Clayton Kershaw might not be on the mound when the two-time NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers start the season.The lefty ace is working his way back from shoulder soreness that caused him to shut down his spring training.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said "that's fair" when asked Monday whether Kershaw might miss the opener March 28 against Arizona at Dodger Stadium."There's just way too much importance put on the opening-day roster. The No. 1 thing is for him to be ready and to feel confident physically and mentally," Roberts said, "and when that is, it is."Kershaw has made a franchise-record eight consecutive opening day starts, and was tabbed to do so again when the Dodgers arrived in Arizona.But a couple days later, the three-time Cy Young Award winner had some shoulder soreness that caused him to halt his throwing program. He's taking anti-inflammatory medication.Kershaw began throwing against last week, slowly building up the amount of work and the distance of his throws. He threw on... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Hanley Ramirez had a low-key start to spring training with the Cleveland Indians.The 35-year-old flied out twice and grounded into a double play during Monday's 8-0 loss to San Diego."Slowly getting my timing back," he said.Ramirez agreed to a minor league contract late last month. If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $1 million salary while in the major leagues and the chance to earn performance bonuses.He hit fourth Monday as Cleveland's designated hitter, batting once against starter Joey Lucchesi and twice against Matt Strahm, both left-handers.Ramirez hit .330 for Boston last April and .161 in May. He was hitless in 21 consecutive at-bats when the Red Sox designated him for assignment on May 25, when the team still owed him $15.25 million. He was released on June 1.Ramirez played winter ball for Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Republic, hitting .266 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 75 plate appearances over 18 games. Cleveland was willing to take a look at him."I feel mentally refreshed," Ramirez said. "Create a new approach. Just what you're supposed to do and get ready. I'm just working on timing. It's not the same in the cage. It feels good to get back."If he makes the Indians' big league roster, Ramirez's role likely would be as a part-time DH."Now I'll go back and watch videos and see what we can do better," he said.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Indians want to see if Hanley Ramirez can still swing it.The free agent slugger finalized a minor league contract on Tuesday with Cleveland, which is looking to replenish some power lost following several offseason moves. The 35-year-old Ramirez passed his physical and reported to training camp, arriving with a Boston Red Sox equipment bag after spending the past four seasons with them.If added to the 40-man roster, Ramirez would get a $1 million salary while in the major leagues and the chance to earn performance bonuses."The hope is that he will be a middle-of-the-order-type bat," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I told him to tell me when he thinks he's ready to get in some games. We need to get a look at him, but you can rush it and mess it up."Ramirez, who has 269 homers, played in just 44 games with Boston last season before he was released. Ramirez is the only active major leaguer with at least 250 homers and 250 stolen bases and one of just seven... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe Kelly helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series title. His next goal is to try to win one for the team he grew up rooting for and defeated this October.The Dodgers on Friday officially announced signing Kelly to a three-year deal worth $25 million that brings the 30-year old right-hander back to Southern California. Kelly was born in Anaheim and grew up in Corona, where most of his family still resides."It is one of those things where I am at a point in my career where I have tons of family that is local. I also wanted to be on a team that wins year in and year out," Kelly said during a conference call.Kelly leaves Boston, who acquired him from St. Louis in July 2014. He is expected to be a setup man for closer Kenley Jansen, who is still recovering from an offseason heart procedure.Kelly gets a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $3 million next year and $8.5 million in each of the following two seasons. The Dodgers have a $12 million team option for 2022... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe Kelly helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series title. His next goal is to try to win one for the team he grew up rooting for and defeated this October.The Dodgers on Friday officially announced signing Kelly to a three-year deal worth $25 million that brings the 30-year old right-hander back to Southern California. Kelly was born in Anaheim and grew up in Corona, where most of his family still resides."It is one of those things where I am at a point in my career where I have tons of family that is local. I also wanted to be on a team that wins year in and year out," Kelly said during a conference call.Kelly leaves Boston, who acquired him from St. Louis in July 2014. He is expected to be a setup man for closer Kenley Jansen, who is still recovering from an offseason heart procedure.Upgrading setup and middle relief was one of the Dodgers' priorities during the offseason."The reliever market has been interesting to see. For teams that are championship-caliber,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe Kelly helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series title. His next goal is to try to win one for the team he grew up rooting for and defeated this October.The Dodgers on Friday officially announced signing Kelly to a three-year deal worth $25 million that brings the 30-year old right-hander back to Southern California. Kelly was born in Anaheim and grew up in Corona, where most of his family still resides."It is one of those things where I am at a point in my career where I have tons of family that is local. I also wanted to be on a team that wins year in and year out," Kelly said during a conference call.Kelly leaves Boston, who acquired him from St. Louis in July 2014. He is expected to be a setup man for closer Kenley Jansen, who is still recovering from an offseason heart procedure.Upgrading setup and middle relief was one of the Dodgers' priorities during the offseason."The reliever market has been interesting to see. For teams that are championship-caliber,... [More]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Reliever Joe Kelly agreed Thursday to a $25 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.A 30-year-old right-hander who was born in Anaheim, California, Kelly was 4-2 with a 4.39 ERA and two saves in 73 games this year for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Kelly pitched in all five World Series games against the Dodgers this year and did not allow a run, striking out 10 in six innings. He gave up one earned run in nine postseason appearances with 13 strikeouts and no walks.According to Brooks Baseball, his fastball averaged 98.7 mph this year. The Red Sox acquired him from St. Louis in July 2014.Kelly broke a rib of the Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez when he hit him with a pitch in the 2013 NL Championship Series opener. Kelly hit the New York Yankees' Tyler Austin on the back with a pitch last April 11, four innings after Austin spiked Red Sox shortstop Brock Holt when he slid into second base with a high right foot. That set off a brawl and Kelly was suspended for six games.Kelley's departure leaves a gap in a Boston bullpen expected to lose closer Craig Kimbrel, who became a free agent. He will be a setup man in Los Angeles for closer Kenley Jansen.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Cora had an idea before his rookie season as a big league manager: to hang a picture in his clubhouse office from each Red Sox victory. Team photographer Billie Weiss eyeballed the wall behind a couch and figured there would be room for about 100."We figured we'll start with that and then go from there," Weiss said this week, taking a break from shooting the team's pre-World Series workout to explain how the project, like the Red Sox season, has expanded beyond anyone's expectations.The original array, with 11 columns of nine 8-by-12-inch photos each, filled up in early September. More photos went up behind the TV as the Red Sox cruised to an AL East title and a franchise-record 108 victories. Next to Cora's desk were seven more photos from the AL playoffs, including a matched pair of the team posing on the field after series-clinching victories in New York and Houston.They should've picked a bigger space.Like maybe Fenway Park's 37-foot-high Green Monster."Not enough... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, and has $1 million in escalators in 2019 plus $1.5 million in performance bonuses for the second year. The deal increased the Giants' projected 2018 luxury tax payroll to about $195 million — just $2 million below the threshold — and the bonus structure pushed additional money into the deal's second year.His 2019 salary would increase by $250,000 each for 300, 325, 350 and 375 plate appearances this year, and he could earn $250,000 apiece in 2020 for 300, 325, 350, 375, 450 and 475.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, and has $1 million in escalators in 2019 plus $1.5 million in performance bonuses for the second year. The deal increased the Giants' projected 2018 luxury tax payroll to about $195 million — just $2 million below the threshold — and the bonus structure pushed additional money into the deal's second year.His 2019 salary would increase by $250,000 each for 300, 325, 350 and 375 plate appearances this year, and he could earn $250,000 apiece in 2019 for 300, 325, 350, 375, 450 and 475.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to terms on a $6 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, filling the club's top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.San Francisco announced the acquisition Monday, a week after the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.Jackson will earn $3 million per season, two people with knowledge of the contract told the Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no terms were announced. Jackson could also earn up to $2.5 million in bonuses.San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder who also plays stellar defense. That was on display when Jackson robbed Boston's Hanley Ramirez of a sure home run in August at Fenway Park, where he"He is a talented and versatile player who will strengthen our roster and provide additional depth at all three outfield positions," general... [More]

1B/DH Hanley Ramirez underwent successful left shoulder surgery Tuesday and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2018 season. Ramirez, 33, had a left shoulder arthroscopy and debridement procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute in Pensacola, Fla. "Hi my people, went in for left shoulder surgery today, keep me in prayers. Coming back stronger in '18, love you all #RedSoxNation @RedSox," Ramirez wrote on his Twitter account Tuesday accompanied with a picture of himself in a hospital bed. Ramirez, a 13-year veteran and three-time All-Star, had a career-worst .242 batting average with 23 home runs and 62 RBIs this past season.

DH Hanley Ramirez recorded his first four-hit game in the postseason Sunday against the Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs. It was Ramirez's first four-hit contest since May 14, 2015 and the 15th such game in Red Sox postseason history. He also tied his playoff career high in RBIs. "I think that's my job, find a way to come through in big situations," Ramirez said.

DH Hanley Ramirez finished 2-for-3 with a pair of hits off Astros RHP Justin Verlander after entering off the bench in the third inning. Ramirez became the second player in club history to record a multi-hit game in the postseason after entering as a substitution, joining RHP Charley Hall, who went 3-for-4 in Game 7 of the 1912 World Series against the New York Giants.

DH Hanley Ramirez, who had been bothered by left arm soreness, was back in the starting lineup for the first time in six games Wednesday against Baltimore. He went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and is batting .242.

DH/1B Hanley Ramirez felt fine after pinch hitting Monday. He did not play Tuesday, and manager John Farrell hopes he'll be able to start against Baltimore left-hander Wade Miley in the series finale Wednesday.

DH/1B Hanley Ramirez (sore arm) will be back in the Baltimore series, manager John Farrell said before Monday's game. Ramirez has been bothered by a variety of issues in recent weeks. It's not likely he'll be at first base when he returns. He did pinch-hit in Monday's victory, going 0-for-1.

1B/DH Hanley Ramirez had an MRI on his left shoulder/biceps Friday and manager John Farrell said nothing conclusive came from the examination, but there were signs of inflammation in the biceps area. Ramirez is unlikely to play Saturday.

DH Hanley Ramirez, who owns a .171 on-base percentage and has four RBIs in September, sat Thursday, resting his sore shoulders. His batting average had dropped from .264 to .238 in a month. He has batted .192 for the year with runners in scoring position and is 9-for-63 (.143) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

DH Hanley Ramirez hit a walk-off bloop single to center field in the 19th inning to lift the Red Sox over the Blue Jays early Wednesday morning. Ramirez finished 2-for-8 with a double and two RBIs, including one in the Red Sox's game-tying, two-run ninth. It was Ramirez's second walk-off RBI of the season and the eighth of his career. "Sometimes it's not going to be easy," Ramirez said after the game.