PHOENIX (AP) — Cincinnati Reds All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett injured his right leg while fielding a grounder against Milwaukee and was helped off the field.Gennett ranged to his left for a ball off the bat of Yasmani Grandal leading off the second inning Friday. Gennett slid to make the stop and threw to pitcher Robert Stephenson covering first for the out. Gennett went to his knees and was helped off by Reds head athletic trainer Steve Baumann and manager David Bell."I don't know exactly if it was when he fell or when he made the throw," Bell said. "He felt something in his groin.Cincinnati says Gennett was to have an MRI.The 28-year-old Gennett reached the majors with the Brewers in 2013 and was claimed off waivers by his hometown Reds near the end of spring training two years ago. He made his first All-Star team last season, hitting .310 with 23 homers and 92 RBIs.Top prospect Nick Senzel could be a candidate to replace Gennett. Senzel was reassigned to minor league camp earlier... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Cincinnati Reds All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett injured his right leg while fielding a grounder against Milwaukee and was helped off the field.Gennett ranged to his left for a ball off the bat of Yasmani Grandal leading off the second inning Friday. Gennett slid to make the stop and threw to pitcher Robert Stephenson covering first for the out. Gennett went to his knees and was helped off by Reds head athletic trainer Steve Baumann and manager David Bell."I don't know exactly if it was when he fell or when he made the throw," Bell said. "He felt something in his groin.Cincinnati says Gennett was to have an MRI.The 28-year-old Gennett reached the majors with the Brewers in 2013 and was claimed off waivers by his hometown Reds near the end of spring training two years ago. He made his first All-Star team last season, hitting .310 with 23 homers and 92 RBIs.Top prospect Nick Senzel could be a candidate to replace Gennett. Senzel was reassigned to minor league camp earlier... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Cincinnati Reds All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett injured his right leg while fielding a grounder against Milwaukee and was helped off the field.Gennett ranged to his left for a ball off the bat of Yasmani Grandal leading off the second inning Friday. Gennett slid to make the stop and threw to pitcher Robert Stephenson covering first for the out. Gennett went to his knees and was helped off by Reds head athletic trainer Steve Baumann and manager David Bell."I don't know exactly if it was when he fell or when he made the throw," Bell said. "He felt something in his groin.Cincinnati says Gennett was to have an MRI.The 28-year-old Gennett reached the majors with the Brewers in 2013 and was claimed off waivers by his hometown Reds near the end of spring training two years ago. He made his first All-Star team last season, hitting .310 with 23 homers and 92 RBIs.Top prospect Nick Senzel could be a candidate to replace Gennett. Senzel was reassigned to minor league camp earlier... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East 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:___Boston Red SoxManager: Alex Cora (second season).2018: 108-54, first place, World Series champions.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park at Fenway South.First Workout: Feb. 13/18.He's Here: OF Gorkys Hernandez, RHP Jenrry Mejia.He's Outta Here: RHP Craig Kimbrel, RHP Joe Kelly, 2B Ian Kinsler.Going campin': The Red Sox are largely standing pat as they attempt to win back-to-back World Series for the first time in more than a century. The team that won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season last year is largely intact, with All-Star closer Kimbrel the biggest loss. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is hoping to return from a knee injury that limited him to three games last season. Christian Vazquez, Blake Swihart and Sandy Leon will compete for two spots at catcher.... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia, allowed back into baseball after a lifetime ban caused by three positive drug tests, has agreed to a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.If added to the 40-man roster, the 29-year-old Dominican right-hander would receive a one-year contract at a rate of $625,000 while in the major leagues and $90,400 while in the minors.Mejia was suspended for life on Feb. 12, 2016, after his third positive test for a banned steroid. The drug agreement allowed him to apply a year later for reinstatement that would be effective a minimum of two years after the ban started, with the decision at the commissioner's discretion. Commissioner Rob Manfred gave him conditional reinstatement last July 6 and said Mejia could return to the big leagues in 2019.Amid another slow free agent market, Mejia's deal was immediately panned by fans and at least one big leaguer."Hows my offseason going? This guy had a lifetime ban and still signed before me!!!" tweeted free... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia, allowed back into baseball after a lifetime ban caused by three positive drug tests, has agreed to a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.If added to the 40-man roster, the 29-year-old Dominican right-hander would receive a one-year contract at a rate of $625,000 while in the major leagues and $90,400 while in the minors.Mejia will report to Boston's minor league spring training camp. He's been out of the majors since July 2015.Boston closer Craig Kimbrel became a free agent and the Red Sox are reorganizing their bullpen.Mejia was suspended for life on Feb. 12, 2016, after his third positive test for a banned steroid. The drug agreement allowed him to apply a year later for reinstatement that would be effective a minimum of two years after the ban started, with the decision at the commissioner's discretion. Commissioner Rob Manfred gave him conditional reinstatement last July 6 and said Mejia could return to the big leagues in 2019.The... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Jenrry Mejia was released Tuesday by the New York Mets after serving three drug suspensions.The 29-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic was told in July by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred that he could return to the big leagues in 2019.Mejia was suspended for life on Feb. 12, 2016, after his third positive test for a banned steroid. The drug agreement allowed him to apply a year later for reinstatement that would be effective a minimum of two years after the ban started, with the decision at the commissioner's discretion.Mejia was the Mets' closer in 2014 and was suspended for 80 games on April 11, 2015, following a positive test for Stanozolol, a drug popular among bodybuilders. At the time, he maintained, "I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system."Mejia returned on July 12, appeared in seven games for New York, then was banned for 162 games on July 28 after a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone. The third... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Jenrry Mejia was released Tuesday by the New York Mets after serving three drug suspensions.The 29-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic was told in July by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred that he could return to the big leagues in 2019.Mejia was suspended for life on Feb. 12, 2016, after his third positive test for a banned steroid. The drug agreement allowed him to apply a year later for reinstatement that would be effective a minimum of two years after the ban started, with the decision at the commissioner's discretion.Mejia was the Mets' closer in 2014 and was suspended for 80 games on April 11, 2015, following a positive test for Stanozolol, a drug popular among bodybuilders. At the time, he maintained, "I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system."Mejia returned on July 12, appeared in seven games for New York, then was banned for 162 games on July 28 after a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone. The third... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets general manager Sandy Alderson anticipates a flurry of roster moves as a large number of players find teams in the next few weeks.J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, Greg Holland and Lance Lynn remain among the dozens of unsigned players with the Feb. 14 start of spring training less than two weeks away.Alderson counted only 13 open spots on 40-man rosters, which will lead to players getting traded, designated for assignment and released."As these free agents begin to sign, there's going to be a lot of roster churn among the teams and other opportunities," he said Thursday on a chilly winter morning at Citi Field. "So it's going to be interesting the next two or three weeks."Alderson spoke with invited fans as the Mets' equipment truck was loaded for the trip to training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida. In a sign of baseball economics, club executives told him to speak with the media and face cameras while standing in front of the spot... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Suspended reliever Jenrry Mejia and the New York Mets have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,729,000, money the pitcher will not receive because of his three positive drug tests.Even though Mejia was banned from baseball for life in February 2016, the Mets retain his rights as a player on their restricted list. The deal is the maximum 30 percent cut from his 2016 salary of $2.47 million. He was cut the maximum 20 percent last year to $1,976,000. Under baseball's drug agreement, players serving suspensions do not get paid.Mejia was suspended for 80 games on April 11, 2015, following a positive test for Stanozolol, a drug popular among bodybuilders, and admitted then he took a banned substance.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

RHP Jenrry Mejia's big league career is likely done after Major League Baseball suspended him for two years on Feb. 12 following a third failed PED test. Mejia, who is the first player to receive a lifetime ban for PED use, can technically apply to be reinstated after two years. His first suspension was handed down last April 11 and the second one was issued July 28, after Mejia had thrown 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

RHP Jenrry Mejia became the first major-league player to receive a permanent suspension for using performance-enhancing substances when Major League Baseball announced the lifetime ban on Friday. Mejia tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid, his third positive PED test in less than one year, which under league rules calls for a permanent ban. Mejia, 26, is also prohibited from playing minor-league baseball and with concurrent pro leagues in other countries, including Japan, South Korea and Mexico. Independent leagues and winter leagues can choose whether to enforce MLB suspensions, including Mejia's winter league team in the Dominican Republic. Under the PED testing rules, Mejia can apply for reinstatement in one year to commissioner Rob Manfred. Rules mandate he must sit out a minimum of two seasons before he could be reinstated to pitch in the majors.

RHP Jenrry Mejia and the Mets avoided arbitration Monday, agreeing to a one-year, $2.47 million deal.Mejia was suspended for 80 games on April 11 after testing positive for Stanozolol. He then was banned for another 162 games on July 28 after a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone.Mejia had asked for a $2,595,000 salary and was offered $2,345,000.

Mejia has been suspended 162 for his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

Just three weeks after being reinstated from an 80-game suspension for PED use, Mejia has received a second ban from Major League Baseball, this one of the full-season variety. Mejia is making $2.595 million this season and is due for arbitration this winter, but after the headache he's caused the Mets, the team could opt to non-tender him.

New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia was suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday following his second positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, according to CBS Sports.

New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia was suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday following his second positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, according to CBS Sports. Mejia returned just three weeks ago from an 80-game suspension for his first positive test, and he will now miss the rest of this season as well as the majority of next season. “We were extremely disappointed when informed of Jenrry’s second suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Mets said in a statement Tuesday. “We fully support MLB’s policy toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the sport.” The 25-year-old had pitched well since returning, as he had yet to allow a run through seven innings, but he will leave the Mets bullpen with one fewer option, though the team acquired Tyler Clippard on Monday. Mejia is due for arbitration this winter, but it is unclear if the team will keep him after the latest violation.

Mejia tossed two scoreless innings in the Mets' 3-1, 18-inning win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

This was Mejia's third appearance since coming back from his 80-game PED suspension and first time he worked on back-to-back days. Mejia will mainly pitch the seventh inning as a lead-in to Bobby Parnell and Jeurys Familia on the back-end of the Mets' bullpen.

Mejia, making his first appearance since returning from his 80-game PED suspension, retired Chris Owings in the seventh inning to keep the Mets' lead at 5-3 on Sunday.

Manager Terry Collins had said before Sunday's game that he would get Mejia in the contest regardless of the situation. Mejia was able to be used in a high-leverage spot, though Bobby Parnell pitched the eighth and Jeurys Familia was used as expected to close the game. Mejia should be used as a set-up man to either Parnell or Familia the second half of the season.

New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia retired the only batter he faced against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in his first game since serving an 80-game suspension for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia retired the only batter he faced against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in his first game since serving an 80-game suspension for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Mejia came on with one run in and one on in the seventh, and got Chris Owing to fly out to end the inning. Mets manager Terry Collins said after the game that Mejia's presence gives a more complete feel to the bullpen. "All of a sudden everybody broke down and Jenrry got suspended and now it left it to Familia and some young rookies," Collins told ESPN. "And right now the bullpen is coming around. Jenrry was nervous today. I'm sure everybody saw that. But we're going to get better. If we can get to the big guy at the end, we're going to win some games."

Mejia was reinstated from the restricted list Tuesday.

He received an 80-game PED suspension and as expected he was activated as soon as he had served his time. With Mejia out of the mix Jeurys Familia has grabbed a firm hold of the Mets' closer role, leaving Mejia to work for opportunities in middle relief for now.

Mejia (suspension) is expected to be activated by the Mets on Tuesday after making his final rehab appearance Sunday, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

Mejia, as expected, will return to the Mets as soon as he's eligible following an 80-game PED suspension. He's been effective while tuning up in the minors, allowing just one earned run and striking out 10 batters over five innings. However, Jeurys Familia is expected to maintain a firm grasp on the closer's role, as it's tough to argue with the 1.16 ERA and 0.91 WHIP he's posted up to this point.