PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Phillies agreed to one-year contracts with first baseman Rhys Hoskins, right-hander Vince Velasquez and left-hander Jose Alvarado on Friday to avoid salary arbitration. Hoskins will earn $4.8 million in 2021, Velasquez gets $4 million and Alvarado makes $1 million. Hoskins batted .245 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs last season, when he earned $224,074 prorated of a $605,000 salary. He averaged 32 homers and 90 RBIs with a .236 average over his first two full seasons. Velasquez was 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in seven starts and two relief appearances last season, when he made $1,333,333 prorated of a $3.6 million salary. He is 28-35 with a 4.72 ERA in 131 career appearances, including 106 starts. Alvarado was 2-15 with a 3.46 ERA, 15 saves and 161 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings in 149 career appearances, all with Tampa Bay. He earned $212,259 prorated of a $573,100 salary. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pitchers Héctor Neris, Zach Eflin, David Hale and Seranthony Domínguez agreed to one-year contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday along with catcher Andrew Knapp. Neris gets $5 million and the chance to earn $50,000 in bonuses for games finished: $10,000 each for 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40. Eflin receives $4.45 million and Hale $850,000 plus the chance to earn $300,000 for games: $60,000 apiece for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50. Domínguez gets $727,500, and Knapp $1.1 million. Philadelphia also offered deals to first baseman Rhys Hoskins and right-hander Vince Velasquez, who are eligible for salary arbitration and are both represented by agent Scott Boras. The 25-year-old Neris was 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA and five saves in 24 relief appearances last season, striking out 27 and walking 13 while allowing 24 hits in 21 2/3 innings. Eflin, 26, was 4-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance, striking out 70 and walking 15 while allowing 60 hits in 59 innings.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmie Lee Solomon, a top executive for Major League Baseball under Commissioner Bud Selig who established youth academies and helped launch the annual Futures Game of top prospects, has died. He was 64. Solomon was among the highest-ranking Black officials in baseball when he left in 2012. His daughter, Tricia Solomon, said Friday that he was found dead at his house in Houston and the cause was not immediately known. “I am surprised and saddened by the news of the passing of our former colleague,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Jimmie Lee was passionate about providing opportunities to young athletes and advancing baseball in our communities. Our network of youth academies across the country is in large part a credit to his hard work and dedication.” Academies began in 2006 in Compton, California, and also were established in Houston and New Orleans as part of MLB’s efforts to revive the sport in inner cities and Black players in the major leagues.... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tim Anderson hit two of Chicago’s five solo homers, and the White Sox — already guaranteed a playoff spot — took another step toward the AL Central title by overpowering the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Saturday night. Chicago has won eight of its last 10 games, securing at least a wild card and its first postseason appearance since 2008. José Abreu hit his fifth homer in eight games as the White Sox piled them up, including three in a row in the eighth off Robert Stephenson. Abreu has 18 homers overall. The Reds managed six hits as they had their season-high winning streak snapped at six games. Cincinnati (26-27) wasted a chance to move above .500 for the first time since its season-opening win over the Tigers. Nomar Mazara was in a 3-for-25 slump with 11 strikeouts when he connected off Trevor Bauer (4-4) in the fifth inning for his first homer. One out later, Anderson’s ninth homer made it 2-0. Bauer went seven innings and gave up five hits while throwing 107 pitches. Matt... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dinelson Lamet outpitched Clayton Kershaw, and rookie Jorge Oña hit a go-ahead double in a five-run seventh inning to lead the San Diego Padres to their eighth straight win, 7-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night in the opener of a series between the NL’s top teams.The Padres cut the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West to 1½ games. Trent Grisham added some spice to the rivalry when he hit a tying home run off Kershaw in the sixth and said something to the Dodgers’ dugout as he headed for home. The Padres have won 12 of 14.Lamet (3-1) got the victory thanks to a seventh-inning outburst that chased Kershaw (5-2). Lamet matched his season high with 11 strikeouts while holding the Dodgers to one run and three hits.WHITE SOX 3, TWINS 1CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Engel delivered a tiebreaking pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, and the White Sox increased their lead in the AL Central.Chicago opened its pivotal four-game set against Minnesota with its ninth win in 10 games. The... