SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jurickson Profar, who played five positions for San Diego last season, signed a $21 million, three-year contract Wednesday to remain with the Padres. Profar had been a free agent. He chose to return to San Diego, which improved significantly this offseason with the additions of starting pitchers Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove, and South Korea slugger Kim Ha-seong. The versatile Profar likely will be coming off the bench. He started last season as the second baseman but was supplanted by rookie Jake Cronenworth and moved to left field, where he filled in for injured Tommy Pham. He also played two games in right field and one each in center and at first base. Kim is expected to compete with Cronenworth at second base. “I don't think it matters anymore," Profar said. “I'm ready to help the team win a World Series.” Profar said he wasn't surprised the Padres still had money and the desire to bring him back after making the other moves this offseason. “I think I did... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jurickson Profar, who played five positions for San Diego last season, signed a $21 million, three-year contract Wednesday to remain with the Padres. Profar had been a free agent. He chose to return to San Diego, which improved significantly this offseason with the additions of starting pitchers Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove, and South Korea slugger Kim Ha-seong. The versatile Profar likely will be coming off the bench. He started last season as the second baseman but was supplanted by rookie Jake Cronenworth and moved to left field, where he filled in for injured Tommy Pham. He also played two games in right field and one each in center and at first base. Kim is expected to compete with Cronenworth at second base. “I don't think it matters anymore," Profar said. “I'm ready to help the team win a World Series.” Profar said he wasn't surprised the Padres still had money and the desire to bring him back after making the other moves this offseason. “I think I did... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres agreed to an $8.9 million, one-year contract with Tommy Pham, avoiding arbitration with the outfielder who was limited to 31 games last season because of injuries. Pham hit .211 with three homers and 12 RBIs after coming over in a trade with Tampa Bay. His 2020 salary of $7.9 million was prorated to $2,925,926. The Padres also avoided arbitration with right-handers Dinelson Lamet ($4.2 million), Dan Altavilla ($850,000) and Emilio Pagan ($1.57 million), and catcher Victor Caratini ($1.3 million). Lamet came out of his final regular-season start with an elbow issue and missed the playoffs. He’s avoided surgery, but the Padres won’t know until spring training how effective his offseason regimen was. He was 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 12 starts. His $1.3 million salary was prorated to $481,481. Altavilla was obtained from Seattle just before the trade deadline. He was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 12 appearances with the Padres, and 2-3 with a 5.75... [More]

Two months ago, Blake Snell got yanked off the mound with a two-hit shutout going in the final game of the World Series. Now, the Tampa Bay Rays are ready to ship him out of town. The San Diego Padres are close to completing a blockbuster trade to acquire Snell from the defending AL champions. The teams have an agreement in place and the star pitcher was told he’ll be sent to the Padres — subject to the review of medical records, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press late Sunday night on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. According to The Athletic and ESPN, the Rays would receive 21-year-old pitcher Luis Patiño, catcher Francisco Mejía, pitching prospect Cole Wilcox and catching prospect Blake Hunt in return. The Athletic was first to report the players headed from San Diego to Tampa Bay if the trade is finalized. Snell, the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner, was 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened... [More]

The San Diego Padres are close to completing a blockbuster trade to acquire star pitcher Blake Snell from the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. The teams have an agreement in place and Snell was told he’ll be sent to the Padres — subject to the review of medical records, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press late Sunday night on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. According to The Athletic and ESPN, the Rays would receive 21-year-old pitcher Luis Patiño, catcher Francisco Mejía, pitching prospect Cole Wilcox and catching prospect Blake Hunt in return. The Athletic was first to report the players headed from San Diego to Tampa Bay if the trade is finalized. Snell, the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner, was 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He had 63 strikeouts in 50 innings. Snell went 2-2 in the AL playoffs, then racked up 18 strikeouts in 10 innings and compiled a 2.70 ERA during... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres agreed to a $2.05 million, one-year contract with left-handed reliever Matt Strahm on Wednesday. They also tendered contracts to their five remaining arbitration-eligible players, outfielder Tommy Pham and right-handers Dan Altavilla, Zach Davies, Dinelson Lamet and Emilio Pagán. Strahm was 0-1 with 2.61 ERA in 19 appearances in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when the Padres ended a 14-year playoff drought. They beat St. Louis in the wild-card round before being swept in the NL Division Series by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Pham, whose regular season was interrupted by a hand injury, hit .211 with three homers. He was stabbed outside a San Diego strip club in October and has sued the establishment. Lamet, who became San Diego's best starter by going 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA, missed the playoffs with an elbow injury. Davies also is a starter while Altavilla and Pagán are relievers. The Padres did not tender a contract to infielder Greg Garcia, who grew up in suburban El Cajon and is a grandson of the late Dave Garcia, who managed the Indians and Angels. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres agreed to a $2.05 million, one-year contract with left-handed reliever Matt Strahm on Wednesday. They also tendered contracts to their five remaining arbitration-eligible players, outfielder Tommy Pham and right-handers Dan Altavilla, Zach Davies, Dinelson Lamet and Emilio Pagán. Strahm was 0-1 with 2.61 ERA in 19 appearances in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when the Padres ended a 14-year playoff drought. They beat St. Louis in the wild-card round before being swept in the NL Division Series by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Pham, whose regular season was interrupted by a hand injury, hit .211 with three homers. He was stabbed outside a San Diego strip club in October and has sued the establishment. Lamet, who became San Diego's best starter by going 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA, missed the playoffs with an elbow injury. Davies also is a starter while Altavilla and Pagán are relievers. The Padres did not tender a contract to infielder Greg Garcia, who grew up in suburban El Cajon and is a grandson of the late Dave Garcia, who managed the Indians and Angels. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres agreed to a one-year contract with left-handed reliever Matt Strahm on Wednesday. They also tendered contracts to their five remaining arbitration-eligible players, outfielder Tommy Pham and right-handers Dan Altavilla, Zach Davies, Dinelson Lamet and Emilio Pagán. Strahm was 0-1 with 2.61 ERA in 19 appearances in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when the Padres ended a 14-year playoff drought. They beat St. Louis in the wild-card round before being swept in the NL Division Series by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Pham, whose regular season was interrupted by a hand injury, hit .211 with three homers. He was stabbed outside a San Diego strip club in October and has sued the establishment. Lamet, who became San Diego's best starter by going 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA, missed the playoffs with an elbow injury. Davies also is a starter while Altavilla and Pagán are relievers. The Padres did not tender a contract to infielder Greg Garcia, who grew up in suburban El Cajon and is a grandson of the late Dave Garcia, who managed the Indians and Angels. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment, helping clear room on the 40-man roster for three young prospects who were not part of the team’s run to the World Series. Renfroe, 28, appeared in 42 games with 34 starts during the pandemic-shortened regular season and hit the first grand slam in Rays postseason history during the team’s wild-card playoff sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. Renfroe batted .156 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in his first season with Tampa Bay. He started six of 12 games he played in the postseason, batting .174 with two homers and seven RBIs. The Rays acquired Renfroe from San Diego last offseason, sending outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder Jake Cronenworth to the Padres. Cronenworth tied for second in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. The club also designated infielder/outfielder Brian O’Grady. The 28-year-old spent most of 2020 at Tampa Bay’s alternate training site in Port Charlotte, Florida. He appeared in two games over two brief stints with the Rays. The moves Friday helped create room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Josh Lowe, right-handed pitcher Drew Strotman and infielder Taylor Walls. Lowe and Walls were part of Tampa Bay’s 60-man player and spent the summer at the alternate training site. Strotman was not part of the 60-man pool but pitched in the instructional league in October. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ SHAKY ‘STROS Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros face a 2-0 hole against Tampa Bay in the AL Championship Series and have hardly looked like a club that’s won two of the past three AL pennants. Altuve made two throwing errors from second base during a 4-2 defeat in Game 2, including a short-hop toss that preceded a three-run homer by Manuel Margot. After the second error — both from shallow right field as part of infield shifts — Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa began to swap positions in the formation. “You just hope he isn’t getting the yips, because invariably they come in bunches,” said manager Dusty Baker, who gave Altuve a hug in the dugout after the second error. “Everything comes in bunches. I just told him to flush it. This guy has been awesome for us. You’ve got to flush it and move on, or else it multiplies. I’m sure he’ll do that.” The Astros have also had a lousy go with runners on base. They’re 3 for 16 in the series... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Tuesday: ___ SHAKY ‘STROS Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros face a 2-0 hole against Tampa Bay in the AL Championship Series and have hardly looked like a club that’s won two of the past three AL pennants. Altuve made two throwing errors from second base during a 4-2 defeat in Game 2, including a short-hop toss that preceded a three-run homer by Manuel Margot. After the second error — both from shallow right field as part of infield shifts — Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa began to swap positions in the formation. “You just hope he isn’t getting the yips, because invariably they come in bunches,” said manager Dusty Baker, who gave Altuve a hug in the dugout after the second error. “Everything comes in bunches. I just told him to flush it. This guy has been awesome for us. You’ve got to flush it and move on, or else it multiplies. I’m sure he’ll do that.” The Astros have also had a lousy go with runners on base. They’re 3 for 16 in the series... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham is recovering after he was stabbed in the back Sunday night, authorities said. Pham was stabbed shortly after 10:30 p.m. outside the Pacers Showgirls International gentlemen's club, police Lt. Shawn Takeuchi told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Pham apparently didn't know the attackers, who remain at large, he said. “While it was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me, I’m on the road to recovery and I know I’ll be back to my offseason training routine in no time,” Pham said in a statement released by the team. Two people who said they spoke with Pham told the Union-Tribune that Pham was leaving and saw an argument taking place near his car. One person told the paper that Pham was attacked after asking the arguing people to get away from his car. Pham was stabbed in the lower back and the wound pierced all three layers of skin but didn't damage any organs, according to a statement from the Padres. The team said he was in good condition and is expected to fully recover. Pham, 32, was traded to the Padres last year after six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .211 this year with three home runs, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases in 31 games, then batted .375 (9 for 24) in six postseason games before San Diego was eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Now, baseball really has a 1981 feel to it. There were already some similarities between the pandemic-shortened season of 2020 and the strike-interrupted version 39 years earlier, but the resemblance is even stronger now that the four division series are about to start. In 1981, the season was split into two halves, so each division champion from the first half played the second-half champ to start the playoffs. That meant two AL East teams facing each other, two AL West teams, two NL East teams and two NL West teams. That’s also what we have this season in the AL and NL Division Series: Rays-Yankees, Astros-Athletics, Braves-Marlins and Dodgers-Padres. It wasn’t planned that way. It’s just how the bracket worked out. The teams from the AL Central and NL Central — divisions that didn’t exist in ’81 — happened to be knocked out. With only four teams left in each league, there are now 16 possible World Series matchups for this year. Here’s a look at each one — and what would make it interesting.... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres beginning Wednesday. All games in San Diego: ___ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Record: 30-28. Playoff Entry: second place, NL Central. Playoff Seed: No. 5. Manager: Mike Shildt (third season). Projected Rotation: RHP Adam Wainwright (5-3, 3.15 ERA), RHP Jack Flaherty (4-3, 4.91), LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (3-0, 1.62). Top Hitters: 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.304, 6 HRs, 21 RBIs), C Yadier Molina (.262, 4, 16), 2B Kolten Wong (.265, 1, 16). Top Relievers: RHP Giovanny Gallegos (2-2, 3.60, 4 saves), LHP Andrew Miller (1-1, 2.77, 4 saves), LHP Austin Gomber (1-1, 1.86), RHP Alex Reyes (2-1, 3.20, 1 save, 27 Ks in 19 2/3 IP). Series Summary: The Cardinals are back in the playoffs after reaching the NL Championship Series last season. They overcame some long odds to do it, too. Injuries have robbed them of RHP Dakota Hudson, RHP Carlos Martinez and several other pieces in their bullpen. A COVID-19 outbreak early... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — It didn’t take Jake Cronenworth long to start making an impression in the big leagues.The rookie with the San Diego Padres doubled in his first big league at-bat, hit his first homer in his sixth game and put on such a fielding clinic at first base during the second full week of the season that A.J. Pollock of the Los Angeles Dodgers said he was “just trying not to hit it to that Cronenworth guy” when he delivered a go-ahead hit against San Diego. On Aug. 26, Cronenworth’s grand slam against Houston made “Slam Diego" the first team in big league history to hit five in six games. Earlier that week, they became the first team to hit a grand slam in four straight games.Life in the majors came at Cronenworth fast and he responded so well that he was named NL Rookie of the Month. He’s gone from being an intriguing two-way prospect who came over with Tommy Pham in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay to being the leading contender for NL Rookie of the Year.“It’s pretty tough to... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Padres rookie Jake Cronenworth hit a grand slam in a wild nine-run second inning Saturday night against Houston, making San Diego the first team in major league history to hit five in six games.Earlier in the week, the Padres became the first club to hit a grand slam in four straight games.Cronenworth drove a 3-1 pitch from Humberto Castellanos into the home run deck in right field — which now has a number of mannequins dressed in Padres gear — to give San Diego an 11-1 lead. It was San Diego’s third homer of the inning and fifth of the game.Cronenworth, obtained along with outfielder Tommy Pham in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay, became the 20th Padres rookie to hit a grand slam. It was his third homer of the year.Earlier in the week, the Padres hit grand slams in four consecutive games during a sweep of the Texas Rangers in a home-and-home series.That onslaught started with Fernando Tatis Jr.’s controversial slam Monday night on a 3-0 count with a seven-run lead, reigniting... [More]

Padres first. Tommy Pham strikes out swinging. Manny Machado called out on strikes. Fernando Tatis Jr. homers. Eric Hosmer lines out to shallow center field to Ketel Marte.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 1, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks fourth. Starling Marte strikes out swinging. David Peralta singles to right field. Christian Walker doubles to deep center field. David Peralta out at home. Eduardo Escobar is intentionally walked. Carson Kelly singles to right center field. Eduardo Escobar to third. Christian Walker scores. Daulton Varsho grounds out to second base, Jake Cronenworth to Eric Hosmer.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Padres 1, Diamondbacks 1.Diamondbacks sixth. Christian Walker singles to deep left field. Eduardo Escobar walks. Christian Walker to second. Carson Kelly singles to left field. Eduardo Escobar to second. Christian Walker to third. Daulton Varsho strikes out swinging. Nick Ahmed doubles to left field. Carson Kelly to third. Eduardo Escobar scores. Christian... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs in a game for the sixth time in his career, matching a major league record, and the Los Angeles Dodgers launched six long balls in all Thursday night during an 11-2 rout of the San Diego Padres.Betts tied a mark shared by Sammy Sosa and Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. The 2018 AL MVP went 4 for 4 with five RBIs and was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot, where manager Dave Roberts has been reluctant to lock him in.Corey Seager, AJ Pollock and Austin Barnes also homered for the Dodgers. Seager returned after missing five games because of lower back discomfort. Barnes and Betts went back-to-back.With a chance to tie the big league mark of four home runs in one game, Betts reached on an infield single in the seventh. The National League’s top two home run-hitting teams split the four-game series, with the Dodgers outscoring the Padres 17-2 over the last two.Julio Urías (2-0) gave up consecutive homers to Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer in the first... [More]

Padres first. Fernando Tatis Jr. strikes out swinging. Manny Machado flies out to deep left center field to AJ Pollock. Tommy Pham homers to left field. Eric Hosmer homers to center field. Wil Myers singles to left field. Jurickson Profar flies out to deep right center field to Mookie Betts.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 2, Dodgers 0.Dodgers first. Mookie Betts hit by pitch. Corey Seager homers to right field. Mookie Betts scores. Justin Turner grounds out to third base, Manny Machado to Eric Hosmer. Cody Bellinger lines out to deep center field to Edward Olivares. AJ Pollock homers to left field. Max Muncy strikes out on a foul tip.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 3, Padres 2.Dodgers second. Joc Pederson pops out to right center field to Manny Machado. Chris Taylor doubles to right field. Austin Barnes flies out to left field to Jorge Mateo. Mookie Betts homers to center field. Chris Taylor scores. Corey Seager flies out to deep right center field to Wil Myers.2... [More]

Dodgers fifth. AJ Pollock walks. Chris Taylor singles to shallow infield. AJ Pollock to second. Edwin Rios singles to shallow right field. Chris Taylor to third. AJ Pollock scores. Austin Barnes reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Edwin Rios out at second. Chris Taylor scores. Joc Pederson flies out to right field to Wil Myers. Mookie Betts lines out to deep left field to Tommy Pham.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Dodgers 2, Padres 0.Dodgers eighth. Austin Barnes singles to second base. Joc Pederson flies out to right field to Wil Myers. Mookie Betts singles to shallow infield. Austin Barnes to second. Cody Bellinger doubles. Mookie Betts to third. Austin Barnes scores. Justin Turner homers to center field. Cody Bellinger scores. Mookie Betts scores. Max Muncy called out on strikes. AJ Pollock grounds out to shortstop, Manny Machado to Jake Cronenworth.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Dodgers 6, Padres 0.