BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Clippard wore a black jersey with a white players' union logo and pitched hitless ball for two innings against amateurs in the green shirts of the East Japan Railway Company.He had the poorest personal results of his nine major league seasons, yet ended the year with a celebration in the clubhouse of the World Series champion Houston Astros. This is not how the 33-year-old right-hander envisioned spring training."We know that my year last year was a bad year, but at the end of the day how bad was it? And it wasn't as bad as some that got significant contracts," he said Tuesday after appearing in the first of two exhibition games for free agents scheduled for this week at the IMG Academy.Thirty-eight players have attended the camp since workouts started Feb. 14. They wonder why they are on the outside while several teams have jettisoned veterans to fill a higher percentage of their roster spots with lower-salaried youth.The players' association filed a grievance... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Clippard wore a black jersey with a white players' union logo and pitched hitless ball for two innings against amateurs in the green shirts of the East Japan Railway Company.Even coming off the worst of his nine major league seasons, this is not how the 33-year-old right-hander envisioned spring training."We know that my year last year was a bad year, but at the end of the day how bad was it? And it wasn't as bad as some that got significant contracts," he said Tuesday after appearing in the first of two exhibition games for free agents scheduled for this week at the IMG Academy.Thirty-eight players have attended the camp since workouts started Feb. 14. They wonder why they are on the outside while several teams have jettisoned veterans to fill a higher percentage of their roster spots with lower-salaried youth.The players' association filed a grievance Friday against the Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, accusing the teams... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Once he overcame some anxiety, Yonder Alonso started swinging for the fences.And clearing them.Hoping to improve his power statistics, Alonso altered his swing last season and the baseball began to fly. After hitting just 39 home runs in his first seven major league seasons, Alonso connected for 28 in 142 games for Oakland and Seattle.The Indians are counting on his surge to continue.Following first baseman Carlos Santana's departure as a free agent to Philadelphia, the Indians were left with a run-producing void in their lineup and signed the 30-year-old Alonso, who became something of a poster boy for MLB's new elevation trend.Alonso implemented a higher leg kick, used a bigger upper cut and concentrated on hitting the ball harder. And, as it turned out, farther."I tell guys, 'Look at me,'" said Alonso, who made his first All-Star appearance last season while with the Athletics. "I was so scared of change. Then I changed. It worked. I'm still learning that change... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent reliever Carlos Torres, who could fill a bullpen opening.Torres pitched in 67 games last season for the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-hander will join the Indians in training camp once he passes a physical. The 35-year-old went 4-1 with a 4.21 ERA last season, his second with Milwaukee following three with the New York Mets.Torres has a 4.00 ERA in 348 career major league games with the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Mets and Brewers. He has pitched in at least 59 games in each of the past four seasons.The Indians have at least one spot to fill in their bullpen after right-handers Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith left this winter as free agents. Cleveland has other roster decisions to make this spring that could affect its relief corps.

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___Chicago CubsManager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).2017: 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.Training Town: Mesa, Arizona.Park: Sloan Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly.He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera.Going campin': Chicago is coming off three consecutive NLCS appearances, and it looked a little tired when its title defense came to an end with a lopsided playoff loss to Los Angeles last year. The bullpen was hit hard by the Dodgers in the NLCS, and the Cubs batted just .168 in 10 postseason games. The roster returns mostly intact, but the bullpen and coaching staff each has a new look. Morrow replaces Davis at closer after agreeing to a $21 million, two-year contract. Jim... [More]

RHP Carlos Torres was something of an afterthought when he was claimed off waivers two days before Opening Day, but he turned out to be a valuable weapon in the bullpen, leading the Brewers with 72 appearances while going 3-3 with a 2.73 ERA. Torres pitched in a variety of roles for Milwaukee, covering multiple innings at times, working in high-leverage situations and even converting two of five save opportunities.

RHP Carlos Torres likely will assume some more significant use in higher leverage situations in coming games. Torres threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Cardinals on Saturday night.

LHP Carlos Torres added another scoreless inning to his totals on Saturday night. Torres has been on a roll this month, posting a 0.84 ERA (10 2/3 IP, 1 ER) with three walks and nine strikeouts in 10 games in July. Signed as a free agent on April 2, Torres has pitched himself into trade speculation, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 44 appearances this season.

LHP Carlos Torres added another scoreless inning to his totals Saturday night. Torres has been on a roll this month, posting a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 with three walks and nine strikeouts over 10 games in July. Torres, signed as a free agent April 2, has pitched himself into trade speculation, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 44 appearances this season.

RHP Carlos Torres fanned two hitters in a scoreless seventh inning, marking the 11th time this year he's whiffed at least two hitters in a relief appearance. That ranks second on the team to setup man Tyler Thornburg (13). The veteran could be a trade chip at the deadline for teams needing a middle reliever as he's pitching to a 3.29 ERA in 35 appearances and fanning more than a batter an inning.

RHP Carlos Torres fanned two hitters in a scoreless seventh inning, marking the 11th time this year he has struck out at least two hitters in a relief appearance. That ranks second on the team to setup man Tyler Thornburg (13). The veteran could be a trade chip at the deadline for teams needing a middle reliever as he has pitching to a 3.29 ERA in 35 appearances and struck out more than a batter an inning.

RHP Carlos Torres picked up a two-inning save (his second) on Thursday. The Milwaukee bullpen has compiled a 1.52 ERA in 65 innings since May 6.

RHP Carlos Torres, who cleared waivers, declined the Mets' outright assignment to the minors and opted to become a free agent.Torres, 33, went 5-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 59 appearances for New York last year. He agreed to a non-guaranteed, one-year, $1.05 million deal on Jan. 15 to avoid arbitration.

RHP Carlos Torres, who agreed to a one-year, $1.05 million deal on Jan. 15 to avoid arbitration, was designed for assignment by the Mets on Saturday to open a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed LHP Antonio Bastardo. Torres, 33, went 5-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 59 appearances for New York last year.

RHP Carlos Torres agreed to a one-year, $1.05 million deal on Friday to avoid arbitration.

Torres (calf) pitched Sunday night for the first time since September 7.

The outing wasn't great - he allowed three runs on a hit and two walks, retiring two batters. With September roster expansion, the Mets won't have an urgent need to use Torres, though it'll be interesting to see if he makes the playoff roster.

Torres (calf) could throw off a mound Friday, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

The Mets have yet to allow Torres to throw off a mound since he suffered a strained left calf over a week ago, but he's been able to do some mound work at about 50 percent. Assuming he's able to progress with his rehab in the coming days, Torres should be able to return before the end of the season.

Torres (calf) is likely a few days from returning to the mound, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reports.

He is back to throwing off a mound, but only at about 50 percent. Torres should have a chance to get some appearances under his belt to knock off any rust before the postseason.

Torres suffered a strained left calf during Monday's game, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.

Torres came on in relief of Jon Niese during Monday's contest against the Nationals, but he left after 1.1 innings while favoring the calf. The Mets are yet to provide an estimated return timeline, but he doesn't figure to miss significant time.

Torres allowed three runs for the second straight game Tuesday.

Torres has a brief run of solid pitching last week, but struggled again his last two appearances. That has been his pattern lately, a few good outings followed by several bad ones. Due to options manager Terry Collins now has at his disposal in the bullpen, Torres may only be used in middle relief or mop-up situations the rest of the way.