The Houston Astros have reportedly signed pitcher Adam Morgan to a minor league deal, according to Chandler Rome of The Houston Chronicle. Per Rome, Morgan has also been invited to Major League Spring Training. The left-handed pitcher owns a lifetime 4.80 ERA and a 4.68 FIP in seven career Major League seasons. Six of those seasons came with the Philadelphia Phillies, but most recently Morgan appeared in 34 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2021. In those 34 games, the veteran pitched to a 4.26 ERA and a 5.58 FIP in 25.1 innings while registering 28 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a pair of saves. He'll give the Astros some extra bullpen depth this season.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan recorded his second save of the season on Monday versus the Cincinnati Reds. Morgan worked a clean inning with no strikeouts to secure the save. The Cubs have rolled with reliever Rowan Wick for their last four save opportunities and he has secured three of those, but seemed to be unavailable on Monday. Wick seems like the pitcher to roster of the two, but both are shaky options with the Cubs unlikely to provide many save opportunities moving forward.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan earned his first save of the season in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader. Morgan worked a 1-2-3 inning with no strikeouts to lock up a Cubs victory. The lefty has been solid for the Cubs in the second half of the season and owns a 2.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. Despite the save, the Cubs have gone with a committee for the rare times that they have had a save opportunity in the second half of the season. Managers seeking saves can keep an eye on Morgan, but it would be wise to see if he picks up some more saves first.

A team-by-team look at the National 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: ___ Atlanta Braves Manager: Brian Snitker (sixth season). 2020: 35-25, first place, lost to Dodgers in NL Championship Series. Training Town: North Port, Florida. Park: CoolToday Park. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Carl Edwards, SS Ehire Adrianza, RHP Victor Arano. He’s Outta Here: OF Nick Markakis, OF Adam Duvall, INF Charlie Culberson, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Mark Melancon, C Tyler Flowers, RHP Shane Greene, RHP Darren O’Day, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Adeiny Hechavarria, LHP Cole Hamels. Going campin’: The key offseason move was re-signing left fielder Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal. Morton and Smyly add experience to the rotation. The team can take a cautious approach with 2020 opening day starter Mike Soroka’s return from... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have declined options on relievers Héctor Neris, David Phelps and David Robertson, clearing out the bullpen after it posted the highest ERA in the majors. Philadelphia also said Friday that right-hander Heath Hembree, left-hander Adam Morgan and right-hander Blake Parker all elected free agency rather than accept outright assignments off the 40-man roster. Right-hander Johan Quezada was claimed off waivers from Miami, and infielder Phil Gosselin also refused an outright assignments and elected free agency. Neris is eligible for arbitration. Robertson and Phelps are eligible to become free agents this weekend. Neris' option was worth $7,111,111, including $111,111 in escalators for games finished. He was Philadelphia's most reliable reliever in 2019 but struggled in 2020 after landing on the COVID-19 injured list during summer camp workouts. The right-hander posted a 4.57 ERA with five saves in 24 games, among the biggest disappointments for... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have declined options on relievers Héctor Neris, David Phelps and David Robertson, clearing out the bullpen after it posted the highest ERA in the majors. Philadelphia also said Friday that right-hander Heath Hembree, left-hander Adam Morgan and right-hander Blake Parker all elected free agency rather than accept outright assignments off the 40-man roster. Right-hander Johan Quezada was claimed off waivers from Miami, and infielder Phil Gosselin also refused an outright assignments and elected free agency. Neris' option was worth $7,111,111, including $111,111 in escalators for games finished. He was Philadelphia's most reliable reliever in 2019 but struggled in 2020 after landing on the COVID-19 injured list during summer camp workouts. The right-hander posted a 4.57 ERA with five saves in 24 games, among the biggest disappointments for a bullpen that had a 7.06 ERA. His contract did not include a buyout. Phelps was acquired from Milwaukee... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Joey Wendle had a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning and the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays rallied to hurt Philadelphia’s playoff hopes, beating the Phillies 6-4 on Friday night. The Rays would clinch the top seed in the American League with an Oakland loss later Friday night; the A’s were hosting Seattle. Tampa Bay is looking to finish with the AL’s best record for the second time, after topping the league in 2010. Bryce Harper had a triple and drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which started the day one game behind second-place Miami in the NL East and also trailed in the wide-open wild-card race. Yoshi Tsutsdugo had one-out single in the eighth before Adam Morgan (0-1) loaded the bases on consecutive walks to Hunter Renfroe and Brett Phillips. Héctor Neris replaced Morgan and retired pinch-hitter Brandon Lowe on a pop fly. Wendle followed with a liner to right that gave Tampa Bay a 5-3 advantage. Nick Anderson (2-1) worked a scoreless eighth and... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Nola gives his seven-inning complete game victory an asterisk. As for the doubleheader nightcap, the Philadelphia Phillies' bullpen remains a big question mark.Nola struck out 10 and went the distance for the first time in his career as Philadelphia handed the Miami Marlins their worst drubbing in two days, winning Friday's opener 11-0.The Phillies went with a bullpen game in the nightcap, and their struggling relief corps had another rocky night in a 5-3 loss. Jorge Alfaro had his fourth consecutive two-RBI game for the Marlins, who scored on three relievers.Officially, Nola's performance went in the books as a complete game.“I don’t feel like it counts,” he said. “Nine innings is a complete game. But I felt good today. I’m glad I finished it out.”With the split, the second-place Phillies remained half a game ahead of the third-place Marlins in the NL East. Miami's split came two days after they got routed 29-9 in Atlanta.GAME 1Nola (5-3) didn't allow a hit until Brian... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Jorge Alfaro had his fourth consecutive two-RBI game, and the Miami Marlins salvaged a split of their doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies by winning 5-3 Friday night.Alfaro's two-run single capped a three-run fourth for the Marlins. Yimi Garcia gave up a run for the first time this season but earned his first save since 2015.In the opener, Aaron Nola struck out 10 and went the distance for the first time in his career as the Phillies handed the Marlins their worst drubbing in two days, winning 11-0. Officially, the performance went in the books as a complete game.“I don’t feel like it counts,” Nola said. “Nine innings is a complete game. But I felt good today. I'm glad I finished it out.”While Nola cruised, Game 1 was another rough outing for Marlins pitchers, who gave up a National League record 29 runs against Atlanta on Wednesday.With the split, third-place Miami remained half a game behind the second-place Phillies in the NL East.GAME 1Nola (5-3) didn't allow... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Nola gave his seven-inning complete game victory an asterisk.The right-hander struck out 10 and went the distance for the first time in his career as the Philadelphia Phillies handed the Miami Marlins their worst drubbing in two days, winning a doubleheader opener 11-0 Friday.Officially, the performance went in the books as a complete game.“I don’t feel like it counts,” Nola said. “Nine innings is a complete game. But I felt good today. I'm glad I finished it out.”While Nola cruised, it was another rough outing for Marlins pitchers, who gave up a National League record 29 runs against Atlanta on Wednesday.Nola (5-3) didn't allow a hit until Brian Anderson singled to cap a 10-pitch at-bat leading off the fifth. By then the Phillies had their 11-run lead.Andrew McCutchen drove in three runs with three hits, including his sixth homer. Rhys Hoskins hit a three-run homer, his 10th. Adam Haseley doubled twice, singled and drove in two runs.Nola allowed three singles, hit two... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, Pete Alonso also connected and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 6-4 in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.Amed Rosario hit a walkoff, two-run homer to lift the Mets to a 4-3 victory in the nightcap — a bizarre scene in the Bronx, where the Yankees batted first as the visiting team in the makeup of a game postponed last weekend.The sweep sent the Yankees to their seventh straight loss.Rosario connected off closer Aroldis Chapman (0-1) with pinch-runner Billy Hamilton at second base. Chapman walked Jeff McNeil to open the inning, and Hamilton promptly stole second despite being picked off by the All-Star left-hander.Rosario then cranked his third home run of the season into the left field seats, setting off the second big celebration in the visiting dugout as the Mets swept the Yankees in a doubleheader for the first time.Jared Hughes (1-1)... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominic Smith hit the go-ahead home run in his first game since tearfully pleading for help combating racial inequality, Pete Alonso also connected and the New York Mets beat the crosstown Yankees 6-4 in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.Amed Rosario hit a walkoff, two-run homer to lift the Mets to a 4-3 victory in the nightcap — a bizarre scene in the Bronx, where the Yankees batted first as the visiting team in the makeup of a game postponed last weekend.The sweep sent the Yankees to their seventh straight loss.Rosario connected off closer Aroldis Chapman (0-1) with pinch-runner Billy Hamilton at second base. Chapman walked Jeff McNeil to open the inning, and Hamilton promptly stole second despite being picked off by the All-Star left-hander.Rosario then cranked his third home run of the season into the left field seats, setting off the second big celebration in the visiting dugout as the Mets swept the Yankees in a doubleheader for the first time.Jared Hughes (1-1)... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryan Price observes, listens, suggests and tries to lead pitchers to their own conclusions.The new pitching coach could end up being the most valuable addition the Philadelphia Phillies made in the offseason if he can get some talented members of the staff to reach their potential. Price already has made a positive impression in camp. "He's all about pitchers being confident in what they're doing and having the ability to pitch and not just throw," All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto said. "That's where finding their strengths comes in. If a guy is pitching to his strengths, he's going to be able to maneuver the baseball and have confidence in what he's doing. If you are asking someone to pitch to a scouting report and not something he's confident in doing, it's not going to work out very well. That's something Price has honed in on is pitching to your strengths." Pitching is Philadelphia's biggest question mark. An offense that features Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Didi... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pitchers Zach Eflin, Vince Velasquez, Jose Alvarez and Adam Morgan reached one-year contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday while All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto and reliever Héctor Neris exchanged salary arbitration figures with the team.Realmuto asked for $12.4 million and the club offered $10 million. In his first season with the Phillies, he set career-highs with 25 homers and 83 RBIs, batted .275, was an All-Star for the second straight season and won his first Gold Glove Award. He made $6.05 million last year.Neris sought $5.2 million and was offered $4.25 million. The right-hander made $1.8 million last year when he was Philadelphia's most reliable reliever, leading the team with a career-high 28 saves in 34 chances. He posted a 2.93 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. Neris is 67 for 83 in save opportunities in his career.Eflin got a raise from $590,000 to $2,625,000. The righty was 10-13 with a career-best 4.13 ERA in his fourth season in Philadelphia.... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Second baseman César Hernández and third baseman Maikel Franco became free agents when the Phillies did not offer them contracts on Monday.The Phillies offered 2020 contracts to catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitchers Héctor Neris, Vince Velasquez, Zach Eflin, Adam Morgan and José Álvarez. The six are eligible for arbitration. The team avoided arbitration with catcher Andrew Knapp, agreeing on a $710,000, one-year deal.Hernández had been a starter since 2015. He replaced Chase Utley and led the team in average in 2016 and 2017, hitting .294 both seasons. Hernández hit .279 with 14 homers and a career-high 71 RBIs last year. He has a .277 career average and .352 on-base percentage.Franco also became a starter in 2015 but didn’t play regularly the past two seasons. He averaged 24 homers and 77 RBIs from 2016-18. Franco batted .234 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs in this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Second baseman César Hernández and third baseman Maikel Franco became free agents when the Phillies did not offer them contracts on Monday.The Phillies offered 2020 contracts to catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitchers Héctor Neris, Vince Velasquez, Zach Eflin, Adam Morgan and José Álvarez. The six are eligible for arbitration. The team avoided arbitration with catcher Andrew Knapp, agreeing