NEW YORK (AP) — The 147 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a minor league contract $700,000); signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a minor league contract ($1 million). BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam... [More]

Mike Foltynewicz is almost as perplexed about how quickly his velocity has returned this spring with the Texas Rangers as the former All-Star was about how quickly it went away last summer when his former team gave up on him. The right-hander peeked at the scoreboard after the first pitch of his spring training debut Sunday with Texas and saw 95 mph. He also hit 96-97 mph on other pitches. “Last year, I just literally don’t know what happened,” Foltynewicz said. “I kept throwing and I kept doing everything I needed to do. And I just don’t know what happened. So for all of this to play out right now ... just to see those numbers, yes, it’s very assuring, and that tick of confidence goes up a little bit more.” For both Foltynewicz and the pitching-needy Rangers, who unlike the playoff-bound Atlanta Braves in the shortened season last summer, have some time to find out if the 29-year-old right-hander is getting back to form. Those two perfect innings against the defending ... [More]

Nick Madrigal knows his teammates with the Chicago White Sox, and they know him — enough to poke a little fun at the second baseman. He knows his way around the team's spring training facility, and he knows what he needs to do to get ready for the season. He isn't a kid anymore. Healthy again after shoulder surgery, Madrigal is looking to build on his impressive debut with the White Sox last summer. He saw his first exhibition action Monday since the operation and went 0 for 2 in an 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It was great to be out there,” Madrigal said. “I was looking forward to this all offseason, for this moment. It's been a lot of hard work, not only myself, but for the training room and their staff. A lot of people to be thankful for that got me to this point.” Madrigal, who turned 24 on Friday, caught grief from his teammates after he talked about reaching 3,000 career hits during a podcast. A couple players responded with “Mr. 3,000” T-shirts, with Madri... [More]

Nick Madrigal knows his teammates with the Chicago White Sox, and they know him — enough to poke a little fun at the second baseman. He knows his way around the team's spring training facility, and he knows what he needs to do to get ready for the season. He isn't a kid anymore. Healthy again after shoulder surgery, Madrigal is looking to build on his impressive debut with the White Sox last summer. He saw his first exhibition action Monday since the operation and went 0 for 2 in an 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It was great to be out there,” Madrigal said. “I was looking forward to this all offseason, for this moment. It's been a lot of hard work, not only myself, but for the training room and their staff. A lot of people to be thankful for that got me to this point.” Madrigal, who turned 24 on Friday, caught grief from his teammates after he talked about reaching 3,000 career hits during a podcast. A couple players responded with “Mr. 3,000” T-shirts, with Madri... [More]

The Milwaukee Brewers believe they have room for more than one Gold Glove center fielder in their outfield. Milwaukee finalized the $24 million, two-year contract with Jackie Bradley Jr., whose deal allows him to opt out after this season to become a free agent again. Bradley, who turns 31 on April 19, joins an outfield that already includes 2019 Gold Glove center fielder Lorenzo Cain, 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich and Avisaíl García, giving the Brewers four experienced starters for three outfield spots. Bradley won an AL Gold Glove with Boston in 2018 and was a finalist for the award in 2014, 2016 and 2019. “I think we’ve just got a lot of great players here,” Bradley said Monday from the Brewers’ spring training camp in Phoenix. “I’m excited to be in the mix. The opportunity’s going to present itself. I don’t have to worry about making the lineup. I’m here to help the team win, and that’s my main focus.” The Brewers’ need for outfield depth has become more a... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The 146 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a minor league contract $700,000); signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a minor league contract ($1 million). BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Highly regarded Miami Marlins prospect Jazz Chisholm calls the ballfield his “happy place,” which is why he's always in motion, bouncing about even during monotonous spring training drills. Teammates tell him to chill. “All the time. Every day,” Chisholm said with a grin. “The veterans are tired of me. They tell me to stop moving, stop singing, stop dancing. It's fun to mess with the older guys. They hate me singing and whispering in their ear.” The vets might need to get used to it. Chisholm is competing with fellow prospect Isan Diaz for the second base job, the team's only position battle this spring. The outcome will help determine whether the Marlins can generate more offense this season. In 2020, Miami second basemen had an OPS of .602, last in the National League. Chisholm made his big league debut in September and went 9 for 56 (.161), and Diaz went 4 for 22 (.182) before a groin injury ended his brief season. The hope is one of them can provide mor... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have been eagerly anticipating the addition of Andrelton Simmons to their infield this season. Getting him and his renowned glove in camp was even worth an extra wait. “It’s enjoyable to see a guy out there who can do things. He has his own style of playing shortstop, his own actions really that are unique to him, and he looked like he was doing great,” manager Rocco Baldelli said after observing Simmons in his first on-field workout with the team on Sunday. The Twins were off on Monday from the Grapefruit League exhibition circuit, but not Simmons. He was slated for some catchup time at the spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida. The native of Curaçao had been unable to leave the Caribbean island country until his travel documentation — the recent wave of extreme wintry weather delayed the paperwork — was fully processed. Then, of course, he had to clear COVID-19 protocols upon arrival at camp. “I wouldn’t say stuck like ... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Highly regarded Miami Marlins prospect Jazz Chisholm calls the ballfield his “happy place,” which is why he's always in motion, bouncing about even during monotonous spring training drills. Teammates tell him to chill. “All the time. Every day,” Chisholm said with a grin. “The veterans are tired of me. They tell me to stop moving, stop singing, stop dancing. It's fun to mess with the older guys. They hate me singing and whispering in their ear.” The vets might need to get used to it. Chisholm is competing with fellow prospect Isan Diaz for the second base job, the team's only position battle this spring. The outcome will help determine whether the Marlins can generate more offense this season. In 2020, Miami second basemen had an OPS of .602, last in the National League. Chisholm made his big league debut in September and went 9 for 56 (.161), and Diaz went 4 for 22 (.182) before a groin injury ended his brief season. The hope is one of them can provide mor... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — After one of its strangest seasons ever, baseball returns to a full schedule this year. The All-Star Game is back. Fans are back, too, at least small crowds in some places. And an Iowa cornfield is about to welcome a bunch of special visitors. Here are a handful of dates to mark on the calendar: THURSDAY, APRIL 1 Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees: Opening day begins in the Bronx, with George Springer and the Blue Jays taking on DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees. Springer finalized a $150 million, six-year deal with Toronto in January, part of an active offseason for the Blue Jays. He batted .265 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs during his final year in Houston. While Springer found a new home in free agency, LeMahieu stayed in New York for a $90 million, six-year contract after he led the majors with a .364 batting average last season. FRIDAY, APRIL 9 Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers: The last two World Series champions meet in the home opener at Dodger Stadium. Th... [More]

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo declined to specify Monday why Jeremy Jeffress was released from a minor league contract by the team, saying only that he considered it an “employment issue” and acknowledging it was not related to the reliever's baseball performance. “We’re just going to stand by the statement I made yesterday. It’s a 'personnel matter',” Rizzo said in a video conference with reporters a day after the team cut ties with Jeffress, a 2018 NL All-Star for the Brewers who was with the Cubs last season. "We’re not going to discuss it any further, per our policy on personnel matters, and we’re just going to keep it at that.” Asked to define the term he used in relation to the move, Rizzo responded, "A 'personnel reason’ is an employment issue." After Washington announced his release Sunday, Jeffress tweeted: “I’m not what they say I am, I’m what God says! I don’t deserve this false negativity!” Manager Dave Martinez wouldn't co... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Underwood, 26, went 1-0 with a 5.66 ERA in 17 games with Chicago during the pandemic-shortened season. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Underwood, a second-round pick in the 2012 amateur draft, is 1-1 with a 5.20 ERA in 30 career games. The Cubs received minor league first baseman Shendrik Apostel in the deal. The 20-year-old Apostel was signed by the Pirates out of Curaçao in July 2017. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop is away from the team after he violated baseball's COVID-19 protocols. The 35-year-old Strop is in camp on a minor league deal. The Cubs said Major League Baseball will decide when Strop is allowed to rejoin the team. Strop is trying to make it back to the majors after a tough season last year. The veteran right-hander signed a $1,825,000, one-year deal with Cincinnati after the 2019 season. He was let go by the Reds last August and then signed a minor league contract with the Cubs. But he didn’t appear in a big league game for the rest of the year. Strop was a fan favorite during his first stint with Chicago. He was acquired along with Jake Arrieta in a 2013 trade with Baltimore for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger. Strop had 2.90 ERA in 411 appearances with the Cubs over seven years, mostly in a setup role. He was a key member of the 2016 team that won the franchise’s first World Series title since 1908. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez signed a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. The 31-year-old will look to build off momentum he had with the Phillies last season when he posted a 1.42 ERA over eight outings. He was struck by a 105 mph line drive in the groin area Aug. 20 against Toronto and didn't pitch for the rest of the year. Alvarez allowed just one earned run over 6 1/3 innings before the injury, holding right-handed hitters to 3 for 15 with one extra-base hit. He pitched for second-year Giants manager Gabe Kapler for Philadelphia in 2019. The deal that includes a club option for 2022 worth $1.5 million for the veteran reliever. Alvarez would receive a $100,000 buyout if the Giants decline the option. Also, the Giants announced right-hander Jordan Humphreys was claimed off waivers by San Diego. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The 145 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a minor league contract $700,000); signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a minor league contract ($1 million). BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam... [More]

