SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Switch-hitting, versatile infielder Yangervis Solarte has reached agreement on a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a one-year contract with a $1.75 million salary while in the major leagues and would have a chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses.He will provide infield depth for manager Bruce Bochy. Solarte played every infield position last season for the Blue Jays, making 83 starts at third base and 28 at second.San Francisco dealt with significant injuries to first baseman Brandon Belt, second baseman Joe Panik and third baseman Pablo Sandoval last season and all missed extended time. Sandoval is recovering from August surgery to repair a torn right hamstring, while Belt has had repeated concussions and underwent season-ending right knee surgery in September.The 31-year-old Solarte batted .226 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs in 122 games last season for Toronto. He played in the NL West the previous three-plus years with the Padres.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell says he's sorry for the "hurt and the pain" he caused his ex-wife but didn't detail what prompted a 40-game suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.Russell met with the media Friday for the first time since being suspended last fall, a penalty that he accepted without appeal. Russell spoke for nearly 20 minutes at Cubs camp, ahead of position players joining spring training workouts early next week.The suspension followed allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. Russell missed the final 11 regular-season games plus a wild-card playoff loss to Colorado. He will be eligible to return in early May, barring postponements.Russell said his "past behaviors were wrong and unacceptable."The 25-year-old Russell said, "I don't want to get into any specifics, but what I do want to say is I am accountable for my past actions. I'm not proud of the person I was, but I do want to own this issue and take responsibility... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have talked a lot about how much they like their young core of players.They proved that Friday by locking up a pair of them, signing both right fielder Max Kepler and shortstop Jorge Polanco to five-year contracts."The idea that you can marry up your current players and core with ones that are coming along the way is a great thought, it allows for sustainability," chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said at news conference at the team's spring training facility."We've said all along that there was a core of players," he said. "We've felt strongly of this group since we've got here."The players were originally signed by Minnesota as international free agents in 2009 when they were each 16-year-olds, they started together as roommates and now they're the cornerstone of what the team hopes will be a successful run."We've got this tremendous core of players coming up," general manager Thad Levine said. "To have some of that at fixed costs is meaningful.... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Seattle center fielder Mallex Smith will not participate in early throwing and fielding drills during spring training because of shoulder soreness sustained while throwing in January."We'll kind of slow-play him," manager Scott Servais said Friday. "He got a little over-zealous and did a lot of throwing right out of the chute. I think you'll see him swinging in the cage and hitting on the field."The 25-year-old Smith hit .296 with 27 doubles, 10 triples and 40 steals for Tampa Bay last season in his first full season in the major leagues.He was acquired in the trade that sent Mike Zunino, Guillermo Heredia and Michael Plassmeyer to Tampa Bay on Nov. 8, after the Mariners decided to return Dee Gordon to second base this season.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Luis Severino avoided an arbitration hearing with the New York Yankees, agreeing Friday to a $40 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.Severino's deal includes a team option for 2023 that could make the agreement worth $52.25 million for five seasons. If the option is not exercised, Severino would be eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement is subject to a successful physical.Severino gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020, $10.5 million in 2021 and $11 million in 2022. The team option is for $15 million with a $2.75 million buyout.He had been scheduled for the final salary arbitration hearing of the year on Friday morning at St. Petersburg, Florida. Severino had asked for a raise from $604,975 to $5.25 million in his first season of arbitration eligibility and the Yankees had offered $4.4 million.Severino... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Francisco Liriano had a handful of offers during free agency that were basically the same. Teams wanted him to come to spring training on a minor league contract.Realizing he was not getting a major league deal, he returned to the team where he had his best run during his 13-year career. The 35-year-old left-hander agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Feb. 4, one week before spring training.In a three seasons between 2013 and 2015, Liriano was a combined 35-25 with a 3.26 ERA in 86 starts. He was the winning pitcher in the 2013 NL wild-card game — the Pirates' first postseason appearance since 1992 — when he limited Cincinnati to one run in seven innings."To be honest, that's one of the best games I remember," Liriano said before pitchers and catchers worked out Friday. "I have a lot of good memories in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, it will continue this year, too. Hopefully, we can make the playoffs. You never know. You've got to go out there and play and give... