NEW YORK (AP) — After nearly a month at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox needed a change of scenery. Even if it meant facing Jacob deGrom.Christian Vázquez hit a tying home run off Seth Lugo in the seventh inning and a two-run single against Justin Wilson n a three-run eighth, rallying the Red Sox over the Mets 6-5 Wednesday night when New York’s bullpen could not hold a lead for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.At 108-year-old Fenway, with the major leagues' most cramped clubhouses, Red Sox players used luxury suites to get dressed for the past month instead of their regular locker room. After a 1-4 start, they welcomed Citi Field's visitors' locker room.“We’re all together here in the clubhouse,“ said Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed two runs over five innings. ”We got the mask on. We’re staying same apart and stuff like that, but we’re all together in the clubhouse. And I think that’s what we miss the most. It's nice having the suites and everything, but I feel like we never see each other.”Boston... [More]

Mets first. Brandon Nimmo flies out to shallow left field to Andrew Benintendi. Jeff McNeil singles to shallow center field. Pete Alonso singles to right field. Jeff McNeil to second. Michael Conforto singles to right field. Pete Alonso to second. Jeff McNeil to third. Dominic Smith reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Michael Conforto out at second. Pete Alonso to third. Jeff McNeil scores. Yoenis Cespedes strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mets 1, Red sox 0.Red sox fourth. J.D. Martinez grounds out to shallow infield, Jeff McNeil to Pete Alonso. Rafael Devers doubles to shallow left field. Mitch Moreland doubles to deep center field. Rafael Devers scores. Christian Vazquez grounds out to shallow infield, Jacob deGrom to Pete Alonso. Alex Verdugo grounds out to shallow infield to Pete Alonso.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Red sox 2, Mets 1.Mets fifth. Rene Rivera strikes out on a foul tip. Brandon Nimmo homers to center field. Jeff McNeil walks. Pete... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Vázquez hit a tying home run off Seth Lugo in the seventh inning and a two-run single against Justin Wilson in a three-run eighth, rallying the Boston Red Sox over the Mets 6-5 Wednesday night when New York’s bullpen could not hold a lead for two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.Boston had lost four in a row following its opening day win over Baltimore -- the equivalent of 11 straight over a full season -- that included a pair of defeats to the Mets at Fenway Park.New York closed with a run in the ninth, when a diving stop by third baseman Rafael Devers helped Brandon Workman strand the bases loaded. Workman recovered for his first save of the year by striking out Yoenis Céspedes and retiring Robinson Canó on a soft liner to shortstop.DeGrom, throwing at up to 101 mph, extended his consecutive scoreless streak to 31 innings before allowing a pair of runs in the fourth but got his second straight no-decision, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings... [More]

Mets second. J.D. Davis singles to right center field. Michael Conforto called out on strikes. Yoenis Cespedes hit by pitch. J.D. Davis to second. Robinson Cano doubles to deep left field. Yoenis Cespedes to third. J.D. Davis scores. Wilson Ramos grounds out to shallow infield, Rafael Devers to Michael Chavis. Brandon Nimmo walks. Amed Rosario singles to right field. Brandon Nimmo to third. Robinson Cano scores. Yoenis Cespedes scores. Pete Alonso flies out to deep right center field to Jackie Bradley Jr..3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mets 3, Red sox 0.Red sox third. Kevin Plawecki doubles to deep left field. Andrew Benintendi walks. Jose Peraza singles to deep right center field. Andrew Benintendi to second. Kevin Plawecki to third. J.D. Martinez strikes out swinging. Rafael Devers reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Jose Peraza out at second. Andrew Benintendi out at third. Kevin Plawecki scores.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mets 3, Red sox 1.Mets fifth. Pete... [More]

Mets second. J.D. Davis walks. Michael Conforto homers to right field. J.D. Davis scores. Wilson Ramos strikes out swinging. Robinson Cano grounds out to shallow right field, Jose Peraza to Mitch Moreland. Dominic Smith flies out to right field to Alex Verdugo.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mets 2, Red sox 0.Mets third. Brandon Nimmo pops out to shallow left field to Xander Bogaerts. Amed Rosario singles to center field. Pete Alonso homers to left field. Amed Rosario scores. Jeff McNeil reaches on error. Throwing error by Rafael Devers. J.D. Davis strikes out swinging. Michael Conforto called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Mets 4, Red sox 0.Mets fourth. Wilson Ramos doubles to deep center field. Robinson Cano walks. Dominic Smith homers to center field. Robinson Cano scores. Wilson Ramos scores. Brandon Nimmo grounds out to shallow infield to Mitch Moreland. Amed Rosario grounds out to shallow infield, Xander Bogaerts to Mitch Moreland. Pete Alonso strikes out swinging.3... [More]

Orioles first. Austin Hays singles to right field. Hanser Alberto doubles. Austin Hays to third. Jose Iglesias strikes out swinging. Anthony Santander lines out to right field to Alex Verdugo. Renato Nunez doubles to deep left field. Hanser Alberto scores. Austin Hays scores. Pedro Severino reaches on error. Renato Nunez scores. Fielding error by Rafael Devers. Chris Davis reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Pedro Severino out at second.3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Orioles 3, Red sox 0.Orioles second. Pat Valaika singles to shallow center field. Cedric Mullins walks. Pat Valaika to second. Austin Hays pops out to second base to Jose Peraza. Hanser Alberto singles to center field. Cedric Mullins to third. Pat Valaika scores. Jose Iglesias singles to left field. Hanser Alberto to second. Cedric Mullins scores. Anthony Santander pops out to shallow infield to Jose Peraza. Hanser Alberto doubled off second.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 5, Red sox 0.Red sox... [More]

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]

BOSTON (AP) — A pitching mound in a picnic area. Exercise bicycles in the concourse. Lockers in the luxury suites.Banished from their spring training complex in COVID 19-ravaged Florida to their historic but cozy home, the Red Sox are squeezing any space they can out of Fenway Park for the reboot of spring training that baseball is calling summer camp.When players arrived last week, they found their lockers set up not in the traditional home clubhouse used since the days of Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski but in the upper-deck luxury suites along the first-base line.“It’s pretty cool eating breakfast in the suite looking out into the field,” first baseman Mitch Moreland said on Monday. “I don’t know if we’ll move back.”Major league teams, including the Red Sox, have elaborate complexes at their spring training homes to help them prepare for the season, with enough lockers for everyone still trying to make the team and extra fields for them all to get their work in.But the century-old... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale has soreness in his throwing elbow and has undergone an MRI, the team announced two days after the 30-year-old left-hander faced batters for the first time this spring. Manager Ron Roenicke said Sale felt the soreness in his elbow Monday morning, the day after his 18-pitch batting practice session. Team doctors reviewed the MRI results and sent them to Dr. James Andrews. “Obviously we're concerned about it,.” Roenicke said Tuesday. Sale's batting practice session Sunday was the first time he faced hitters since he gave up five runs over 6 2/3 innings in a win at Cleveland on Aug. 13. He went on the injured list with elbow inflammation, finishing 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts — his fewest wins and starts and highest ERA in a full season since 2012. Sale avoided surgery on his elbow, receiving platelet-rich plasma injections in the fall instead.“There's some concern, knowing how his 2019 went and knowing how important he is to... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale has soreness in his throwing elbow and has undergone an MRI.Manager Ron Roenicke said Sale felt the soreness Monday, one day after throwing batting practice.“Obviously we're concerned about it,.” Roenicke said Tuesday. Dr. James Andrews will review the MRI.Sale threw about 18 pitches in batting practice Sunday, the first time he faced hitters since he gave up five runs over 6 2/3 innings in a win at Cleveland on Aug,. 13. He went on the injured list with elbow inflammation, finishing 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts.He already was slated to start this season on the IL after reporting to camp with pneumonia, an illness that set him back by about two weeks.Notes: Roenicke said SS Xander Bogaerts (ankle) is “pretty close” to playing for the first time duiring spring training. Bogaerts probably will start off as a DH. ... OF Andrew Benintendi (quadriceps) was the DH against the New York Yankees. ... 1B Mitch Moreland (hamstring) could be back in the lineup in the next couple days.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Elvis Andrus has a few aging distinctions going into his 12th major league season. The only player left in the Texas Rangers clubhouse to wear that uniform in a World Series, the 31-year-old shortstop is the club's longest-tenured player by five years and expected to be the oldest regular starting shortstop in the majors.