The Cleveland Guardians have signed left-hander Anthony Banda and catcher Dom Nunez to minor-league deals. Both players will receive an invitation to big-league spring training. Banda, 30, made 10 appearances with the Nationals in 2023, posting a 6.43 ERA while walking 14.3% of the 35 hitters he faced across just seven innings of work. He also struggled to a 7.58 ERA across 33 outings (10 starts) at Triple-A a season ago. Nunez, 29, didn't appear in the big leagues in 2023 but rather spent the season at Triple-A between the Pirates and Cubs organizations. He combined to hit just .187 with five home runs and a .637 OPS across 63 games. In the big leagues, he has hit .180 with 12 home runs and a .653 OPS across 111 appearances, all with the Rockies in parts of three seasons from 2019-2022.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam, Kiké Hernández drove in three runs with two homers and the Boston Red Sox snapped a two-game losing streak with a 13-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Rookie Jarren Duran hit his first major league homer, Dylan Santana and Rafael Devers also went yard, and J.D. Martinez broke out of a slump with four hits as the Red Sox improved their AL-leading road record to 29-19. Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta (8-4) allowed four runs on 11 hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Toronto used eight pitchers and had its five-game win streak halted. Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling gave up six runs on four hits and two walks while getting only one out in his first appearance this season that didn’t extend into at least the fourth inning. Cavan Biggio homered for the Blue Jays during a four-run rally in the fourth inning. Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk and Bo Bichette also drove in runs. METS 15, REDS 11,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Brandon Nimmo was activated from the injured list by the New York Mets before Friday's Subway Series opener with the Yankees after missing two months because of a detached hand ligament. Nimmo was set to bat leadoff and play center field at Yankee Stadium. He hit .172 (5 for 29) with a double and no RBIs during a nine-game injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. New York also reinstated Marcus Stroman from the bereavement list. He is scheduled to start Saturday, when the Yankees start ace Gerrit Cole. Right-hander Jeurys Familia and catcher Tomas Nido were activated from the 10-day injured list along with Nimmo. Left-hander David Peterson was placed on the 10-day injured list with right side soreness, a move retroactive to Thursday. He left Wednesday night's start at Atlanta after three innings because of pain. Right-hander Thomas Szapucki, catcher Patrick Mazeika, infielder Travis Blankenhorn were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. New York also obtained left-hander Anthony Banda from San Francisco for minor league infielder Will Toffey. The 27-year-old Banda was assigned to Syracuse. He is 3-2 with a 6.86 ERA at Triple-A Sacramento this season and has a 4-3 record and 5.96 ERA in five major league starts and 13 relief appearances, with Arizona in 2017 and Tampa Bay from 2018-20. Toffey hit .178 with six homers and 16 RBIs this year for Double-A Binghamton. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chadwick Tromp and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a one-year deal Wednesday after the team declined to tender a contract to the rookie catcher from Aruba before last week's deadline. Tromp announced on social media he would be returning to the Giants, who initially signed him to a minor league deal for last season. He gets a salary of $583,000 while in the major leagues and $150,000 while in the minors. “GIANTS NATION!! Now that the details are finalized i cant wait to go get more WWWWWWWWWW! LETS GO BABY! (@) SFGiants," he wrote. The 25-year-old Tromp batted .213 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 24 games last season. The Giants also announced they signed 11 players to minor league contracts that include an invitation to major league spring training: right-handers Melvin Adon, Daniel Alvarez Silvino Bracho, Rico Garcia, Dominic Leone, Yunior Marte, Raffi Vizcaino and Sam Wolff; left-handers Anthony Banda and Sam Long; and infielder/outfielder Jason Krizan, ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chadwick Tromp and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a one-year deal Wednesday after the team declined to tender a contract to the rookie catcher from Aruba before last week's deadline. Tromp announced on social media he would be returning to the Giants, who initially signed him to a minor league deal for last season. “GIANTS NATION!! Now that the details are finalized i cant wait to go get more WWWWWWWWWW! LETS GO BABY! (@) SFGiants," he wrote. The 25-year-old Tromp batted .213 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 24 games last season. The Giants also announced they signed 11 players to minor league contracts that include an invitation to major league spring training: RHP Melvin Adon, RHP Daniel Alvarez, LHP Anthony Banda, RHP Silvino Bracho, RHP Rico Garcia, INF/OF Jason Krizan, RHP Dominic Leone, LHP Sam Long, RHP Yunior Marte, RHP Raffi Vizcaino and RHP Sam Wolff. