A team-by-team look at the National 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: ___ Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Dave Roberts (sixth season). 2019: 43-17, first place, World Series champions. Training Town: Glendale, Arizona. Park: Camelback Ranch. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Tommy Kahnle, LHP Garrett Cleavinger. He’s Outta Here: 3B Justin Turner, RHP Pedro Báez, INF/OF Enrique Hernández, LF Joc Pederson, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Jimmy Nelson, OF Terrance Gore. Going campin’: After winning their first World Series title since 1988 during the pandemic-shortened season, the Dodgers are looking to repeat. They made a major splash just before spring training, signing Bauer a year after trading for Mookie Betts and David Price in February. The roster boasts an enviable three MVPs and three Cy Young Award winners, making the Dodgers the favorites... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to one-year contracts Friday with right-hander Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly and left-hander Caleb Smith that avoided salary arbitration. Weaver's deal is for $1.95 million, Kelly $1.7 million and Smith $1,465,000. No other Arizona players remain eligible for arbitration. The 27-year-old Weaver slogged through a rough 2020 season with a 1-9 record and 6.58 ERA. He's still expected to be a big part of the starting rotation next season along with Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Weaver earned a prorated $221,111 from his $597,000 salary last year. Carson Kelly, 26, has been the team's starting catcher the past two seasons after being acquired in a trade with the Cardinals. He had a breakout season in 2019 with a .245 batting average and 18 homers but regressed at the plate in 2020, hitting just .221 with an on-base percentage of .264. He made $215,444 in prorated pay from a $581,700 salary. The 29-year-old Smith was acquired in a midseason trade with the Marlins. He missed a big chunk of the year, partly because of a bout with COVID-19. He returned to pitch 11 innings for the Diamondbacks and had a 2.45 ERA. Smith earned $217,222 of a $586,500 salary. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to one-year contracts Friday with right-hander Luke Weaver and catcher Carson Kelly that avoided salary arbitration. Weaver got $1.95 million and Kelly's deal is for $1.7 million. Left-hander Caleb Smith was the only other Arizona player still eligible for arbitration. The 27-year-old Weaver slogged through a rough 2020 season with a 1-9 record and 6.58 ERA. He's still expected to be a big part of the starting rotation next season along with Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Weaver earned a prorated $221,111 from his $597,000 salary last year. Carson Kelly, 26, has been the team's starting catcher the past two seasons after being acquired in a trade with the Cardinals. He had a breakout season in 2019 with a .245 batting average and 18 homers but regressed at the plate in 2020, hitting just .221 with an on-base percentage of .264. He made $215,444 in prorated pay from a $581,700 salary. The 29-year-old Smith was acquired in a midseason trade with the Marlins. He missed a big chunk of the year, partly because of a bout with COVID-19. He returned to pitch 11 innings for the Diamondbacks and had a 2.45 ERA. Smith earned $217,222 of a $586,500 salary. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Torey Lovullo's routine during baseball's postseason consisted of grabbing a big bowl of ice cream, plopping down in front of the TV and reflecting on a season that couldn't have gone much worse for the Diamondbacks. Arizona's fifth-year manager admits it wasn't a fun stretch of time. “To be totally honest with you, I was pretty bitter for the first several weeks of the offseason,” Lovullo said. “Watching the postseason, it was tough, it was a really tough pill for me to swallow, and I know our organization basically felt the same way.” Now the Diamondbacks are out to prove that 2020's 60-game flop was an aberration and not a signal that the franchise is falling further out of contention behind the World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers and the up-and-coming San Diego Padres. If Arizona is going to improve on this year's 25-35 record and last place finish in the NL West, it's going to be done with a lot of the same faces. Lovullo brought back his entire coaching staff and... [More]

