Texas Rangers associate manager Will Venable declined the New York Mets' request for their managerial opening due to his comfort in his current situation. As the Mets look to replace Buck Showalter, new president of baseball operations David Stearns said he will consider a large pool of candidates, including those with no previous MLB managerial experience such as Venable. MLB officials believe it's far from a slam dunk that Stearns is just biding his time and will ultimately hire Brewers skipper Craig Counsell, whose contract expires after the World Series. Venable played nine seasons in the big leagues and has served as an assistant coach for the Cubs, Red Sox and Rangers.

A look at what's happening around the majors today:CAPITAL GAINSPatrick Corbin can pitch the Nationals to their first pennant when Washington goes for a four-game sweep of slumping St. Louis in the NL Championship Series. The $140 million lefty starts at home against Cardinals rookie Dakota Hudson.Washington hasn't put a baseball team in the World Series since 1933, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. The nation's capital owns one MLB championship; the Senators won all the way back in 1924. There wasn't even a baseball team at all in Washington for more than three decades until the Montreal Expos franchise moved to town before the 2005 season and was renamed the Nationals. Until this season, the Nats hadn't won a playoff series, going 0-4 since 2012.COLE COUNTRYWith the Astros and Yankees tied 1-all, the best-of-seven AL Championship Series shifts to New York for Game 3. Houston ace Gerrit Cole, who is 18-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 24 starts since his last loss on May... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday:CAPITAL GAINSPatrick Corbin can pitch the Nationals to their first pennant when Washington goes for a four-game sweep of slumping St. Louis in the NL Championship Series. The $140 million lefty starts at home against Cardinals rookie Dakota Hudson.Washington hasn't put a baseball team in the World Series since 1933, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. The nation's capital owns one MLB championship; the Senators won all the way back in 1924. There wasn't even a baseball team at all in Washington for more than three decades until the Montreal Expos franchise moved to town before the 2005 season and was renamed the Nationals. Until this season, the Nats hadn't won a playoff series, going 0-4 since 2012.COLE COUNTRYWith the Astros and Yankees tied 1-all, the best-of-seven AL Championship Series shifts to New York for Game 3. Houston ace Gerrit Cole, who is 18-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 24 starts since his last loss on May... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs coaches Mark Loretta and Will Venable are being considered for the team's managerial opening.Loretta and Venable join David Ross as the club's only internal candidates to replace Joe Maddon, whose contract expired after the Cubs missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 2014.The 48-year-old Loretta was Maddon's bench coach this year after spending the previous nine seasons in San Diego's front office. He hit .295 in 15 years in the majors with Milwaukee, Houston, San Diego, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.Venable has been the Cubs' first base coach for the past two seasons. He also worked in Chicago's front office before moving to the coaching staff.The 36-year-old Venable played in the majors for nine years, batting .249 with 81 homers.The team confirmed Tuesday that Loretta and Venable are being considered for the job. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Monday that Ross, a former major league catcher who works in Chicago's front office, is a possibility.There has been no word on the external candidates for the position. Epstein said Monday that at least one person who works for a playoff team is on their broad list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Gio Urshela hit two home runs for the second straight game and the New York Yankees outslugged rookie Bo Bichette and the Toronto Blue Jays 12-6 Thursday night to extend their winning streak to a season-best nine games.Playing in Toronto for the first time, Bichette became the first player in major league history to double in nine consecutive games. He also homered, giving him an unprecedented 13 extra-base hits in his first 11 career games. Bichette is the first rookie to have an extra-base hit in nine straight games since Ted Williams in 1939, according to STATS.The Yankees have hit a record 19 homers over their last four games, including at least five in each win during a three-game sweep at Baltimore this week. Mike Tauchman also homered Thursday to give New York three connections.Domingo Germán (15-2) pitched five innings to win his sixth consecutive decision for New York.Both of Urshela's homers came off left-hander Thomas Pannone (2-5), who matched a career worst by... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

OF Will Venable, who got his latest call-up to the Dodgers on July 1, was designated for assignment Thursday. Venable went 1-for-18 in 12 games for Los Angeles overall this season.

OF Will Venable had his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Venable, who had been outrighted to Oklahoma City on Saturday, went 0-for-1 in the Dodgers' 5-0 win over the Rockies. The 33-year-old veteran, who signed with the Dodgers on June 14, had just one hit in 10 at-bats before being outrighted.

The Dodgers purchased the contract of OF Will Venable from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Los Angeles designated OF Will Venable for assignment. He was 1-for-10 with three strikeouts.

OF Will Venable was designated for assignment on Friday.

OF Will Venable grounded out as a pinch-hitter after signing a one-year contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday, a day after OF Carl Crawford was released with about $33 million remaining on a contract through 2017. "You look at our roster now, and a left-handed bat for a start in the outfield or off the bench late in the game is needed," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Will can play all three. Very good defender. A guy who can steal a base and get a bunt down." Venable, 33, slashed .205/.304/.307 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 149 plate appearances at the Phillies' Triple-A Lehigh Valley affiliate. Venable is a career .250 hitter with 71 of his 81 homers against right-handers. "We were actively searching internally, outside the organization, for someone who could fill that role," Roberts said. "There are only so many of those guys available." Venable played at least 120 games in each season from 2010-2015, primarily with San Diego. He slashed .244/.320/.350 with the Padres and Texas last season.

OF Will Venable agreed to terms on a minor-league contract. The deal includes an invitation to the big league camp. Venable, 33, will compete for a backup outfield position on a team that won't have its best outfielder when the season begins. Michael Brantley is still recovering from shoulder surgery and expected to miss the first few weeks of the season.

Venable is out of the lineup Saturday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Stefan Stevenson reports.

The Rangers recalled Ryan Rua from Triple-A on Saturday, and he will immediately step into the lineup. However, Venable still figures to see three or four starts per week in left field down the stretch.

Venable is out of the lineup Sunday against the Angels.

Venable has been seeing regular playing time in left field since arriving in Texas, but he'll sit with left-hander Hector Santiago on the mound for the opposing Angels. Ryan Strausborger will take over, providing an extra right-handed bat in the lineup.

Venable is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The Tigers have brought left-handed starting pitchers to the hill each of the last two games, so Venable will once again find himself on the bench as Ryan Strausborger picks up the start in left field. Expect the two outfielders to serve as platoon mates in left while Josh Hamilton (knee) remains on the DL, with Venable occupying the larger portion of the timeshare.

Venable is out of the lineup Saturday.

The Rangers will use a right-handed heavy lineup against Tigers' lefty Randy Wolf on Saturday, which leaves Venable out of the mix. The recently acquired Venable is 1-for-5 thus far with the Rangers and will be replaced in left field Saturday by Ryan Strausborger.

Venable has been added to the Rangers' active roster, and he's in the lineup in left field Thursday.

With Josh Hamilton hitting the DL on Thursday, the Rangers have an open roster spot, which Venable will assume after coming over from San Diego on Tuesday. Venable may not start every day, but he figures to be one of the primary options to replace Hamilton, and he's capable of playing all three outfield spots. Venable holds a .258 average with 30 RBI and six home runs on the season.

Venable was traded from San Diego to Texas on Tuesday for Marcus Greene and a player to be named later.

Venable gives the Rangers another option in center field and he could also be used in an outfield corner with Josh Hamilton ailing. The move is nice considering the difference in ballparks and lineups, but it is not abundantly clear right away how often Venable will be in the lineup with Texas. He is a career .252/.316/.410 hitter and has six home runs and 11 steals in 98 games this season.