ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will retire Joe Mauer's No. 7 jersey next season, making a swift move to honor the homegrown player and six-time All-Star who recently retired after a 15-year major league career .The Twins surprised Mauer with the announcement on Tuesday, while his accomplishments were celebrated at an all-student assembly at his alma mater Cretin-Derham Hall High School."I enjoyed putting the uniform on every day and being able to put on the Twins uniform, being at home, meant more to me than you'll know," Mauer said. "When I take my kids to a game and see No. 7 up there, it'll probably put a smile on my face every time I see it."Mauer will become the eighth former Twins player or manager with a retired number, joining Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), Kirby Puckett (34), Bert Blyleven (28) and Tom Kelly (10). Jackie Robinson (42) has had his number retired by all major league teams.Oliva, Hrbek, Blyleven and Kelly entered... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andrew McCutchen returned to his home state to join his third team in less than 12 months, intent on regaining his old hitting stroke.The Philadelphia Phillies introduced their newest outfielder at a news conference Tuesday, a week after giving him a $50 million, three-year contract that includes a team option for 2022 and could be worth $62 million over four seasons."This is a game of adjustments," McCutchen said. "I've definitely had to make some adjustments over the years, and I know that I can be even better than what I've been over the past few (seasons). There has been a decline, yes, but I do understand what I'm capable of doing.McCutchen hit .255 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs in 155 games this year for San Francisco and the New York Yankees. His average was a career-low and his homers and RBIs were his fewest since 2010. He spent his first nine years in Pittsburgh and was the 2013 NL Most Valuable Player."I know I can be better, and that's what I've been doing all... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Wilson Ramos had a grip on the New York Mets from the moment he walked into their winter meetings suite in Las Vegas last week."It was his handshake," new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen recalled Tuesday at the catcher's introductory news conference. "As some of you may get to know, this guy has really big, strong, strong mitts here for hands."Ramos agreed to a $19 million, two-year contract, the fourth All-Star to join the Mets since Van Wagenen was hired in late October. New York acquired second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz from Seattle and brought back former closer Jeurys Familia as a setup man."Internally, we would argue that we're the favorites in the division right now," Van Wagenen told the team's SNY network.Ramos commanded the room, according to Van Wagenen, when he met with the GM, manager Mickey Callaway and other New York executives. Ramos looked at home during the Citi Field news conference, wearing a sports shirt and sneakers as he slipped... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Free agent right-hander Lance Lynn has finalized a $30 million, three-year contract with the Texas Rangers.The Rangers introduced Lynn on Tuesday, completing a deal that was reached during the winter meetings subject to a successful physical.Lynn's deal includes a $4 million signing bonus, of which $3 million is payable next year and $1 million for 2020. He has salaries of $8 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $8 million in 2021.The right-hander joins a rotation with returning Mike Minor and two veterans coming off Tommy John surgery, Edinson Volquez and Drew Smyly.Lynn has an 82-57 record with a 3.57 ERA in 214 games with St. Louis, Minnesota and the New York Yankees since 2011. He split last season with the Twins and Yankees.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Infielder Daniel Descalso and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for 2021 and could be worth $8.25 million over three seasons.He gets $1.5 million next year and $2.5 million in 2020. Chicago has a $3.5 million option for 2021 with a $1 million buyout.Descalso can earn $250,000 annually in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 each for 425, 450 and 475, and $100,000 for 500.The 32-year-old hit .237 with 22 doubles for Arizona last season. He set career bests in home runs (13) and RBIs (57) while playing in 138 games, his most since 2012.Descalso has batted .240 with 46 homers and 279 RBIs in 997 games in nine seasons with St. Louis, Colorado and the Diamondbacks.He has played every position except for center field and catcher.Desalco was coming off a two-year contract that paid $1.35 million in 2017 and $2 million this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Infielder Daniel Descalso and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for 2021.He gets $1.5 million next year and $2.5 million in 2020. Chicago has a $3.5 million option for 2021 with a $1 million buyout.The 32-year-old hit .237 with 22 doubles for Arizona last season. He set career bests in home runs (13) and RBIs (57) while playing in 138 games, his most since 2012.Descalso has batted .240 with 46 homers and 279 RBIs in 997 games in nine seasons with St. Louis, Colorado and the Diamondbacks.He has played every position except for center field and catcher.