PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The Mets are missing a pair of injured infielders, and the calendar hasn't even reached March.Third baseman Todd Frazier injured his left oblique muscle and will return to New York for a cortisone injection, the second Mets infielder to get hurt at spring training after fellow infielder Jed Lowrie.The 33-year-old Frazier had an MRI that revealed the injury."I was hitting the ball great, and then I felt a little tightness in my left side," Frazier said Tuesday.Frazier said he had not experienced the injury before."I thought I was doing everything right," he said. "I'm frustrated, very frustrated myself. It's just one of those things where you come into the year all healthy and ready to roll and this happens. It's not fun."Frazier hit 18 homers and drove in 59 runs in 115 games last year, when he went on the disabled list for the first two times in his big league career. He was out from May 8 to June 2 with a left hamstring strain and from July 9 to Aug. 2 with... [More]

Yu Darvish walked off the mound after a bunch of walks, yet wasn't worried. After a rocky first season for the Chicago Cubs full of injuries, he felt fine."No pain," he said Tuesday. "That was a huge part."Darvish walked four in 1 1/3 innings against Arizona and didn't give up a hit. It was his first time facing major league hitters since May — his last minor league rehab outing came in August and he had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in September.A four-time All-Star with Texas, Darvish went 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts last season with the Cubs, his first since signing a $126 million, six-year contract."This is like my first outing in my life," Darvish said. "I haven't thrown the last seven months. I was so excited."Darvish threw 36 pitches, only 17 for strikes. But he hit 96 mph with a fastball, a significant jump from his final outing in the minors last year."It was a great day for me," Darvish said.The 32-year-old Japanese ace also cracked a couple of jokes in English... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The Mets are missing a pair of injured infielders, and the calendar hasn't even reached March.Third baseman Todd Frazier injured his left oblique muscle and will return to New York for a cortisone injection, the second Mets infielder to get hurt at spring training after fellow infielder Jed Lowrie.The 33-year-old Frazier had an MRI that revealed the injury."I was hitting the ball great, and then I felt a little tightness in my left side," Frazier said Tuesday.Frazier said he had not experienced the injury before."I thought I was doing everything right," he said. "I'm frustrated, very frustrated myself. It's just one of those things where you come into the year all healthy and ready to roll and this happens. It's not fun."Frazier hit 18 homers and drove in 59 runs in 115 games last year, when he went on the disabled list for the first two times in his big league career. He was out from May 8 to June 2 with a left hamstring strain and from July 9 to Aug. 2 with... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Third baseman Todd Frazier injured his left oblique muscle and will return to New York for a cortisone injection, the second Mets infielder to get hurt at spring training after fellow infielder Jed Lowrie.The 33-year-old Frazier had an MRI that revealed the injury. Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the image "wasn't overly alarming" and pointed out oblique injuries often are day to day."I was hitting the ball great, and then I felt a little tightness in my left side," Frazier said Tuesday.Frazier said he had not experienced the injury before.Lowrie, 34, is not participating in baseball activities because of pain in the back of his left knee.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mickey Callaway's first season as a manager with the New York Mets was ... well ... messy.His team batted out of order due to a lineup-card snafu. Several puzzling decisions drew heavy scrutiny. And the banged-up Mets faded fast following an 11-1 start, finishing eight games under .500."I experienced a ton. I think that's probably the most valuable thing, is just going through it. Going through the ups and downs," Callaway said Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to Year 2."But as he prepares to begin his second spring training in charge, the 43-year-old Callaway is already under plenty of pressure in a potentially dicey situation.The club's new general manager, former player agent Brodie Van Wagenen, didn't hire him. Not to mention, Van Wagenen and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon want a playoff contender after spending about $80 million on free agents plus more big bucks to obtain second baseman Robinson Cano in a blockbuster trade with Seattle.On paper, the... [More]