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mike Minor tossed a two-hitter, Jake Lamb doubled and homered in his first game after signing with Oakland, and the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 9-0 for a doubleheader split on Monday. Seattle won the opener 6-5, rallying from a 5-0 deficit and scoring twice in the sixth inning with two outs to stay on the heels of Houston in the AL West. Seattle is 1½ games behind the Astros for second. The games were played with a haze of smoke hovering above the field at T-Mobile Park, even with the retractable roof of the stadium closed. Wildfires on the West Coast have suffocated much of the Pacific Northwest with unhealthy air conditions that brought into question whether the games would even be played. Minor (1-5) picked up his first victory of the season in his third start since being acquired by the A’s from Texas. Jimmy Yacabonis (0-1) was charged with the loss.Kyle Lewis had a big day for Seattle. The rookie outfielder hit a two-run homer and reached on a bases-loaded walk... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Lewis sparked Seattle’s rally with a two-run homer and walked with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, helping the Mariners top the Oakland Athletics 6-5 on Monday in the opener of a doubleheader. The game was played with a haze of smoke hovering above the field at T-Mobile Park, even with the retractable roof of the stadium closed. Wildfires on the West Coast have suffocated much of the Pacific Northwest with unhealthy air conditions that brought into question whether the games would even be played. Seattle trailed 5-0 after home runs by Sean Murphy and Marcus Semien off Marco Gonzales (6-2). But Seattle chipped away and scored twice in the sixth against Oakland’s bullpen to move in front for good.Yoshihisa Hirano pitched the seventh inning for his second save. The win pulled Seattle within one game of idle Houston for second in the AL West.Semien had four RBIs for division-leading Oakland. Joakim Soria (2-2) got the loss.MARLINS 6. PHILLIES 2MIAMI (AP) — Pablo Lopez... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen homers to center field. Bryce Harper lines out to center field to Starling Marte. Alec Bohm pops out to shallow center field to Isan Diaz. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Jazz Chisholm to Garrett Cooper.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins second. Matt Joyce singles to right field. Garrett Cooper grounds out to shallow infield, Vince Velasquez to Phil Gosselin. Matt Joyce to second. Jazz Chisholm singles to center field. Matt Joyce scores. Miguel Rojas walks. Isan Diaz grounds out to shallow infield, Vince Velasquez to Phil Gosselin. Miguel Rojas to second. Jazz Chisholm to third. Chad Wallach strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 1.Marlins third. Corey Dickerson doubles to left field. Starling Marte singles to right field. Corey Dickerson to third. Jesus Aguilar doubles to third base. Starling Marte scores. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce strikes out swinging. Garrett Cooper... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Braxton Garrett allowed three hits over five innings to win his major league debut, and the Miami Marlins beat the Phillies 8-1 to complete doubleheader sweep and leapfrog Philadelphia for second place in the NL East.Rookie Sixto Sánchez pitched a three-hitter over seven innings to win the opener 2-1, his first complete game in five major league starts.Garrett, a 23-year-old left-hander, was recalled as Miami’s 29th man. Garrett (1-0) allowed one run, struck out six and walked two, giving up a second-inning homer to Alex Bohm, who is 10 for 20 in the series.Starling Marte had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Jesús Aguilar had two hits and two RBIs.Miami (23-21) has won four of the first six-games against the Phillies (23-22) in the major leagues’ first seven-game, regular-season series since 1967. The teams play again Monday.Zach Eflin (2-2) allowed four runs, eight hits and two walks in four-plus innings for the Phillies, who have lost five of seven.Aguilar, Matt... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Sixto Sánchez pitched a three-hitter over seven innings for his first complete game in five major league starts, leading the Miami Marlins over Philadelphia 2-1 Sunday in a doubleheader opener to close on the second-place Phillies in the NL East.Facing the organization that traded him before the 2019 season, Sanchez (3-1) struck out four, walked three and hit a batter. He became the second Marlins pitcher to go the distance by his fifth game. The Marlins acquired Sanchez and catcher Jorge Alfaro for catcher J.T. Realmuto, who did not play after getting banged up Saturday.Miami (22-20), in line for a playoff berth as a wild card, moved within a half-game of the Phillies (23-21). Zach Eflin (2-1) was to start the second game for Philadelphia, the next-to-last game of the major leagues' first seven-game, regular-season series since 1967.Rookie Ramón Rosso (0-1) made his first big league start after five relief appearances and allowed two runs, two hits and three walks in... