011."We interviewed a number of strong candidates... [More]

Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Chris Woodward was hired as manager of the Texas Rangers on Saturday six weeks after Jeff Banister was fired.He received a three-year contract with a club option for 2022, the Rangers said. He is to be introduced at news conference Monday.Woodward inherits a team that went 67-95 and finished last in its division, with the focus turning to the development of younger players. Texas had its first consecutive losing seasons since 2005-08.The hiring ended a process during which general manager Jon Daniels and the Rangers interviewed more than 10 candidates, including bench coach Don Wakamatsu after he served as interim coach the final 10 games of the season.Woodward was interviewed this week after the Dodgers finished their second straight season in which they advanced to the World Series, losing both times. The last team before Los Angeles that appeared in consecutive World Series without winning the title was Texas in 2010 and 2011.Daniels has hired three... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have signed former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Trevor Rosenthal to a one-year contract with a conditional option for 2020.General manager Mike Rizzo announced the deal Saturday. The contract guarantees Rosenthal $7 million, and he can earn an additional $8 million in performance bonuses.Rosenthal hasn't pitched since 2017 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old is a hard-throwing right-hander with 121 career saves in the majors, all with St. Louis.Rosenthal had a career-high 48 saves in 2015 and was a National League All-Star. He had only 14 saves in 2016 and 11 in 2017 before getting injured.The Cardinals released Rosenthal in November 2017, a few months after he had surgery.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington outfielder Bryce Harper and Boston closer Craig Kimbrel were among just seven free agents who received $17.9 million qualifying offers from their former clubs Friday, when Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw agreed to a $93 million, three-year contract rather than test the market.Left-handers Patrick Corbin (Arizona), Dallas Keuchel (Houston) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (Los Angeles Dodgers) also received qualifying offers as did outfielder A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) and catcher Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers).Players have until Nov. 12 to accept. If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another club before the June amateur draft, his former club would receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round.Only five of 73 players given qualifying offers have accepted since the process began in 2012.The Chicago Cubs exercised their $20 million option on left-hander Cole Hamels, who went 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 12... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington outfielder Bryce Harper and Boston closer Craig Kimbrel were among just seven free agents who received $17.9 million qualifying offers from their former clubs Friday, when Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw agreed to a $93 million, three-year contract rather than test the market.Left-handers Patrick Corbin (Arizona) Dallas Keuchel (Houston) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (Los Angeles Dodgers) also received offers as did outfielder A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) and catcher Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers).Players have until Nov. 12 to accept. If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another club before the June amateur draft, his former club would receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round.Just five of 73 players given qualifying offers have accepted since the process began in 2012.The Chicago Cubs exercised their $20 million option on left-hander Cole Hamels, who went 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts after... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have declined their 2019 contract options for catcher Robinson Chirinos and three pitchers.Chirinos, the primary starting catcher, had a $4.5 million option for next season. That decision Friday was a bit of a surprise while the Rangers were expected to let pitchers Doug Fister, Matt Moore and Martin Perez become free agents.General manager Jon Daniels said shortstop Elvis Andrus, at 30 the team's longest-tenured player with 10 seasons in Texas, wasn't opting out of his contract. Andrus is halfway through a $120 million, eight-year deal that offered him the opportunity to opt for free agency this offseason. He also has that option next year.Andrus hit .297 this season, when he went on the disabled list for the first time in his career. He missed two months because of a fractured right elbow after getting hit by a pitch in April.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves did not extend a qualifying offer to any of their free agents, including cleanup hitter Nick Markakis.If Atlanta had made $17.9 million, one-year offer to Markakis by Friday's deadline, it would have been in line to receive a draft pick if he signed elsewhere. But the team opted against such a move, not wanting to give the outfielder — who turns 35 this month — the option of taking such a lucrative deal.While Markakis was a first-time All-Star who hit .297 with 14 homers and 93 RBIs, his production tailed off in the second half of the season.The Braves also opted against qualifying offers to catcher Kurt Suzuki, starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez, starter Brandon McCarthy, infielder Ryan Flaherty and reliever Peter Moylan. McCarthy has said he plans to retire.