TORONTO (AP) — Nate Pearson was not included on the Toronto Blue Jays' 30-man roster for Friday's opener at Tampa Bay, a move that likely will delay free-agent eligibility of the hard-throwing right-hander by a year until after the 2026 season.Pearson, who turns 24 on Aug. 20, was 5-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 25 starts across three minor league levels last season that included three starts at Triple-A Buffalo. He struck out 119 in 101 2/3 innings.If he is not put on the active roster until July 29, he would be limited to 61 days of major league service in the 67-day season. That would leave him with a maximum 169 days of credited major league service this year, three days shy of the 172 days needed for a full year of credited service. Service time is adjusted this year because of the shortened season caused by the coronavirus pandemic.A player needs six years of major league service to be eligible for free agency.Pearson allowed four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings in an exhibition start... [More]

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Hyun-Jin Ryu is now the clear ace of a major league rotation — with all the pressure and responsibility that comes with that.“We win games by having all the players put in their efforts,” Ryu said through a translator Thursday. “At the same time, I do realize the expectation and the weight that comes with this kind of contract and what the Blue Jays wanted, and I know exactly what the Blue Jays want from me.”What Toronto needs is some stability in its rotation. The Blue Jays used 21 different starters last year, then made several additions in the offseason. Ryu was the most prominent acquisition, signing a four-year, $80 million contract after finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award vote with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Ryu was the only NL pitcher to receive a first-place vote for the Cy Young besides winner Jacob deGrom, but pitching in Los Angeles, it was easy for the left-hander to be overshadowed by the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Ryu... [More]

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:___New York YankeesManager: Aaron Boone (third season). 2019: 103-59, first place, lost to Houston in AL Championship Series. Training Town: Tampa, Florida. Park: George Steinbrenner Field. First Workout: Feb. 13/18. He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, C Erik Kratz, C Chris Iannetta, C Josh Thole, RHP Nick Tropeano, LHP Luis Avil�nHe's Outta Here: LHP CC Sabathia, SS Didi Gregorius, 1B Edwin Encarnacion, C Austin Romine, RHP Dellin Betances, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, 1B Greg Bird, RHP Chance Adams, LHP Stephen Tarpley, LHP Nestor Cortes Jr., RHP Cory GearrinGoing campin': After a big league-record 30 players went on the injured list a total of 39 times last season, health remains a concern. Left-hander James Paxton had back surgery Feb. 5 and is expected to be sidelined until May or... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League Central 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:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

Hyun-Jin Ryu is headed north of the border to a Toronto Blue Jays team in dire need of starting pitching.One that was willing to pay for it, too.Ryu and the Blue Jays agreed to an $80 million, four-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke late Sunday night on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical after Christmas and had not been announced.Ryu was 14-5 with a major league-best 2.32 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He started for the National League in his first All-Star Game and finished second in Cy Young Award voting to New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom.The 32-year-old left-hander from South Korea receives a $20 million salary each of the next four years, with no signing bonus. His deal raised agent Scott Boras' total to more than a billion dollars in guaranteed contracts — $1,016,500,000 to be exact — for seven players eligible for free agency since the start of November, agreements extending as many as nine... [More]

