MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer is retiring after 15 major league seasons, six All-Star games, three Gold Glove awards, three batting titles and 2,123 career hits, all with his hometown Minnesota Twins."Thank you, Minnesota Twins, and thank you, fans, for making my career as special and memorable as it was," Mauer wrote in a full-page ad that will run Sunday in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Because of you I can leave the game I love with a full and grateful heart."Mauer's eight-year, $184 million contract expired the day after the World Series ended, creating a natural parting from the game he grew up with in St. Paul, less than 10 miles from the downtown Minneapolis ballparks he called home with the Twins."The decision came down to my health and my family," Mauer wrote. "The risk of a concussion is always there, and I was reminded of that this season when I missed 30 games as a result of diving for a foul ball. That's all it took this time around and it was all I need to bring me back to... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer has decided to retire after 15 seasons.The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday that Mauer has taken out an ad in its Sunday paper to announce his retirement. The newspaper reported that Mauer, who missed significant time this season with a concussion, says in the ad that his decision "came down to my health and my family.""Thank you, Minnesota Twins, and thank you, fans, for making my career as special and memorable as it was," Mauer writes in the ad, the Star Tribune reported. "Because of you I can leave the game I love with a full and grateful heart."Mauer is 35 and his eight-year, $184 million contract expired after this season.Mauer's adviser, Ron Shapiro, declined to comment on the report."I will let Joe confirm that when he is prepared to confirm it," Shapiro told The Associated Press.A Twins spokesman didn't immediately respond to messages.In his 15 major league seasons, Mauer has appeared in six All-Star games, won three Gold... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Rosenthal could earn $30 million over two years if he becomes the Washington Nationals' closer and regularly finishes games.Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Rosenthal finalized a one-year contract this week that guarantees him $7 million.The deal announced last weekend includes a $6 million salary for next season and a $10 million mutual option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout to be paid if the team declines the option. There also is a $15 million conditional player option for 2020 that Rosenthal can exercise if he has 50 games pitched or 30 games finished next year.Rosenthal can earn $500,000 each for 25, 30, 35 and 40 games pitched next year, $1 million apiece for 45 and 50, $1 million each for 20, 30 and 40 games finished, and $2 million apiece for 50 and 60. There is an $8 million maximum.If the mutual option for 2020 is exercised, he could earn $6 million in performances that year for games finished: $2 million each for 30, 40 and 50.He would get a $1... [More]

TOKYO (AP) — Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto isn't letting trade rumors become a distraction either at home or in Japan, where he is currently part of an MLB All-Star tour.Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill has dismissed talk about trading Realmuto, but the catcher's agent, Jeff Berry, predicted his client will be with a different team by spring training."It's not a discussion for me to have, honestly," Realmuto said Friday. "It's not my decision whether I get traded or not. It's up to the Marlins. Whatever they want to do with me, that's up to them. So for me, there is really no discussion to be had. My job is to show up and play baseball."Hill declined to say whether Realmuto informed the Marlins he won't sign a long-term contract with them.The Astros, Angels, Athletics, Braves, Mets and Nationals are among the teams seeking an upgrade behind the plate."To be honest, I am trying not to think about that too much right now," Realmuto said. "I'm just out here trying... [More]

TOKYO (AP) — Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto isn't letting trade rumors become a distraction either at home or in Japan, where he is currently part of an MLB All-Star tour.Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill has dismissed talk about trading Realmuto, but his agent, Jeff Berry, predicted that his client will be with a different team by spring training."It's not a discussion for me to have, honestly," Realmuto said Friday. "It's not my decision whether I get traded or not. It's up to the Marlins. Whatever they want to do with me, that's up to them. So for me, there is really no discussion to be had. My job is to show up and play baseball."Hill declined to say whether Realmuto informed the Marlins he won't sign a long-term contract with them.The Astros, Angels, A's, Braves, Mets and Nationals are among the teams seeking an upgrade behind the plate."To be honest, I am trying not to think about that too much right now," Realmuto said. "I'm just out here trying to have a... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Major League Baseball and its players' union likely will not decide until the eve of spring training whether to change rules in an effort to increase action on the field next year.Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem said Thursday as the annual general managers' meetings ended that there was no consensus for change yet. More discussions will take place when owners gather next week in Atlanta, the union's executive board convenes in late November and major league executives go to Las Vegas for the winter meetings in mid-December.Topics being discussed include the increased use of defensive shifts, the decrease in innings thrown by starting pitchers and technology that aids sign stealing. A possible 20-second pitch clock and alterations to rules for waivers, trade deadlines and disabled lists also are being talked about by a tradition-bound sport resistant to change."We're an entertainment product. Certainly, we want to play the game in a way that's compelling for our audience,... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Cincinnati outfielder Scott Schebler and Texas pitcher Matt Bush just missed the cutoff for salary arbitration eligibility, while Chicago Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. and Toronto pitcher Joe Biagini earned the final spots.The Major League Baseball Players Association said Thursday the cutoff for eligibility this winter is 2 years, 134 days of major league service, up from 2 years, 123 days last year. The top 22 percent of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration as long as they had at least 86 days this year. They join the older group of 3- to 6-year players.Players and teams are scheduled to exchange proposed salaries on Jan. 11, and hearings for those lacking agreements will be scheduled for Jan. 28 to Feb. 15 in St. Petersburg, Florida.Twenty-five players are eligible as so-called super-2s. New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino tops the list of service time at 2 years, 170 days, and the group also includes... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Aside from that fearsome left-handed swing everybody knew, Willie McCovey provided an example of humility in how he lived for many of his San Francisco Giants teammates year after year."McCovey was our leader," Gaylord Perry said as his fellow Hall of Famer was remembered in a celebration of his life Thursday at AT&T Park.McCovey died Oct. 31 at age 80 after suffering from ongoing health issues.Hall of Famers, former teammates and winners of the Willie Mac Award named for him attended on a picture-perfect day. McCovey's 44 was written into the infield dirt next to his position at first base.The San Francisco Fire Department paid tribute with a spraying show from a boat in his namesake McCovey Cove in the bay beyond the right-field arcade. Bouquets of flowers were left on McCovey's statue across the water.A first baseman and left fielder who won NL Rookie of the Year in 1959 and MVP 10 years later, McCovey was a .270 career hitter with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBIs... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jung Ho Kang is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pittsburgh and the third baseman agreed Thursday to a $3 million, one-year contract that includes $2.5 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $625,000 each for 200, 300, 400 and 500. The deal was announced a week after Pittsburgh declined a $5.5 million club option for Kang, triggering a $250,000 buyout."We feel that bringing Jung Ho back in 2019 will make us better as he will have the ability to make a positive impact on our lineup," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "Competition and options are important to any organization and this signing provides us with both."Kang was a star in his native South Korea when the Pirates signed him to an $11 million, four-year deal in January 2015. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting 15 homers and driving in 58 runs in 2015, when Pittsburgh won 98 games. It would be the high point of Kang's time with the Pirates.The 31-year-old Kang didn't play in the U.S. between September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to three DUI arrests in South Korea. He made it back to the majors with Pittsburgh in September and went 2 for 6 during the final weekend of the season.As in Kang's previous deal, the Pirates must allow him to become a free agent at the end of the contract.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours."Dipoto didn't guarantee anything, but he said I at least have 78 minutes," Smith joked. "We'll see."Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019."I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations," Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Months before the start of spring training, the New York Yankees' injury list is lengthening.Catcher Gary Sanchez had surgery on his left shoulder Thursday, which could slow him during spring training but is not likely to keep him out of the lineup on opening day."His shoulder has bothered him off and on since '17," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday. "He's been treated conservatively with it. He had an injection towards the end of '17. He had two in '18. He just resumed workouts and still felt a little bit lingering from it."Cashman made the announcement at the general managers' meetings, hours after the Yankees finalized an $8 million, one-year contract with CC Sabathia. The 38-year-old left-hander said 2019 will be his final season.New York announced last month that Didi Gregorius will miss much of next season after Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in the shortstop's right elbow.An All-Star in 2017 who slumped badly this year, Sanchez... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jung Ho Kang is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pittsburgh and the third baseman agreed Thursday to a $3 million, one-year contract that includes $2.5 million in performance bonuses. The deal was announced a week after Pittsburgh declined a $5.5 million club option for Kang, triggering a $250,000 buyout."We feel that bringing Jung Ho back in 2019 will make us better as he will have the ability to make a positive impact on our lineup," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "Competition and options are important to any organization and this signing provides us with both."Kang was a star in his native South Korea when the Pirates signed him to an $11 million, four-year deal in January 2015. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting 15 homers and driving in 58 runs in 2015, when Pittsburgh won 98 games. It would be the high point of Kang's time with the Pirates.The 31-year-old Kang didn't play in the U.S. between September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to three DUI arrests in South Korea. He made it back to the majors with Pittsburgh in September and went 2 for 6 during the final weekend of the season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours."Dipoto didn't guarantee anything, but he said I at least have 78 minutes," Smith joked. "We'll see."Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019."I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations," Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours."Dipoto didn't guarantee anything, but he said I at least have 78 minutes," Smith joked. "We'll see."Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019."I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations," Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Speedy outfielder and leadoff hitter Mallex Smith has been acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Tampa Bay Rays for catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia as part of a five-player deal.The deal was announced Thursday at the baseball general managers' meetings."Bringing Mallex back home to Seattle is exciting for us all," Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "His combination of speed, base running impact, defense and on-base abilities are unique in today's game. We believe his breakout 2018 performance reflects the many ways his skills will positively impact the Mariners for years to come."Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season. He signed with San Diego in 2012, was traded to Atlanta in December 2014 and was dealt to the Mariners in January 2017 and sent... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jung Ho Kang is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates.The Pirates and the veteran third baseman agreed to a one-year deal Thursday that will bring Kang back for the 2019 season.The move comes a week after Pittsburgh declined a $5.5 million club option for Kang, paying him a $250,000 buyout instead. Financial terms on Kang's new deal weren't immediately available."We feel that bringing Jung Ho back in 2019 will make us better as he will have the ability to make a positive impact on our lineup," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "Competition and options are important to any organization and this signing provides us with both."Kang was a star in his native South Korea when the Pirates signed him to an $11 million, four-year deal in January 2015. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting 15 homers and driving in 58 runs in 2015, when Pittsburgh won 98 games. It would be the high point of Kang's time with the Pirates.The 31-year-old Kang didn't play in the U.S. between September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to three DUI arrests in South Korea. He made it back to the majors with Pittsburgh in September, collecting two hits in six at-bats during the final weekend of the season.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — The agent for free agent Bryce Harper and many of baseball's top players claims rebuilding teams have become a "competitive cancer" that caused this season's 4 percent attendance drop.As the sport's officials start to consider possible rules changes to spark offense and speed up play, Scott Boras acidly critiqued several clubs that were among the 17 to draw fewer fans this year than last.Boras pointed out Louisiana State's baseball team had a higher average attendance for its 37 home games than the Miami Marlins did for their 81 — 10,786 to 10,014."The fans of Florida have certainly brought the MIA to Miami," he said Wednesday in a courtyard outside the general managers' meetings.He claimed when "the divisional clubs come to Minnesota, it's gotten so bad that only one of the Twins shows up."And he criticized the Toronto Blue Jays, who had the biggest decrease in the major leagues this year, falling by 878,000 fans to 2.33 million."They've lost near a third of their... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — The agent for free agent Bryce Harper and many of baseball's top players claims rebuilding teams have become a "competitive cancer" that caused this season's 4 percent attendance drop.As the sport's officials start to consider possible rules changes to spark offense and speed pace, Scott Boras acidly critiqued several clubs that were among the 17 to draw fewer fans this year than last.Boras pointed out Louisiana State's baseball team had a higher average attendance for its 37 home games than the Miami Marlins did for their 81 — 10,786 to 10,014."The fans of Florida have certainly brought the MIA to Miami," he said Wednesday in a courtyard outside the general managers' meetings.He claimed when "the divisional clubs come to Minnesota, it's gotten so bad that only one of the Twins shows up."And he criticized the Toronto Blue Jays, who had the biggest decrease in the major leagues this year, falling by 878,000 fans to 2.33 million."They've lost near a third of their... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Months before the start of spring training, the New York Yankees' injury list is lengthening.Catcher Gary Sanchez will have surgery on his left shoulder in the next week, which could slow him during spring training but is not likely to keep him out of the lineup on opening day."His shoulder has bothered him off and on since '17," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday. "He's been treated conservatively with it. He had an injection towards the end of '17. He had two in '18. He just resumed workouts and still felt a little bit lingering from it."Cashman made the announcement at the general managers' meetings, hours after the Yankees finalized an $8 million, one-year contract with CC Sabathia. The 38-year-old left-hander said 2019 will be his final season.New York announced last month that Didi Gregorius will miss much of next season after Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in the shortstop's right elbow.An All-Star in 2017 who slumped badly... [More]

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Months before the start of spring training, the New York Yankees' injury list is lengthening.Catcher Gary Sanchez will have surgery on his left shoulder in the next week, which could slow him during spring training but is not likely to keep him out of the lineup on opening day."His shoulder has bothered him off and on since '17," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday. "He's been treated conservatively with it. He had an injection towards the end of '17. He had two in '18. He just resumed workouts and still felt a little bit lingering from it."Cashman made the announcement at the general managers' meetings, hours after the Yankees finalized an $8 million, one-year contract with CC Sabathia. The 38-year-old left-hander said 2019 will be his final season.New York announced last month that Didi Gregorius will miss much of next season after Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in the shortstop's right elbow.An All-Star in 2017 who slumped badly... [More]