This past offseason was not going to be the time the Seattle Mariners made a bevy of high-priced moves in free agency. Not with the team focused on getting its young prospects closer to the majors and money tight after a season with no fans in stadiums. The Mariners had to be clever to bolster some of their needs. Enter Chris Flexen. Seattle needed at least one more arm for its pitching rotation and it unearthed Flexen, who after spending the 2020 season pitching in South Korea, was ready for a return to the majors and the chance to restart a career that didn’t begin well during his time with the New York Mets. Flexen signed a $4.75 million, two-year contract with a club option for 2023. “One thing to keep in mind I think, everybody says, ‘ah, he spent some time in Korea.’ He is still only 26 years old,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “I look at it, he fits right into our group. He had success over in Korea. He’s looking to get that to translate over here.” Bar... [More]

Shohei Ohtani figured he’d be careful in his return to the mound after two injury-spoiled seasons. A few batters in, the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation reached back for a little extra — and brought back some of the buzz that surrounded his major league debut three years ago. Ohtani reached 100 mph with his fastball and showed off his signature splitter while striking out five over 1 2/3 innings in the Angels’ 7-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The right-hander allowed a run, three hits and two walks, struggling to command his slider but showcasing the arm strength and stuff that allowed him to dominate in the majors before Tommy John surgery in 2018. “Since this was my first game, I wasn’t planning on letting it go in the beginning, especially early in counts,” Ohtani said via translator. “As the game went on, I felt better and I started throwing harder, but I think that led to me cutting the ball a couple times, so it’s something I have to work on.�... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Outfielder Jarrod Dyson returned to the Kansas City Royals, finalizing a $1.5 million, one-year contract on Friday. The 36-year-old, who helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series, can earn $250,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $50,000 each for 350, 400, 450, 500, and 550. Dyson was a 50th-round pick by the Royals in the 2006 amateur draft and played for the Royals from 2010-16. He stole 176 bases, sixth in team history and two behind Frank White. Dyson helped the Royals win the 2014 AL pennant and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth and final game of the 2015 World Series at the New York Mets. He entered in the 12th inning as a pinch-runner following Salvador Pérez's single and scored on Christian Colón's single off Addison Reed for a 3-2 lead in a game the Royals won 7-2. He signed with Seattle for 2018 and Pittsburgh for 2020. The Pirates traded him to the Chicago White Sox last Aug. 28, and Dyson finished the pandemic-shortened season with a .180 average and five RBIs in 61 at-bats. Dyson earned $740,741 in prorated pay from a $2 million salary. Dyson has 256 stolen bases, including a career-high 36 in 2014. The left-handed hitter has a .246 career average with 21 homers and 175 RBIs. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Shohei Ohtani figured he’d be careful in his return to the mound after two injury-spoiled seasons. A few batters in, the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation reached back for a little extra -- and brought back some of the buzz that surrounded his major league debut three years ago. Ohtani reached 100 mph with his fastball and showed off his signature splitter while striking out five over 1 2/3 innings in the Angels’ 7-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The right-hander allowed a run, three hits and two walks, struggling to command his slider but showcasing the arm strength and stuff that allowed him to dominate in the majors before Tommy John surgery in 2018. “Since this was my first game, I wasn’t planning on letting it go in the beginning, especially early in counts,” Ohtani said via translator. “As the game went on, I felt better and I started throwing harder, but I think that led to me cutting the ball a couple times, so it’s something I have to work on.�... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The 144 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a minor league contract $700,000); signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a minor league contract ($1 million). BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam... [More]