on a one-year deal.Hernández had been a starter since 2015. He replaced Chase Utley and led the team in average in 2016 and 2017, hitting .294 both seasons. Hernández hit .279 with 14 homers and a career-high 71 RBIs last year. He has a .277 career average and .352 on-base percentage.Franco also became a starter in 2015 but didn’t play regularly the past two seasons. He averaged 24 homers and 77 RBIs from 2016-18. Franco batted .234 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs in this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Phillies have declined club options on left-hander Jason Vargas and right-handers Jared Hughes and Pat Neshek.Vargas was 1-4 with a 5.37 ERA in 11 starts with the Phillies, who acquired him on July 29 from the Mets. He gets a $2 million buyout instead of $8 million for 2020, and New York is sending the Phillies $2 million to offset the cost of the buyout.Hughes had a 3.91 ERA in 25 appearances with the Phillies. He receives a $250,000 buyout instead of $3 million for 2020.Neshek pitched 18 innings in 2019 and only 42 1/3 over the past two seasons while earning $16.5 million. He gets a $750,000 buyout instead of $7 million for 2020.Philadelphia said pitchers Jerad Eickhoff, Mike Morin, Blake Parker and Edubray Ramos and infielder Phil Gosselin all had refused outright assignments to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and had elected to become free agents.Pitchers Víctor Arano, Seranthony Domínguez, David Robertson, Robert Stock and Adam Morgan and outfielder Andrew McCutchen were reinstated from the 60-day injured list, and outfielder Odubel Herrera was reinstated from the restricted list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Phillies have declined club options on left-hander Jason Vargas and right-handers Jared Hughes and Pat Neshek.Vargas was 1-4 with a 5.37 ERA in 11 starts with the Phillies, who acquired him on July 29 from the Mets. He gets a $2 million buyout instead of $8 million for 2020, and New York is sending the Phillies $2 million to offset the cost of the buyout.Hughes had a 3.91 ERA in 25 appearances with the Phillies. He receives a $250,000 buyout instead of $3 million for 2020.Neshek pitched 18 innings in 2019 and only 42 1/3 over the past two seasons while earning $16.5 million. He gets a $750,000 buyout instead of $7 million for 2020.Philadelphia said pitchers Jerad Eickhoff, Mike Morin, Blake Parker and Edubray Ramos and infielder Phil Gosselin all had refused outright assignments to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and had elected to become free agents.Pitchers Víctor Arano, Seranthony Domínguez, David Robertson, Robert Stock and Adam Morgan and outfielder Andrew McCutchen were reinstated from the 60-day injured list, and outfielder Odubel Herrera was reinstated from the restricted list.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Donaldson homered against Sean Doolittle in the top of the 10th, and the Atlanta Braves pulled out a 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday to take two of three in the series and pad their NL East lead to 6 1/2 games.After the Nationals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, Donaldson swatted a fastball from Doolittle over the center-field wall for his 25th homer of the season.Adam Duvall homered for the fourth time in five games. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Tyler Flowers also drove in runs for the Braves, who won consecutive series in Washington for the first time since 2013. They also won two of three in late June.Atlanta got another quality road start from Mike Soroka (10-2), who pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits, including a leadoff homer to Juan Soto in the second.Washington starter Aníbal Sánchez (6-6) could not keep pace, allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings of work.YANKEES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 5NEW... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Players from the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies rushed to help the grounds crew put the tarp on the field when strong wind blew it out of control a few hours before Wednesday's game.Many of the players were stretching or playing catch in the outfield as the sky darkened and rain began at Citizens Bank Park. They quickly ran over to help the crew once the tarp started to swirl."It was crazy out there," Giants reliever Will Smith said. "Some guys were getting pulled up. Both bullpens came together and we got the thing nailed down. It was a crazy three minutes there."Phillies reliever Adam Morgan said he hadn't assisted with a tarp since he played college ball at Alabama."That thing is heavy," Morgan said.The crew had no trouble removing the tarp and the game started on time.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports