NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star shortstop Gleyber Torres and left-hander James Paxton have joined the New York Yankees' crowded injured list.Torres had an MRI on Friday that revealed mild strains in his left hamstring and quad, while Paxton had an MRI on Thursday that showed a low-grade strain in his left forearm flexor. Both were added to the IL on Friday.Left-hander Luis Avilán was also placed on the injured list after an MRI on Thursday revealed left shoulder inflammation.The Yankees were supposed to play three games against the crosstown Mets this weekend, but the Subway Series was postponed after two members of the Mets tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday.The Yankees are already without star hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, as well as left-hander Zack Britton, right-hander Tommy Kahnle and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka — all on the IL. Judge was expected to be activated Saturday after recovering from a strained right calf. Torres was injured running to first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman has been cleared to return to the New York Yankees following a bout with the coronavirus, but reliever Tommy Kahnle likely needs Tommy John surgery.Manager Aaron Boone gave the updates on his team's bullpen Friday, when the Yankees beat Boston 5-1.Boone said he wasn't sure when Chapman would be ready for game action. The manager also said an MRI revealed damage to Kahnle's right ulnar collateral ligament. Chapman had been isolating in his Manhattan apartment since his positive test July 11. The hard-throwing lefty was waiting to register consecutive negative tests. His symptoms were mild.“The good thing was he was never really sick, so he was able to maintain probably a level of physical conditioning that other people may not have been able to,” Boone said.The 32-year-old pitcher constructed a weight room in his living room to stay in shape. He posted videos of his workouts on social media. Boone said Chapman also purchased a sock-shaped device... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman has been cleared to return to Yankee Stadium following a bout with the coronavirus and was expected to play catch Friday before New York hosted the Boston Red Sox.Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Chapman's return and said he wasn't sure when the hard-throwing left-hander would be ready for game action. “The good thing was he was never really sick, so he was able to maintain probably a level of physical conditioning that other people may not have been able to,” Boone said.Chapman had been isolating in his Manhattan apartment since his positive test July 11. He was waiting to register consecutive negative tests. His symptoms were mild.The 32-year-old pitcher constructed a weight room in his living room to stay in shape. He posted videos of his workouts on social media. Boone said Chapman also purchased a sock-shaped device into which he threw baseballs. The contraption is attached to the forearm and extends past the hand, allowing it to... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — No fans. No music. A bullpen catcher calling balls and strikes.Still, for one night at least, the New York Yankees played something resembling a baseball game in the Bronx.“It felt great, actually,” said starter J.A. Happ, who pitched for Team Yankees against Team Bombers. “It was a little bit strange, but I was actually surprised at the adrenaline, and I heard a couple of other guys saying the same thing.”The Yankees held their first intrasquad game of summer camp Monday as they prepare for a condensed 60-game season that starts in 2 1/2 weeks. Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton and other regulars from the defending AL East champs took hacks under the lights against teammates for six innings. Happ's first pitch came about an hour after Major League Baseball unveiled the schedule for a season it hopes to run through a pandemic. The Yankees will open July 23 against the World Series champion Nationals in Washington as part of a slate that exclusively features... [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) — Aaron Judge agreed to an $8.5 million, one-year contract Friday with the New York Yankees, who also reached a $12.5 million deal with left-hander James Paxton and a $5 million agreement with catcher Gary Sánchez.New York struck deals with all nine players eligible for salary arbitration, agreeing with relievers Tommy Kahnle ($2.65 million), Chad Green ($1,275,000), Luis Cessa ($895,000) and Jonathan Holder ($750,000), left-hander Jordan Montgomery ($805,000) and infielder Gio Urshela ($2,475,000).Judge, who made $684,300 last season, turns 28 in April and hit .272 with 27 homers and 55 RBIs in 102 games. The 2017 AL Rookie of the Year after hitting 52 home runs, he was sidelined last season between April 20 and June 21 by a strained left oblique muscle. The outfielder's power did not return until late August. He hit .265 in the postseason with one homer, two RBIs and 11 strikeouts in 34 at-bats. Paxton, a 31-year-old left-hander, went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in his first season... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge agreed to an $8.5 million, one-year contract Friday with the New York Yankees, who also reached a $12.5 million deal with left-hander James Paxton and a $5 million agreement with catcher Gary Sánchez.All three players were eligible for salary arbitration.Judge, who made $684,300 last season, turns 28 in April and hit .272 with 27 homers and 55 RBIs in 102 games. The 2017 AL Rookie of the Year after hitting 52 home runs, he was sidelined last season between April 20 and June 21 by a strained left oblique muscle. The outfielder's power did not return until late August. He hit .265 in the postseason with one homer, two RBIs and 11 strikeouts in 34 at-bats. Paxton, a 31-year-old left-hander, went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in his first season after the Yankees acquired him from Seattle, going 10-0 in his final 11 regular season starts and 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in three postseason starts. He made $8,575,000 last year and is eligible for free agency after this year's World... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aroldis Chapman is staying with the New York Yankees, amending his contract to a $48 million, three-year deal.The 31-year-old All-Star closer had been owed $15 million in each of the next two seasons as part of an $86 million, five-year contract, and he had the right to opt out of the deal and become a free agent.The left-hander's amended deal includes salaries of $16 million annually and a full no-trade provision. Under the original contract, he had a full no-trade through 2019, then a limited no-trade provision that said he could not be dealt during 2020 or 2021 to any of the five California teams or Seattle without his consent.Chapman had a stellar regular season with the Yankees, converting 37 saves in 42 chances while going 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA and striking out 85 in 57 innings. He earned his sixth All-Star selection and was selected the Reliever of the Year in the American League.His average fastball velocity has dropped from 101 mph in 2016 to 98 mph this year, and... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Gerrit Cole could be seeing a lot more of the New York Yankees real soon.While there was no Game 7 for the Astros' ace to face the Yankees in the AL Championship Series, could he start New York's opener at Baltimore on March 26?"The work never ends," New York manager Aaron Boone said after Saturday night's season-ending Game 6 loss. "We'll continue to try and I guess close that gap or put ourselves in a position to get over the hump. I know everyone in our room believes we will, and we'll have a lot of battle scars when we do finally get to the top of that mountain."Boone memorably called his team Savages in the Box during a midsummer tirade at an umpire. While that may be true, he lacked Marauders on the Mound.Specifically in his rotation.New York starters had a 4.51 ERA, 15th in the major leagues, well behind the elite staffs of Los Angeles Dodgers (3.11) and pennant-winning Washington (3.53) and Houston (3.61). Yankees starters were just 26th among the 30 teams in innings,... [More]

Astros first. George Springer strikes out swinging. Jose Altuve doubles to deep left center field. Michael Brantley flies out to center field to Aaron Hicks. Alex Bregman walks. Yuli Gurriel homers to left field. Alex Bregman scores. Jose Altuve scores. Carlos Correa grounds out to shortstop, Gio Urshela to DJ LeMahieu.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 3, Yankees 0.Yankees second. Aaron Hicks grounds out to first base to Yuli Gurriel. Edwin Encarnacion strikes out swinging. Didi Gregorius doubles to right field. Gary Sanchez singles to center field. Didi Gregorius scores. Gio Urshela walks. Gary Sanchez to second. Brett Gardner called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 3, Yankees 1.Yankees fourth. Gary Sanchez strikes out swinging. Gio Urshela homers to center field. Brett Gardner singles to shallow left field. DJ LeMahieu lines out to deep center field to George Springer. Aaron Judge strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 3, Yankees... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole may get a chance to punch the Houston Astros' ticket to the World Series.Only if Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and the rest of the New York Yankees' acclaimed relief corps force him to try.After staving off elimination with a 4-1 victory Friday night in the Bronx, the Yankees plan to unleash their fearsome relievers in Houston on Saturday during Game 6 of this AL Championship Series. The Astros lead the best-of-seven set 3-2 and will also lean on their bullpen, saving Cole to pitch a potential Game 7 on full rest.Hanging in the balance: a World Series date with the NL champion Washington Nationals."We obviously feel good about the bullpen days," Britton said. "We've had a lot of success doing it."Yankees opener extraordinaire Chad Green is likely to get the ball first, although manager Aaron Boone said he hadn't decided for sure. The rest of New York's core relief quintet — Chapman, Britton, Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle — will surely follow. Boone said Luis... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole may get a chance to punch the Houston Astros' ticket to the World Series.Only if Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and the rest of the New York Yankees' acclaimed relief corps force him to try.After staving off elimination with a 4-1 victory Friday night in the Bronx, the Yankees plan to unleash their fearsome relievers in Houston on Saturday during Game 6 of this AL Championship Series. The Astros lead the best-of-seven set 3-2 and will also lean on their bullpen, saving Cole to pitch a potential Game 7 on full rest.Hanging in the balance: a World Series date with the NL champion Washington Nationals."We obviously feel good about the bullpen days," Britton said. "We've had a lot of success doing it."Yankees opener extraordinaire Chad Green is likely to get the ball first, although manager Aaron Boone said he hadn't decided for sure. The rest of New York's core relief quintet — Chapman, Britton, Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle — will surely follow. Boone said Luis... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Sounds as though Zack Greinke got an earful at Yankee Stadium while warming up in the bullpen.By the time the ninth inning rolled around, most of those fans were long gone.Awfully satisfying for the Houston Astros."They emptied out pretty quick toward the end. I guess there wasn't that much to say," right fielder Josh Reddick said.Greinke kept his cool after a rocky start Thursday night and the Astros romped to an 8-3 victory over the New York Yankees for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series.A report by NJ Advance Media detailed some of the jeering directed at Greinke as he got loose before the game. Fans in the left field bleachers insulted his family and taunted the Astros starting pitcher with chants about his social anxiety disorder. At least one was ejected as police officers kept a watchful eye close by, the outlet noted."I didn't hear anything," Greinke said softly in the Houston clubhouse after allowing one run in 4 1/3 innings.The revved-up Bronx... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Sounds as though Zack Greinke got an earful at Yankee Stadium while warming up in the bullpen.By the time the ninth inning rolled around, most of those fans were long gone.Awfully satisfying for the Houston Astros."They emptied out pretty quick toward the end. I guess there wasn't that much to say," right fielder Josh Reddick said.Greinke kept his cool after a rocky start Thursday night and the Astros romped to an 8-3 victory over the New York Yankees for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series.A report by NJ Advance Media detailed some of the jeering directed at Greinke as he got loose before the game. Fans in the left field bleachers insulted his family and taunted the Astros starting pitcher with chants about his social anxiety disorder. At least one was ejected as police officers kept a watchful eye close by, the outlet indicated."I didn't hear anything," Greinke said softly in the Houston clubhouse after allowing one run in 4 1/3 innings.The revved-up... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Sounds as though Zack Greinke got an earful at Yankee Stadium while warming up in the bullpen.By the time the ninth inning rolled around, most of those fans were long gone.Awfully satisfying for the Houston Astros."They emptied out pretty quick toward the end. I guess there wasn't that much to say," right fielder Josh Reddick said.Greinke kept his cool after a rocky start Thursday night and the Astros romped to an 8-3 victory over the New York Yankees for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series.A report by NJ Advance Media detailed some of the jeering directed at Greinke as he got loose before the game. Fans in the left field bleachers insulted his family and taunted the Astros starting pitcher with chants about his social anxiety disorder, the outlet indicated. At least one was ejected as police officers kept a watchful eye close by."I didn't hear anything," Greinke said softly in the Houston clubhouse after allowing one run in 4 1/3 innings.The revved-up... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Game 4 of the AL Championship Series scheduled for Wednesday night has been postponed because of rain in the forecast.The Houston Astros and New York Yankees will play Game 4 on Thursday night instead, with Game 5 on Friday at Yankee Stadium and Game 6 in Houston on Saturday if necessary. Houston beat New York 4-1 in the Bronx on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 series lead.It's expected that Houston will start Zack Greinke against the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka in a rematch of Game 1. Tanaka pitched six sterling innings as New York won the opener 7-0.Both clubs had planned to use bullpen openers Wednesday, and the day off will be welcome for New York after manager Aaron Boone used five relievers to cover 4 2/3 innings Tuesday. Starter Luis Severino threw 36 pitches in the first inning and was pulled in the fifth. Boone deployed key arms Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino and Zack Britton in the loss, although none threw more than 11 pitches.Of course, now the teams might... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees and Astros plan all-bullpen games from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series in a sign of the times.With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, New York's Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka began the opener for the Yankees and James Paxton was on the mound for Game 2.Neither team had a starting pitcher it wanted to use for Game 4 on Wednesday."J.A. Happ could very much be in the mix, as well as I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day," New York manager Aaron Boone said Monday as the series shifted to Yankee Stadium.A starter during the regular season, Happ has relieved during the playoffs. The 36-year-old left-hander entered in the 10th inning of Game 2, escaped a two-out jam, then allowed Carlos Correa's home run leading off the 11th that gave the Astros a 3-2 win.Houston manager A.J. Hinch started Zack Greinke in the opener followed by Justin Verlander in Game 2. Hinch anticipates rookie right-hander... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees and Astros plan all-bullpen games from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series in a sign of the times.With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, New York's Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka began the opener for the Yankees and James Paxton was on the mound for Game 2.Neither team had a starting pitcher it wanted to use for Game 4 on Wednesday."J.A. Happ could very much be in the mix, as well as I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day," New York manager Aaron Boone said Monday as the series shifted to Yankee Stadium.A starter during the regular season, Happ has relieved during the playoffs. The 36-year-old left-hander entered in the 10th inning of Game 2, escaped a two-out jam, then allowed Carlos Correa's home run leading off the 11th that gave the Astros a 3-2 win.Houston manager A.J. Hinch started Zack Greinke in the opener followed by Justin Verlander in Game 2. Hinch anticipates rookie right-hander... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Yankees went to the bullpen early and kept a parade of relievers going to the mound — even CC Sabathia.But New York's bullpen buckled in the 11th inning when Carlos Correa led off with a home run off J.A. Happ, the Yankees' ninth pitcher, to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win Sunday that tied the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.On a night when starter James Paxton lasted just 2 1/3 innings and 51 pitches, Yankees manager Aaron Boone treated the third inning like he would the sixth during the regular season."Just felt like we were covered as far as today with getting some length and having guys rested. Obviously going into an off day tomorrow we're just going to be aggressive," Boone said.Paxton allowed Correa's RBI double in the second, escaped further trouble, then was replaced by Chad Green with one on and one out in the third."Thought he was struggling with his command," Boone said.Green retired six straight batters, and Yankees went ahead 2-1 on Aaron Judge's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Yankees went to the bullpen early and kept a parade of relievers going to the mound — even CC Sabathia.But New York's bullpen buckled in the 11th inning when Carlos Correa led off with a home run off J.A. Happ, the Yankees' ninth pitcher, to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win Sunday night that tied the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.On a night when starter James Paxton lasted just 2 1/3 innings and 51 pitches, Yankees manager Aaron Boone treated the third inning like he would the sixth during the regular season."Just felt like we were covered as far as today with getting some length and having guys rested. Obviously going into an off day tomorrow we're just going to be aggressive," Boone said. "Thought he was struggling with his command. And it ends up ... doesn't end well."Chad Green relieved Paxton with one on and one out, then retired all six batters he faced. The Yankees went ahead 2-1 on Aaron Judge's two-run homer in the fourth off Justin Verlander, but... [More]