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Detroit beat pitcher Michael Fulmer in the last salary arbitration case this year, leaving players with a 6-4 final record in decisions.Fulmer was awarded a raise from $575,200 to $2.8 million by Matt Goldberg, Robert Herzog and Elizabeth Neumeier, who heard the case Wednesday. Fulmer had asked for $3.4 million.The decision was withheld until Friday, when right-hander Luis Severino and the Yankees had been scheduled for a hearing.Fulmer was the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 2017. A right-hander who turns 26 on March 15, Fulmer was 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA in 132 1/3 innings last year. He didn't pitch for the Tigers between July 14 and Aug. 24 because of a left oblique strain, then didn't pitch after Sept. 15 because of a torn right lateral meniscus.Players had a winning record for the third time in four years but just the fifth time since 1996 and 11th time since arbitration started in 1974.Three starting pitchers won — Cleveland's Trevor Bauer, Houston's... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Switch-hitting, versatile infielder Yangervis Solarte has reached agreement on a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.He will provide infield depth for manager Bruce Bochy. Solarte played every infield position last season for the Blue Jays, making 83 starts at third base and 28 at second.San Francisco dealt with significant injuries to first baseman Brandon Belt, second baseman Joe Panik and third baseman Pablo Sandoval last season and all missed extended time. Sandoval is recovering from August surgery to repair a torn right hamstring, while Belt has had repeated concussions and underwent season-ending right knee surgery in September.The 31-year-old Solarte batted .226 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs in 122 games last season for Toronto. He played in the NL West the previous three-plus years with the Padres.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Detroit beat pitcher Michael Fulmer in the final salary arbitration case this year, leaving players with a 6-4 final record in decisions.Fulmer was awarded a raise from $575,200 to $2.8 million by Matt Goldberg, Robert Herzog and Elizabeth Neumeier, who heard the case Wednesday. Fulmer had asked for $3.4 million.The decision was withheld until Friday, when right-hander Luis Severino and the Yankees had been scheduled for a hearing.Fulmer was the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 2017. A right-hander who turns 26 on March 15, Fulmer was 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA in 132 1/3 innings last year. He didn't pitch for the Tigers between July 14 and Aug. 24 because of a left oblique strain, then didn't pitch after Sept. 15 because of a torn right lateral meniscus.Players had a winning record for the third time in four years but just the fifth time since 1996 and 11th time since arbitration started in 1974.Three starting pitchers won — Cleveland's Trevor Bauer,... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Francisco Liriano had a handful of offers during free agency that were basically the same. Teams wanted him to come to spring training on a minor league contract.Realizing he was not getting a major league deal, he returned to the team where he had his best run during his 13-year career. The 35-year-old left-hander agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Feb. 4, one week before spring training.In a three seasons between 2013 and 2015, Liriano was a combined 35-25 with a 3.26 ERA in 86 starts. He was the winning pitcher in the 2013 NL wild-card game — the Pirates' first postseason appearance since 1992 — when he limited Cincinnati to one run in seven innings."To be honest, that's one of the best games I remember," Liriano said before pitchers and catchers worked out Friday. "I have a lot of good memories in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, it will continue this year, too. Hopefully, we can make the playoffs. You never know. You've got to go out there and play and give... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that right-hander Luis Severino avoided an arbitration hearing with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a $40 million, four-year contract.Severino's deal includes a team option for 2023 that could make the deal worth $52.25 million for five seasons. If the option is not exercised, Severino would be eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.The person spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement is subject to a successful physical.Severino gets a $2 million signing bonus, $4 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $10.5 million in 2021 and $11 million in 2022. The team option is for $15 million with a $2.75 million buyout.