DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies announced that infielder Mark Reynolds is among the team's non-roster invitees to major league spring training.The 35-year-old Reynolds spent 2016 and '17 with the Rockies before joining Washington last season. He hit .248 with 13 homers and 40 RBIs in 86 games.Should Reynolds be added to the 40-man roster, he would receive a $1 million, one-year contract and a chance to earn $1 million in performance bonuses.Other invitees included right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez, catcher Brett Nicholas and outfielder Michael Saunders, who was an All-Star in 2016 while with the Toronto Blue Jays.Colorado's pitchers and catchers will have their first workout on Feb. 13. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 18.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BALTIMORE (AP) — Outfielder Michael Saunders has agreed to a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk.Saunders has played nine major leagues seasons, hitting 81 homers and driving in 283 runs in 775 games. Last year, he split time between Toronto and Philadelphia.He was signed by Pittsburgh in February, then was released when the Pirates acquired Corey Dickeson. He then signed with Kansas City and was released at the end of spring training.The 31-year-old Saunders his best season in 2016, when had 24 homers and 53 RBIs in 140 games with the Blue Jays.A left-handed batter, Saunders broke into the big leagues in 2009 with Seattle and played six years there before being traded to Toronto for J.A. Happ.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Capsules of American League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Boston Red Sox2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Manager: Alex Cora (first season).He's Here: DH J.D. Martinez.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad.Projected Lineup: RF Mookie Betts (.264, 24 HRs, 102 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.271, 20, 90), 1B Hanley Ramirez (.242, 23, 62) or Mitch Moreland (.246, 22, 79), DH J.D. Martinez (.303, 45, 104 with Tigers and Diamondbacks), 3B Rafael Devers (.284, 10, 30 in 58 games), SS Xander Bogaerts (.273, 10, 62), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.245, 17, 63), C Christian Vazquez (.290, 5, 32) or Sandy Leon (.225, 7, 39), 2B Eduardo Nunez (.313, 12, 58, 24 SBs with Giants and Red Sox) or Dustin Pedroia (.293, 7, 62, .369 OBP in 105 games, expected to be out until late May following knee surgery).Rotation: LH Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA, MLB-best 308 Ks, MLB-high 214... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Clay Buchholz is the Kansas City Royals' latest reclamation pitching project.The two-time All-Star and the Royals have finalized a minor league contract on Tuesday, and he would get a $1.5 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster. The 32-year-old could earn $250,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 per start from 10-19.Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton are among the pitchers who revived their careers with the Royals."It's just depth," manager Ned Yost said. "He pitched seven innings last year. He could bounce back like like Madson and Blanton did, two big bounce-back guys. We don't know. We'll just see how it plays out."Drafted by Boston with the 42nd overall pick in 2006, Buchholz made his debut in August 2007 and pitched a no-hitter against Baltimore in his second big league appearance. He was 81-61 in 10 seasons with the Red Sox and made four starts without a decision in the 2013 postseason as Boston won its third World Series title in a decade.Buchholz... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Clay Buchholz is the Kansas City Royals' latest reclamation pitching project.The two-time All-Star and the Royals have finalized a minor league contract on Tuesday, and he would get a $1.5 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster. The 32-year-old could earn $250,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 per start from 10-19.Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton are among the pitchers who revived their careers with the Royals."It's just depth," manager Ned Yost said. "He pitched seven innings last year. He could bounce back like like Madson and Blanton did, two big bounce-back guys. We don't know. We'll just see how it plays out."Drafted by Boston with the 42nd overall pick in 2006, Buchholz made his debut in August 2007 and pitched a no-hitter against Baltimore in his second big league appearance. He was 81-61 in 10 seasons with the Red Sox and made four starts without a decision in the 2013 postseason as Boston won its third World Series title in a decade.Buchholz... [More]

Neil Walker became the latest free agent to take a big pay cut as opening day approaches, joining the New York Yankees on Monday with a one-year deal for $4 million.The veteran infielder made $17.2 million last season while playing for the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He can earn $1 million in performance bonuses this year.The 32-year-old Walker hit .265 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs last season, then became a free agent. He will likely start at second base, giving prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar more time to mature in the minor leagues."It's certainly a crazy offseason, but more than anything my hope was that I'd land somewhere that's going to be competitive and have a chance to win," Walker said. "I'm happy to be here, happy to be on a contending team."Starting pitcher Lance Lynn got right to work with Minnesota after finalizing his $12 million, one-year deal. He turned down a $17.4 million offer to stay with St. Louis, and looked for a richer contract in free agency.Lynn... [More]