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Marlins never considered sitting out a game as health concerns rattled the clubhouse. Brian Anderson and Miguel Rojas eased the lineup pain for a day -- and they’ll have an extra night in Philadelphia to think about any potential scares ahead.Anderson and Rojas each hit three-run homers and Miami overcame the late scratch of its starting pitcher and looming coronavirus scares to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-6 on Sunday.“We’re taking risks every day,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “That’s what the players all around the league are doing. You travel all the time .. it’s a risk that we take. We’re going to have to be adjustable, we’re going to have to be flexible, we’re going to have to be patient.”Jose Urena, Miami’s opening day starter in 2018 and 2019, was bumped from his start about 90 minutes before the first pitch. The Marlins did not disclose the reason. Miami’s good vibes from winning two of three were dampened by the potential health scare that could... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Brian Anderson and Miguel Rojas each hit three-run homers and the Miami Marlins overcame the late scratch of their starting pitcher and a looming health scare to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-6 on Sunday.Jose Urena, Miami’s opening day starter in 2018 and 2019, was bumped from his start about 90 minutes before the first pitch. The Marlins did not disclose the reason. Miami had other players unavailable: Garrett Cooper and Harold Ramirez also were out of the lineup after playing in the first two games of the season-opening, three-game set against the Phillies. Again, the Marlins did not immediately say why the players were not in the lineup. Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro was placed on the injury list with an undisclosed ailment at the start of the series.With the specter of the coronavirus hanging over the franchise, the Marlins refused to wilt and helped turn a steamy Sunday in front of another empty ballpark into a wild one and take two of three in Philly.Yelling... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Miami Marlins starter Jose Urena was a late scratch against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. The Marlins did not disclose the reason. He was Miami’s opening day starter in 2018 and 2019.The Marlins will start right-hander Robert Dugger against Philadelphia’s Vince Velasquez in the series finale. Dugger made seven starts last year as a rookie. He made the Marlins this season as a long reliever/spot starter.The Marlins did not make a roster move.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phil Gosselin homered twice, Didi Gregorius went deep again and new dad Zack Wheeler won his Philadelphia Phillies debut in a 7-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.J.T. Realmuto added a three-run drive for Philadelphia. Gosselin connected off Alex Vesia (0-1) for a two-run shot in the sixth inning to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead and send manager Joe Girardi on his way to his first win with the team. Gosselin homered again in the eighth for his first career multi-homer game and a 7-1 lead.Wheeler (1-0) tossed five-hit ball and struck out four over seven innings after signing a $118 million, five-year deal in free agency. The 30-year-old Wheeler, who spent his first seven seasons with the New York Mets, pitched only days after his wife gave birth to their son. His wife, Dominique, had a due date of Saturday — but Wesley Wheeler was born last Monday, making it quite the memorable week for one of the new aces in Philadelphia’s rotation.Wheeler threw only 36 pitches... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees pitcher Luis Cessa threw a 31-pitch bullpen on Monday as he returned from a layoff caused by a positive test for the coronavirus.The 28-year-old right-hander is not sure how he became infected. He had been in Arizona, where he lives with his girlfriend, and they both tested positive before he was scheduled to travel to New York for the resumption of training.Cessa said he felt sinus problems but no fever during his bout with COVID-19.“I wouldn't say opening day is realistic,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.While waiting to recover, Cessa worked out with equipment in his garage and bought a net and took it to a park to throw.“I just tried to stay in shape,” he said.LEMAHIEU WATCHSecond baseman DJ LeMahieu, the other Yankees player sidelined by a positive test for the virus, played his second straight exhibition. He went 0 for 3 against Philadelphia with a warning-track flyout to right field and got grazed on the thigh by a pitch from Vince Velasquez. LeMahieu played... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Girardi’s new path was evident Monday. And unfamiliar.So was the result.Girardi's Philadelphia Phillies tied the New York Yankees 2-2 Monday night in a preseason exhibition after Mauricio Llovera allowed a solo home run in the ninth to pinch hitter Mike Ford.A tie was not what he had envisioned.“That doesn’t happen in real baseball,” said Girardi, who started his day by watching a simulated intrasquad game. “But, obviously, we’ve got a long trip back, and we’ve had a long day of baseball.”About to start his first season as Philadelphia's manager, he was at Yankee Stadium for a prep ahead of his team’s pandemic-delayed opener Friday at home against Miami. He had been back just once since he was cut loose by the Yankees, for an appearance.“I always came in through the garage, down the stairs, into the home clubhouse,” he said. “We came through the loading dock and from center field all the way around. So that was different.”Not everything was a change.“I did see a lot... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Girardi’s new path was evident Monday. And unfamiliar.About to start his first season as Philadelphia's manager, he was back at Yankee Stadium to lead the Phillies in an exhibition game against New York ahead of his team’s pandemic-delayed opener Friday at home against Miami.“I always came in through the garage, down the stairs, into the home clubhouse,” he said. “We came through the loading dock and from center field all the way around. So that was different.”Not everything was a change.“I did see a lot of familiar faces in Lou Cucuzza and and his clubhouse staff,” he said, referring to New York’s director of clubhouse operations. “So that seemed kind of normal. But you’re on the opposite side, and it’s different.”After winning three World Series titles as a catcher with the Yankees, Girardi began his managing career in 2006 with the Marlins, led the team to a 78-84 record and was fired — before he was voted NL Manager of the Year.He was hired by the Yankees after the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees pitcher Luis Cessa threw a 31-pitch bullpen on Monday as he returned from a layoff caused by a positive test for the coronavirus.The 28-year-old right-hander is not sure how he became infected. He had been in Arizona, where he lives with his girlfriend, and he and his girlfriend both tested positive before he was scheduled to travel to New York for the resumption of training.Cessa said he felt sinus problems but no fever during his bout with COVID-19.While waiting to recover, he worked out with equipment in his garage and bought a net and took it to a park to play catch.“I just tried to stay in shape,” he said.Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, the other Yankees player sidelined by a positive test for the virus, rejoined the Yankees and made his exhibition return on Sunday. After going 0 for 2 and playing three innings in the field against the New York Mets, he was back at second base against Philadelphia on Monday and was grazed on the left thigh leading off the first... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryan Price observes, listens, suggests and tries to lead pitchers to their own conclusions.The new pitching coach could end up being the most valuable addition the Philadelphia Phillies made in the offseason if he can get some talented members of the staff to reach their potential. Price already has made a positive impression in camp. "He's all about pitchers being confident in what they're doing and having the ability to pitch and not just throw," All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto said. "That's where finding their strengths comes in. If a guy is pitching to his strengths, he's going to be able to maneuver the baseball and have confidence in what he's doing. If you are asking someone to pitch to a scouting report and not something he's confident in doing, it's not going to work out very well. That's something Price has honed in on is pitching to your strengths." Pitching is Philadelphia's biggest question mark. An offense that features Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Didi... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — For the Philadelphia Phillies to compete in a tough division, they need better starting pitching. There's hope because none of their returning starters performed up to expectations last year, the team strengthened the top of the rotation by signing Zack Wheeler and new pitching coach Bryan Price has a track record of success working with pitchers."I like what our rotation brings because there's different looks, there's power, there's very good breaking balls, there's sinkers, there's different stuff," manager Joe Girardi said after a 10-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. "It's going to be a different look every day which I think is important." Wheeler joins ace Aaron Nola to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Veteran Jake Arrieta, coming off an injury-shortened season, is the No. 3 starter. Zach Eflin appears to have the fourth spot locked up. Ranger Suarez has turned the competition for the fifth spot in into a three-man race with Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta.... [More]