LAS VEGAS (AP) — Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Zack Greinke and Madison Bumgarner appear to be available for teams looking to bolster starting rotations.Hometown star Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the two top free agents, remain unsigned heading into the traditional high-point of the offseason.Catcher J.T. Realmuto, third baseman Kyle Seager could be among the position players dangled as trade bait in the suites of Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay, where executives and agents gather next week for the annual swap session, which in an age of complicated finances and medical records serves as a midpoint for talks as much as a place to finish deals.Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein predicted the week will be "really active.""It seems like there is plenty of trade talk, and there are still a lot of good free agents out there," he said. "A couple of moves have already occurred that sort of always set the stage for increased activity in the next week or so."First baseman Paul Goldschmidt... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — As with most things involving the Washington Nationals' offseason, a day that was supposed to be all about introducing Patrick Corbin morphed into a day about Bryce Harper.Washington announced its six-year contract with Corbin, a heavily back-loaded deal worth $140 million, and the All-Star lefty starter donned a No. 46 Nationals jersey as rotation-mates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg looked on from the front row Friday. After the news conference, general manager Mike Rizzo was asked a key question:How might the big bucks he used to outbid the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies for Corbin affect the pursuit of Washington's own big-deal free agent, right fielder Harper?"I think they're independent of each other. I really do. We've gone about this business of creating a roster for 2019, and at the end of the day, we'll figure out whether that includes 'Harp' or not," Rizzo said. "We thought it was good business — we had to fix the things we needed to fix. 'Harp'... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — As with most things involving the Washington Nationals' offseason, a day that was supposed to be all about introducing Patrick Corbin morphed into a day about Bryce Harper.Washington announced its six-year contract with Corbin, a deal worth $140 million, and the All-Star lefty starter donned a No. 46 Nationals jersey as rotation-mates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg looked on from the front row Friday. After the news conference, general manager Mike Rizzo was asked a key question:How might the big bucks he used to outbid the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies for Corbin affect the pursuit of Washington's own big-deal free agent, right fielder Harper?"I think they're independent of each other. I really do. We've gone about this business of creating a roster for 2019, and at the end of the day, we'll figure out whether that includes 'Harp' or not," Rizzo said. "We thought it was good business — we had to fix the things we needed to fix. 'Harp' is a big part of... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — As with most things involving the Washington Nationals' offseason, a day that was supposed to be all about introducing Patrick Corbin morphed into a day about Bryce Harper.Washington announced its six-year contract with Corbin, a deal worth $140 million, and the All-Star lefty starter donned a No. 46 Nationals jersey as rotation-mates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg looked on from the front row Friday. After the news conference, general manager Mike Rizzo was asked a key question:How might the big bucks he used to outbid the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies for Corbin affect the pursuit of Washington's own big-deal free agent, right fielder Harper?"I think they're independent of each other. I really do. We've gone about this business of creating a roster for 2019, and at the end of the day, we'll figure out whether that includes 'Harp' or not," Rizzo said. "We thought it was good business — we had to fix the things we needed to fix. 'Harp' is a big part of... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Patrick Corbin put on his No. 46 Washington Nationals jersey as rotation-mates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg looked on from the front row at the news conference to introduce the lefty starter with the $140 million, six-year contract.The Nationals announced the addition of free-agent Corbin on Friday, the latest in a flurry of offseason moves by general manager Mike Rizzo.One of the team's other recent acquisitions, catcher Yan Gomes, and long-time first baseman Ryan Zimmerman were also at Nationals Park for the announcement.Rizzo said the deal with Corbin, 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA for Arizona in 2018, is "independent" of what might happen with right fielder Bryce Harper, who has played his entire career for the Nationals and is a free agent.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Add Patrick Corbin to the All-Star starting staff the Washington Nationals have assembled.A person familiar with the deal said the left-handed Corbin has agreed to a six-year contract with the Nationals, pending a physical exam. Another person familiar with the terms said the contract is for $140 million.The people confirmed the details of the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because nothing had been announced by the team.Corbin's contract would include $10 million in deferred money, one of the people said.Corbin, who has played his entire major league career for the Arizona Diamondbacks, joins a rotation in Washington that already includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Corbin was an NL All-Star selection in 2013 and this year; Scherzer has been picked for each of the past six Midsummer Classics; Strasburg has made it three times.The 29-year-old Corbin is coming off his best season in the majors,... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals struck gold in their search for a big hitter, acquiring slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in a blockbuster trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.Eager to push for the playoffs after a three-year absence, St. Louis sent pitcher Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, minor league infielder Andy Young and a 2019 draft pick to Arizona.A six-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner at 31, Goldschmidt was among the top players available in the trade market. He hit .290 with 33 home runs and 83 RBIs last season."We've been busy this offseason working to upgrade our lineup, and today we are excited to announce the acquisition of one of the game's premier players," Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said in a statement.Goldschmidt has a $14.5 million salary next year, receives a $1 million assignment bonus for the trade and will be eligible for free agency after next season. The Cardinals have a history of acquiring... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals struck gold in their search for a big hitter, getting All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a multiplayer trade Wednesday.Eager to push for the playoffs after a three-year absence, the Cardinals sent pitcher Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, minor league infielder Andy Young and a 2019 draft pick to Arizona.A six-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner at 31, Goldschmidt was among the top players available in the trade market. He hit .290 with 33 home runs and 83 RBIs last season and has often finished high in the NL MVP voting."We've been busy this offseason working to upgrade our lineup, and today we are excited to announce the acquisition of one of the game's premier players," Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said in a statement.Goldschmidt has a $14.5 million salary next year, receives a $1 million assignment bonus for the trade and will be eligible for free agency after next season.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Add Patrick Corbin to the All-Star starting staff the Washington Nationals have assembled.A person familiar with the deal said the left-handed Corbin has agreed to a six-year contract with the Nationals, pending a physical exam. Another person familiar with the terms said the contract is for $140 million.The people confirmed the details of the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because nothing had been announced by the team.Corbin's contract would include $10 million in deferred money, one of the people said.Corbin, who has played his entire major league career for the Arizona Diamondbacks, joins a rotation in Washington that already includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Corbin was an NL All-Star selection in 2013 and this year; Scherzer has been picked for each of the past six Midsummer Classics; Strasburg has made it three times.The 29-year-old Corbin is coming off his best season in the majors,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Add Patrick Corbin to the All-Star starting staff the Washington Nationals have assembled.A person familiar with the deal said the left-handed Corbin has agreed to a six-year contract with the Nationals, pending a physical exam. Another person familiar with the terms said the contract is for $140 million.The people confirmed the details of the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because nothing had been announced by the team.Corbin, who has played his entire major league career for the Arizona Diamondbacks, joins a rotation in Washington that already includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Corbin was an NL All-Star selection in 2013 and this year; Scherzer has been picked for each of the past six Midsummer Classics; Strasburg has made it three times.The 29-year-old Corbin is coming off his best season in the majors, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA while pitching 200 innings for the second time in his career.He... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says All-Star pitcher Patrick Corbin has agreed to a six-year contract with the Washington Nationals, pending a physical exam.The person confirmed the length of the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because nothing had been announced by the team.The left-handed Corbin, who left the Arizona Diamondbacks, joins a Nationals starting rotation that already includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.The 29-year-old Corbin is coming off his best season in the majors, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA while pitching 200 innings for the second time in his career. He was considered the top starter available in an elite free-agent class that includes right fielder Bryce Harper, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year and 2015 NL MVP for the Nationals.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Wearing red Santa's helper hats, Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz got right to work for the New York Mets — as elves, handing out presents to school kids during the team's holiday party at Citi Field.A day after the club added the star second baseman and ace closer, new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen offered a gift to all Mets fans, too."We did not make this move to have it be our last move," Van Wagenen vowed Tuesday.Chimed in Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon: "I think there's a lot more that's going to happen."Still too early to tell if that means something major, such as a swing at free agent slugger Bryce Harper. That was the buzz on radio talk station WFAN, where the seven-player trade with Seattle drew strong, mixed reaction from Mets rooters.Van Wagenen, however, seemed to throw shade on the notion that pitcher Noah Syndergaard was going anywhere. Despite recent speculation the Mets might trade him, the GM said it would take "very special circumstances for... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Everywhere Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman goes these days, the same topic arises: What is going to happen with free agent outfielder Bryce Harper?"As if they think — I guess because I've been here forever — I know all the answers to everything," Zimmerman said Saturday at Nationals Park during the club's annual fan festival. "Yeah, you get that question quite a bit."As much as Washington general manager Mike Rizzo already has done to try to improve a roster that flopped in 2018, that is the essential issue that is going to loom over the offseason until it's resolved.Harper was drafted No. 1 overall by the Nationals in 2010, made his major league debut as a teen, won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2012, was a unanimous selection as NL MVP in 2015 — and now could be gone for good at age 26."Whatever team he's on is a better team. He's one of the better players in the game. A lot of us would love to have him back here. I don't think there's anyone that... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Second baseman Joe Panik reached agreement on a $3.85 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Friday to avoid salary arbitration, while reliever Sam Dyson received a $5 million, one-year deal.The Giants, with new baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi now in charge, did not tender contracts to outfielder Gorkys Hernandez or reliever Hunter Strickland, allowing the pair to become free agents.Panik batted .254 with four home runs and 24 RBIs in 102 games while again dealing with injuries. Dyson went 4-3 with a 2.69 ERA in a team-best 74 outings.After a stint as closer last season, Strickland punched a door in June after blowing a save and taking a loss to Miami, and he required surgery. In late May 2017, the excitable right-hander ignited a brawl when he beaned Washington's Bryce Harper with a 98 mph fastball on his first pitch in the eighth inning with two outs, none on and the Nationals ahead 2-0. Harper charged the mound and both men threw punches as benches and bullpens emptied.Hernandez had career highs of 15 home runs and 40 RBIs while playing in 142 games.Left-hander Will Smith, who received the 2018 Willie Mac Award named for the late Hall of Famer, is San Francisco's final arbitration-eligible player and was tendered a contract Friday.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even after his last trip to free agency dragged into January, Kurt Suzuki wanted to go the open market again.This time, the catcher found a home much quicker.Suzuki on Tuesday finalized a $10 million, two-year contract to return to the Washington Nationals. The 35-year-old gets $4 million next year and $6 million in 2020, up from $3.5 million last season, his second with the Atlanta Braves.Suzuki is the first player of the 164 who hit free agency after the World Series to switch teams and the ninth with a finalized agreement."Obviously the last time I went to free agency wasn't as fun," Suzuki said during a conference call. "It's a lot nicer, more peace of mind knowing where you're going to be, especially for the next two years. I'm 35 years old. I feel like I've been getting better as a player. I feel like I have a lot to offer for younger players, as well. I just try to go with it."He hit .271 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 2018 as Atlanta won the NL East ahead of the... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Catcher Kurt Suzuki is heading back to the Washington Nationals after finalizing a $10 million, two-year contractThe 35-year-old gets $4 million next year and $6 million in 2020, up from $3.5 million last season, his second with the Atlanta Braves.He became a free agent after batting .271 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 2018 as Atlanta won the NL East ahead of the second-place Nationals. The agreement was finalized Tuesday, after he passed a physical.Suzuki played for Washington in 2012 and 2013, part of a 12-year major league career in which he has been with four clubs and batted .258 with 114 home runs and 619 RBIs.He made the AL All-Star team in 2014 while with the Minnesota Twins.A right-handed hitter, Suzuki could wind up as part of a platoon at catcher for the Nationals, who have been in the market for help at that position after Matt Wieters batted under .240 in each of the past two seasons there.Washington is coming off an 82-80 season, its first under manager Dave... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Catcher Kurt Suzuki is heading back to the Washington Nationals after agreeing to a $10 million, two-year contract, a deal pending a successful physical.The deal was disclosed to The Associated Press on Monday by a person familiar with the agreement who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not yet official.The 35-year-old Suzuki would get $4 million next year and $6 million in 2020, up from $3.5 million last season, his second with the Atlanta Braves.He became a free agent after batting .271 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 2018 as Atlanta won the NL East ahead of the second-place Nationals.Suzuki played for Washington in 2012 and 2013, part of a 12-year major league career in which he has been with four clubs and batted .258 with 114 home runs and 619 RBIs.He made the AL All-Star team in 2014 while with the Minnesota Twins.A right-handed hitter, Suzuki could wind up as part of a platoon at catcher for the Nationals, who have been in the market for help... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was the only player to accept among the seven given $17.9 million qualifying offers by their former teams on Nov. 2.Ryu accepted the offer before Monday's deadline and is considered a signed player. He is just the sixth to accept among the 80 qualifying offers made since the process began in 2012.A 31-year-old left-hander, Ryu was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts, sidelined from May 2 to Aug. 15 by a groin injury.Among those who didn't accept were outfielder Bryce Harper (Washington), closer Craig Kimbrel (Boston), left-handers Patrick Corbin (Arizona) and Dallas Keuchel (Houston), outfielder A.J. Pollock (Arizona) and catcher Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers).If a player who turned down a qualifying offer signs a major league contract with another club before the June amateur draft, his former club will receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB 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]