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 BravesManager: Brian Snitker (fourth season).2018: 90-72, first place, lost to Dodgers in Division Series.Training Town: Kissimmee, Florida.Park: Champion Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 16/21.He's Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, C Brian McCann, C Raffy Lopez, pitching coach Rick Kranitz.He's Outta Here: C Kurt Suzuki, RHP Anibal Sanchez, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Brad Brach, 3B Ryan Flaherty, RHP Peter Moylan, 1B Lucas Duda, C Rene Rivera, OF Lane Adams, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez.Going campin': The 2018 Baby Braves were a surprise breakthrough team, winning the club's first NL East championship since 2013. A repeat title in a tougher NL East might be a bigger challenge. A key to the start of spring will be the health of Donaldson, who signed a one-year, $23 million deal after a left... [More]

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 BravesManager: Brian Snitker (fourth season).2018: 90-72, first place, lost to Dodgers in Division Series.Training Town: Kissimmee, Florida.Park: Champion Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 16/21.He's Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, C Brian McCann, C Raffy Lopez, pitching coach Rick Kranitz.He's Outta Here: C Kurt Suzuki, RHP Anibal Sanchez, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Brad Brach, 3B Ryan Flaherty, RHP Peter Moylan, 1B Lucas Duda, C Rene Rivera, OF Lane Adams, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez.Going campin': The 2018 Baby Braves were a surprise breakthrough team, winning the club's first NL East championship since 2013. A repeat title in a tougher NL East might be a bigger challenge. A key to the start of spring will be the health of Donaldson, who signed a one-year, $23 million deal after a left... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West 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:___Houston AstrosManager: AJ Hinch (fifth season).2018: 103-59, first place, lost to Boston in ALCS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/18.He's Here: OF Michael Brantley, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Wade Miley, INF Aledmys Diaz.He's Outta Here: INF-OF Marwin Gonzalez, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Charlie Morton, DH Evan Gattis, LHP Tony Sipp, C Brian McCann, C Martin Maldonado.Going campin': The Astros won a franchise-record 103 games last season and reached the ALCS. But mounting injuries and inconsistent play led to their elimination by Boston in five games and kept them from repeating as champions after winning their first World Series title in 2017. Houston returns aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, who are both coming off great... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The timetable for Yoenis Cespedes' return to the New York Mets will remain an unanswered question until after opening day.The 33-year-old outfielder was limited to 38 games last year. Dr. Robert Anderson operated to remove bone calcification from Cespedes' right heel on Aug. 2 and from the left on Oct. 26.New Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, Cespedes' former agent, has said it is too early to prognosticate when the All-Star slugger will be back in the lineup."I don't think we'll have an idea during spring training," Van Wagenen said on a sun-splashed, spring-like Monday while watching the team's equipment truck leave for spring training. "I think that our expectation is that he can make progress every day, that we build him up in a smart fashion, that we're not taxing him too soon, and we want to make sure that he's 100 percent healthy when he comes back, whenever that day is."Originally acquired from Detroit at the 2015 trade deadline, Cespedes hit .287 with 17... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jed Lowrie would rather talk about wine than whine.The infielder visited Citi Field on Wednesday after finalizing a $20 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets, likely less money and a shorter term than he would have gotten before the free-agent market for solid-but-less-than-stellar veterans buckled a year ago."I think that argument could be made," he said. "But you deal in reality, and so I'm excited to be a Met."A switch-hitter who turns 35 in April, Lowrie and is coming off his first All-Star appearance. In his 11th major league season, Lowrie set career highs last year for Oakland with 23 homers, 99 RBIs, 78 walks and 128 strikeouts, hitting .267."He's a big wine connoisseur. He gets better with age like many of the wines that he collects," said new Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, Lowrie's former agent.Lowrie, wife Milessa, daughter Saige and son Miles likely will live in New York City, possibly in Brooklyn. They have homes in Houston and his hometown... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent infielder Jed Lowrie and the New York Mets have finalized a $20 million, two-year contract.A switch-hitter who turns 35 in April, Lowrie and is coming off his first All-Star season."We are really fortunate and thrilled that Jed bought what we were selling," new Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Wednesday.Lowrie played mostly second base for the Oakland Athletics during the past three seasons. Van Wagenen says he will play second, shortstop and third for the Mets, who acquired All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano from Seattle last month"He's going to be in our lineup virtually every day," Van Wagenen said.Lowrie is the fifth All-Star added by the Mets this offseason, following Cano, closer Edwin Diaz, catcher Wilson Ramos and reliever Jeurys Familia, traded to Oakland last summer and then re-signed by New York as a free agent.Like Cano, he used to be represented by Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball before he became New York's general manager in October.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent infielder Jed Lowie and the New York Mets have finalized a $20 million, two-year contract.A switch-hitter who turns 35 in April, Lowrie and is coming off his first All-Star season."We are really fortunate and thrilled that Jed bought what we were selling," new Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Wednesday.Lowrie played mostly second base for the Oakland Athletics during the past three seasons. Van Wagenen says he will play second, shortstop and third for the Mets, who acquired All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano from Seattle last month"He's going to be in our lineup virtually every day," Van Wagenen said.Lowrie is the fifth All-Star added by the Mets this offseason, following Cano, closer Edwin Diaz, catcher Wilson Ramos and reliever Jeurys Familia, traded to Oakland last summer and then re-signed by New York as a free agent.Like Cano, he used to be represented by Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball before he became New York's general manager in October.... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics slugger Khris Davis is getting a $6 million raise after leading the majors in home runs last season.Davis reached agreement Friday with Oakland on a $16.5 million, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration.The A's also agreed Friday to one-year deals with left-hander Sean Manaea for $3.15 million, second baseman Jurickson Profar for $3.6 million and shortstop Marcus Semien for $5.9 million and outfielder Mark Canha for $2.05 million.Davis received a hefty raise from the A's last winter, then went out and hit a majors-best 48 home runs while setting a career high with 123 RBIs — not to mention leading the low-budget club back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 before a wild-card loss to the Yankees.While Oakland general manager David Forst has said signing Davis to a multiyear contract is a high priority, it wasn't at the top of the team's offseason to-do list and Forst said Davis understands that as the A's try to build another winning roster.The... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics slugger Khris Davis is getting a $6 million raise after leading the majors in home runs last season.Davis reached agreement Friday with Oakland on a $16.5 million, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration.The A's also said Friday they had agreed to one-year deals with left-hander Sean Manaea, infielders Jurickson Profar and Marcus Semien and outfielder Mark Canha ($2.05 million).Davis received a hefty raise from the A's last winter, then went out and hit a majors-best 48 home runs while setting a career high with 123 RBIs — not to mention leading the low-budget club back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 before a wild-card loss to the Yankees.While Oakland general manager David Forst has said signing Davis to a multiyear contract is a high priority, it wasn't at the top of the team's offseason to-do list and Forst said Davis understands that as the A's try to build another winning roster.The 31-year-old Davis received the $10.5 million,... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Khris Davis, last season's major league home run leader, reached agreement Friday with the Oakland Athletics on a $16.5 million, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration.The A's also said Friday they had agreed to one-year deals with left-hander Sean Manaea, infielders Jurickson Profar and Marcus Semien and outfielder Mark Canha to avoid arbitration.Davis received a hefty raise from the A's last winter, then went out and hit a majors-best 48 home runs while setting a career high with 123 RBIs — not to mention leading the low-budget club back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 before a wild-card loss to the Yankees.While Oakland general manager David Forst has said signing Davis to a multiyear contract is a high priority, it wasn't at the top of the team's offseason to-do list and Forst said Davis understands that as the A's try to build another winning roster.The 31-year-old Davis received a $10.5 million, one-year contract last January, more than... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that free agent infielder Jed Lowie and the New York Mets have agreed to a $20 million, two-year contract.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement is subject to a successful physical.Lowrie is a switch-hitter who turns 35 in April and is coming off his first All-Star season.He set career highs with 23 homers and 99 RBIs last year for Oakland, hitting .267. While he played mostly second base for the Athletics during the past three seasons, he figures to see time at third and first with the Mets, who acquired second baseman Robinson Cano from Seattle.Lowrie is the fifth All-Star added by the Mets this offseason, following Cano, closer Edwin Diaz, catcher Wilson Ramos and reliever Jeurys Familia, traded to Oakland last summer and then re-signed by New York as a free agent.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas traded infielder Jurickson Profar to the Oakland Athletics on Friday in a three-team deal that included Tampa Bay and netted the Rangers four prospects.Oakland also finalized a $15 million, two-year contract with free agent right-hander Joakim Soria, giving the A's a reliable and versatile reliever.The 34-year-old Soria, a two-time All-Star, went 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 66 appearances and 60 2/3 innings this year for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.He gets $6.5 million next year and $8.5 million in 2020, and he can earn $500,000 annually in performance bonuses for games finished: $250,000 each for 35 and 40. Soria would get a $750,000 assignment bonus the first time he is traded during the contract.Profar, who at 19 in 2012 homered in his first big league at-bat before shoulder issues forced him to miss two full seasons, hit .254 with 20 homers and 77 RBIs in 146 games while playing all four infield positions for Texas this year.In Oakland, he will... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas traded infielder Jurickson Profar to the Oakland Athletics on Friday in a three-team deal that included Tampa Bay and netted the Rangers four prospects.Oakland also reached an agreement on a $15 million, two-year contract with free agent right-hander Joakim Soria, giving the A's a reliable and versatile reliever.The 34-year-old Soria, a two-time All-Star, went 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 66 appearances and 60 2/3 innings this year for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.Profar, who at 19 in 2012 homered in his first big league at-bat before shoulder issues forced him to miss two full seasons, hit .254 with 20 homers and 77 RBIs in 146 games while playing all four infield positions for Texas this year.In Oakland, he will take over at second base for departing free agent Jed Lowrie. Profar had been expected to become the starting third baseman for the Rangers after Adrian Beltre retired last month.The Rangers acquired right-hander Yoel Espinal and left-handers... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas traded infielder Jurickson Profar to the Oakland Athletics on Friday in a three-team deal that included Tampa Bay and netted the Rangers four prospects.Oakland also reached an agreement on a two-year contract with free agent right-hander Joakim Soria, giving the A's a reliable and versatile reliever.The 34-year-old Soria, a two-time All-Star, went 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 66 appearances and 60 2/3 innings this year for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.Profar, who at 19 in 2012 homered in his first big league at-bat before shoulder issues forced him to miss two full seasons, hit .254 with 20 homers and 77 RBIs in 146 games while playing all four infield positions for Texas this year.In Oakland, he will take over at second base for departing free agent Jed Lowrie. Profar had been expected to become the starting third baseman for the Rangers after Adrian Beltre retired last month.The Rangers acquired right-hander Yoel Espinal and left-handers Kyle Bird... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas traded infielder Jurickson Profar to the Oakland Athletics on Friday in a three-team team that included Tampa Bay and netted the Rangers four prospects.Oakland also reached an agreement on a two-year-old contract with free agent right-hander Joakim Soria, giving the A's a reliable and versatile reliever.The 34-year-old Soria, a two-time All-Star, went 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 66 appearances and 60 2/3 innings this year for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.Profar, who at 19 in 2012 homered in his first big league at-bat before shoulder issues forced him to miss two full seasons, hit .254 with 20 homers and 77 RBIs in 146 games while playing all four infield positions for Texas this year.In Oakland, he will take over at second base for departing free agent Jed Lowrie. Profar had been expected to become the starting third baseman for the Rangers after Adrian Beltre retired last month.The Rangers acquired right-hander Yoel Espinal and left-handers Kyle... [More]