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Adams is returning to a Nationals team he believes is better than the one he was traded from and has the potential to make even more moves this offseason.Adams agreed to terms Tuesday on a $4 million, one-year deal with a mutual option for 2020. The 30-year-old first baseman is back with Washington after being traded to St. Louis in August for $50,000. The move by general manager Mike Rizzo fills a void with a left-handed hitter who's expected to split time at first base with Ryan Zimmerman."I'm kind of at a loss for words just because I'm excited for this opportunity," Adams said on a conference call. "The team is definitely better than it was last year with the acquisitions that Rizz has made so far this offseason, and I don't think that we're done yet, either. It's an exciting time for fans and we're excited to get things rolling in 2019."Rizzo bolstered the starting rotation by signing left-hander Patrick Corbin to a $140 million, six-year contract and shored... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Infielder Daniel Descalso and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a two-year contract that includes a club option for 2021.The 32-year-old hit .237 with 22 doubles for Arizona last season. He set career bests in home runs (13) and RBIs (57) while playing in 138 games, his most since 2012.Descalso has batted .240 with 46 homers and 279 RBIs in 997 games in nine seasons with St. Louis, Colorado and the Diamondbacks.He has played every position except for center field and catcher.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will retire Joe Mauer's No. 7 jersey next season, moving swiftly to honor the six-time All-Star who retired after a 15-year major league career.The Twins surprised Mauer with the announcement while he was being celebrated at an all-student assembly at his alma mater Cretin-Derham Hall High School on Tuesday.Mauer will become the eighth former Twins player or manager with a retired number, joining Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), Kirby Puckett (34), Bert Blyleven (28) and Tom Kelly (10). Jackie Robinson (42) has had his number retired by all major league teams.Oliva, Hrbek, Blyleven and Kelly entered the gym during the ceremony. Hrbek took the podium and turned to Mauer to reveal the news.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Nationals have finalized a $4 million, one-year deal with first baseman Matt Adams that includes a mutual option for 2020.General manager Mike Rizzo announced the contract Tuesday. Washington and Adams agreed last weekend pending a successful physical.Adams returns to the Nationals after they traded him to St. Louis in August for $50,000. At the time of the trade, he considered the possibility of going back to Washington in 2019.The 30-year-old said Tuesday he's excited about the moves Rizzo has already made, signing left-handed starter Patrick Corbin and catcher Kurt Suzuki and acquiring catcher Yan Gomes from Cleveland, and would be happy if the Nationals brought back star outfielder Bryce Harper.Adams is a career .266 hitter and had 21 home runs and 57 RBIs last season with the Nationals and Cardinals. He fills a void for Washington as a left-handed bat who is expected to split time at first base with Ryan Zimmerman.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins will retire Joe Mauer's No. 7 jersey next season, moving swiftly with to honor the six-time All-Star who retired after a 15-year major league career.The Twins surprised Mauer with the announcement while he was being celebrated at an all-student assembly at his alma mater Cretin-Derham Hall High School on Tuesday.Mauer will become the eighth former Twins player or manager with a retired number, joining Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), Kirby Puckett (34), Bert Blyleven (28) and Tom Kelly (10). Jackie Robinson (42) has had his number retired by all major league teams.Oliva, Hrbek, Blyleven and Kelly entered the gym during the ceremony. Hrbek took the podium and turned to Mauer to reveal the news.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the Houston Astros have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent outfielder Michael Brantley.The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday night because the club has not yet announced the move.The 31-year-old Brantley has spent his entire 10-year career with the Cleveland Indians, where he was a three-time All-Star.Brantley is a career .295 hitter and gives Houston an upgrade to an outfield anchored by center fielder George Springer.Brantley hit .309 with 17 homers, 36 doubles and 76 RBIs last season in 143 games, with 134 starts in left field. Brantley's best season came in 2014 when he finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting 20 homers with 97 RBIs — both career-highs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the Houston Astros have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent outfielder Michael Brantley.The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday night because the club has not yet announced the move.The 31-year-old Brantley has spent his entire 10-year career with the Cleveland Indians, where he was a three-time All-Star.Brantley is a career .295 hitter and gives Houston an upgrade to an outfield anchored by center fielder George Springer.Brantley hit .309 with 17 homers, 36 doubles and 76 RBIs last season in 143 games, with 134 starts in left field. Brantley's best season came in 2014 when he finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting 20 homers with 97 RBIs — both career-highs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Plunking an opponent paid off for CC Sabathia.The New York Yankees gave Sabathia a $500,000 performance bonus, even though the 38-year-old left-hander was ejected from his final regular-season start six outs shy of the 155 innings specified in his contract for the payment.Sabathia hit Tampa Bay's Jesus Sucre starting the sixth inning on Sept. 27 with his 55th pitch of the night, retaliation for Andrew Kittredge throwing a pitch behind Austin Romine in the top half."We thought it was a very nice gesture by the Yankees," Sabathia's agent, Kyle Thousand of Roc Nation Sports, told The Associated Press on Monday. "CC was very appreciative and is really excited to come back next year and, hopefully, win a championship."Neither side announced the decision, which became evident when the $500,000 was included in the Yankees' final luxury tax payroll."It was something that we did very private and weren't looking to publicize, and I'll just leave it at that," Yankees general manager... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeurys Familia would rather be a setup man for the New York Mets than close for another team.Familia had 123 saves for the Mets, who traded him to Oakland last July. He instructed agents Sam and Seth Levinson to pursue any possibility to return to the Mets."Honestly, that was my goal, be back with the Mets," Familia said during a conference call Monday, three says after his $30 million, three-year contract was finalized.New York recently acquired 2018 big league saves leader Edwin Diaz from Seattle along with All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano. Because of that, Familia will return in a different role."I want to pitch whatever innings they want to put me in the game," Familia said. "He's one of the best relievers in the game, the best closer. It's going to be fun."Familia gets a $2 million signing bonus payable on equal installments on July 1 and Dec. 10 next year. He has salaries of $6 million in 2019 and $11 million in each of the final two seasons. The Mets will defer... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitcher Jordan Lyles and the Pittsburgh Pirates have finalized a $2.05 million, one-year contract.The 28-year-old right-hander can earn additional award bonuses as part of the deal, agreed to last week and announced Monday.Lyles is 31-52 with a 5.28 ERA in 217 appearances for Houston, Colorado, San Diego and Milwaukee. Though Lyles has worked primarily as a reliever since 2016, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Lyles will have an opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation during spring training.Lyles is coming off his best season, going 3-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 35 games with San Diego and Milwaukee, and his 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings tied his career best. He was more effective out of the bullpen (1-0, 3.32 ERA) than he was as a starter (2-4, 4.79) and seemed to hit his stride with the Brewers. Lyles was 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA 11 appearances, striking out 22 batters in 16 1/3 innings.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers are bringing back reliever Matt Bush with a minor league contract as the right-hander recovers from elbow surgery.Texas said Monday it has agreed to minor league deals with Bush, pitchers Zac Curtis and Tim Dillard and infielder Chase d'Arnaud. They will report to major league spring training.Bush isn't expected to be ready until the second half of the season after surgery in September to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.The 32-year-old made the last of his 21 appearances for Texas last season on June 14. Bush had no record with a 4.70 ERA and became a free agent when the Rangers didn't offer a contract by the Nov. 20 deadline.The No. 1 overall pick as an infielder out of high school by San Diego in 2004, Bush finally made it to the big leagues as a hard-throwing reliever for the Rangers in 2016. He is 10-6 with a 3.35 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 137 innings over parts of three seasons.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians have acquired infielder Andruw Monasterio from Washington to complete the trade that sent All-Star catcher Yan Gomes to the Nationals.Cleveland dealt Gomes last month for a package that included right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, outfielder Daniel Johnston and a player to be named, who turned to be Monasterio.The 21-year-old began last season in the Chicago Cubs organization before he was traded to the Nationals on July 31. He batted a combined .267 with three homers and 36 RBIs in 122 games.He played second base, shortstop and third base. Monasterio signed with the Cubs as a 17-year-old in 2014.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Left-hander J.A. Happ and the New York Yankees have finalized a $34 million, two-year contract.Happ gets $17 million in each of the next two seasons, and his deal includes a $17 million option for 2021 that could become guaranteed is he has either 27 or more starts as a pitcher in 2020 or 165 or more innings that year.He is projected to be part of a rotation that includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and James Paxton, acquired from Seattle in a trade.A first-time All-Star, Happ was acquired from Toronto on July 26 as a summer rental and went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts for New York, leaving him 17-6 with a 3.65 ERA for the season. He lost lose at Boston in the AL Division Series opener, allowing five runs in two innings.Right-hander Parker Bridwell was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot Monday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Left-hander J.A. Happ and the New York Yankees have finalized a $34 million, two-year contract.Happ gets $17 million in each of the next two seasons, and his deal includes a $17 million option for 2021 that could become guaranteed based on starts and innings in 2020.He is projected to be part of a rotation that includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and James Paxton, acquired from Seattle in a trade.A first-time All-Star, Happ was acquired from Toronto on July 26 as a summer rental and went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts for New York, leaving him 17-6 with a 3.65 ERA for the season. He lost lose at Boston in the AL Division Series opener, allowing five runs in two innings.Right-hander Parker Bridwell was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot Monday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports