Jake Arrieta finally found a deal he liked.The free agent ace and the Philadelphia Phillies have reached agreement on a three-year contract, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because the deal, reportedly worth $75 million, is pending a physical. Arrieta is joining the Phillies just 2 ½ weeks before opening day.The 32-year-old Arrieta was among several top free agents who didn't get a contract for six or seven seasons in a changing market. The Phillies, who have plenty of money to spend, waited until the price was right for them.Arrieta won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award with the Chicago Cubs and helped them win the World Series the next season. The right-hander was 14-10 with a 3.53 ERA last year.The Phillies went 66-96 and finished last in the NL East, and haven't had a winning season since 2011. But they've added veteran slugger Carlos Santana, Arrieta and quality relievers to a young nucleus that could... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Anthony DeSclafani has a strained left oblique, the third year in a row that the Cincinnati Reds starter has been hurt during spring training.Manager Bryan Price said DeScalfani felt discomfort during his last spring appearance and an exam found the problem. It's unclear how long he might be sidelined. The Reds open the season in a little over two weeks."I say that with nothing but frustration for Anthony and our club," Price said Sunday. "I feel bad for the kid. He worked his tail off to get ready. He did everything we asked of him and more."DeSclafani also suffered a strained left oblique before the 2016 season and was sidelined until June. The right-hander finished that season with a 9-5 record with a 3.28 ERA. He missed all of last season with a sprained elbow.The Reds were counting on him, Homer Bailey and left-hander Brandon Finnegan to recover from injuries and anchor a rotation that struggled without them last year. Instead, they're heading toward opening... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Reds opened camp on Wednesday with one unclaimed spot in the rotation, a major improvement over last year. The question is whether their three veteran starters can make it to opening day without any setbacks.Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, Homer Bailey and left-hander Brandon Finnegan to stay healthy for a change, anchoring a rotation that has little experience beyond those three. Luis Castillo impressed as a rookie and is expected to get the fourth spot, leaving one open to competition."The good thing is that it's not open tryouts," manager Bryan Price said. "But it's not a get-your-arm-ready-for-the-season spring training, either."DeSclafani, Bailey and Finnegan are in camp and appear to be fully recovered from injuries that limited them to a combined 22 starts.DeSclafani missed the entire season with a sore elbow, a year after being limited to 20 starts because of a strained left oblique. Bailey had elbow surgery before the start of spring training... [More]

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]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Can Cincinnati's rotation make it through spring training intact for once?The Reds' starting pitchers haven't done well in Arizona lately. Last year, Homer Bailey needed elbow surgery before camp even opened, and it just got worse as it went along. Anthony DeSclafani developed a sore pitching elbow and never threw an inning.Left-hander Brandon Finnegan actually made it to the season, but wound up limited to four games because of a strained back and a dislocated shoulder. Together, the Reds' top three starters managed a total of 22 starts, the biggest factor in Cincinnati's third straight 90-loss season.All three are back and healthy — for the moment — as the last-place team opens training camp hoping to finally make up some ground in the NL Central."Having a fully healthy Homer Bailey, Brandon Finnegan and Anthony DeSclafani, there's a lot of reason to believe we've finally got there," manager Bryan Price said. "The young guys are going to continue to work hard and get... [More]

RHP Brandon Finnegan, who has been on the disabled list since April 12, has been strengthening his injured shoulder and remains on track to begin a throwing program after Christmas in order to be ready for spring training. Finnegan went 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts before the injury.

LHP Brandon Finnegan (left shoulder) underwent labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder Friday after suffering the injury when he attempted to jump from a boat onto a dock, manager Bryan Price said. Finnegan is expected to miss 4-6 months. He has been on the disabled list twice this season because of a strained teres muscle. "It would have been a stretch that he would have been able to pitch again" this season, Price said.

LHP Brandon Finnegan was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Sunday. He's been on the DL since June 28 with a strained trapezius muscle. He missed 10 weeks with an unrelated shoulder injury and was injured again during his first start back.