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants acquired left-hander Anthony Banda from the Tampa Bay Rays for $75,000 on Monday, adding depth to their bullpen.Banda went 1-0 with a 10.29 ERA in four outings with one save over seven innings for the Rays before being designated for assignment Sunday. Tampa Bay needed a spot on its 40-man roster.He gave up five runs on five hits with three walks in one inning earlier Sunday against the Marlins in Miami.San Francisco's payment to the Rays is due on Sept. 15.Also Monday, the Giants placed outfielder Joey Rickard on the 60-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.comMLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants acquired left-hander Anthony Banda from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash Monday, adding depth to their bullpen.Banda went 1-0 with a 10.29 ERA in four outings with one save over seven innings for the Rays before being designated for assignment Sunday. Tampa Bay needed a spot on its 40-man roster.He gave up five runs on five hits with three walks in one inning earlier Sunday against the Marlins in Miami.Also Monday, the Giants placed outfielder Joey Rickard on the 60-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.comMLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cody Bellinger’s home run leading off the ninth inning gave Los Angeles a win over slumping Colorado.Bellinger drove a slider from Daniel Bard (1-2) just over the glove of Rockies right... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 1, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch hitter Kevin Kiermaier singled in the 10th inning, and Tampa Bay ended Toronto’s six-game winning streak.Both teams scored a run in the fifth and it stayed 1-all... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout drove in three early runs, then made a key catch late as the Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 Saturday to snap the Athletics’ nine-game home winning streak.The three-time MVP made a diving catch on Matt Olson’s sinking liner to center field to start the eighth inning, which had Angels reliever Ty Buttrey clapping his glove in gratitude. Buttrey got six outs for his second save.Anthony Rendon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Angels, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Matt Andriese (1-1) relieved Griffin Canning in the fifth and pitched 2 1/3 innings for his first win with Los Angeles.Matt Chapman homered for AL West-leading Oakland. Chris Bassitt (2-1) permitted four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 1, 10 INNINGSST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch hitter Kevin Kiermaier singled in the 10th inning, and Tampa Bay ended Toronto’s six-game winning streak.Both teams scored a run in the fifth and it stayed 1-all... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs in a game for the sixth time in his career, matching a major league record, and the Los Angeles Dodgers launched six long balls in all Thursday night during an 11-2 rout of the San Diego Padres.Betts tied a mark shared by Sammy Sosa and Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. The 2018 AL MVP went 4 for 4 with five RBIs and was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot, where manager Dave Roberts has been reluctant to lock him in.Corey Seager, AJ Pollock and Austin Barnes also homered for the Dodgers. Seager returned after missing five games because of lower back discomfort. Barnes and Betts went back-to-back.With a chance to tie the big league mark of four home runs in one game, Betts reached on an infield single in the seventh. The National League’s top two home run-hitting teams split the four-game series, with the Dodgers outscoring the Padres 17-2 over the last two.Julio Urías (2-0) gave up consecutive homers to Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer in the first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Trout homered and doubled three times during his first five-hit game in the majors, and the Los Angeles Angels quickly erased an early deficit in beating the New York Yankees 11-4 on Saturday night.Playing not far from his southern New Jersey hometown, Trout went deep for the third straight game to tie Boston's Mookie Betts for the big league lead with 17 home runs. The two-time MVP drove in four runs and set career bests with four extra-base hits and 11 total bases.Jose Briceno homered in his major league debut for Los Angeles, and rookie Jaime Barria (4-1) returned from the minors to win his third consecutive major league decision.Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Austin Romine homered for the Yankees. Sonny Gray (3-4) was tagged for five runs in 3 2/3 innings.RED SOX 8, BRAVES 6BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs, helping Boston top Atlanta.The AL East-leading Red Sox celebrated the return of Dustin Pedroia with their sixth win in seven games.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Trout homered and doubled three times during his first five-hit game in the majors, and the Los Angeles Angels quickly erased an early deficit in beating the New York Yankees 11-4 on Saturday night.Playing not far from his southern New Jersey hometown, Trout went deep for the third straight game to tie Boston's Mookie Betts for the big league lead with 17 home runs. The two-time MVP drove in four runs and set career bests with four extra-base hits and 11 total bases.Jose Briceno homered in his major league debut for Los Angeles, and rookie Jaime Barria (4-1) returned from the minors to win his third consecutive major league decision.Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Austin Romine homered for the Yankees. Sonny Gray (3-4) was tagged for five runs in 3 2/3 innings.RED SOX 8, BRAVES 6BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs, helping Boston top Atlanta.The AL East-leading Red Sox celebrated the return of Dustin Pedroia with their sixth win in seven games.... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 8-6 on Saturday.The AL East-leading Red Sox celebrated the return of Dustin Pedroia with their sixth win in seven games. Mitch Moreland had a key two-run double, Steven Wright (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings, and Craig Kimbrel got three outs for his 16th save.The 34-year-old Pedroia went 0 for 4 with a walk and scored in his first game after offseason knee surgery.Dansby Swanson hit a two-run homer for Atlanta, and Ronald Acuna Jr. connected for a solo shot. Sean Newcomb, a Massachusetts native, struggled with his control in his first career game at Fenway Park, giving up three runs and walking four in three innings. Sam Freeman (1-2) got the loss.PHILLIES 2, BLUE JAYS 1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Nola took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Nick Williams hit his third pinch-hit homer in the eighth and the Phillies moved into first in the NL East.Nola did not allow a... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays reliever Sergio Romo played 11 seasons before making his first major league start.Not even 24 hours later, Romo will make his second.Romo will start for the second consecutive day in the finale of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, Rays manager Kevin Cash said following a 5-3 win on Saturday night."I'm sure it will be talked about, but hopefully it works," Cash said.Romo struck out all three batters he faced in the first inning, using 18 pitches to fan Zack Cozart, Mike Trout and Justin Upton.Cash said Romo would have continued pitching if not for Daniel Robertson's grand slam in the second inning. Instead, Cash decided to take advantage of the 4-0 lead and immediately turn to rookie left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, who gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings.Cash's plan going into the game was to minimize the number of times Yarbrough would have to face the heart of an Angels' lineup heavy on right-handed batters."Try not to read too... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks activated right fielder Steven Souza Jr. from the disabled list and he was in the lineup for his debut with the team Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Souza, acquired in a three-team offseason trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, had been sidelined since straining his right pectoral muscle trying to make a diving catch in a spring training game.Souza came to Arizona as part of the deal that sent second baseman Brandon Drury to the New York Yankees and pitching prospect Anthony Banda to Tampa Bay.Souza hit .239 last season with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays intend to use a four-man rotation while filling a fifth starter's role with a combination of multi-inning relievers this season.Manager Kevin Cash delivered the surprising news Wednesday, saying the club thinks it has enough pitching depth to make the plan work long-term."We're going to schedule in a bullpen day as our fifth starter," Cash said, noting the Rays will "learn a lot in the first six weeks" while determining whether it's feasible to try to stick with a four-man rotation for an entire season.The projected rotation currently features Chris Archer, Nathan Eovaldi, Blake Snell and Jake Faria.The group of potential multi-inning relievers who'll be considered for "bullpen day" roles include Matt Andriese, Yonny Chirinos and Anthony Banda."It's a reflection of who we have available," Cash said. "We feel like we have a lot of good pitchers."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Surprised to be traded, Steven Souza Jr. heads to Arizona for what promises to be a key role on a Diamondbacks team that expects to be good.The 28-year-old outfielder knew the Tampa Bay Rays were making some big changes but felt assured by management that he still figured in their plans."As much as people were flying off the shelf, it seemed like I was not going to be one of those people," Souza said Wednesday in a conference call from the airport before boarding a plane to Arizona. "It definitely caught me off-guard a little bit. I was definitely preparing for the role that I had there."Souza came to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in a three-team trade that sent infielder Brandon Drury from Arizona to the New York Yankees and left-hander Anthony Banda, a top Arizona pitching prospect, to Tampa Bay.Souza batted just .239, but hit 30 homers, drove in 78 runs and walked 84 times, all three career highs.He will wear the same No. 28 that J.D. Martinez wore in his torrid... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks sent infielder Brandon Drury to the New York Yankees and received outfielder Steven Souza Jr. from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade Tuesday that included five players plus two to be named later.The deal was announced one day after former Diamondbacks slugger J.D. Martinez agreed to a $110 million, five-year contract with Boston, pending a physical. Arizona has moved quickly to fill that hole in the outfield, signing speedy Jarrod Dyson to a $7.5 million, two-year contract on Monday before trading for Souza.Souza will be the starter at one corner outfield position, with Dyson subbing at all three spots.Drury gives the Yankees a new option at third base or second base, where New York was projected to start a pair of rookies.Top pitching prospect Anthony Banda goes from Arizona to the Rays, who also get minor league second baseman Nick Solak from the Yankees and two players to be named from the Diamondbacks. Minor league right-hander... [More]