“I still believe I'm a rookie," Andrus said Monday, when the Rangers had their first full-squad workout. “I never want to feel comfortable. I always want to feel that somebody is going to take my job, and that's the mentality and that's the reality of the game." Andrus hit .275 last season — matching his career average through 1,623 regular-season games. He was hitting .361 through the season's first month and was at .309 by the end of June, then batted .240 over the final 74 games of the season while Texas skidded to its third straight losing season since AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Second-year manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers “were pretty... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Elvis Andrus has a few aging distinctions going into his 12th major league season. The only player left in the Texas Rangers clubhouse to wear that uniform in a World Series, the 31-year-old shortstop is the club's longest-tenured player by five years and expected to be the oldest regular starting shortstop in the majors.“I still believe I'm a rookie," Andrus said Monday, when the Rangers had their first full-squad workout. “I never want to feel comfortable. I always want to feel that somebody is going to take my job, and that's the mentality and that's the reality of the game." Andrus hit .275 last season — matching his career average through 1,623 regular-season games. He was hitting .361 through the season's first month and was at .309 by the end of June, then batted .240 over the final 74 games of the season while Texas skidded to its third straight losing season since AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Second-year manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers “were pretty... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Elvis Andrus has a few aging distinctions going into his 12th major league season. The only player left in the Texas Rangers clubhouse to wear that uniform in a World Series, the 31-year-old shortstop is the club's longest-tenured player by five years and expected to be the oldest regular starting shortstop in the majors.“I still believe I'm a rookie," Andrus said Monday, when the Rangers had their first full-squad workout. “I never want to feel comfortable. I always want to feel that somebody is going to take my job, and that's the mentality and that's the reality of the game." Andrus hit .275 last season — matching his career average through 1,623 regular-season games. He was hitting .361 through the season's first month and was at .309 by the end of June, then batted .240 over the final 74 games of the season while Texas skidded to its third straight losing season since AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Second-year manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers “were pretty... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Win. Dance. Delete.When the Boston Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the eve of spring training, they broke up the "Killer B's” who patrolled the Fenway outfield and led the team to a World Series championship in 2018. Together, Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi formed one of the best outfields in baseball and became fan favorites by following spectacular catches with their choreographed “Win, Dance, Repeat” postgame celebrations. Now, as the Red Sox learn to live without Betts, his former fellow outfielders are figuring things out with their new partner, Alex Verdugo, who came to Boston in the trade that send the 2018 AL MVP and pitcher David Price to the Dodgers.“It’s one of those things where you have to get to know the person and see him play, hands-on,” Bradley said this week. "Sometimes people just have that natural connection. It could be something that’s just seamless. “As long as you’re able to talk,” he said. “That’s... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Win. Dance. Delete.When the Boston Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the eve of spring training, they broke up the "Killer B's” who patrolled the Fenway outfield and led the team to a World Series championship in 2018. Together, Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi formed one of the best outfields in baseball and became fan favorites by following spectacular catches with their choreographed “Win, Dance, Repeat” postgame celebrations. Now, as the Red Sox learn to live without Betts, his former fellow outfielders are figuring things out with their new partner, Alex Verdugo, who came to Boston in the trade that send the 2018 AL MVP and pitcher David Price to the Dodgers.“It’s one of those things where you have to get to know the person and see him play, hands-on,” Bradley said this week. "Sometimes people just have that natural connection. It could be something that’s just seamless. “As long as you’re able to talk,” he said. “That’s... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — First baseman Mitch Moreland is staying with the Boston Red Sox, agreeing Tuesday to a one-year contract that guarantees $3 million.Moreland gets a $2.5 million salary this year, and Boston has a $3 million team option for 2021 with a $500,000 buyout.The 34-year-old hit .252 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs in 91 games last year, going on the injured list for a strained lower back and a strained right quadriceps. He batted .297 with six homers from Aug. 9 through the end of the season.He was an All-Star in 2018, when he hit .245 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs for the World Series champion Red Sox. He had a pinch three-run homer off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryan Madson with two outs in the seventh inning of World Series Game 4, starting Boston's comeback from a 4-0 deficit in a 9-6 win.Moreland spent seven seasons with Texas before joining the Red Sox ahead of the 2017 season on a $13 million, two-year deal.Right-hander Denyi Reyes was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — First baseman Mitch Moreland is staying with the Boston Red Sox, agreeing Tuesday to a one-year contract that guarantees $3 million.Moreland gets a $2.5 million salary this year, and Boston has a $3 million team option for 2021 with a $500,000 buyout.The 34-year-old hit .252 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs in 91 games last year, going on the injured list for a strained lower back and a strained right quadriceps. He batted .297 with six homers from Aug. 9 through the end of the season.He was an All-Star in 2018, when he hit .245 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs for the World Series champion Red Sox. He had a pinch three-run homer off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryan Madson with two outs in the seventh inning of World Series Game 4, starting Boston's comeback from a 4-0 deficit in a 9-6 win.Moreland spent seven seasons with Texas before joining the Red Sox ahead of the 2017 season.Right-hander Denyi Reyes was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — First baseman Mitch Moreland is staying with the Boston Red Sox, agreeing Tuesday to a one-year contract that guarantees $3 million.Moreland gets a $2.5 million salary this year, and Boston has a $3 million team option for 2021 with a $500,000 buyout.The 34-year-old hit .252 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs in 91 games last year, going on the injured list for a strained lower back and a strained right quadriceps. He batted .297 with six homers from Aug. 9 through the end of the season.He was an All-Star in 2018, when he hit .245 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs for the World Series champion Red Sox. He had a pinch three-run homer off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryan Madson with two outs in the seventh inning of World Series Game 4, starting Boston's comeback from a 4-0 deficit in a 9-6 win.Moreland spent seven seasons with Texas before joining the Red Sox ahead of the 2017 season.Right-hander Denyi Reyes was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Patrick Corbin was an exception last offseason.Amid a slow free agent market — some stars didn’t sign until after the start of spring training — Corbin’s search for a new home was over in December when he received a $140 million, six-year contract from Washington.That worked out pretty well for both team and player. Corbin was a key part of the Nationals’ starting rotation this year, and he threw three scoreless innings in relief in Game 7 of the World Series, helping the team win its first World Series title.Now, another offseason is in full swing. It’s hard to say whether teams will be more aggressive in pursuing free agents, hoping to land the next Corbin, but the Atlanta Braves already made a significant move, signing reliever Will Smith away from San Francisco.Here’s a look at the top free agents still available, broken down by position. Players are listed with their most recent teams, with their ages in parentheses:LEFT-HANDED STARTERHyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers (32)The runner-up for the... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Getting under baseball's luxury tax threshold next year "is a goal, but not a hard-and-fast mandate," Boston Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy said Monday, a day after the defending World Series champions finished the season out of the playoffs for the first time since 2015.Three days after owner John Henry said "we need to be under" the competitive balance tax, Kennedy said that is merely a "guidepost for our budgeting" as the team tries to hold onto Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez while cutting salary below the $208 million CBT threshold.Oh, and still improving the team enough to return to the postseason in 2020."We will continue to demonstrate a willingness to go over the CBT," Kennedy said. "It is going to be a challenging offseason, but we are going to attack it."The Red Sox followed their record-setting 108 wins and fourth World Series title since 2004 with an 84-78 season in which they were never really in contention. Erstwhile aces Chris Sale and David Price were shut... [More]