Neil Walker became the latest free agent to take a big pay cut as opening day approaches, joining the New York Yankees on Monday with a one-year deal for $4 million.The veteran infielder made $17.2 million last season while playing for the New York Mets and Milwaukee. He can make $1 million in performance bonuses this year.The 32-year-old Walker hit .265 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs last season, then became a free agent. He will likely start at second base, giving prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar more time to mature in the minor leagues."It's certainly a crazy offseason, but more than anything my hope was that I'd land somewhere that's going to be competitive and have a chance to win," Walker said. "I'm happy to be here, happy to be on a contending team."Pitcher Lance Lynn got right to work with Minnesota after finalizing his $12 million, one-year deal. He turned down a $17.4 million offer to stay with St. Louis, and looked for a richer contract in free agency.Lynn limbered... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Former All-Star outfielder Michael Saunders has ended his two-day stay with Pittsburgh, instead seeking a better chance to play with the Kansas City Royals.Saunders arrived at the Royals' camp on Saturday after signing a minor league contract. He will receive $1.5 million if he is put on the big league roster and could earn another $500,000 in performance bonuses.The Pirates had signed Saunders to a minor league contract Wednesday and he reported to their spring training complex in Bradenton, Florida. When Pittsburgh acquired outfielder Corey Dickerson in a trade with Tampa Bay on Thursday, Saunders was given his release to pursue other opportunities. The Royals promptly picked up the 31-year-old.Saunders hit a combined .202 last season with the Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto released him after the season. He is a career .232 hitter in 775 major league games over nine seasons, the first six with Seattle.The Kansas City outfield remains in a state... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free agent outfielder Michael Saunders to a minor league contract and invited him to major league spring training.The Pirates announced the move Wednesday.The 31-year-old Saunders hit a combined .202 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 73 games for Philadelphia and Toronto last season.Saunders was an AL All-Star in 2016 with the Blue Jays, hitting 24 homers with 57 RBIs while batting .253.Saunders is a career .232 hitter with 81 home runs and 263 RBIs in 775 games with Seattle, the Phillies and Blue Jays.

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 (first season).2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: Manager Alex Cora.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, INF Eduardo Nunez, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Blaine Boyer.Going campin': The Red Sox won 93 games for the second straight season and claimed the franchise's first back-to-back AL East titles. But Farrell was fired after they failed to advance in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. They are virtually the same team as last year; boss Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for a bat with power and still might add one of the free agents remaining on the market, including... [More]

OF Michael Saunders, 30, had his contract selected from Triple-A Buffalo, where he was batting .275 with 14 homers in just 34 games. Saunders hit just .205 with the Phillies this season before being released on June 23 and signed by the Jays five days later. He hit 24 homers and .250 last year and made the American League All-Star team in 2016 with Toronto.

OF Michael Saunders was signed to a minor league deal by the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The 30-year-old, who spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Blue Jays signed with Philadelphia. After 61 games with the Phillies in which he was hitting .205, Philly released Saunders on June 23.

OF Michael Saunders was officially released Sunday after being placed on release waivers Saturday. Saunders, who signed a $9 million free agent deal in the offseason after hitting a career-high 24 homers for Toronto in 2016, was slashing .205/.257/.360 with six homers and RBIs in 61 games and was supplanted in left field by Aaron Altherr. He is owed about $4.5 million over the rest of the season.

OF Michael Saunders and RHP Jeanmar Gomez, both of whom were designated for assignment on Tuesday, were placed on waivers Saturday by the Phillies and will be released on Sunday, according to the team. Both players are due the remainder of their contracts for this season. Saunders signed a one-year, $9 million deal. Saunders began the season as the Phillies' No. 5 hitter, but struggled most of the season and was hitting .205 with six homers in 61 games when he was taken off the roster. "He wasn't hitting the way we expected him to," manager Pete Mackanin said of Saunders, who hit .253 with 24 homers and 57 RBIs in 140 games last season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

OF Michael Saunders was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Tuesday. The ninth-year major leaguer, who made the All-Star Game with Toronto last year, was hitting .205/.257/.360 through 61 games with six home runs and 20 RBIs.

The Philadelphia Phillies may have the worst record in the major leagues, but they are still making moves.In a somewhat surprising transaction, the Phillies designated right-handed pitcher Jeanmar Gomez and outfielder Michael Saunders for assignment.They called up left-hander Hoby Milner and outfielder Cameron Perkins from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take their place on the roster.Gomez was the team's closer last season, when he recorded 37 saves, and is making $4.2 million this season. Gomez lost his closer's job early this season and has a 7.25 ERA in 18 appearances in 2017.Saunders was selected to the 2016 All-Star Game while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was batting .298 with 16 homers at the break last season, although his numbers declined in the second half and he finished the season batting .253 with 24 homers.Signed as a free agent by the Phillies in the offseason, Saunders is making $9 million, but is hitting just .205 with six homers. He has four hits in his last 40 at-bats.It... [More]

OF Michael Saunders hit his sixth homer of the season Saturday, a solo shot off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo. Five of those homers have come in May, and Saunders also hit a home run Wednesday against the Rockies.

RF Michael Saunders provided the Phillies' only offense in their 7-2 loss on Wednesday, cranking a two-run homer to right field in the eighth inning. That's the fifth homer of the year for Saunders, who's batting .229 with 17 RBIs this season. "Good to see Saunders bust out," Mackanin said. "That was much-needed for him."

OF Michael Saunders was removed from the Thursday's game vs. Texas in the sixth inning with left groin tightness. Saunders was 1-for-2 in the game prior to the injury, and 3-for-6 with a home run and a triple in the last two games after going 0-for-4 in the series opener.

OF Michael Saunders accounted for two of the Philadelphia runs with his two-run homer in the seventh inning. Saunders now has multi-hit games in two of his last three starts.