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Just a few hours after Jacob deGrom threw his first practice pitch of spring training, the NL Cy Young Award winner let everyone know the score.He hasn't received a long-term contract offer from the New York Mets and isn't sure he will before opening day."I honestly have no clue. There hasn't really been many talks," deGrom said Thursday. "But that can change in one phone call. I just don't really know."The 30-year-old deGrom is set to make $17 million this season and is under club control through 2020. If he doesn't get a new deal this spring, however, he didn't rule out limiting his 2019 workload to protect his personal future.It's an idea that was floated by his agent, Jeff Berry of CAA, in a recent memo to major leaguers during a second consecutive slow free-agent market. If teams are so hesitant to sign accomplished veterans because they come with wear and tear, maybe players should take measures themselves to assure they stay fresh."I think that's going... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — For nearly three years, Johnny Cueto pitched with a stabbing pain in his right elbow. He won 18 games for San Francisco in 2016 and started the All-Star game that year dealing with the discomfort.How he did so, Cueto isn't sure. And the animated right-hander can now envision how great it will be once he's back on the mound and pain-free following Tommy John reconstructive surgery."It was a lot for me to deal with. It was almost three years with pain in the elbow, and strong pain," said Cueto, who turns 33 on Friday. "It's not easy. Last year I started well, but it's a mental pain, it's a pain that felt like someone stuck a knife in my elbow and stabbed it over and over again. It was unbearable and I don't know how I was able to pitch and block the pain."Cueto arrived in Arizona a couple of days behind the Giants pitchers and catchers because of personal reasons and had his physical Thursday. He is scheduled to throw next week for the first time since his August... [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]

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]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two more aces are expressing concern about how major league teams are playing their cards.Washington right-hander Max Scherzer said Thursday there are too many teams trying not to win, and all the rebuilding "poisons the game." Houston star Justin Verlander, a former teammate of Scherzer with Detroit, thinks the current economic approach pursued by some teams will continue to drive away fans."If you're constantly just going into this win-loss cycle that MLB is pushing you create bandwagon fans and that's not the type of fans that you want to create," Scherzer said. "You want to create fans that are following teams year in and year out. It's up to the fans, honestly, to demand that from the league."More than 50 free agents are still looking for homes as spring training ramps up in Florida and Arizona. Sluggers Bryce Harper and Manny Machado top the list, but 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, super utilityman Marwin Gonzalez and closer Craig Kimbrel... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Mookie Betts won a World Series in October, became a first-time dad nine days later, earned his first AL MVP award and was part of a team that won a professional bowling event.What can the 26-year-old do for an encore with the Boston Red Sox?"He can do whatever he wants in sports," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He can golf. He can shoot the basketball and he won a tournament in bowling. He can do it all. He's just gifted.""Yeah, it's been fun. It's been a great year," Betts said Thursday. "It's a new year now, so you have to look at in hindsight and smile about, know what's going on now and take care of things and view things that way."He hit a major league-leading .346 with 32 homers and 80 RBIs last year. Betts likely will be dropped a slot to second in the batting order behind Andrew Benintendi.Betts was a part of a Red Sox team that won a club-record 108 games and Boston's fourth World Series title in 15 season. During the offseason, girlfriend Brianna Hammonds... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — All-Star pitcher Trevor Bauer thought the Cleveland Indians had presented a better overall case against him in their latest salary arbitration hearing, until the last 10 minutes in a rebuttal by Major League Baseball labor relations staff he viewed as "character assassination" against him."That kind of put a black mark on what I thought was a really well-argued case on both sides," Bauer said Thursday, a day after beating the Indians in arbitration for the second year in a row. "There's no room for that. ... Let's just stick to the numbers. Let the numbers decide."A day after Wednesday's hearing in Florida, Bauer was awarded $13 million by the three-person panel over the Indians' $11 million offer. Bauer who won't be eligible until free agency until after the 2020 season, said he never plans to sign more than a one-year contract. The pitcher said the process hasn't soured his feelings about the team."No, I understand it," Bauer said. "I look at it as a very intellectual... [More]