WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Washington Nationals are counting on Tony Sipp to give them something their bullpen lacked: a lefty reliever to go after lefty hitters in late-game situations.A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Sipp and the Nationals agreed in principle on a one-year contract for 2019 that guarantees $1.25 million and includes a mutual option for 2020.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending the successful completion of a physical exam.Sipp would get a $1 million salary this year, and the contract includes a $2.5 million mutual option for next year, with a $250,000 buyout. There are not any performance bonuses.This move gives Washington's rebuilt bullpen someone to use in a key spot against left-handed batters — such as Bryce Harper, the former Nationals slugger who joined the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent for $330 million over 13 seasons. Solis and Harper have never faced each... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and the Washington Nationals have agreed in principle on a one-year contract that guarantees $1.25 million and includes a mutual option for 2020.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal was pending the successful completion of a physical exam.Sipp would get a $1 million salary this year, and the deal includes a $2.5 million mutual option with a $250,000 buyout. There are not any performance bonuses.This move gives Washington's bullpen someone to use in a key spot against lefty hitters — such as Bryce Harper, the former Nationals slugger who joined NL East rival Philadelphia as a free agent.The 35-year-old Sipp is entering his 11th season. He has a 25-20 career record with a 3.67 ERA and 513 strikeouts in 482 2/3 innings spanning 580 appearances for Cleveland, Arizona and Houston, all in relief.Last season with the Astros, Sipp was 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA, holding lefty hitters to a .191 batting average.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia threw 20 pitches Tuesday during his first batting practice session since a heart procedure in December.Sabathia, expected to miss his first two or three regular-season starts, is slated to throw a simulated game Saturday.The 38-year-old, who is retiring after the season, had a stent inserted Dec. 11 after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart. He has had chronic right knee problems that required several operations."He's really responded well to everything," Yankee manager Aaron Boone said. "He's doing well."Sabathia also is suspended for five games for hitting Tampa Bay's catcher Jesus Sucre with a pitch on Sept. 27.The 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland, Sabathia is 246-153 with a 3.70 ERA and 2,986 strikeouts in 18 major league seasons. He was 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts last season. This will be his 11th year with the Yankees.Center fielder Aaron Hicks, who hurt his back during batting practice March 1, got... [More]

Kyle Seager will be absent next week when the Seattle Mariners play the major league opener in Japan. Mike Foltynewicz will miss opening day for Atlanta, too.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, is on the mend.The Mariners said Monday that Seager needs surgery on his left hand, sidelining the third baseman through at least April. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner rolled his glove going for a grounder in a spring training game last week.Seattle is likely to move first baseman Ryon Healy across the diamond to third. The Mariners and Oakland begin the regular season on March 20 in Tokyo.The Braves had hoped Foltynewicz could start on March 28 when the NL East champions open at Philadelphia, but a sore elbow has slowed the All-Star righty.Foltynewicz has yet to make an appearance in an exhibition game because of discomfort that began about two weeks ago."We're just trying to figure out at what point do we get him up to five innings?" general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "He's not... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Blake Snell is focused on pitching and not his minuscule salary increase.The AL Cy Young Award winner threw a called third strike past Bryce Harper with a 96 mph fastball in the first inning of the Tampa Bay Rays' 8-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.Snell's contract was renewed Sunday for a salary while in the majors of $573,700, a raise of $15,500 and a figure $18,700 above the major league minimum, which rose $10,000 to $555,000. His deal calls for a $291,000 salary in the unlikely event he is in the minors.The 26-year-old left-hander likely will be eligible for salary arbitration next winter. He declined to discuss his contract.Snell struck out two over two perfect innings."Their lineup is nasty," Snell said. "I really don't key in on a guy. It's a lefty, it's righty, it's what I focus on. I've got to attack the zone. They're going to do what they do. I'm going to do what I do."Snell is slated to start Tampa Bay's March 28 against Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros.Tampa Bay also renewed the contracts of reliever Ryne Stanek ($564,200 in majors, $223,978 in minors) and infielder Joey Wendle ($570,400 in majors and $273,450 in minors).___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Kyle Seager will be absent next week when the Seattle Mariners play the major league opener in Japan. Mike Foltynewicz will miss opening day for Atlanta, too.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, is on the mend.The Mariners said Monday that Seager needs surgery on his left hand, sidelining the third baseman through at least April. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner rolled his glove going for a grounder in a spring training game last week.Seattle is likely to move first baseman Ryon Healy across the diamond to third. The Mariners and Oakland begin the regular season on March 20 in Tokyo.The Braves had hoped Foltynewicz could start on March 28 when the NL East champions open at Philadelphia, but a sore elbow has slowed the All-Star righty.Foltynewicz has yet to make an appearance in an exhibition game because of discomfort that began about two weeks ago."We're just trying to figure out at what point do we get him up to five innings?" general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "He's not... [More]