Oct. 31 1961 — A federal judge ruled that Birmingham, Ala. laws against integrated playing fields were illegal. This ruling eliminated the last barrier against integrating the Southern Association. 1967 — San Francisco’s Mike McCormick won the National League Cy Young award. Mike McCormick led the league with with 22 victories. It was the first year in which pitchers are honored in both leagues. 1972 — Gaylord Perry, a 24-game winner with the fifth-place Cleveland Indians, won the American League Cy Young award. Perry won by a 64-58 margin over Wilbur Wood of the Chicago White Sox. 1973 — Tom Seaver of the New York Mets became the first pitcher to win the National League Cy Young award with less than 20 wins. Seaver went 19-10 and led the league in ERA (2.08) and strikeouts (251). 2001 — Derek Jeter hit a game-winning home run off Byung-Hyun Kim in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift New York over Arizona 4-3 and tie the World Series at 2-2. The Yankees’ Tino Martinez hit a dramatic two-run... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager hit a rare October double, becoming Most Valuable Player of the World Series after earning the honor for the League Championship Series. Just as Orel Hershiser did when the Los Angeles Dodgers won their previous World Series title in 1988. Seager batted .400 with two homers, five RBIs and six walks against the Tampa Bay Rays, including a sixth-inning grounder that allowed Mookie Betts to speed home from third base with the go-ahead run Tuesday night in Game 6. The star shortstop jumped into the arms of second baseman Kiké Hernández after Julio Urías struck out Willy Adames to end a 3-1 victory that clinched the championship. “To be able to win and to be able to do it with a team like this, it means everything,” Seager said. Especially after losing Game 7 to Houston three years ago and missing the entire 2018 postseason while injured. “It hurt, obviously,” he said. “This core has been around for a couple of years now, and to know what it feels like to... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager hit a rare October double, becoming Most Valuable Player of the World Series after earning the honor for the League Championship Series. Just as Orel Hershiser did when the Los Angeles Dodgers won their previous World Series title in 1988. Seager batted .400 with two homers, five RBIs and six walks against the Tampa Bay Rays, including a sixth-inning grounder that allowed Mookie Betts to speed home from third base with the go-ahead run Tuesday night in Game 6. The star shortstop jumped into the arms of second baseman Kiké Hernández after Julio Urías struck out Willy Adames to end a 3-1 win that clinched the championship. Seager hit .310 with five homers and 11 RBIs in the seven-game win over Atlanta in the NL Championship Series, including three homers as the Dodgers fought off elimination in Games 5 and 6. He drove in runs in five consecutive plate appearances, starting with his last two at-bats in Game 2, matching a feat that had been accomplished... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager hit a rare October double, becoming Most Valuable Player of the World Series after earning the honor for the League Championship Series. Just as Orel Hershiser did when the Los Angeles Dodgers won their previous World Series title in 1988. Seager batted .400 with two homers, five RBIs and six walks against the Tampa Bay Rays, including a sixth-inning grounder that allowed Mookie Betts to speed home from third base with the go-ahead run Tuesday night in Game 6. The star shortstop jumped into the arms of second baseman Kiké Hernández after Julio Urías struck out Willy Adames to end a 3-1 win that clinched the championship. Seager hit .310 with five homers and 11 RBIs in the seven-game win over Atlanta in the NL Championship Series, including three homers as the Dodgers fought off elimination in Games 5 and 6. He drove in runs in five consecutive plate appearances, starting with his last two at-bats in Game 2, matching a feat that had been accomplished... [More]

2020— Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers 2019_Howie Kendrick, Washington Nationals 2018_Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers 2017_Justin Turner and Chris Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers 2016_Javier Baez and Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs 2015_Daniel Murphy, New York Mets 2014_Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants 2013_Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals 2012_Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants 2011_David Freese, St. Louis Cardinals 2010_Cody Ross, San Francisco Giants 2009_Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies 2008_Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies 2007_Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies 2006_Jeff Suppan, St. Louis Cardinals 2005_Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros 2004_Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals 2003_Ivan Rodriguez, Florida Marlins 2002_Benito Santiago, San Francisco Giants 2001_Craig Counsell, Arizona Diamondbacks 2000_Mike Hampton, New York Mets 1999_Eddie Perez, Atlanta Braves 1998_Sterling Hitchcock, San Diego Padres 1997_Livan Hernandez, Florida Marlins 1996_Javy Lopez, Atlanta Braves 1995_Mike Devereaux,... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Madison Bumgarner was one of many reasons the Arizona Diamondbacks fell well short of expectations this season. His assessment of his own personal struggles on the mound a few weeks ago summed up the team's summer quite well. “2020 sucks,” Bumgarner said. "I'm pretty much on board with that now. Not a big fan." The Diamondbacks thought they could challenge for the NL West title this season, but instead, they were the division’s worst team. Now they’re trying to figure out what the 60-game swoon means in the long term and how much they need to reshape the roster. Arizona finished with a 25-35 record but in reality, it felt worse than that. An eight-game losing streak in the middle of the season meant the D-backs were basically out of playoff contention by September. General manager Mike Hazen turned into a seller, dealing pitchers Robbie Ray, Archie Bradley and Andrew Chafin, along with outfielder Starling Marte. It was a stunning change of course considering how confident... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader tripled and homered to help the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season with a 5-2 win over Milwaukee, and the Brewers also earned a playoff spot Sunday via help on the West Coast moments later. St. Louis (30-28) will be the fifth seed in the NL and open a three-game wild-card series at San Diego on Wednesday. By winning, the Cardinals avoided having to travel to Detroit for two makeup games Monday. The Brewers (29-31) locked up the eighth seed and a third consecutive postseason berth after the Padres beat San Francisco 5-4 in a game that ended about 15 minutes later. The Giants finished with an identical record as the Brewers but lost out on a tiebreaker due to an inferior intradivision record. Milwaukee will face the top-seeded Dodgers in Los Angeles in a three-game series that also starts Wednesday. The Brewers haven’t had a winning record at any point this season. Milwaukee and Houston will be the first teams... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ LET'S GET IT SETTLED St. Louis, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Philadelphia enter the last day of the regular season competing for two postseason spots, and the biggest game of the day pits Christian Yelich's Brewers against Yadier Molina's Cardinals. A team-by-team breakdown of what each club needs to clinch: Cardinals (29-28) — Qualify with a victory over Milwaukee or a loss by the Giants. If St. Louis loses and San Francisco wins, the Cardinals would make up two games against Detroit on Monday that were postponed this season due to St. Louis' coronavirus outbreak. Brewers (29-30) — Qualify with a victory over St. Louis, or with losses by the Giants and Phillies. Giants (29-30) — Qualify with a victory over San Diego and a Brewers loss. If the Giants and Brewers win, San Francisco needs St. Louis to lose both games against the Tigers on Monday. Phillies (28-31) — Qualify with a win over Tampa Bay and losses by the Brewers and Giants.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday: ___ LET'S GET IT SETTLED St. Louis, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Philadelphia enter the last day of the regular season competing for two postseason spots, and the biggest game of the day pits Christian Yelich's Brewers against Yadier Molina's Cardinals. A team-by-team breakdown of what each club needs to clinch: Cardinals (29-28) — Qualify with a victory over Milwaukee or a loss by the Giants. If St. Louis loses and San Francisco wins, the Cardinals would make up two games against Detroit on Monday that were postponed this season due to St. Louis' coronavirus outbreak. Brewers (29-30) — Qualify with a victory over St. Louis, or with losses by the Giants and Phillies. Giants (29-30) — Qualify with a victory over San Diego and a Brewers loss. If the Giants and Cardinals win, San Francisco needs St. Louis to lose both games against the Tigers on Monday. Phillies (28-31) — Qualify with a win over Tampa Bay and losses by the Brewers and Giants.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ GONE STREAKING The Yankees can clinch their fourth consecutive postseason berth and set a new mark for supremacy in their rivalry with Boston in the finale of a series at Fenway Park. New York has won 10 straight games since ending a 5-15 slump, improving to 31-21 and ensuring their 28th consecutive winning season, second in big league history behind their 39 in a row from 1926-64. They'll lock up a playoff spot if they beat the Red Sox or if Seattle loses to San Diego. The Bronx Bombers have also beaten Boston in 12 straight meetings, matching their best run ever in the rivalry. The Yankees also won 12 straight spanning the 1952-32 seasons while Red Sox star Ted Williams was off fighting in the Korean War. SHUT DOWN Justin Verlander’s bid to rejoin the Astros for a playoff push is over. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner says he needs Tommy John surgery, likely putting him out of action through all of next year. The 37-year-old... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday: ___ SHUT DOWN Justin Verlander’s bid to rejoin the Astros for a playoff push is over. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner says he needs Tommy John surgery, likely putting him out of action through all of next year. The 37-year-old right-hander threw to hitters on the side Wednesday for the first time since he was injured in the team’s opener on July 24. “I tried as hard as I could to come back and play this season,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, my body just didn’t cooperate.” The Astros hold the eighth and final spot in the AL playoff race. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA last year, striking out a career-high 300 and throwing his third no-hitter. He pitched 223 innings, most in the majors, and then made six more starts in the postseason as the Astros reached the World Series. TRY AGAIN Madison Bumgarner makes another attempt at his first win since signing an $85 million, five-year contract in the offseason as a free agent with... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Arrieta pitched effectively into the sixth inning before leaving with an injury, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 4-1 Tuesday night.The scuffling Mets played their first game since billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen agreed to buy the team from the Wilpon and Katz families. The agreement was announced Monday and the deal is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball owners. Arrieta (4-4) allowed one run on Brandon Nimmo’s homer and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. But he walked off the mound, grabbing the back of his right leg, after hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch to load the bases. JoJo Romero entered and retired Wilson Ramos on a double-play grounder.Romero tossed two innings, Tommy Hunter got two outs and Hector Neris finished for his fourth save in seven chances.Mets starter Rick Porcello (1-5) yielded four runs and six hits in six innings as New York (21-27) lost its third straight and fell... [More]

Diamondbacks first. Josh Rojas pops out to shallow left field to Andrelton Simmons. Pavin Smith flies out to left field to Justin Upton. Christian Walker walks. Kole Calhoun homers to center field. Christian Walker scores. Eduardo Escobar lines out to center field to Mike Trout.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 2, Angels 0.Diamondbacks second. David Peralta flies out to deep center field to Taylor Ward. Nick Ahmed grounds out to third base, Anthony Rendon to Jared Walsh. Daulton Varsho homers. Carson Kelly homers. Josh Rojas grounds out to second base, David Fletcher to Jared Walsh.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 4, Angels 0.Diamondbacks third. Pavin Smith singles to left field. Christian Walker walks. Pavin Smith to second. Kole Calhoun homers to right field. Christian Walker scores. Pavin Smith scores. Eduardo Escobar strikes out swinging. David Peralta singles to left field. Nick Ahmed pops out to shallow right field to Jared Walsh. Daulton Varsho called... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit — a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning — while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.Making his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full count and Singer’s 116th pitch.Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit a three-run homer for the Royals. Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale (3-5). Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak.Franco also had a two-run single, giving him five RBIs.BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit — a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning — while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.Making his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full count and Singer’s 116th pitch.Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit a three-run homer for the Royals. Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale (3-5). Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak.Franco also had a two-run single, giving him five RBIs.BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6WASHINGTON (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington. Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh... [More]

Dodgers third. Mookie Betts grounds out to third base, Eduardo Escobar to Christian Walker. Corey Seager homers to left field. AJ Pollock homers to left field. Max Muncy grounds out to shallow infield to Madison Bumgarner. Chris Taylor reaches on error. Throwing error by Eduardo Escobar. Cody Bellinger flies out to right field to Daulton Varsho.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 0.Diamondbacks third. Josh Rojas reaches on error. Fielding error by Max Muncy. Josh VanMeter doubles to right field. Josh Rojas to third. Christian Walker doubles. Josh VanMeter scores. Josh Rojas scores. Kole Calhoun lines out to deep right field to Kike Hernandez. Christian Walker to third. Eduardo Escobar flies out to shallow center field to AJ Pollock. David Peralta called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 2.Diamondbacks sixth. David Peralta grounds out to shallow right field, Mookie Betts to Cody Bellinger. Nick Ahmed singles to center field. Daulton Varsho triples to deep right field. Nick Ahmed scores. Carson Kelly homers to center field. Daulton Varsho scores. Josh Rojas grounds out to shortstop, Corey Seager to Cody Bellinger. Josh VanMeter pops out to Corey Seager.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 2.