Hyun-Jin Ryu is headed north of the border to a Toronto Blue Jays team in dire need of starting pitching.One that was willing to pay for it, too.Ryu and the Blue Jays agreed to an $80 million, four-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke late Sunday night on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical after Christmas and had not been announced.Ryu was 14-5 with a major league-best 2.32 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. The 32-year-old left-hander from South Korea started for the National League in his first All-Star appearance and finished second in Cy Young Award voting to New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom.Ryu receives a $20 million salary each of the next four years, with no signing bonus. His deal raised agent Scott Boras' total to more than a billion dollars in guaranteed contracts — $1,016,500,000 to be exact — for seven players eligible for free agency since the start of November, agreements extending as many... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Tanner Roark has to keep the ball down in order to succeed, especially in the AL East."Popups, they go out for home runs. It is what it is," Roark said with a laugh Wednesday after finalizing a $24 million, two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. ""Don't hang a pitch or else it's going to go far. That goes for any league, any division."A right-hander who turned 33 in October, Roark gets $12 million in each of the next two seasons.He was 10-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 31 starts last season for Cincinnati and Oakland, which acquired him at the trade deadline. Roark is 74-64 with a 3.71 ERA over seven seasons, the first six with Washington.Toronto, 67-95 last season, acquired right-hander Chase Anderson from Milwaukee last month."With the young core group of guys coming up and what we have at the big league level, maybe (I can) give some knowledge, teach them some things, answer any questions they want to know," he said. "I don't think I'm that old, but I'm one of the oldest... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Right-hander Tanner Roark and the Toronto Blue Jays completed their $24 million, two-year contract on Wednesday.Roark, who turned 33 in October, was 10-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 31 starts last season for Cincinnati and Oakland, which acquired him at the trade deadline. He is 74-64 with a 3.71 ERA over seven seasons, the first six with Washington.Toronto, 67-95 last season, acquired right-hander Chase Anderson from Milwaukee last month.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Right-hander Tanner Roark and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.Roark, who turned 33 in October, was 10-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 31 starts this year for Cincinnati and Oakland, which acquired him at the trade deadline.He is 74-64 with a 3.71 ERA over seven seasons. He spent six seasons with Washington, then was dealt to Cincinnati last December. Toronto was 67-95 last season and last month acquired right-hander Chase Anderson from Milwaukee to join a rotation that includes right-hander Matt Shoemaker, whose 2019 season was cut short after five starts because of a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. Shoemaker was 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA when he got hurt.___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Bumgarner was among 10 free agents who received $17.8 million qualifying offers from their former teams on Monday, a move that likely will decrease demand for the 30-year-old left-hander.Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, went 9-9 with a 3.90 ERA over 34 starts this year after two injury-shortened seasons. San Francisco also made a qualifying offer to left-handed reliever Will Smith.Six pitchers received the qualifying offers among the 168 free agents, including right-handers Gerrit Cole (Houston), Stephen Strasburg (Washington), Zack Wheeler (New York Mets) and Jake Odorizzi (Minnesota). The others given the offers were third basemen Anthony Rendon (Washington) and Josh Donaldson (Atlanta), first baseman José Abreu (Chicago White Sox) and outfielder Marcell Ozuna (St. Louis).On the day before free agents can start negotiating contracts with all teams, Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez decided to stay in Boston instead of becoming a free agent, declining... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Bumgarner was among 10 free agents who received $17.8 million qualifying offers from their former teams on Monday, a move that likely will decrease demand for the 30-year-old left-hander.Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, went 9-9 with a 3.90 ERA over 34 starts this year after two injury-shortened seasons. San Francisco also made a qualifying offer to left-handed reliever Will Smith.Six pitchers received the qualifying offers, including right-handers Gerrit Cole (Houston), Stephen Strasburg (Washington), Zack Wheeler (New York Mets) and Jake Odorizzi (Minnesota). The others given the offers were third basemen Anthony Rendon (Washington) and Josh Donaldson (Atlanta), first baseman José Abreu (Chicago White Sox) and outfielder Marcell Ozuna (St. Louis).On the day before free agents can start negotiating contracts with all teams, Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez decided to stay in Boston instead of becoming a free agent, declining an option that would have... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brewers cut $15 million in payroll for next season, trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for prospect Chad Spanberger and declining a $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames.Anderson was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances. Milwaukee had planned to decline his $8.5 million option, which would have made him eligible for salary arbitration.Thames, who turns 33 on Sunday, hit .247 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs in 149 games last season. He will receive a $1 million buyout.Signed to $16 million, three-year contract after establishing himself in the South Korean League, Thames hit 59 homers in three seasons with Milwaukee.While Thames does not have six years of major league service, his contract included a provision stating he would become a free agent when the deal ended."We'll continue to be in touch with Eric and his agent and we'll see if there's a fit at some point later in the offseason but at this point,... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brewers cut $15 million in payroll for next season, trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for prospect Chad Spanberger and declining a $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames.Anderson was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances. Milwaukee had planned to decline his $8.5 million option, which would have made him eligible for salary arbitration.Thames, who turns 33 on Sunday, hit .247 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs in 149 games last season. He will receive a $1 million buyout.Signed to $16 million, three-year contract after establishing himself in the South Korean League, Thames hit 59 homers in three seasons with Milwaukee.While Thames does not have six years of major league service, his contract included a provision stating he would become a free agent when the deal ended."We'll continue to be in touch with Eric and his agent and we'll see if there's a fit at some point later in the offseason but at this point,... [More]

It's been three years since Andrew Miller led the Cleveland Indians to the brink of a World Series championship by coming out of the bullpen early and often, and bulk work from relievers has been an October staple since. Whether it's Brewers All-Star Josh Hader stretching out for three innings or Astros ace Justin Verlander moonlighting in middle relief, aggressive bullpen management has become standard postseason practice.As the calendar flips, a look at the best relief options — for the biggest outs, and for a bunch of them — for each of the 10 playoff clubs.NEW YORK YANKEESFor The Big Out: In baseball's deepest bullpen, the difference maker is Aroldis Chapman. The 31-year-old left-hander has lost some steam — he averaged about 98 mph on his fastball this year, down from 101 at his peak in 2016 — but he's made up for it with an improved slider that he's throwing more than ever. Although he famously blew a lead for the Cubs in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Chapman has been fantastic... [More]

Reds first. Jose Peraza pops out to Eric Thames. Joey Votto called out on strikes. Aristides Aquino homers to left field. Josh VanMeter walks. Phillip Ervin strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Reds 1, Brewers 0.Brewers fourth. Yasmani Grandal walks. Keston Hiura walks. Yasmani Grandal to second. Manny Pina called out on strikes. Cory Spangenberg reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Keston Hiura out at second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Travis Shaw walks. Orlando Arcia doubles to left center field. Travis Shaw scores. Cory Spangenberg scores. Yasmani Grandal scores. Ben Gamel doubles to deep left field. Orlando Arcia scores. Chase Anderson strikes out swinging.4 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 4, Reds 1.Brewers fifth. Trent Grisham flies out to right center field to Aristides Aquino. Yasmani Grandal walks. Keston Hiura singles to center field. Yasmani Grandal to second. Manny Pina doubles to deep left field. Keston Hiura out at home. Yasmani Grandal... [More]

Brewers first. Lorenzo Cain walks. Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging. Mike Moustakas singles to left field. Lorenzo Cain scores. Ryan Braun doubles to deep right center field. Mike Moustakas to third. Keston Hiura strikes out swinging. Hernan Perez reaches on error to shortstop, advances to 2nd. Ryan Braun scores. Mike Moustakas scores. Throwing error by Kevin Newman. Manny Pina strikes out swinging.3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Brewers 3, Pirates 0.Brewers sixth. Yasmani Grandal walks. Mike Moustakas singles to left field. Yasmani Grandal to second. Ryan Braun called out on strikes. Keston Hiura singles to center field. Mike Moustakas to second. Yasmani Grandal scores. Trent Grisham pinch-hitting for Hernan Perez. Trent Grisham walks. Cory Spangenberg to second. Mike Moustakas to third. Manny Pina hit by pitch. Trent Grisham to second. Cory Spangenberg to third. Mike Moustakas scores. Orlando Arcia strikes out swinging. Ben Gamel pinch-hitting for Chase Anderson. Ben Gamel walks.... [More]