Kyle Seager will be absent next week when the Seattle Mariners play the major league opener in Japan. Mike Foltynewicz will miss opening day for Atlanta, too.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, is on the mend.The Mariners said Monday that Seager needs surgery on his left hand, sidelining the third baseman through at least April. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner rolled his glove going for a grounder in a spring training game last week.Seattle is likely to move first baseman Ryon Healy across the diamond to third. The Mariners and Oakland begin the regular season on March 20 in Tokyo.The Braves had hoped Foltynewicz could start on March 28 when the NL East champions open at Philadelphia, but a sore elbow has slowed the All-Star righty.Foltynewicz has yet to make an appearance in an exhibition game because of discomfort that began about two weeks ago."We're just trying to figure out at what point do we get him up to five innings?" general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "He's not... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper played the outfield for the first time since signing a record $330 million, 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.Harper started in right field Monday against Tampa Bay. He took a 96 mph fastball for strike three in the first inning from AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell."He's good," Harper said. "I was just happy to go out there and face a guy like him, see some velo, see some offspeed, as well, and just see one of the best in baseball. It's always fun to be able to do that whether it's the third game in spring or the middle of the season. It's good to see."Harper then walked in the fourth after Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura hit consecutive homers off Jalen Beeks.Harper caught two fly balls. He cleanly played a double high off the wall and then made a strong to third base during four innings of defense."It was nice to see him out there," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "Just kind of take this step by step."Harper was a designated... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper played the outfield for the first time since signing a record $330 million, 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.Harper started in right field Monday against Tampa Bay. He took a 96 mph fastball for strike three in the first inning from AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, then walked in the fourth after Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura hit consecutive homers off Jalen Beeks.Harper caught two fly balls and cleanly played a double high off the wall during four innings of defense.He was a designated hitter Saturday in his spring training debut and walked twice against Toronto. He did not play Sunday.___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 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]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew a pair of five-pitch walks on Saturday in his first spring training appearance since signing a record contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.The six-time All-Star outfielder signed a $330 million, 13-year contract last week, the largest deal in baseball history.Batting third as the designated hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, Harper took four straight pitches after a mighty swing and miss in the first inning. Rhys Hoskins followed with a mammoth two-run homer.Harper fouled off the first pitch he saw in the third before taking another four pitches out of the strike zone. Fans booed the pitcher as Harper jogged to first base and then was replaced by a pinch runner.Wearing No. 3, Harper earned a loud ovation from fans at Spectrum Field when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith's theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."The 26-year-old Harper played his first seven seasons for the Washington Nationals. He was the 2015 NL MVP.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew a five-pitch walk on Saturday in his first spring training plate appearance since signing a record contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.The six-time All-Star outfielder signed a $330 million, 13-year contract last week, the largest deal in baseball history.Batting third as the designated hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, Harper took four straight pitches after a mighty swing and miss. Rhys Hoskins followed with a mammoth two-run homer.Wearing No. 3, Harper earned a loud ovation from fans at Spectrum Field.The 26-year-old Harper played his first seven seasons for the Washington Nationals. He was the 2015 NL MVP.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — For years, the NL East has been soft as a bunt single.Not anymore.Even before Bryce Harper decided to stay inside the division, four of the five teams spent this offseason swinging for the fences. In addition to defending champion Atlanta, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals all have enough firepower to potentially contend for the playoffs."This is probably going to be the stiffest competition in a division race in my career," Nationals ace Max Scherzer said at spring training.It's certainly a noticeable transformation.In the past eight seasons, the NL East has won a grand total of two playoff series and produced one pennant winner — with the 2015 Mets responsible for the entirety of that October success.Two years ago, Washington finished a whopping 20 games in front, and no other team in the division was better than 77-85.Last season, Atlanta rolled to a surprise title at 90-72, the fewest wins of any postseason participant. No... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — For years, the NL East has been soft as a bunt single.Not anymore.Even before Bryce Harper decided to stay inside the division, four of the five teams spent this offseason swinging for the fences. In addition to defending champion Atlanta, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals all have enough firepower to potentially contend for the playoffs."This is probably going to be the stiffest competition in a division race in my career," Nationals ace Max Scherzer said at spring training.It's certainly a noticeable transformation.In the past eight seasons, the NL East has won a grand total of two playoff series and produced one pennant winner — with the 2015 Mets responsible for the entirety of that October success.Two years ago, Washington finished a whopping 20 games in front, and no other team in the division was better than 77-85.Last season, Atlanta rolled to a surprise title at 90-72, the fewest wins of any postseason participant. No... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Major League Baseball is investigating whether new Philadelphia slugger Bryce Harper committed a tampering violation when he lobbied for Mike Trout, who isn't a free agent for two more seasons, to join the Phillies.Speaking to a group of Boston business executives on Wednesday, commissioner Rob Manfred said he doesn't want players recruiting other players, a practice that has been winked at in the NBA. Manfred said he didn't want to see the same thing happen in baseball."Given our rules, players recruiting other players who are still under contract or under reserve to another club is a rule violation," he said at the Boston College Chief Executives Club. "So, obviously not anxious to see that."Harper signed a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Phillies last week, and said at his introductory news conference: "There's another guy in about two years that comes off the books. We'll see what happens with that."That would likely not be tampering, but he may have crossed the... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Major League Baseball is investigating whether new Philadelphia slugger Bryce Harper committed a tampering violation when he lobbied for Mike Trout, who isn't a free agent for two more seasons, to join the Phillies.Speaking to a group of Boston businessmen on Wednesday, commissioner Rob Manfred said he doesn't want players recruiting other players, a practice that has been winked at in the NBA. Manfred said he didn't want to see the same thing happen in baseball."Given our rules, players recruiting other players who are still under contract or under reserve to another club is a rule violation," he said at the Boston College Chief Executives Club. "So, obviously not anxious to see that."Harper signed a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Phillies last week, and said at his introductory news conference: "There's another guy in about two years that comes off the books. We'll see what happens with that."That would likely not be tampering, but he may have crossed the line when... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper swag is going, going and just about gone before he takes a swing in Philadelphia.Phillies merchandise stores and ticket vendors are certainly getting their hefty cuts thanks to Harper hype.Harper has Phillies fans spending stupid money on his No. 3 jerseys, tees and caps, and the franchise has set records with ticket sales headed into the March 28 opener.Billboards welcoming Harper to Philly line the interstate headed to Citizens Bank Park — and it's Harper driving retail traffic at a record clip.No. 3 gear is No. 1 in Philadelphia."I can't wait to be a part of the Phillies for a long period of time," Harper said. "I've grown to love playing in Philly, love playing in Citizens Bank Park."When Harper looks in the stands on opening day — and over the remainder of his record $330 million, 13-year deal — he'll see thousands of fans wearing his jersey.Fanatics said Harper's No. 3 Phillies jersey was the all-time best-seller for any athlete during the first 24... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper swag is going, going and just about gone before he takes a swing in Philadelphia.Phillies merchandise stores and ticket vendors are certainly getting their hefty cuts thanks to Harper hype.Harper has Phillies fans spending stupid money on his No. 3 jerseys, tees and caps, and the franchise has set records with ticket sales headed into the March 28 opener.Billboards welcoming Harper to Philly line the interstate headed to Citizens Bank Park — and it's Harper driving retail traffic at a record clip.No. 3 gear is No. 1 in Philadelphia."I can't wait to be a part of the Phillies for a long period of time," Harper said. "I've grown to love playing in Philly, love playing in Citizens Bank Park."When Harper looks in the stands on opening day — and over the remainder of his record $330 million, 13-year deal — he'll see thousands of fans wearing his jersey.Fanatics said Harper's No. 3 Phillies jersey was the all-time best-seller for any athlete during the first 24... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper swag is going, going and just about gone before he takes a swing in Philadelphia.Phillies merchandise stores and ticket vendors are certainly getting their hefty cuts thanks to Harper hype.Harper has Phillies fans spending stupid money on his No. 3 jerseys, tees and caps, and the franchise has set records with ticket sales headed into the March 28 opener.Billboards welcoming Harper to Philly line the interstate headed to Citizens Bank Park — and it's Harper driving retail traffic at a record clip.No. 3 gear is No. 1 in Philadelphia."I can't wait to be a part of the Phillies for a long period of time," Harper said. "I've grown to love playing in Philly, love playing in Citizens Bank Park."When Harper looks in the stands on opening day — and over the remainder of his record $330 million, 13-year deal — he'll see thousands of fans wearing his jersey.Fanatics said Harper's No. 3 Phillies jersey was the all-time best-seller for any athlete during the first 24... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Brett Phillips has always been the fastest player on his team, whether he was playing in Little League, starring at Seminole High School or climbing the rungs of the minor league ladder.When he looks around the Kansas City Royals' clubhouse, though, the fleet-footed outfielder was left to ask a very sobering and sincere question: "What am I, the 10th fastest now?"Not quite. But just about.You see, the Royals identified a market inefficiency a few years ago when it came to bullpen arms, stockpiling huge talents at low costs and effectively shortening games. The result was twofold: They won back-to-back American League pennants and the 2015 World Series, and every other team noticed what they had done and began to offer big contracts to premier relievers.Unable to keep up with those escalating costs, the Royals turned their attention to speed and defense as they dive headlong into a rebuild. Now, they view stolen bases as grossly undervalued in an era of power hitters,... [More]