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/apf-Baseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw is staying with the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreeing to a $93 million, three-year contract after he initially opted out and chose free agency.The agreement was reached Friday, when Kershaw opted out of a $215 million, seven-year contract that had two seasons remaining at a total of $65 million.The left-hander gets an additional $28 million in guaranteed money. The new agreement includes $4 million annually in performance bonuses, in four $1 million increments for 24, 26, 28 and 30 games started, which could raise the deal's value to $105 million over three years.He also can earn award bonuses of $1.5 million for winning the NL Cy Young Award or $500,000 for finishing second or third in the voting.Also Friday, the Dodgers made $17.9 million qualifying offers to two of their other free agents: pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu and catcher Yasmani Grandal.Winner of the NL Cy Young in 2011, '13 and '14, Kershaw was limited to 26 starts this year because of a back injury and... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have declined their 2019 contract options for catcher Robinson Chirinos and three pitchers.Chirinos, the primary starting catcher, had a $4.5 million option for next season. That decision Friday was a bit of a surprise while the Rangers were expected to let pitchers Doug Fister, Matt Moore and Martin Perez become free agents.General manager Jon Daniels said shortstop Elvis Andrus, at 30 the team's longest-tenured player with 10 seasons in Texas, wasn't opting out of his contract. Andrus is halfway through a $120 million, eight-year deal that offered him the opportunity to opt for free agency this offseason. He also has that option next year.Andrus hit .297 this season, when he went on the disabled list for the first time in his career. He missed two months after because of a fractured right elbow after getting hit by a pitch in April.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw is staying with the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreeing to a $93 million, three-year contract after he initially opted out and chose free agency.The agreement was reached Friday, when Kershaw opted out of his previous deal, a $215 million, seven-year contract that had two seasons remaining at a total of $65 million.The left-hander gets an additional $28 million in guaranteed money. The new agreement includes $4 million annually in performance bonuses based on starts, in four $1 million increments. He also can earn award bonuses.Winner of the NL Cy Young Award in 2011, '13 and '14, the seven-time All-Star was limited to 26 starts this year because of a back injury and went 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA while striking out 155. The Dodgers lost in the World Series for the second straight season, with Kershaw taking the loss in Sunday's season-ending Game 5 defeat to Boston.Kershaw signed his $215 million deal in January 2014, and it called for salaries of $32 million next... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw is staying with the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreeing to a $93 million, three-year contract that avoids free agency.The agreement was reached Friday, the deadline for Kershaw to opt out of his previous deal, a $215 million, seven-year contract that had two seasons remaining at a total of $65 million.The left-hander gets an additional $28 million in guaranteed money. The new agreement includes $4 million annually in performance bonuses based on starts, in four $1 million increments. He also can earn award bonuses.Winner of the NL Cy Young Award in 2011, '13 and '14, the seven-time All-Star was limited to 26 starts this year because of a back injury and went 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA while striking out 155. The Dodgers lost in the World Series for the second straight season, with Kershaw taking the loss in Sunday's season-ending Game 5 defeat to Boston.Kershaw signed his $215 million deal in January 2014. It called for salaries of $32 million next year and $33 million... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have exercised their 2019 option on left-hander Cole Hamels, solidifying their rotation for next year.Hamels, who turns 35 in December, went 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts after he was acquired in a July 27 trade with Texas. The $20 million option makes Hamels' contract worth $158 million for seven years.Hamels gives manager Joe Maddon a deep group of starting pitchers as the Cubs try for their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish also are expected to return, with Mike Montgomery and Tyler Chatwood waiting in the wings.The Cubs also traded left-hander Drew Smyly and a player to be named to the Texas Rangers on Friday for a player to be named.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers have made their first offseason move, agreeing to terms with infielder David Freese on a one-year contract.The team announced the deal Thursday night after the club option of $6 million was declined. The Dodgers will pay Freese a $500,000 buyout in addition to his new $4.5 million deal.The 35-year-old former World Series MVP joined the team in August after a trade from Pittsburgh.Freese was 8 for 22 with two home runs, six RBIs and a walk in 14 postseason games while platooning at first base.He hit .385 in 19 regular-season games with Los Angeles.With Chase Utley having just retired, Freese will fill his veteran leadership role in the clubhouse.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports