WASHINGTON (AP) — Highlighting the pitfalls of beginning the baseball season amid a pandemic, Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, hours before the 2019 World Series champions were scheduled to face the New York Yankees on opening day.Major League Baseball is the first of the four major North American team sports playing regular-season games amid the coronavirus outbreak, which is getting worse in some parts of the U.S.“You feel bad for him. He's a great player. The fans want to see him. And it affects our lineup,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.“But what can you do about it?” Rizzo added. “You've got to play ball. ... We’re going to have to win without our best guy. It’s a challenge.”Soto, a 21-year-old left fielder who was a breakout star of last October after producing 34 homers and 110 RBIs during the regular season, will be sidelined until he can come up negative on two consecutive coronavirus tests.“Unfortunately... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, forcing him to miss the start of the pandemic-delayed season.“You feel bad for him. He's a great player. The fans want to see him. And it affects our lineup,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said as he announced Soto's test less than five hours before the 2019 World Series champions were scheduled to host the New York Yankees on opening day.“But what can you do about it?” Rizzo said. “You've got to play ball. ... We’re going to have to win without our best guy. It’s a challenge.”Soto, a 21-year-old left fielder who was a breakout star of last postseason, will be sidelined until he can come up negative on two consecutive coronavirus tests.“He's asymptomatic,” Rizzo said. “He's following all major league protocols.”Rizzo said the Nationals had done contact tracing to check whether other members of the organization had been exposed.“At this time, there's nobody... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list Thursday, forcing him to miss the start of the pandemic-delayed season.“You feel bad for him. He's a great player. The fans want to see him. And it affects our lineup,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said as he announced Soto's test less than five hours before the 2019 World Series champions were scheduled to host the New York Yankees on opening day.“But what can you do about it?” Rizzo said. “You've got to play ball. ... We’re going to have to win without our best guy. It’s a challenge.”Soto, a 21-year-old left fielder who was a breakout star of last postseason, will be sidelined until he can come up negative on two consecutive coronavirus tests.“He's asymptomatic,” Rizzo said. “He's following all major league protocols.”Rizzo said the Nationals had done contact tracing to check whether other members of the organization had been exposed.“At this time, there's nobody... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list by the New York Yankees on Thursday as they set their opening day 30-man roster before playing Game 1 against the Washington Nationals.Closer Aroldis Chapman and starter Masahiro Tanaka begin the season on injured lists — Chapman on the COVID IL, and Tanaka on the 7-day IL after getting hit in the head by a batted ball.Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced on July 4 that LeMahieu and right-hander Luis Cessa tested positive for the coronavirus before traveling to New York for the team's summer camp and said they were self-isolating at home.LeMahieu signed with the Yankees before last season and hit .327, setting career highs with 26 homers and 102 RBIs.The Yankees also recalled infielder Thairo Estrada and righty pitchers Ben Heller and Michael King from the alternate site Thursday. That trio is part of a group of eight Yankees making their first career opening day active roster, along with outfielder... [More]

Just like his strong arm and limber legs, Joe Girardi made good use of his mouth over 15 seasons as a big league catcher. So much so that slugger Chili Davis once told him to shut it.“He was like, ‘You’re bothering me, I’m trying to hit,’” recalled Girardi, now manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. “I said, ‘Well, I’m trying to bother you, Chili.’”Girardi doesn’t think that kind of chatter will happen as much this season amid the coronavirus pandemic.There’s some concern that home plate could become a hot spot for transmission as baseball attempts to play a shortened 60-game season starting Thursday. Social distancing elsewhere around the diamond is fairly easy. But with the batter, catcher and umpire gathered within a few feet of each other around home plate, it might not be possible for all parties to follow government guidance to avoid 10 to 15 minutes of close exposure to others.“It’s been a little weird. Just from being back there for so long, you get used to having people around,”... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Opening day is next week, and there is concern for New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom and Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo because of back issues. It looks as if New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is feeling much better.The Mets sent deGrom for an MRI on Wednesday after the right-hander pitched just one inning in a summer camp appearance due to back tightness. An MRI of Rizzo on Tuesday showed rib-head inflammation on his left side that is causing back spasms — a condition he has dealt with before in his career.“Frustrating, just because how physically in shape I felt like I was coming in,” Rizzo said. “Just can't control the flareups. The MRI getting kind of what we knew, just confirming it. Just kind of getting it to calm down and get back out there as fast as I can.”Judge has been hampered by a stiff neck, but the outfielder homered off James Paxton during New York's intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees also said Masahiro Tanaka was scheduled for a bullpen... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole couldn't have expected the New York Yankees to take the ball away from him just one batter into his first home start in the Bronx.But the team's new $324 million ace learned the hard way about one of baseball’s new coronavirus safety protocols Tuesday night during an intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium. Cole allowed a home run to the second hitter he faced, Miguel Andújar, one pitch after being forced to give up the ball he used to strike out leadoff man Mike Tauchman.“I liked that ball,” Cole grumbled on the mound.Among the safety steps instituted by Major League Baseball for this virus-shortened season is that pitchers can’t reuse a baseball once it has been touched by other players. After Cole struck out Tauchman swinging, catcher Gary Sánchez whipped the ball around the infield — a customary ritual that’s frowned upon in MLB’s 2020 operations manual. Cole shot the dugout a confused look when coaches called for the ball. Andújar crushed the next pitch into the... [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]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees now have more competition in the job for backup catcher, with Erik Kratz, Josh Thole and Chris Iannetta agreeing to minor league contracts Monday.Austin Romine, Gary Sánchez's backup the last three seasons, became a free agent and agreed to a $4.15 million, one-year contract with Detroit.Kyle Higashioka is the only other catcher on New York's 40-man roster. He hit .214 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 57 plate appearances with the Yankees last year and batted .278 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.The 39-year-old Kratz was signed to a minor league deal by the Yankees last June following his release by Tampa Bay and hit .299 with seven homers and 31 RBIs at Scranton. He played for the U.S. team that failed in November to qualify for the Olympics.Thole, 33, hit .243 with three homers and 26 RBIs at Triple-A and Double-A last year. He last appeared in the major leagues with Toronto in 2016.Iannetta, who turns 37 in April, batted .222 with... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees now have more competition in the job for backup catcher, with Erik Kratz, Josh Thole and Chris Iannetta agreeing to minor league contracts Monday.Austin Romine, Gary Sánchez's backup the last three seasons, became a free agent and agreed to a $4.15 million, one-year contract with Detroit.Kyle Higashioka is the only other catcher on New York's 40-man roster. He hit .214 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 57 plate appearances with the Yankees last year and batted .278 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.The 39-year-old Kratz was signed to a minor league deal by the Yankees last June following his release by Tampa Bay and hit .299 with seven homers and 31 RBIs at Scranton. He played for the U.S. team that failed in November to qualify for the Olympics.Thole, 33, hit .243 with three homers and 26 RBIs at Triple-A and Double-A last year. He last appeared in the major leagues with Toronto in 2016.Iannetta, who turns 37 in April, batted .222 with... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Outfielder Brett Gardner is staying with the New York Yankees after the best offensive season of his career, agreeing to a one-year contract that guarantees $12.5 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday became the agreement had not be announced.Gardner gets a $2 million signing bonus and an $8 million salary for next season. The Yankees have a $10 million option for 2021 with a $2.5 million buyout.He earned $7.5 million last season plus a $2 million buyout after New York declined his $12.5 million option for 2019 under his previous contract. Gardner he hit .251 and set career highs with 28 homers and 74 RBIs, a rare left-handed bat in a Yankees lineup dominated by right-handed hitters.“The constant that he is means a lot to the organization as well as the production on the field," assistant general manager Mike Fishman said.Originally slated to be a fourth outfielder, Gardner saw increased... [More]

Blue jays third. Brandon Drury reaches on error. Fielding error by Didi Gregorius. Richard Urena singles to third base. Brandon Drury to second. Luke Maile strikes out on a foul tip. Jonathan Davis singles to left field. Richard Urena to second. Brandon Drury scores. Cavan Biggio flies out to left center field to Giancarlo Stanton.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Blue jays 1, Yankees 0.Yankees fourth. Aaron Judge doubles to deep center field. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shortstop, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Brandon Drury. Giancarlo Stanton doubles to deep left center field. Aaron Judge scores. Gio Urshela lines out to center field to Jonathan Davis. Mike Ford singles to center field. Giancarlo Stanton scores. Clint Frazier strikes out swinging.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Yankees 2, Blue jays 1.Yankees sixth. Giancarlo Stanton homers to left field. Gio Urshela grounds out to third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Brandon Drury. Mike Ford doubles to deep left field. Clint Frazier... [More]

Yankees second. Luke Voit walks. Gio Urshela singles to left field. Luke Voit to second. Brett Gardner doubles to left center field. Gio Urshela to third. Luke Voit scores. Cameron Maybin pops out to second base to Brandon Drury. Kyle Higashioka strikes out swinging. Thairo Estrada strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 1, Blue jays 0.Yankees third. DJ LeMahieu singles to third base. Aaron Judge singles to left center field. DJ LeMahieu to third. Gleyber Torres reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Aaron Judge to second. DJ LeMahieu out at home. Luke Voit doubles to deep right field. Gleyber Torres to third. Aaron Judge scores. Gio Urshela lines out to second base to Brandon Drury. Gleyber Torres doubled off third.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Yankees 2, Blue jays 0.Yankees fourth. Brett Gardner homers to center field. Cameron Maybin lines out to left center field to Teoscar Hernandez. Kyle Higashioka strikes out swinging. Thairo Estrada hit by pitch.... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — New York Yankees All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez has gone on the injured list for the second time this season, a day after straining his left groin.Sánchez was hurt when he stepped on first base while grounding out in the eighth inning of a 14-12, 10-inning win by the Yankees over Minnesota on Tuesday night. He was replaced by Austin Romine.Sánchez also was sidelined between April 10 and 24 because of a strained left calf. He had a strained right groin last season that shelved him from June 25 to July 19 and from July 24 to Sept. 1."I felt it after I stepped on the base," Sánchez said through an interpreter. "It felt kind of like a cramp. It's nothing like what I had last year. The pain is completely different."The MRI test on Wednesday revealed a Grade 1 strain, according to manager Aaron Boone, the mildest form of the injury."Which is somewhat of good news, but still it's going to be some time," said Boone, who declined to speculate on a timetable for Sánchez's return.The... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — New York Yankees All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez has gone on the injured list for the second time this season, a day after straining his left groin.Sánchez was hurt when he stepped on first base while grounding out in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 14-12, 10-inning win over Minnesota on Tuesday night. He was replaced by Austin Romine.Sánchez also was sidelined between April 10 and 24 because of a strained left calf. He had a strained right groin last season that caused him to go on the disabled list from June 25 to July 19 and from July 24 to Sept. 1."I felt it after I stepped on the base," Sánchez said through a translator. "It felt kind of like a cramp. It's nothing like what I had last year. The pain is completely different."He said he planned to have an MRI on Wednesday.The 26-year-old, an All-Star for the second time, is batting .229 with 24 homers and 58 RBIs. He was hitting .274 through June 21 but is 10 for 85 (.118) since with one homer and six RBIs, though he did hit the ball hard in his last two at-bats Tuesday, only to be robbed twice when shortstop Jorge Polanco made fine defensive plays.New York also optioned right-hander Jonathan Holder to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and recalled catcher Kyle Higashioka and left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. from the RailRiders.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Tauchman reported to the New York Yankees for the first time before an exhibition game at Washington, three days before opening day and two days after he was acquired from Colorado in a trade."Aaron Judge came over during batting practice, said, 'Hey man, you're here to help us win. You need anything, let me know.'" the outfielder recalled. "That's such a little thing. It took maybe 15 seconds, but it's great to know these guys really made me feel like part of a team from the minute I stepped in the clubhouse."Little did Tauchman and the Yankees know how much the club would need him.New York already has placed 16 players on the injured list this season, four shy of its disabled list total for all of last year. Still, the Yankees are 23-16, 1½ games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.Tauchman and Cameron Maybin were acquired in trades. Infielder Thairo Estrada, first baseman Mike Ford and pitcher Joseph Harvey were brought up from the minors to make their... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Tauchman reported to the New York Yankees for the first time before an exhibition game at Washington, three days before opening day and two days after he was acquired from Colorado in a trade."Aaron Judge came over during batting practice, said, 'Hey man, you're here to help us win. You need anything, let me know.'" the outfielder recalled. "That's such a little thing. It took maybe 15 seconds, but it's great to know these guys really made me feel like part of a team from the minute I stepped in the clubhouse."Little did Tauchman and the Yankees know how much the club would need him.New York already has placed 16 players on the injured list this season, four shy of its disabled list total for all of last year. Still, the Yankees started Saturday with a 23-15 record, a half-game behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.Tauchman and Cameron Maybin were acquired in trades. Infielder Thairo Estrada, first baseman Mike Ford and pitcher Joseph Harvey were brought up... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player is an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez hit... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player is an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez hit... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, getting three hits and driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.Davis walked to the plate in the first inning to what mostly appeared to be mock cheers when he was announced. But many of those quickly changed when he lined a bases-loaded, two-run single over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, ending the longest hitless streak ever by a position player. Once he safely reached first, Davis tipped his cap to the Orioles dugout and many of his teammates raised their arms and hollered in support. He smiled and made a motion that he wanted to ball, which he got.Davis, a former two-time major league home run champion, later hit two doubles. He had been 0 for 33 this season. The all-time record for a hitless streak by any player was an 0-for-85 drought by pitcher Bob Buhl in 1962-63.Christian Vázquez... [More]