PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The spring training workout facility created for free agents by the players' association, will close Friday after three weeks.Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark announced the decision Wednesday after meeting with New York Mets players as part of his tour of the 30 team camps.With dozens of free agents unsigned as spring training began, the camp opened Feb. 13 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton and workouts started the next day. Forty-one players have attended, and Mike Napoli, Adam Lind, Tyler Clippard, Lucas Duda, Alejandro De Aza, Carlos Torres and Tommy Layne left after agreeing to contracts.Neil Walker, Mark Reynolds, Omar Infante, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Chris Johnson are among those still seeking deals from among the group that reported.Top free agents have continued to work out on their own, such as Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn and Greg Holland.Given the slow pace of free-agent signings during the offseason, Clark and players have questioned whether an increased number of teams are more focused on rebuilding than trying to win now."Players are questioning whether the best 750 are on the field, and fans are questioning whether or not they're seeing the best 750 on the field at any given time," Clark said. "That's not a conversation that any of us should want to have."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

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.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]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Clippard pitched hitless ball for two innings for a players' association team against Japanese amateurs, trying to impress scouts and regain a major league job.Thirty-eight players have attended a free agent camp that opened Feb. 14, and the union put together an exhibition game Tuesday against the East Japan Railway Company.The starting lineup included center fielder Alejandro De Aza, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, designated hitter Juan Francisco, first baseman Tyler Moore, right fielder Luke Scott, third baseman Chris Johnson, shortstop Omar Infante, left fielder Nolan Reimold and second baseman Tyler Ladendorf. The free agents won 2-0 in five innings, allowing just one hit. Several scouts looked on.Two players agreed to minor league deals after attending camp: right-hander Carlos Torres with Cleveland and left-hander Tommy Layne with Boston. First baseman Mike Napoli had been on the roster for the exhibition, but left to finalize a minor league contract with the Indians.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

1B Chris Johnson had his second career walk-off hit, nearly three years to the day when he first accomplished the feat. Johnson's first walk-off hit was while with the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 28, 2013. The walk-off hit helped the Braves defeat the Cleveland Indians.

1B Chris Johnson (foot) was a late scratch from the lineup on Tuesday night.

1B/3B Chris Johnson, who fouled a pitch off his left foot on Saturday, did not play Sunday and Monday. Johnson, 31, joined the Marlins -- his fifth major league team -- prior to the 2016 season. The Marlins planned to use him as a backup, but when 1B Justin Bour sprained his right ankle on July 6, Johnson was pressed into service.

1B Chris Johnson hit a pinch-hit two-run homer Thursday. It was the second pinch hit home run of his career -- both this season.

1B Chris Johnson got his second home run in 26 at-bats, this after a stretch of no home runs in 66 at-bats going back to last season. Johnson hits lefties well, with a career average of .309 with 17 home runs against lefties.

INF Chris Johnson tied the score in the seventh with his second career pinch-hit homer. It was his first pinch homer since Sept. 20, 2011, when he was a member of the Astros.

3B Chris Johnson was released by the Indians on Monday. Johnson, 31, hit .255/.286/.337 with three homers and 18 RBIs in a combined 83 games for Atlanta and Cleveland this year.

Johnson went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

Johnson made things interesting in the ninth inning with his one-out blast against White Sox closer David Robertson, but the Indians ultimately fell short. The veteran third baseman has now reached base safely in nine consecutive contests dating back to Sept. 7, and is hitting .375 (12-for-32) with six RBI over that span.

Johnson is not in the lineup Monday against the Royals.

Johnson has received somewhat regular starts since being activated off the disabled list to start September, but he'll give way to Carlos Santana at first base Monday.

Johnson (finger) was activated from the disabled list Tuesday and will rejoin the Indians' roster.

Johnson has missed the minimum amount of time since landing on the disabled list with a hand infection. He got off to a good start with the Indians since being traded from the Braves, recording three doubles and nine total hits in his first 21 at-bats with his new club before his stint on the DL.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Chris Johnson was activated from the disabled list Tuesday after recovering from a hand infection.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Chris Johnson was activated from the disabled list Tuesday after recovering from a hand infection. Johnson last played in the major leagues on August 14 and is expected to come off the bench for the final month of the season.

Johnson (finger) will rejoin the Indians when rosters expand Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Johnson got three at-bats in a rehab appearance Friday and was scheduled to play Saturday. He figures to fill a utility role in the final month of the season.

Johnson (hand) will start a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron on Friday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Johnson suffered a hand infection after a spider bite, but he was able to resume hitting Monday and appears to be nearing a return to the major league club. The plan is for him to play in Double-A both Friday and Saturday, leaving open the possibility that he'll return September 2nd when he's first eligible.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Chris Johnson, who was placed on the disabled list Aug. 18 with a left hand infection, will start a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron on Friday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Chris Johnson, who was placed on the disabled list Aug. 18 with a left hand infection, will start a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron on Friday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Johnson is expected to return to the Indians in early September.

Johnson (hand) was able to grip a bat and hit off a tee Monday for the first time since landing on the DL, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Johnson's infected hand had to be drained twice and he's just now back to swinging a bat. Expect him back shortly after rosters expand in September.