A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that outfielder Adam Jones and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year contract.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.A 33-year-old five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, Jones spent his first 13 big league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.His run production has dropped in each of the last two seasons, and he hit .281 with 15 homers and 63 RBIs last year.Jones is likely to start in center field between Steven Souza Jr. in right and David Peralta in left, pushing Ketel Marte into a utility role.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Felix Hernandez doesn't think he could have changed the mind of Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais about opening day, even by pitching well this spring.With his ERA approaching 16, it's a moot point.King Felix is royally agitated anyway.Hernandez was tagged for seven runs in three-plus innings against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, raising his spring ERA to 15.95 a day after Servais announced that Marco Gonzales would start Seattle's season opener against Oakland in Tokyo on March 20.Seattle's decision ends Hernandez's run of 10 consecutive opening day starts.Hernandez spoke publicly after the game for the first time since Servais' announcement. Asked if he was upset, Hernandez said simply, "Yeah," but declined to elaborate on his emotions."I knew it was going to happen," he added.Hernandez was also asked if he could have convinced Servais to give him the opening day nod with a better spring camp."No," he said while shaking his head.The 32-year-old has been losing... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Felix Hernandez doesn't think he could have changed the mind of Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais about opening day, even by pitching well this spring.With his ERA approaching 16, it's a moot point.King Felix is royally agitated anyway.Hernandez was tagged for seven runs in three-plus innings against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, raising his spring ERA to 15.95 a day after Servais announced that Marco Gonzales would start Seattle's season opener against Oakland in Tokyo on March 20.Seattle's decision ends Hernandez's run of 10 consecutive opening day starts. That was the longest active streak in the majors and tied for the fourth longest ever — Jack Morris set the mark at 14. Erik Bedard was the last starter before Hernandez to open a season on the mound for the Mariners.Hernandez spoke publicly after the game for the first time since Servais' announcement. Asked if he was upset, Hernandez said simply, "Yeah," but declined to elaborate on his emotions."I knew... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — When spring training opened, one of Oakland's biggest questions was its catching situation following the departure of Jonathan Lucroy. The Athletics had Josh Phegley on the roster and signed Chris Herrmann to a one-year deal in December. It's a good thing they added Nick Hundley, too.Herrmann had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this past week. That leaves Phegley and Hundley behind the plate."No one knew what direction they were going to go," said Phegley, who is entering his fifth year with the A's. "We're all good options."The 35-year-old Hundley agreed to a minor league deal with Oakland last month. He spent the previous two seasons with San Francisco, batting .241 with 10 homers in 96 games last year.Hundley isn't taking anything for granted. He has an opt out in his contract that Oakland has to decide on by Thursday. That's also the day the Athletics leave for Japan, where they will open the regular season on March 20 against the Mariners."They haven't told... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Chris Archer had success against the high-powered New York Yankees and more importantly felt great afterwards.Archer allowed two hits and struck out four over three scoreless innings in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 6-5 loss on Sunday.The right-hander, who underwent surgery to repair a hernia in November, faced a lineup that included Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Troy Tulowitzki, Gleyber Torres, Brett Gardner and Greg Bird."The biggest thing for me is health," Archer said. "Whenever I don't have to be tentative, I don't have to be passive because there's an ailment, I'm happy."Gardner and Stanton had first-inning singles before Archer retired his final seven batters."Facing those guys, you get really good feedback," Archer said. "But the process of executing the pitches, that's all I was focused on."Archer had four strikeouts over two hitless innings in his first spring training start in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles.The 30-year-old will start the Pirates'... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki is doing just fine, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone says, despite his slow start at the plate.Tulowitzki was hitless in three at-bats in a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. The five-time All-Star, who has not played in the major leagues since July 2017, is hitting just .176 (3 for 17) in seven games."I'm seeing enough encouraging things out of him," Boone said. "He needs reps now is all."Tulowitzki missed last season because of surgery on April 2 for bone spurs in his right and left heels. He was released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Dec. 14, then signed with the Yankees on Jan. 4.Tulowitzki homered on his first at-bat with the Yankees against his old team on Feb. 25. He is replacing Didi Gregorius, who is out until summer following Tommy John surgery.Center fielder Aaron Hicks, who has been out since experiencing lower back soreness during batting practice March 1, ran, played catch and swung a bat."Hopefully on the upswing," Boone said.Hicks will be evaluated by team doctors Monday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Felix Hernandez says he's upset to have been passed over for opening day, but the longtime Seattle Mariners ace isn't surprised.Hernandez spoke publicly Sunday for the first time since manager Scott Servais announced a day earlier that Marco Gonzales would pitch Seattle's season opener against Oakland in Japan on March 20. Hernandez has pitched the Mariners' first game for 10 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the majors and the fourth longest ever, but he's been mostly injured and ineffective the past three seasons.Asked if he was upset by Servais' decision, Hernandez simply said "yeah." Asked how he felt, he said, "I have no comment about that," and added "I knew it was going to happen."Hernandez also says he thinks Servais likely decided before spring training about opening day, and he could not have changed his mind even with a strong spring.Hernandez allowed seven runs in three-plus innings against Cleveland on Sunday, lifting his spring ERA to 15.95.___Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner___More AP MLB: https://apenws.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The "homer" could follow the "opener" into baseball's lexicon.Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly says he'd consider rearranging some of pitcher Wei-Yin Chen's starting dates during the regular season should last year's atrocious home/road splits continue."If we're seeing the same type trend then I think if you have a chance to schedule it — if you have an off-day and you can skip a guy and it lines him up for two home starts instead of one and back in Philly, or wherever it would be — I think you look at it," Mattingly said.Late last season Mattingly did elect to skip a scheduled Chen start in Philadelphia to have him pitch at home the following day.Rather effective at spacious Marlins Park last season where he pitched to a 5-3 record and a 1.62 ERA, Chen became a completely different pitcher on the road, losing nine of 10 decisions while posting a 9.27 ERA."Last year, we're hoping, was an anomaly as far as the road and home," Mattingly said. "He's a flyball guy. When... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — San Francisco Giants hitting coach Alonzo Powell never considered stepping away when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Being around the game is good therapy, he said, and all he had to do was find a way to work his radiation treatments into his busy schedule.The 54-year-old was diagnosed during a routine physical in 2017 while he was on the Houston Astros' coaching staff. He underwent a biopsy after the '17 World Series, which the Astros won, and was told in January 2018 that he had prostate cancer.As Powell says, 2017 was the best year of his life, but in '18, his favorite college football team, Oklahoma, lost the Rose Bowl and he was told he had cancer."I'm in 2018 and I'm already 0 for 2," he said.Powell started radiation treatments on Jan. 8, 2018, and finished his 40th on Thursday, prompting a celebration by the Giants players."I made it through it and didn't have any issues and I was still able to come out and do my job which meant a lot to me to get... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager is awaiting MRI results after rolling over his left wrist during a spring training game.Seager visited a hand specialist Saturday and has been receiving treatment on his left wrist and hand. X-rays were negative. Manager Scott Servais says Seager won't do any physical activities Sunday.The 2014 All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner was injured diving for a hard groundball Friday night during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs.The slimmed-down 31-year-old is hoping for a bounce-back season after hitting a career-worst .221 with 22 homers and a .673 OPS last season. He has a .318 batting average in nine spring training games.It's unclear if the injury will risk Seager's status for Seattle's season-opening series in Japan. The Mariners fly to Japan on Thursday before opening the season with two games against Oakland on March 20-21 at the Tokyo Dome.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and a most unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield."I've never seen that. That's intense," Harper said, adding he hopes teams don't do that to him often. "If they start playing ball like that, it's definitely different."Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn't want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper."Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you're capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper," Kapler said.Harper drew a loud ovation when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith's theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."Wearing No. 3 on his uniform, eye black under his eyes and a white armband... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Sonny Gray's delayed debut for the Cincinnati Reds was a success.Gray pitched two scoreless innings in his first spring training appearance Saturday night against the San Diego Padres. The 29-year-old right-hander, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the New York Yankees, was supposed to get into a game last week, but was scratched because of elbow discomfort."I was nervous, in a good way," Gray said. "Excited more than nervous, I guess."Gray allowed two hits and struck out three, including Manny Machado. The Reds are counting on Gray to help lead their revamped rotation, handing over a new contract after the trade that added $30.5 million from 2020-22 and includes a 2023 club option."To come away with no runs and no walks, I'm very pleased," Gray said. "Where we were a week and a half ago, to now, it's good and I feel really good moving forward."He showed no signs of any health issues against San Diego, mixing in fastballs and breaking pitches in his first... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager will see a hand specialist after rolling his left wrist during a spring training game.Seager was pulled Friday night after jamming his glove into the ground diving for a hard grounder by the Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez. Seager removed his mitt and favored his wrist and hand while Baez ran out a double. He left the game after one more batter.Seager said postgame he was fine, and the Mariners said the former All-Star and Gold Glove winner didn't seek medical treatment Friday night. That changed Saturday, when Seager was sent for X-rays and had the hand heavily wrapped. The X-rays were negative.It's unclear if the injury will risk Seager's status for Seattle's season-opening series in Japan. The Mariners will fly to Japan on Thursday before opening the season with two games against Oakland on March 20-21 at the Tokyo Dome.The 31-year-old Seager has hit at least 20 home runs in seven straight seasons.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and a most unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield."I've never seen that. That's intense," Harper said, adding he hopes teams don't do that to him often. "If they start playing ball like that, it's definitely different."Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn't want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper."Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you're capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper," Kapler said.Harper drew a loud ovation when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith's theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."Wearing No. 3 on his uniform, eye black under his eyes and a white armband... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — On Saturday, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey played in his fifth spring training game and made his fourth start behind the plate.Told that it seems as if he's catching more than expected coming off hip surgery, Posey agreed."Which is a good thing," Posey said. "I didn't really have expectations coming in. I would say so, too. That's a positive."Posey will be in the Giants' lineup on Sunday as well, but as the designated hitter. It will be the second time he's played in back to back games this spring. Last August, he had surgery to address a hip impingement and repair a torn labrum.Is there anything he can't do because of his hip?"I'd say the best way to describe how I feel is just more free," Posey said. "I don't feel stuck. Like any rehab, it's a little bit like this and for the most part, mine has been a gradual incline. At the same time, I'm aware there might be some soreness and inflammation along the way. I'm hoping to leave here in a couple weeks... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Lonnie Chisenhall knows his new gig as the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting right fielder is likely temporary.Gregory Polanco is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and the Pirates say he will be out until sometime between mid-April and mid-June. Chisenhall was signed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract in the offseason to serve as the fill-in.The Pirates feel Chisenhall can be a valuable option off the bench once Polanco is healthy. He began his major league career with the Cleveland Indians as a third baseman and is also capable of playing first base as well as the three outfield positions.It will mark the first time in Chisenhall's nine years in the majors that he will be a bench player."Versatility is the way the game is trending now," Chisenhall said. "Guys need to play multiple positions. You have to be able to affect the game in different areas. I'm just trying to stay the course."You have to be open-minded and willing to grow.... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Even if Trevor Rosenthal isn't closing for Washington, he'll take the mound believing he is."I think that's what ultimately allowed me to be successful as a closer is I just have one mentality, one approach," Rosenthal said. "I approach every single inning kind of like I'm closing. I think that's ultimately allowed me to be successful and I plan on keeping that same approach in the future."Rosenthal saved 93 games for St. Louis in 2014 and 2015 combined, but the Cardinals released him following the 2017 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery.The righty didn't pitch in 2018 and signed a one year, $8 millon contract with the Nationals in October. He arrived at camp ready to fire.In his first appearance of the spring, Rosenthal hit triple digits on the scoreboard's radar gun. The Nationals have encouraged him to back off a bit as he prepares to pitch in a major league game for the first time since August 2017."He's been going great," Washington manager Dave... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and a most unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield."I've never seen that. That's intense," Harper said, adding he hopes teams don't do that to him often. "If they start playing ball like that, it's definitely different."Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn't want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper."Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you're capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper," Kapler said.Harper drew a loud ovation when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith's theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."Wearing No. 3 on his uniform, eye black under his eyes and a white armband... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and an unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield."I've never seen that. That's intense," Harper said, adding he hopes teams don't do that to him often. "If they start playing ball like that, it's definitely different."Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn't want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper."Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you're capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper," said Kapler, who is known for using many shifts.The Cubs, Astros and even the Rockies have employed a four-man outfield but it was quite strange in an exhibition game.No surprise, however, was the loud ovation... [More]

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka will be the New York Yankees' opening day starter March 28 against Baltimore, taking the spot left open by Luis Severino's shoulder trouble.Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the decision before Saturday night's spring training game with the Orioles.Tanaka is replacing Severino, who will not make the start at Yankee Stadium because of right shoulder inflammation. Severino was scratched from his first planned start of spring training on Tuesday after feeling discomfort after throwing his first slider in a pregame bullpen session."Masa has clearly shown through his life really that he's really good in the big spot," Boone said.Yankees newcomer James Paxton will start the second game and J.A. Happ will pitch the third game against the Orioles.Tanaka discussed what it means to start the opener after his outing Friday night against the Detroit Tigers."Obviously, if you're given the opportunity to pitch on that day, you want to go out and do your best,"... [More]