Brewers second. Eric Thames grounds out to second base, Starlin Castro to Garrett Cooper. Ryan Braun pops out to Jorge Alfaro. Cory Spangenberg singles to left field. Hernan Perez homers to left field. Cory Spangenberg scores. Travis Shaw flies out to right field to Magneuris Sierra.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 2, Marlins 0.Marlins second. Starlin Castro flies out to center field to Lorenzo Cain. Jorge Alfaro doubles to deep right field. Isan Diaz doubles to deep right center field. Jorge Alfaro scores. Austin Dean strikes out on a foul tip. Magneuris Sierra grounds out to first base to Eric Thames.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 2, Marlins 1.Brewers third. Chase Anderson doubles to deep left field. Lorenzo Cain called out on strikes. Yasmani Grandal doubles to deep right field. Chase Anderson scores. Trent Grisham grounds out to shallow infield, Elieser Hernandez to Garrett Cooper. Yasmani Grandal to third. Eric Thames lines out to deep left field to Austin... [More]

Cubs first. Ben Zobrist walks. Nicholas Castellanos called out on strikes. Kris Bryant strikes out swinging. Anthony Rizzo walks. Ben Zobrist to second. Willson Contreras doubles to left field. Anthony Rizzo to third. Ben Zobrist scores. Kyle Schwarber grounds out to shallow infield, Chase Anderson to Yasmani Grandal.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Cubs 1, Brewers 0.Brewers second. Ryan Braun singles to center field. Manny Pina grounds out to third base, Kris Bryant to Anthony Rizzo. Ryan Braun to second. Hernan Perez homers to right field. Ryan Braun scores. Orlando Arcia flies out to left center field to Kyle Schwarber. Cory Spangenberg grounds out to second base, Ben Zobrist to Anthony Rizzo.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 2, Cubs 1.Cubs fourth. Willson Contreras homers to center field. Kyle Schwarber doubles to deep center field. Addison Russell lines out to third base to Hernan Perez. Jason Heyward flies out to deep left field to Ryan Braun. Jose Quintana grounds out... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:STRAS TESTStephen Strasburg (16-5, 3.47 ERA) starts as Washington begins a four-game series at NL East-leading Atlanta. Strasburg is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in five career starts at SunTrust Park. Max Fried (15-4, 4.09) pitches for the Braves, who have won six straight.The Nationals trail Atlanta by seven games in the NL East. Washington leads the NL wild-card race by three games over the Cubs.DOING IT ALLMichael Lorenzen is making himself valuable wherever the Reds need him. In his latest performance, he did something no major leaguer has done since Babe Ruth in 1921.On Wednesday, Lorenzen earned the win as a pitcher, hit a home run and played the field as Cincinnati beat the Phillies 8-5. Lorenzen pitched two innings, connected for a two-run drive and finished up in center field.SOMETHING BREWIN'?Christian Yelich and the Brewers get a chance to move up in the NL wild-card race when they host the Cubs to begin a four-game series at Miller... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:STRAS TESTStephen Strasburg (16-5, 3.47 ERA) starts as Washington begins a four-game series at NL East-leading Atlanta. Strasburg is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in five career starts at SunTrust Park. Max Fried (15-4, 4.09) pitches for the Braves.The Nationals trail Atlanta by seven games in the NL East. Washington leads the NL wild-card race by three games over the Cubs.DOING IT ALLMichael Lorenzen is making himself valuable wherever the Reds need him. In his latest performance, he did something no major leaguer has done since Babe Ruth in 1921.On Wednesday, Lorenzen earned the win as a pitcher, hit a home run and played the field as Cincinnati beat the Phillies 8-5. Lorenzen pitched two innings, connected for a two-run drive and finished up in center field.SOMETHING BREWIN'?Christian Yelich and the Brewers get a chance to move up in the NL wild-card race when they host the Cubs to begin a four-game series at Miller Park. Milwaukee trails Chicago... [More]