LHP Brandon Finnegan was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Tuesday with a left shoulder injury. "We know he's going to miss some time, enough that he has gone on the disabled list," Reds manager Bryan Price said. Finnegan had been on the DL since April with an unrelated shoulder injury. He was reinstated to start Monday's game at St. Louis but left in the fourth inning. Finnegan was one of the key acquisitions in exchange for Johnny Cueto in July 2015.

LHP Brandon Finnegan likely is headed back to the disabled list after leaving Monday's start in St. Louis after three innings with a left triceps strain. It was his first appearance since being reinstated from the DL where he had been since April 16 due to a shoulder injury. "My head is spinning," a frustrated Finnegan said Tuesday. "I don't know what to say right now. I had an MRI a couple days ago and it was 100 percent." Reds manager Bryan Price said the team would take a day or two to decide what to do with Finnegan, who was one of the key acquisitions in exchange for Johnny Cueto in July 2015.

LHP Brandon Finnegan (left shoulder) came off the 60-day DL Monday in St. Louis and started the game, lasting only three innings before a left triceps strain forced him out of there. Finnegan experienced control trouble, walking four and throwing only 31 of 58 pitches for strikes. He allowed three hits and three runs, striking out two but taking the loss.

The Cincinnati Reds reinstated left-hander Brandon Finnegan from the 60-day disabled list and he will start Monday afternoon's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.Finnegan missed more than two months due to left shoulder issues. He allowed four runs over five innings Wednesday night in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville, and he produced a 3.00 ERA in three rehab outings. To make room on the roster, the Reds optioned right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla to Triple-A Louisville and also transferred right-hander Bronson Arroyo (right shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list.Finnegan suffered the first major injury of his career in his third start of the season on April 15. The 24-year-old Finnegan traveled with the Reds to Washington for their final two games in the series against the Nationals."I was really excited to walk in, see all the guys and give them a hug and tell them what's up," Finnegan told reporters Sunday. "I had to go through a whole pretty much second spring training, that was... [More]

RHP Brandon Finnegan (left shoulder issues) is slated to start Monday for the Reds in St. Louis, manager Bryan Price said. Finnegan pitched Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville and allowed four earned runs in five innings. He is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts this year for the Reds.

RHP Brandon Finnegan (left shoulder issues) is slated to start Monday for the Reds in St. Louis, manager Bryan Price said Saturday. Finnegan pitched Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville and allowed four earned runs in five innings. "This is what we have been waiting for," Price said Saturday. Finnegan is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts this year for the Reds.

RHP Brandon Finnegan (left shoulder issues) could make a start for the Reds next week, manager Bryan Price said Friday. Finnegan pitched Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville and allowed four earned runs in five innings. "He came out of it feeling good. He is progressing as we hoped," Price said.

LHP Brandon Finnegan moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday and allowed four runs on four hits in five innings. He has been on the disabled list since April 16 due to a left shoulder strain.

LHP Brandon Finnegan threw 54 pitches in a rehab start for Double-A Pensacola on Friday with positive results. "(Wahoos manager Pat Kelly) liked what he saw," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Really good movement on his fastball, good changeup, lot of strikes. He's progressing how we would like. He feels like it's a second spring training, so there's an ebb and flow with that. He's feeling fine. As far as the velocity, he's going to have that ebb and flow that you're going to see in a rehab environment." Finnegan is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts.

RHP Brandon Finnegan, who has been on the disabled list since April 16 with left shoulder issues, began his rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Pensacola and allowed one hit in three innings. He allowed a walk with a strikeout in s scoreless assignment covering 35 pitches.

RHP Brandon Finnegan, who has been on the disabled list since April 16 with left shoulder issues, began his rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Pensacola and allowed one hit in three innings. He allowed a walk with a strikeout in s scoreless assignment covering 35 pitches.

LHP Brandon Finnegan has a three-inning rehab session scheduled in Double-A Pensacola as he continues to work on the left shoulder injury that sidelined him in April.